My Genealogy Home Page:Information about Sarah Luckstead
Sarah Luckstead (b. 1704, d. 12 Jun 1741)
Notes for Sarah Luckstead:
Sarah was hung on 6-12-1741-
Note:
John Hughson (1700-1741) was the second son of Thomas and Maria Hughson.
He was a farmer and a cobbler. He married Sar ah Luckstead (1704-1741).
Sarah wanted more out of life than to be a a farmer/ cobbler's wife, so
she convinced John to move to NYC and open a tavern on WestBroadway.
John's tavern became known as a meeting place for the slaves in the
city. At the time, the city ranked #2 in the slave population in
America. They would often congregate at Hughson's Tavern to drink, dance
and socialize. Although this practice was illegal, it was generally
overlooked by the authorities. John's tavern was not the only
establishment in the city to serve slaves.
In the early spring of 1741, there were rumors in the city of a
possible slave revolt (there had been one in 1712). In fact, there were
several arsons in the city that spring, and slaves had been caught "in
the act". John and Sarah,were found to be involved - at least to the
extent that they had served as a fence for goods stolen by the slaves
from various town merchants, landowners and slave holders. It also
appeared that the tavern had been used as a meeting place
for the conspirators. The slave Caesar (alias John Gwin) and Hughson
schemed to steal from the wealthy and sell to the poor and joined the
"underworld" for profit. John became known as the "devil incarnate". The
testimony of Hughson's indentured servant Mary Burton assisted in the
trial. John, Sarah and an Irish woman named Peggy (she was believed to
also be involved with the conspiracy as she kept company with one of the
slaves involved), living with the Hughson's were hanged, as was a man
named Ury, who was accused of being a Catholic priest.
John and Sarah were hanged on the same day (June 12, 1741) and John's bo
dy was left on the village green to decompose in the summer sun. In additi
on to the
executions, dozens of slaves were removed from New York to various islands
.
John's father, Thomas and his 4 brothers (Richard, Nathaniel, Walter
and William) were incarcerated in the West Chester County Jail, were they
remained over the summer of 1741. Eventually they were released with the
stipulation that they would leave the county immediately (as there was no
evidence against them). The men pleaded with the judicial system to free
them on thebasis that their families were starving and they needed their
support.
More About Sarah Luckstead:
Died 2: 1741, NYC, NY.
Children of Sarah Luckstead and John Hughson are:
- William HUGHSON, d. date unknown.
- Jane HUGHSON, d. date unknown.
- Elizabeth HUGHSON, d. date unknown.
- Margaret HUGHSON, d. date unknown.
- John HUGHSON, d. date unknown.
- Sarah HUGHSON, b. 1725, d. date unknown.
- Mary HUGHSON, b. 1725, d. date unknown.
- Samuel HUGHSON, b. 1739, d. date unknown.
- Lewis HUGHSON, b. 1741, d. date unknown.