William Frederick HUGHES [135]

  General Notes:

England Births and Christenings 1538-1975
NameWilliam Hughes SexMale
Christening Date2 Aug 1829
Christening PlaceBoston Spa, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Christening Place (Original)Boston Spa, York, England
Father's NameGeorge Robert Hughes Father's SexMale
Mother's NameCharlotte
Mother's SexFemale

1921 SA Deaths 449/50 HUGHES William Frederick, Nairne
Inverbrackie Presbyterian Burial Register HUGHES William Frederick, 93y
Inverbrackie Presbyterian Memorial Inscription HUGHES William Frederick, 93y, 1921

Courtesy of Bob Howlett Family Tree - Ancestry
Mr William Frederick Hughes, the eldest member of the family, was born at Leeds in 1828. He came to South Australia with his parents and three brothers in 1840 on the Diadem, a barque of 500 tons. With his parents he went to Moorundie on the River Murray with Mr Edward Eyre's party, where he had many pioneering experiences. Afterwards he settled at Nairne where he learned the trade of stone-mason. He married Miss Mary Stodart of Nairne in 1850 and the couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last June.

Minute Book Onkaparinga Council MRG 64/1/P 1859-88:
Hughes William Fred., elected to Onkaparinga Council for No.4 Ward (Woodside) 21.4.1865; not re-elected in July 1866; no mention 1870-79; re-elected 8.7.1882 (Woodside Ward); Acting Chairman Jan 1883; became Chairman 12.7.1884; retired at meeting 18.6.1887; no mention 1888-1911 (MRG 64/1/P).

The Adelaide Chronicle, August 8th 1908
PIONEER OF 1840, Interview with Mr. W. F. Hughes.
(By our Special Correspondent.)
An interesting subject is worth going to some trouble to secure. I found Mr. Hughes at Bleakside, behind Mount Charles, on the eastern side of the Onkaparinga Valley, about four miles from Woodside. Here he has maintained his position for more than 50 years. He has been blessed with a constitution and a disposition that princes might envy. Although his years exceed four scores until attacked by influenza a few months ago, it truly could be said of him, "His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated." A fine head of dark hair is only just beginning to show a few silvery threads. His step is light, and his voice has a cheery ring that does one good to hear. Indeed, Mr. Hughes is a type of man that makes one think well of an agricultural life. Although a very busy man, he has always time to spare when a friend calls, and few have better learned the art of making visitors feel at home. I found him on the day of this interview with a saw in his hand, attacking a piece of red gum with the view of securing a sensible fire log for a winter's day.

"Busy? Oh, yes, always busy doing something!" replied the pioneer, extending his hand. "Come away in; I am glad to see you. I was at a meeting of the Presbytery yesterday, and a capital time we had. I have not enjoyed myself so much for many a year. Those ministers are capital fellows; they can make themselves very interesting. We were talking about the rich soil of our own country, and the fact that some of our young men had gone into the other States seeking better land, without finding it. 'Yes,' said one of the ministers, 'South Australia is a grand country, but there is a better country above,' and I agreed with him." At this point Mrs. Hughes and two stately daughters entered the sitting-room. You only need to see that mother and those daughters, to know that all is right within doors.

Mr. Hughes has a remarkable memory for an octogenarian, and is an authority on nomenclature and the history of South Australia. "Our family came to South Australia in 1840 by the Diadem, sailed by Captain Hartland," he said. I am a native of Leeds, where I was born in 1828. So I was about 12 years of age when I left the old country. My father consulted ex Governor Hindmarsh in England, and obtained from him a letter of introduction to Mrs. Hindmarsh, who was still in Adelaide. He also obtained letters to Mr. E. J. Eyre from his father and sister. One returned traveller had brought back a bad report of the new country, and he tried to disuade [sic] my father from coming. He said "it is a starvation place, and the articles that you can get to eat are those big beasts that jump"- meaning kangaroos. However, my father placed more reliance on what ex-Governor Hindmarsh told him. So with his wife and four sons, he left for Australia. My parents died some years ago, but three of the four boys, who came out in the Diadem, survive - George Robert, Joseph Prentice, and myself. We reached Port Adelaide in November, 1840.

"Adelaide was then in a very primitive condition. That was the day of small things. After searching for some time my father secured a couple of lean-to back rooms at a rental of 14/- a week. These we occupied until we removed to a place near the Rob Roy, in Halifax-street, belonging to Jimmy Crink. Mr. Eyre was then in Western Australia, and pending his return my father joined the late Mr. John Johnstone in the service of Tailor White, whose shop was in Hindley-street, next the Royal Admiral. In the meantime I found employment as garden boy at Mrs. Hindmarsh's, where I remained until she left for Sydney by the brig Dorset with the view of joining her husband in England. I have clear recollections of that embarkation. No matter how other effects were disposed of, the prudent woman insisted that her father's bed should be available for use during the voyage to Sydney. But the bed completely filled the bunk of the Dorset, and as it was impossible for the lady to take any advantage of it other arrangements had to be made. On the departure of Mrs. Hindmarsh I entered the service of Lieutenant A.M. Mundy, Colonial Secretary. On the return of Mr. E.J. Eyre from the West my father entered his service, and removed to a house in Rundle street that belonged to him. When Mr. Eyre went to his station at Moorundie, just below Blanchetown, on the Murray (I believe the place is now called Portee), our family accompanied him. My father at the time was recognised as a member of the police service and did duty.

"Two bullock teams left Adelaide on that expedition, the one belonging to Mr. Eyre, and the other being the property of the South Australian Government. We got along very well, considering. The first night we camped at Gawler, near the police station. At the end of the second day we reached Leak's station, where Jeremiah Robin and Inspector Shaw joined the party. Our next camp was at Bagot's, beyond Kapunda where my mother was visited by Mrs. Bagot and her two daughters, who spoke encouragingly, but expressed surprise that a woman could be found with courage enough to venture out into such wild country as the Murray then was. The end of the fourth day brought us to Black Springs, near Truro. The pound on the River Murray was reached at 10 o'clock at night of the fifth day. This was my first experience in droving. We were accompanied by 50 sheep, 2 cows, and 1 calf, which became troublesome before our journey ended. On the day following we reached Moorundie, and had great difficulty in getting to the station over the cliffs. After we had been there a fortnight the Water Witch cutter came up the river, commanded by Lieutenant Pullen (afterwards Admiral Pullen). I mention this visit with assurance, as I have noticed in print the wrong date given. Mr. E.B. Scott was on the boat. The party brought some rabbits with them, which they turned out on the eastern side of the river. A day or two afterwards a native killed one and brought it to the station to show what a strange animal had been found. He was severely reprimanded and warned never to do it again. That same blackfellow during some squabble about food struck me on the face with his waddy and knocked off one of my eyebrows, and as I staggered under the blow I fell against a fence that tore off the other. Fortunately, my sight was spared, but I have had to get along as well as I could without the little line of hair that was intended to serve some useful purpose. I received pity, but the only satisfaction I had was to know that the wild man was put on board the Water Witch and kept on bread and water for a five weeks. We remained on the station four or five months, during which time we lived in tents. The first reed hut on the river was erected while we were there. My duty was to look after the sheep. A little ploughing for wheat was done on the flats, but I cannot say with what success as we left before it had matured. While we were at Moorundie, Governor Grey, Mrs. Grey, Lieutenant Mundy, and Captain Sturt spent about a week at the station. They went up the river as far as the Rufus and broke their journey at Moorundie as they were returning. The party was greatly interested in a deposit of fossils in an old cliff at some distance back from the river. A detachment of the 96th Regiment being in the neighborhood at the time assisted at the excavation. A load of large bones and other curiosities was sent to Adelaide in the Government dray, in charge of 'Peter' and I accompanied him to town. I have never been able to learn what became of those bones or whether they belonged to bird, beast, reptile, or fish. But I presume there are plenty of the same description where they came from. News reached Moorundie before we started for the city that the shed in which practically everything that our family possessed was stored when we went to the bush had been totally destroyed by fire. This was a serious loss to beginners in a new country.

On our return to Adelaide my father rented a house in Queen-street, and I went to work with Mr. Robert Selth, a baker, whose customers comprised some of the principal residents, as I had means of knowing when I went round delivering the staff of life. While in Mr. Selth's service I had an interesting experience. A man came one day to the shop and bought two dozen loaves that I was instructed to carry on an ordinary baker's tray to Islington. As I was crossing the parklands I began to feel the load rather oppressive and was glad when I came to a post where I had an opportunity of relieving my neck and shoulders. Having balanced the loaded tray on the top of the post I sat down to rest, but overcome by fatigue I soon fell asleep. While enjoying the nap the wind rose and upset the tray and scattered my loaves. I was brought to consciousness by a man shouting. 'Here, boy, a dog has run off with a loaf!' Soon I gathered the bread and continued my journey. After leaving Selth's I served an apprenticeship as coachman to Mrs. Hutchinson (Governor Gawler's mother) at North Adelaide. I remained in her employment six or seven months. Our family left Adelaide for Nairne in 1845, and there I found work as a bullock-driver or anything else that came to hand. Before long I became an apprentice with Mr. Rodgers, a mason and builder. One of the first works that I remember was the building of piers for a bridge over the Onkaparinga, near Hahndorf. Afterwards some time was spent in building miners' cottages at Staughton village and on masonry work at the Kanmantoo mines. I assisted in the erection of the first mills at Nairne and Gumeracha, the Presbyterian churches at Inverbrackie, near Woodside, and Mount Barker, the first stone house occupied by the late Mr. John Dunn, and also the police station and ferryman's house at Wellington. I went to Kangaroo Island in 1849, where I assisted Mr. Rodgers in laying the foundation of the Cape Willoughby lighthouse with a block of granite 9 or 10 feet long. The joists of the structure were to be of iron. The contractor tried to obtain these at Hoswood's, in Adelaide, but eventually he had to send to Sydney for them.

On returning to Nairne I tried my hand at farming for a month or two and afterwards married Miss Stodard in 1850. After this I spent about two years at my trade and then took up land near Mount Charles - the place which I still occupy and where I have been engaged in mixed farming ever since with varying results. I have had some experience in mining. After putting in the crop at Bleakside I went to the Victorian diggings in 1852 and was fairly successful. Having spent about four months there I returned to South Australia in time to reap the crop that had been sown earlier in the year. In 1858 I went into the milling business at Nairne and it did not prove a success.

I went to the Northern Territory in 1873 and remained nine or ten months. The late Inspector Burgan was there at the time, also Mr. E.H. Halleck and Mr. C.E. Herbert, the present Government Resident. I went on behalf of the Kapunda Prospecting Venture, of which Mr. William Brock was leader. I am satisfied from what I saw while there that the place must become of great importance. I have seen there what I have never seen elsewhere - a granite boulder 6 ft. high with a vein of gold running right through. On another occasion I saw a slab of blue quartz more than 4 ft. wide showing a seam of gold from side to side. One could not question the permanent appearance of such specimens. Some of these prospects were encouraging. Mr. E.M. Bagot's party was then working the John Bull reef. We were on the Royal. But even a novice could see that money was not being spent to advantage. There was a larger amount of inspection than real work done. On one Decision Mr. Brock telegraphed to the promoters of our venture 'Found gold.' The promoters asked. 'Shall we send machinery?' Mr. Brock replied, 'No, send men to work the discovery.' Machinery was often sent up when there was no one to use it or when it could not be used to advantage. The result was that shareholders became disheartened and the place got a bad name. The liberal use of stimulants greatly interfered with mineral development. It is surprising how small an amount of work sufficed to create interest in the south. Messrs. Burgan, Halleck, and I on one occasion went to see the Princess Louise claim, over which hundreds of pounds had changed hands on the Adelaide Exchange in a single day yet no opening had been made on the property large enough to bury a house in. At no great distance, however, we saw men picking out pieces of gold from under shallow beds of gravel, in a creek, thus proving the existence of a good deposit somewhere. I have taken an interest in gold mining nearer home, and in the early days of the Woodside fever was one of a syndicate of 10 or 12 who spent several thousand pounds in prospecting some of the shows of the district in Mount Charles at Forest Range, near Oakbank and in Hay Valley. Prospects were often encouraging. We had the satisfaction in knowing that work was done for the money subscribed, but our only gain consisted of experience.

"I have taken a little interest in public affairs. When the patriotic sentiment first began to move the young men here I did six years' service as sergeant of the Woodside Volunteers, under Captain Bundey (now Sir Henry Bundey). We then received little encouragement'' from headquarters, but had to draw upon our own resources. The Woodside contingent, under it's energetic and splendid captain, always gave a good account of itself during reviews. We were all proud of our captain. I had eight years' experience as a district councillor for Woodside ward and chairman of the district of Onkaparinga. I was a member of the Woodside School Board of Advice for about 15 years and a director of the Onkaparinga dairy factory for a similar period. I have been an elder and manager of the Scotch Church in Woodside for a long time. Mrs. Hughes and I have had eight sons, six of whom survive, and four daughters. Our oldest daughter is the wife of Mr. C.W. Fowler, of Woodside, the three others are still at home. I have been living at Bleakside for 56 years and have no desire to change my place of abode.

"I am a great believer in South Australia and never had a desire to go elsewhere. Bleakside is by no means the richest farm in Onkaparinga, but it has advantages. The pioneers had a freer field than the men of to-day. The movements of stock were not hampered by fences. The early-day settlers were more contented and happy than people have since become. Our holidays were few and the average young man considered himself sufficiently dressed in a clean pair of moleskin trousers and blue shirt. When coats and vests began to come in I have known the orthodox blue shirt worn as an overall. The work men and servant girls were more anxious to save 'their earnings than, to spend' the money. It was thus allowed to accumulate until they were able to do some good with it. The custom of the country in this respect has changed, and I do not think for the better. If people have not now the same opportunities they had in pioneering times they should better know how to take advantage of them. The industrious man will always have a chance in South Australia."

The Register (Adelaide) Wednesday 31 August 1921
Death Notice:
HUGHES.-On the 30th August, at Bleakside Farm, Woodside, William Frederick Hughes, aged 93 years 8 months. A colonist of 81 years.

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA 1880-1954) Friday 2 September 1921
Obituary:
MR. W. F. HUGHES.
A long and useful life came to a peaceful end at Woodside on Tuesday last, when Mr. William Frederick Hughes, a highly esteemed colonist of 81 years, passed away at his residence, Bleakside Farm, near Woodside, at the ripe old age of 93 years and 8 months. The deceased gentleman had been an honoured resident of Woodside since 1851. He was born in Leeds in 1828, and came to South Australia with his parents and three brothers in the barque Diadem (500 tons) 1840, and remembered having seen a crop of wheat at the eastern end of Rundle Street, Adelaide. With his parents he went to Bagot's Well, and thence to Murrundie, on the River Murray, with Mr. Edward Eyre's party, where he had many pioneering experiences in the early days of the province. He afterwards settled at Nairne, where he learnt the trade of a stonemason, and assisted in the erection of the Presbyterian Church at Mount Barker. In 1850 he was married to Miss Mary Stodart. In 1851 Mr. Hughes settled at Bleakside Farm, Woodside, which he occupied until his death. Recently Mr. Hughes related that when he first arrived at Bagot's Well it was then the furthest outstation in South Australia. They then went to the Murray, where they met Capt. Sturt and his party, who were greatly surprised at seeing a white woman (his mother) so far from the main settlement. He remembered while on the river seeing Lieut. Pullin with the Waterwitch cutter, also the releasing of a pair of rabbits, and the following day the arrival at their camp of a blackfellow with one of the rabbits which he had caught, and of which, was an article of diet, he was not sure. The rabbit, a delicacy in those days, was duly potted, but the native wanted to interfere with the cooking arrangements. Young Hughes objected, whereat the native used his waddy with the result that Hughes's left eyebrow was knocked off, and he carried the scar to the end of his life. Like hundreds of others, he was seized with the gold fever, and for three months, in 1852, was on the Forest Creek and Moonlight Flat diggings, where his efforts were not unrewarded. In 1875 the allurement of the gold rush to the Northern Territory could not be resisted, and he joined the Kapunda Prospecting Syndicate party. His reminiscences of the doings at Port Darwin, Southport, and Shackle, and Yam Creek, and adventures with alligators in the Adelaide River were most interesting. Mr. Hughes was four years chairman of the Woodside District Council, and was a director of the Onkaparinga Produce Company, and an elder of the Presbyterian Church. For about 73 years he was a subscriber to the Manchester Unity Oddfellows, and he was believed to hold a record for length of service in local friendly society circles. He was initiated in 1848 in the Loyal Flinders Lodge, Nairne, and on November 19, 1859, he entered the Loyal Onkaparinga Lodge, Woodside. He was a Past Grand, having occupied the chair in 1864 and 1880. Mrs. Hughes, who came to South Australia in 1839, passed away on January 28, 1919. The surviving members of the family are five sons viz., Messrs. George (Laura), John (Adelaide), L.S. (Mount Barker), and R.W. and A.S. (Woodside) and the Misses M.D., J.I. and C.A., of Woodside. The interment took place on Thursday, his remains being laid to rest in the Inverbrackie cemetery, where a large number of friends, including a procession of Oddfellows, gathered to pay their last respects. The service was conducted by the Revs. E. Campbell and G.C. Love and the Oddfellows service was read by Bro. E. Marks. The funeral arrangements were made by Mr. J. Templer.

Inverbrackie Presbyterian Cemetery: HUGHES William Frederick 93y 1921; Parent of Christine; Of Bleakside Farm

  Other Records

• Boothbys South Australian Directory, 1872, nr Mt Charles, Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1882, nr. Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1884, nr. Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1885, nr. Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1890, Bleakside, Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1895, Bleakside, Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1896, Bleakside, Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1900, Bleakside, Woodside, South Australia.

• Boothbys South Australian Directory: Farmer, 1905, Bleakside, Woodside, South Australia.

William married Mary STODART [563] [MRIN: 192], daughter of Laurence (Biggarshiels) STODART [418] and Mary Ann MIDDLETON [419], on 26 Jun 1850 in Church of St Matthew, Kensington, Adelaide, South Australia. (Mary STODART [563] was born on 26 Feb 1833 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, baptised on 24 Apr 1833 in Leith, Scotland, died on 28 Jan 1919 in Inverbrackie, South Australia and was buried in Inverbrackie Presbyterian Cemetery, South Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

South Australian Register (Adelaide) Thursday 12 July 1900
GOLDEN WEDDING.
HUGHES - STODART. Married in the Church of St. Matthew, Kensington, by the Rev. Frederick Platt, M.A., 26th June, 1850, W.F. Hughes, of Nairne, to Mary Stodart, of Vallies.

The Register (Adelaide) Wednesday 29 June 1910
DIAMOND WEDDING.
HUGHES-STODART. On the 26th June, 1850, at the Church of St. Matthew, Kensington, by the Rev. F. Platt, A.M., W. F. Hughes, of Bleakside, near Woodside, to Mary Stodart, of Nairne.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 29 June 1910
A DIAMOND WEDDING.
WOODSIDE, June 27. Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Hughes, of "Bleakside" Farm, celebrated their diamond wedding yesterday. Mr. Hughes is hale and hearty at 82 years, his wife is five years his junior. They have six sons and four daughters, all of whom were present, except one son, who lives in Western Australia. A great number of relatives and friends congratulated the genial old couple, amongst them being Mrs. Hughes' brother, Mr. John Stodart, who was present at the wedding in 1850. Mr. Hughes arrived in South Australia in the barque Diadem (about 500 tons register) in 1840, after a five months' voyage from London. He was born at Leeds. Mrs. Hughes, whose maiden name was Mary Stodart, arrived in the ship Palmyra in 1839 from Leith, being a native of that town. She was accompanied by her parents and two brothers, Thomas and John. Mr. Hughes' parents and three brothers (John, George, and Joseph) accompanied him to Australia.
He became a tenant of the South Australian Company in 1852, and lived on the same farm for 58 years. He purchased it a few years ago. Mrs. Hughes and her parents, accompanied by Mr. John Disher's family (fellow-passengers), were the first to settle permanently in the township of Nairne, they occupying two shepherds' huts, then the only buildings there. That was in 1839.

Chronicle (Adelaide) Saturday 2 July 1910
A DIAMOND WEDDING.
WOODSIDE, June 27. Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Hughes, of 'Bleakside,' Farm, celebrated their -diamond wedding yesterday. Mr. Hughes is hale and hearty at 82 years. His wife is five years his junior. They have six sons and four daughters, all of whom were present, except one son, who lives in Western Australia. A great number of relatives and friends congratulated the genial-old couple, amongst them being Mrs. Hughes brother, Mr. John Stodart, who was present at the wedding in 1850. Mr. Hughes arrived in South Australia in the barque Diadem (about 500 tons register) in 1840, after a five months' voyage from London. He was born at Leeds. Mrs. Hughes, whose maiden name was Mary Stodart , arrived in the ship Palmyra in 1839 from Leith, being a native of that town She was accompanied by her parents and two brothers, Thomas and John. Mr Hughes' parents and three brothers, (John, George and Joseph) accompanied him to Australia. He became a tenant of the South Australian Company in 1862, and lived on the same farm for 58 years. He purchased it a few years ago. Mrs. Hughes and her parents, accompanied by Mr. John Disher's family (fellow passengers), were the first to settle permanently in the township of Nairne, they occupying two shepherds' huts, then the only buildings there. That was in 1839.

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA) Friday 25 June 1915
Family Notices
A RADIUM WEDDING
(newspaper photograph of couple)
MR. AND MRS. W. F. HUGHES.
A rare anniversary will be celebrated by Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Hughes, of "Bleakside," near Woodside, on Saturday, June 26, that date being the 65th anniversary of their wedding day, they having been married in St. Matthew's Church, Kensington, S.A., in 1850. Mr. Hughes is over 87 years of age, and Mrs. Hughes past 82, but they enjoy good health and still take a great interest in the affairs of the world. Many an interesting hour can be spent with them in chatting upon things of days long past. Mr. Hughes having an especially good memory for happenings in the very early days of the colony. They are both good readers, and Mr. Hughes has been an ardent consumer of local news recorded in the "Courier" ever since that paper started. The genial old couple have a wide circle of friends who hold them in very high esteem, and they have long been famed for their genuine kindness and hospitality. Mr. Hughes arrived in South Australia in the barque "Diadem" which was about 500 tons register, in the year 1840, after a five months' voyage from London. He was born in Leeds. Mrs. Hughes, whose maiden name was Stodart, arrived in the ship "Palmyra," in 1839, from Leith, being a native of that town, being accompanied by her parents and two brothers, Thomas and John Stodart. Mr. Hughes, parents and three brothers (John, George, and Joseph) accompanied him to Australia. He became a tenant of the South Australian Company in 1852, and has lived on the same farm, which he purchased some years ago, for 63 years. Mrs. Hughes and her parents, accompanied by the late Mr. John Disher's family (fellow passengers) were the first to settle permanently in Nairne. They at first occupied two shepherd's huts on the property of the late Mathew Smillie, the only buildings there at that time (1839). Mr. and Mrs Hughes have five sons and four daughters living. Mr. G. L. Hughes (Laura, Mr. J.B. Hughes ("Burnbrae," Woodside), Mr. L.S. Hughes (Mount Barker), (Mr. R.W. Hughes (Adelaide), Mr. A.S. Hughes ("Bleakside," Woodside), Mrs. C.W. Fowler (Woodside), and the Misses Hughes, of "Bleakside." There are seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA 1880-1954) Friday 29 June 1917
PERSONAL.
Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Hughes, of Bleakside, Woodside, on Tuesday celebrated the sixty-seventh anniversary of their wedding day, when many of their friends visited and congratulated the old couple. Both enjoy remarkably good health, and take a keen interest in the affairs of the day. Mr. Hughes is in his ninetieth
year, and his wife in her eighty-fifth, They have lived on their farm for more than 65 years, and are highly esteemed. Mr. William Frederick Hughes was born in Leeds in 1828, and came to South Australia with his parents and three brothers in the barque Diadem, about 500 tons register, in 1840. With his parent she went to Murrundie. on the River Murray, with Mr. Edward Eyre's party, where he bad many pioneering experiences in the early days of the province He afterwards settled at Nairne, where he learnt the trade of a stonemason, under the direction of Mr. William Rogers. In 1850 he was married to his present wife, then Miss Mary Stodart, of Nairne. In 1851 Mr. Hughes settled at Bleakside Farm, Woodside, which he still occupies. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have five sons and four daughters living, Mr. G.L. Hughes (Laura), Mr. J.B. Hughes ("Burnbrae," Woodside), Mr. L.S. Hughes (Mount Barker), Mr. R.W. Hughes (Adelaide), Mr. A.S. Hughes ("Bleakside," Woodside), Mrs. C.W. Fowler (Woodside), and the Misses: Hughes, of "Bleakside."