A trawl of marriage indexes gives two possibilities for the marriage of a Richard Pugh to an Ann (working back from the censuses)
1. Richard Pugh, Bachelor of Llanfachreth parish marries Ann Evans Spinster of the same parish by Licence on 19th Nov 1817 witnessed by William Pugh and Hugh Humphreys. Bishops transcripts in Genuki. Ann Evans was born in Dolgelly in 1788 from census information.
They had the following children (ref IGI batch number C057411)
William Pugh . Christening: 03 Mar 1819 Llanfachreth, Merioneth, Wales (Richard
is a farmer living at Buchesau, Llanfachreth)
Anne Pugh. Christening: 29 Mar 1820 Llanfachreth, Merioneth, Wales (Richard
is a farmer living at Buchesau, Llanfachreth)
Hugh
Pugh Christening: 16 May 1822 Llanfachreth, Merioneth, Wales (Richard
is a farmer living at Buchesydd, Llanfachreth)
Jane Pugh Christening: 03 Oct 1824, Death: 01 Jun 1835, Llanfachreth, Merioneth,
Wales (Richard is a farmer living at Buchesydd, Llanfachreth)
Richard Pugh Christening: 08 Jun 1829 Llanfachreth, Merioneth, Wales (Richard
is a farmer living at Caeheuad,, Llanfachreth)
2. Richard Pugh of Dolgellau. Confusingly there is another marriage on 25 Oct 1817 of Richard Pugh of Dolgellau to Ann Lewis of Ffestiniog at Ffestiniog. There are no children baptised there on IGI, so Ffestiniog would have to be searched to see if he settled there. There is no record though of Richard and Ann Pugh in 1841 or 1851 census in the area.
So two Richard Pugh to Ann marriages, either of which could be our man. Certainly the Ffestiniog marriage produces no children in Ffestiniog (or at least no children baptised there), but does tie in with the Richard Pugh that ends up in the Ffestiniog workhouse.
1851 census. Richard born Llanfachraeth, Merionethshire, Labourer, age 63, and Ann Pugh (born Dolgelly, age 63)
They were living at Lodgefach, Crogennant, Dolgelly with Evan Pugh, age: 24( born: Dolgelly, son of Richard Pugh).
Also listed in the house is William Pugh 3 (Grandson of Richard Pugh) born
Dolgelly He is listed in the 1861 census as living in Corris. His mother
Jane then age 37, ie born circa 1824, (born Llanfachreth) has married an
Edward Evans. William is the only Pugh they have in that household then. Aled
Pugh raised the thought that there might be another
son Rees Pugh born circa 1820 due to the fact that Mary Ann Pugh (dau of
Richard and Ann Pugh) was staying in London with William and Catherine Pugh
(children of a Rees Pugh). However I have been unable to get any link between
the families.
By 1861 census a Richard
Pugh is a widower (the one in the Ffestiniog workhouse), so Ann Pugh has died
between 1851 and 1861. BMD records 9 Ann Pugh who die in Dolgelly in this 10
year period and 1 in Ffestiniog, which would not help even if we found the right
one.