Thomas Hughes

My Great-Grandfather Thomas Hughes was born in Ireland around 1840-1844 and we know he was from Dublin. He immigrated to South Africa, unsure when but before 1884 when he married my Great-Grandmother Anna Susan Lidderd (or Liddiard). 

We have my GGF's marriage certificate on 2 Nov 1884 in Leribe, Basutoland (Lesotho), South Africa and it states his father's name as Michael and that he was an Engineer. We aren't sure what his mother's name was?

I've found a baptism record (12 March 1844 St Michael and John's, Dublin City) that I think is correct but if I can find any more information. It states Michl and Mary Hughes as his parents.

GGF Thomas Hughes died in South Africa on 6 June 1926 and his occupation is stated at Blacksmith which we were aware of. There is a family story that he worked on the Suez Canal and held shares in the company but lost them all due to the issues with ownership by the DeLesseps and Egypt. We were also told that he build a boat which he sailed to South Africa in but don't have any documentation to prove this. We were also told that when he arrived in South Africa he was very sick and was looked after by my Great-Grandmother who was a nurse, that's how they met.

Through DNA matches I've found a few people of similar ages that could be my GGF Thomas Hughes siblings but have not found futher information to validate this:

• Jane Ellen Hughes b 4.12.1844 in Dublin, Ireland is a potential sister who went to live in America and got married to John McNererny
• Caroline Hughes b 1853 in Ireland went to live in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio
• James Hughes b. 1833 in Dublin, Ireland is a potential brother 
• Michael Hughes b 1838/40 
• Robert William Hughes
• John William Hughes

If anyone has and information about Thomas or his family please contact me. 

Many thanks!