More Regarding David and Cynthia Hughes

The day began with more questions than answers. What would we know by day's end? A decision was made to begin our research in Dallas County, Arkansas, since there was some evidence David and Cynthia had lived there (see previous post).



The Dallas County Courthouse in an attractive old building and the ladies in the County Clerk's office were very helpful.



Led into the room with rows and rows of large books of a variety of record types (marriage, probate, taxes, etc.), we scouted the shelves to decide where to begin. I had already determined we must search for probate records. A will could offer great clues as to whether our David G.

Hughes really lived in the county. In the first index searched, we found the name, David G. Hughes. We were in luck. We found the correct page and will number in the will book and - paydirt. There was David Hughes' will written by hand 149 years ago. See it for yourself.



Notice the will only mentions, by name, the son of Cynthia's by her first marriage, William Callison. Other court records which we photographed, show that David became William's legal guardian. William Callison was 3 years old in the 1850 US Census (see previous post).

An earlier family historian, Evelyn Beryl Hughes Fraquela, Alton's sister, records David was a wealthy land owner who also owned slaves. The land records and probate inventory reveal he did own over 400 acres. We also discovered in probate records that David and Cynthia did own many slaves, for the most part one family. Another court record stated there was a male slave named Jake and a female named, Maria.

David's first land entry in the tax records was made in 1851, apparently purchased just shortly after David and Cynthia were married. The next entry was made in 1855.

David's will was recorded in May of 1858 and the probate work began in August of the same year. Had he been sick? Cynthia was named the executrix, but something very interesting happened.

On April 14, 1861, Cynthia Hughes married Benjamin F. Larkin. On May 16, A. C. Henson and E. C. Jones, securities for the estate, petitioned the court that since Cynthia had remarried, her role as administrator of the estate, should be revoked and that William Daniel, Sheriff and ex officio adminstrator of Dallas County should be appointed administrator. The court so decreed.

Apparently, one of the problems was a concern regarding Benjamin F. Larkin who, "is a man of suspicious character and a stranger in the county." The family story handed down is that there may have been foul play in Cynthia's death in October of the same year.

We leave these folks for now. On Tuesday we will be searching for any records which may be found in the Hot Springs County Clerk's office and Malvern Public Library. Check back in later.