Hughes's wife, according to traditions in the Floyd family, was a descendant of Powhatan's brother, Opechancanough (Brown, 1895: 46-47; 57-58; Woods, 1901: 49). Murdered after the Indian uprising of 1644, Opechancanough left a young daughter, "the child of his old age," named Princess Nicketti - 'she sweeps the dew from the flowers,' who clandestinely married an unnamed member of an old "Cavalier" family. Brown writes that "he fell in love with her and she with him."
First, let me say that I think this entire legend is probably a bunch of romantic nonsense. Although there may have been an Indian trader named Hughes who lived on the upper James River in the early 1700s, I doubt very much that his wife was a descendant of the legendary and perhaps mythical Nicketti. Also, although many Indian traders had Indian “wives” as well as white wives, the unions that they entered into with Indian women were not considered legal marriages back in those days. In fact, interracial marriages were illegal. People were very bigoted back then, much worse than today, if you can believe it.
There was indeed a Rees/Rice Hughes who patented land in Tidewater Virginia in the 1600s. Here are some of his land patents, original copies of which can be found on-line at the Library of Virginia:
8 March 1652. 200 acres on the north side of the Yorke River behind the land of George Gills in the main woods. Due for the transportation of John Williams, Robert Symons, Thomas Price and Hugh Griffin. No county name given but this land was probably located in what became New Kent County in 1654. Rice Hughes later assigned this patent to George Smith.
2 December 1656. 410 acres more of less on the southwest side of the York River in the County of New Kent adjoining the land of George Smith and Mr. Langstone. Due for the transportation of 9 persons including John Morely, Eliz. Harwood, Griffith Jones, Jane Urlin, Martin Weele, Margarett & Jno.
1 March 1657. 860 acres in New Kent County including his previous grant of 410 acres together with 450 acres adjoining, part thereof on the southwest side of the York River adjoining George Smith’s corner tree.
28 January 1662. 860 acres in New Kent County formerly granted to him in 1657 and now re-granted. (It was not uncommon for persons who had received grants during the time of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth to take a re-grant after the Restoration of Charles II, in order to be sure of preserving title to their land.)
I can’t find another patent issued to Rees/Rice Hughes until 1693, which is a gap of 31 years. I suspect that the Rees/Rice Hughes of 1693 was the grandson of the original Rees/Rice Hughes and probably the son of Robert Hughes. The reason I believe this is because a Robert Hughes took out a patent for 855 acres in New Kent County in 1682 which was due for the transportation of 18 persons including Rees Hughes Jr and Elizabeth Hughes. My guess is that Robert Hughes, the son of the original Rees/Rice Hughes, went back to England to find a wife and then returned to Virginia with wife Elizabeth and son Rees Jr. When Rees Jr. grew up, he appears to have in turn named a son Robert. They lived in the New Kent/Henrico County area of Virginia and appear to have been Quakers, as can be seen from the following records from Volume IV of The Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy:
“A scrutiny of the Register of St. Peter’s parish which begins in 1686 is revealing in that it names many men living in Henrico, New Kent and the territory that later became Hanover, Caroline and Louisa Counties whose names also appear frequently in the Quaker records. Among these are: Charles Fleming, John Realy (Raley), Thomas Moorman, James Woody, Rice Hughes, Richmond Terrell, Sisilly Ellison, Alexander Mackeney, Thomas Stanley, Thomas Harris, William and John Johnson, Robert Ellison, Garret Robert Elleson, Robert Hughes and others. How many of these were Quakers in 1686 it is impossible to say, though some were, as a matter of fact, while others may have been “convinced” at a later date.”
1699/1700, 12, 9. Edward Huyghs gave 500 lbs of tobacco toward the building of a new MH at Curles.
1700, 2, 12. Rice Huyghs condemned for misconduct.
1700, 2, 28. Rice Hughes signed a certificate of a marriage in New Kent County.
1700, 2, 28. Robert Huyghes signed a cert of a marriage held in New Kent County; first time name appeared.
1700, 2, 28. Sarah Hughes Sr. signed a cert of a marriage held in Black Creek MH.
1701, 4, 6. Rice Hughes complained of for his misconduct; condemned for same & placed on probation.
1703/4, 1, 18. Rachel Hughes signed mtg book as a token that she was in unity with this MM as held.
1703, 10, 10. Sarah Hughes Senior & Junior signed a certificate of a marriage held in Henrico County.
1703, 10, 10. Stephen Hughes signed a certificate of a marriage at Wm. Porter’s house, Henrico County.
1705/6, 11, 19. Rice Hughes disowned.
1706/7, 12, 15. Edward Hughes ordered to remove obstacles that caused disturbance or he will be disowned.
1710, 6, 23. Stephen Hughes signed certificate of a marriage at New Kent MH.
1710, 4, 17. Robert Hughes proven a member of this MM when his vote was recorded.
1710, 6, 23. Robert Sr, Robert Jr and Sarah Hughes signed certificate of a marriage held in New Kent.
1711, 4, 8. John Atkinson resigned as clerk of MM having quarreled with Samuel Jordan; MM books turned over to Robert Hughes & G.R. Elyson. Atkinson mentioned that Hughes & Elyson were his friends & were responsible for his appointment as Clerk; he seemed to be a member of the New Kent PM.
1713/14, 12, 12. Sarah Hughes Jr. liberated to marry Thomas Atkinson.
Hope all of this information helps you or someone else who may be researching Rice/Rees Hughes. Good luck with your research, and I am glad that you are someone who actually looks for documentation to substantiate your genealogy.
Sincerely,
Nancy Kiser
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Re: Rees or Rice Hughes, wife Nicketti
Posted by: Nancy Kiser
Date: January 17, 2005
In Reply to: Re: Rees or Rice Hughes, wife Nicketti by Billie Harris
Billie,
I have found further evidence in the early records of colonial Virginia which indicate that Rees/Rice Hughes had a wife named Susanna. These records indicate that Rees/Rice Hughes (Hoe) and his wife Susanna had an indentured servant named John Price (Prise) whom they may have either beaten or starved to death. These records also indicate that Rees/Rice Hughes bought an Indian girl, which possibly accounts for the legend that he "married" the Indian Princess Nicketti. Rees/Rice Hughes may have had children with this Indian girl, and it's possible that one of their descendants was the Trader Hughes who lived on the upper James River. I know the actual facts are not as pretty as the legend, but I think we need to be truthful about the past, no matter how reprehensible it was. Here are the additional citations that I have found:
From page 357 Charles City County Court Orders 1661-1664:
January 9, 1662: We whose names are hereunto subscribed being upon the Jury concerning the death of John Prise do find to the best of our knowledge that the said John Prise did come to his untimely end by the reason of his running away from his Mr. Rice Hoe and so was starved for want of victuals which running away we do apprehend was by the means of the sad stripes that appeared upon his body given him by his Mrs. Susanna Hoe upon the 2nd of January but we do not find any mortal wound upon him. Daniel Clarke, Neal Sincler, ffer. Aston, Wm Gillum, Rich. Bradford, John Hattly, Tho. Calloway, Tho Turner, Phillp Owen, Tho. Richard, Jeoffrey Momford, Jno Parish.
From page 359 Charles City County Court Orders 1661-1664:
Bee it knowne to all whom this may concerne that I Manwairing Hamond of Riccohocke Esqr out of the confidence and trust I repose in my trusty and welbeloved friends the Hono’ble ffrancis Morison Esqr, Mr Theoderick Bland, Capt Tho. Stegge, Major Joseph Croshaw and Mr. Stephen Hamelyn doe appoint and constitute the same persons my true and lawfull attornies to oversee all the estate reall and personall I leave behind me in Virginia and they or any thereof them to have hereby power to lett or make sayle of it…this 2 day of June 1662. Signed M. Hammond. Witnesses: George Morris, Sam Huckstepp, ___ Woodward, Rees Hughes.
From page 361 Charles City County Court Orders 1661-1664:
The Court hath passed judgment (according to an obligation produced in Court) agst Rice Hoe for ₤14-1 sterling money to be pd by bills of exchange and secured by the sd Hoe to the use of Major General Manwaring Hammond Esqr or his ass’s or attorneys according to the sd obligation with all costs to be pd by the sd Hoe als exec.
From page 361 Charles City County Court Orders 1661-1664:
Theoderick Bland Esqr for Major General Manwaring Hammond Esqr admitteth and confesseth judgement against the estate of the sd Major General Hamond to secure and justify the service of an Indian Girl by him sold to the said Hoe according to a contract under the hands of Rees Hughes agent for the sd Major General Manwaring Hammond als exec.
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