I'm looking for the parents and siblings of Thomas G. (possibly Godfrey) Hughes born March 1973 in the USA. He immigrated to Canada apparently during the war of 1812, apparently he deserted and swam the St. Lawrence river to Ontario, Canada. He hid in the reeds until a farmer found him and offered him a free meal.
I believe that he swam accross close to Prescott or Brockville, Ontario and made his way west to Lennox and Addington County. There Thomas married Elizabeth Shorts in 1818. I have some information on their family, but nothing on him before he married Elizabeth.
Family lore had 3 Hughes brothers saling to America from Wales. I can only assume that would have been his father and 2 uncles. I have located census records with US as his birth place. Thomas died in 1865 in Richmond Township, Lennox and Addington County, Ontario Canada. I imagine that he was most likely from the north eastern US. If you have any information on a Thomas G. Hughes/Hughs please let me know.