GenMassachusetts-L Archives

From: "Betty" <>
Subject: HILL surname in Billerica, etc. (TOOTHACRE, LITTLEFIELD)
Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 07:10:36 -0400

Hello,

Since the HILL surname has been brought up this morning, I thought I would
offer the first paragraph of the HILL section in the Genealogical part of
the "History of Billerica."


"HILL. 1. Ralph, was early at Plymouth. The tradition, in his family,
that he came from Billericay is prob. strengthened by the fact that there
was a clergyman bearing the same name in Essex, 1645-69 (See David's
"Annals of Nonconformity in Essex, p. 440.), whose wife was Persis _____,
and who had dau., Sarah, bap. at Shalford, 1645, Aug. 10. In 1650, he
was at Ridgwell, 'a godly preaching minister;' afterwards,, at Pattiswick,
where he was 'ejected,' and in 1669, he is reported at Sheldon, 'having a
conventicle there.' Our Ralph Hill, 'of Wellingsly,' prob. a locality
in Plymouth, sold 1643, Sept. 16, for 12 (pounds), to Stephen Wood, house
and garden, 'upland at Wobery,' 12 acres or thereabout; and we soon after
find him in Woburn, where he was freeman, 1647; Selectman in 1649.
He joined in the settlement of Shawshin as early as any; and lived on 'the
farm,' a mile south-west of the village, his house standing a little west
of the place where Mrs. Judkins, his descendant, now lives. In April
1663, he gave the town one-half acre of land for a 'burying place,' and on
the 29th, he died, -- his own body, doubtless, the first to be laid in the
old 'south' burying ground. His wife d. and he m. 1638, (Savage)
Margaret Toothacre, mother of Roger, 1, who d. 1683, Nov. 22, aged 76.
Ch. Jane, b. in England. In the will of Ralph Hill, a gr.dau., Mary
Littlefield, is mentioned. Francis Littlefield, of Woburn, and his wife,
Jane, had a dau., Mary, b. 1646, Dec. 14, the mother dying Dec. 20; and
Mary Littlefield m. John Kittredge, 1, 1664, Nov. That Mr. Hill had
this dau., Jane, is quite certain. Ralph, 2, Martha, Nathaniel,
3, Jonathan, 4, b. 1646, April 20. Rebecca, m. Caleb Farley, 2.

2. Ralph, son of Ralph, 1, b. in England or at Plymouth. He had a lot on
the township, on the Andover road, where I. G. Kimball lived, which he sold
to John Poulter, and bought 1656, May 16, of William Baker, the 'farme' lot
south of his father's. His house stood just north of Mrs. Boyden's place
and was one of the 'garrisons' of 1675. It stood with its ancient
windows, until after 1850. He m. 1660, Nov. 15, Martha Toothacre, the
dau. of his step-mother, and d. 1695, April 9; his widow d. 1703/4, Jan. 4,
aged about 69.
Ch. Elizabeth, b.1661, July 28, Deborah, b. 1663, Dec. 14, Rebecca,
b. 1666, Aug. 14, Samuel, 6, b. 1671/2, Feb. 18, Daniel, b. 1674/5,
Feb. 22, Hannah, b. 1681, Dec. 18, d. 1689, Sept. 20."


3. Nathaniel, son of Ralph, 1, b. prob. at Plymouth; m. 1667, June 21,
Elizabeth Homes, prob. dau. of Robert, of Cambridge, who d. 1685, March 31.
He d. in Chelmsford, 1706, May 14.
Ch. Nathaniel, 7, b. 1668, March 31, Ralph, b. 1669, Oct. 14; d.
1742, April 23. His will provides for '30 gallons of sweet wine at my
funeral, if occasion requires.' John, b. 1671, May 27, Joseph, b.
1672/3, March 18, Jonathan, b. 1674, James, b. 1675, Dec. 10, d. Dec. 21,
Elizabeth, b. 1676/7, March 13, Robert, b. 1678/9, Jan. 23, Jane, b.
1680, Dec. 15; d. 1711, Nov. 15, Anna, b. 1682, June 9; d. June 10,
Abigail, b. 1683, Dec. 26.


4. Jonathan, son of Ralph, 1, b. 1646, April 20; m. 1666, Dec. 11,
Mary Hartwell, dau. of William, of Concord, who d. 1694/5, Feb. 13.
Ch. Mary, b. 1667, Sept. 9, Jonathan, 9, b. 1669, Aug. 21, Samuel, 10,
b. 1671/2, Sarah, b. 1674, Oct. 10, Joseph, b. 1683, May 29.

........"


(I have left out a few of the marriages, for ease of my typing, etc.)


There are 5 pages of HILL information. And, there are 6 "historic homes"
currently standing in Billerica which are said to be "HILL" homes, and there
is a very small "HILL Cemetery" in West Billerica. (This is different
from the "Old South Cemetery" just outside of Billerica Center going towards
Bedford.)


Betty (near Lowell, MA)

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• HILL surname in Billerica, etc. (TOOTHACRE, LITTLEFIELD) by "Betty" <>