0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:25 > 0:00:27- Hello, how are you?
0:00:27 > 0:00:29- Welcome to Tucson, Arizona.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32- I'm here - at my mother-in-law's house.
0:00:32 > 0:00:38- I've travelled - the length and breadth of America...
0:00:38 > 0:00:42- ..and no matter where I go, I always - come across a Welsh person...
0:00:42 > 0:00:45- ..with a very interesting history.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47- Tucson is no exception.
0:00:50 > 0:00:54- Tucson is a substantial town - in the south of Arizona...
0:00:54 > 0:00:58- ..with a population - of just over half a million.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01- When I first came here...
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- ..the name Sam Hughes - was everywhere.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08- Streets, cafes, hotels and schools - were named after him.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13- After much research...
0:01:13 > 0:01:16- ..and perseverance...
0:01:16 > 0:01:19- ..I discovered - where the story began.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33- I've come to the Pembrokeshire - Record Office in Haverfordwest.
0:01:34 > 0:01:38- I know that Sam was born here - and was a Welsh speaker.
0:01:38 > 0:01:43- His father was Sam Hughes and - his mother was Elizabeth Edwards.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45- They were married in 1827.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49- I'm hoping Nikki Bosworth - has more information for me.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54- I'd already sent the information - I had on Sam to Nikki...
0:01:54 > 0:01:57- ..who is Pembrokeshire's archivist.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01- Thanks.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11- Here it is.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14- The marriage certificate - of Sam's parents.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19- It says here - that they were married in 1824.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21- This is the correct date.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27- Nikki also gave me - a priceless document.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32- It traces Sam's family tree - back to the 18th century.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35- Thanks very much indeed.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37- Wow.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41- Sam's family could be traced back...
0:02:41 > 0:02:45- ..to the same farmhouse - in the 18th century.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47- They were an influential family.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51- Sam Hughes was a yeoman, - similar to a justice of the peace.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58- It was here at Clydey church - that Sam's parents were married.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03- Although they were both - devout Congregationalists...
0:03:03 > 0:03:06- ..chapel marriages - weren't allowed in 1824.
0:03:06 > 0:03:11- A stone's throw from the chapel - is the family home, Hendrewilym.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17- It was here at Hendrewilym farm, - Llanfyrnach, Pembrokeshire...
0:03:17 > 0:03:22- ..that Sam Hughes was born - in December 1829.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26- The farmhouse has changed - a great deal since Sam's days.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- For a short while, - the family lived...
0:03:29 > 0:03:34- ..in a house called Castell - on Hendrewilym's land.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40- In 1837, Sam, his parents, - brothers and sisters...
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- ..embarked on an epic adventure.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47- Believe you me, - it really was an epic adventure.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53- In 1837, when Sam Hughes - was only eight years of age...
0:03:53 > 0:03:58- ..the family sailed from Liverpool - to America aboard the North Star.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00- Why they emigrated is unclear.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- The best way to explain - their reasons for emigrating...
0:04:05 > 0:04:09- ..is to understand what enticed them - to America and what drove them.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- Living off the land - was difficult at the time.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17- There was a shortage of land - and much poverty.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- They were drawn to America...
0:04:19 > 0:04:23- ..because they believed - they could own their own farm...
0:04:24 > 0:04:26- ..since land was inexpensive.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- Within three months, - they arrived here in Philadelphia.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47- It took me seven hours to get here - and it took them three months.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52- They would have sailed - in a far smaller ship than this.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- Nevertheless, they arrived here - full of hope...
0:04:57 > 0:05:00- ..to begin a new life in America.
0:05:19 > 0:05:24- Once they arrived, the family - established a small dairy farm...
0:05:24 > 0:05:29- ..in Manayunk, a rural location - outside Philadelphia.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- Manayunk is now a part of the city.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37- It's hard to believe - that this was once a dairy farm.
0:05:38 > 0:05:43- They came here because there were - other Welsh expatriates living here.
0:05:51 > 0:05:56- Their customers were here, - in the so-called Welsh Track...
0:05:56 > 0:06:00- ..across the Schuylkill River - from Manayunk.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04- It's very interesting.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07- There are - so many Welsh names in the area...
0:06:07 > 0:06:13- ..that some people have gone as far - as creating Welsh-sounding names.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- The 1830s was a decade...
0:06:27 > 0:06:30- ..when many Welsh people - emigrated to the USA.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35- They were either industrial workers - emigrating to industrial areas...
0:06:35 > 0:06:38- ..or farmers - seeking agricultural land.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44- Numerous families from - Montgomeryshire, Merionethshire...
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- ..Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire...
0:06:48 > 0:06:52- ..moved to America and settled - in areas like Philadelphia...
0:06:53 > 0:06:55- ..and further west.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01- Once the family - had settled in Manayunk...
0:07:01 > 0:07:06- ..Sam was sent to school, - but he only lasted one day.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09- He was bullied and ridiculed...
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- ..because he couldn't speak - a word of English, only Welsh.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19- A family story claims - he was completely illiterate.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22- I don't believe that myself.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26- I believe that he was - completely literate in Welsh.
0:07:26 > 0:07:31- He attended Sunday school - at Capel y Graig in Trelech.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41- During his childhood back in Wales, - Sam Hughes and his family...
0:07:41 > 0:07:46- ..walked miles every Sunday - to worship in Trelech.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52- It was here that Sam - and his siblings were baptized...
0:07:52 > 0:07:55- ..including Thomas, - his younger brother.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- The fact is that Sam didn't have...
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- ..any formal education - in the United States.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13- I've read a couple - of his letters...
0:08:13 > 0:08:18- ..and he spelled phonetically - with a Welsh accent.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- It would drive you up the wall - to determine what he meant.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- After two years - farming in Manayunk...
0:08:26 > 0:08:32- ..the family moved once again, - to western Pennsylvania.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35- The Hugheses came to Nanty Glo.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40- It was here that Morgan John Rhys - and his fellow Nonconformists...
0:08:40 > 0:08:44- ..established the new settlement - of Beulah.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46- Only a street name remains.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51- This was the seed - that eventually inspired Patagonia.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- A new, liberated, Welsh colony.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07- Many of the Welsh contingent - in the Allegheny Valley...
0:09:07 > 0:09:09- ..didn't fulfil their dream.
0:09:10 > 0:09:16- They were buried in cemeteries - such as this one.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- This one reads, - "In memory of Gruffudd Llwyd...
0:09:21 > 0:09:26- "..who died on 8 September 1830, - aged 67 years old."
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- "Only the earth and the insects...
0:09:32 > 0:09:37- "..will destroy his flesh - and cleanse him...
0:09:37 > 0:09:40- "..until his contented soul - will return...
0:09:40 > 0:09:43- "..to dress him anew once again."
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- It is tragic.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54- To quote R Williams Parry, "Most - grievous was dying on distant soil."
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- Finally, Sam Hughes's family - decided to settle here...
0:10:05 > 0:10:08- ..two or three miles - from the city of Allegheny...
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- ..on the outskirts of Pittsburgh.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13- They ran a successful dairy farm.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17- But after a year, - their life was turned upside down.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- The mother died - and within months of her death...
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- ..the father was severely injured...
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- ..leaving him disabled - for the rest of his life.
0:10:31 > 0:10:37- Today, the city of Allegheny - is a district of Pittsburgh.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- When Sam Hughes - and his family moved here...
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- ..it was an independent city.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- They moved to the poorest - and most squalid neighbourhood.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- It was a slum.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04- These were hard times - and now they were eight children.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07- The two youngest - had been born in America.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12- As one of the elder sons, - Sam had to provide for the family.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15- The American dream - had turned into a nightmare.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- Due to Sam's father's - severe disability...
0:11:30 > 0:11:33- ..there was no-one - to support the family.
0:11:34 > 0:11:39- The youngest children - were sent to an orphanage.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43- The building has now been turned - into flats for the needy.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- I met with two local historians...
0:11:46 > 0:11:48- ..who showed me - the old orphanage...
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- ..where Sam's younger brothers - and sisters lived.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54- The youngest child, Lewis...
0:11:55 > 0:12:01- ..was sold as an indentured servant - to a family of Welsh Presbyterians.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- We'll hear more about Lewis later.
0:12:05 > 0:12:10- Another interesting fact is that - the Scottish impresario Carnegie...
0:12:11 > 0:12:16- ..lived on the same street as Sam - and was the same age.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26- These are portraits - of William and Mary Robinson.
0:12:26 > 0:12:32- They owned the orphanage - where the Hughes children lived.
0:12:33 > 0:12:38- They must have been good people, - because Sam's sister, Sally...
0:12:38 > 0:12:43- ..gave her children - the middle name Robinson.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49- Sam's brother, William Hughes, - married their daughter.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- At least we assume he did - - his wife's maiden name was Robinson!
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- But there were better times ahead - for Sam Hughes.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08- .
0:13:10 > 0:13:10- Subtitles
0:13:10 > 0:13:12- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:13:16 > 0:13:18- In 1842...
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- ..Sam Hughes, his disabled father - and brothers David and Thomas...
0:13:23 > 0:13:28- ..lived in abject poverty - in one of Pittsburgh's worst areas.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- It was a dirty industrial town.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34- They must have regretted - leaving Wales.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39- As a teenager - of 14 or 15 years of age...
0:13:39 > 0:13:43- ..Sam had to earn a living - to support the family...
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- ..and his disabled father - in their humble home.
0:13:47 > 0:13:52- He first worked at one - of the numerous cotton mills...
0:13:53 > 0:13:58- ..before finding a better-paid job - at the steelworks.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03- Imagine a boy who had been raised - in the fields of Hendrewilym...
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- ..having to work - in these grim steelworks...
0:14:07 > 0:14:10- ..during the 19th century.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12- It got worse.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15- A strike - resulted in mass unemployment.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- Poor Sam was unable to earn a penny.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- But that may have been - his salvation.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26- Sam was fortunate - - he was offered a new job.
0:14:26 > 0:14:32- It was a temporary job at a bakery - until the strike was over.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36- The baker was a lazy man - and was never there.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38- Sam took advantage of that.
0:14:39 > 0:14:45- He taught himself the art - of making cakes, pies and pasties.
0:14:45 > 0:14:51- Sam's produce was in demand, - and was very highly praised.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55- That led to another job.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04- He was offered an unusual post - that offered up a new adventure.
0:15:04 > 0:15:08- It was certainly an eye-opener - for the Welshman.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30- This is the galley, - where the food is prepared.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33- It's time to roll up my sleeves.
0:15:40 > 0:15:46- Thanks to the baking skills - Sam had learnt at the bakery...
0:15:48 > 0:15:51- ..he was offered a job as a cook...
0:15:52 > 0:15:56- ..on a paddle steamer that sailed - from Pittsburgh to New Orleans.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- The voyage took three weeks.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- I'm washing up because they - don't trust me with a frying pan!
0:16:16 > 0:16:20- The worldly pleasures - of a town like New Orleans....
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- ..and life on a paddle steamer - was sure to broaden the horizons...
0:16:26 > 0:16:28- ..of a Nonconformist Welshman.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32- He heard speeches - that would change his mindset...
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- ..and his attitude to life.
0:16:35 > 0:16:41- He heard the radical Henry Clay - and joined the Whig Party...
0:16:41 > 0:16:46- ..which would in time - become the Republican Party.
0:16:51 > 0:16:56- After spending some years as a cook - aboard a paddle steamer...
0:16:57 > 0:17:01- ..he earned a good reputation - for his food.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06- Important dignitaries travelled - on riverboats in those days...
0:17:06 > 0:17:09- ..and Sam was offered - a rather unusual job.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- I'm sure his food would have been - much better than this junk.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- The opportunity - for a new adventure...
0:17:48 > 0:17:53- ..brought Sam Hughes down - the Missouri River to St Joseph.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- It was at his home in St Joseph - that Jesse James was killed.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03- Some claim that Jesse's grandfather - hailed from Pembrokeshire.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09- It was also from St Joseph - that the first wagon train...
0:18:09 > 0:18:13- ..set out to cross America - to the distant west.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17- On that very first wagon train...
0:18:17 > 0:18:22- ..Sam Hughes became the head chef - after his stint on the riverboat.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- Yes, Sam was on - the first big wagon train.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30- He joined hundreds - of travelling companions...
0:18:30 > 0:18:35- ..who carried their belongings and - walked their livestock all the way.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39- Thousands of people - made the 2,000-mile journey...
0:18:40 > 0:18:43- ..and opened up America - as one enormous nation.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- Sam had left his family behind.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- It was down to the other brothers - to support the family.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54- David became a shipowner...
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- ..and ships in New Orleans - carry the Hughes name to this day.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- They set out in April - when the grass was green.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08- It wasn't horses that pulled - the wagons but Longhorn cattle.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13- Their livestock came with them, - so they needed grass...
0:19:13 > 0:19:18- ..to feed their stock - on the Kit Carson Trail...
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- ..along the banks - of the Platte River.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34- During this time - and throughout the 19th century....
0:19:34 > 0:19:37- ..more and more people - were moving to the west...
0:19:38 > 0:19:40- ..to the new land - that was opening up.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46- They thought it was uninhabited, - but it belonged to Native Americans.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53- It was Sam's duty to feed - all the travellers from in here.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- It was known as the chuck wagon.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00- I have blisters like balloons - on my feet!
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- I hope you appreciate this!
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- We're about a quarter of the way...
0:20:19 > 0:20:22- ..along the wagon train's route.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24- St Joseph is far behind us.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26- We're still on the flat plain.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31- This was once a wilderness, - not farmland as it is today.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- There were no wide roads.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38- Poor Sam had to walk all the way.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42- Thousands of miles to the west.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- It was a long - and perilous journey...
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- ..for Sam Hughes - and the first wagon train.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55- They had to face attacks, - high mountains...
0:20:55 > 0:21:00- ..and terrain - barely set foot on previously.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02- We're on the exact trail...
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- ..that the wagons took - to their journey's end.
0:21:06 > 0:21:12- It was named the 49ers Route - after the Gold Rush in 1849.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16- To this day, the road is called - California State Route 49.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29- After weeks of struggling - across giant rugged mountains...
0:21:29 > 0:21:33- ..Sam, along with 120 wagons, - came over the Kit Carson Pass.
0:21:33 > 0:21:39- The end of the road was in sight - as California stretched before them.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01- In July 1850, Sam arrived here.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05- Once known as Hangtown, - it was renamed Placerville.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09- This was the hub - of the 1849 Gold Rush.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13- Sam faced a brand-new adventure.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15- I'll tell you more next time.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:22:56 > 0:22:56- .