The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-08

/ this country was William Hill. called
''one OF the founders OF New England -
He came over in the William and Francis
in the seventeenth century. spent some
time in Boston and Dorset, and finally
made his home in Windsor. He held
many public offices, among them that OF
collector Of customs and governors as
| sistant. His descendants are to be found
! in New York State and New England.
One Of the most interesting connec-
lions of the name is the Maine family
founded by Peter Hill. who died in Bidde-
ford in 1861. To this family belonged
Capt John Hill, whose gallant service
during King Williams war Is described
by Cotton Mather. A little romance is
interviewer with Johns war record. He
was stationed near Mayor FrOst's gar
rison and dwelling, and his official duties
required frequent visits at the Frost
home. To add to the pleasures of these
visits II happened that the major had
a charming daughter, Mary, who in the
course of a few months consented to
become the wife of Capt. John. A letter,
still extant, written by Maj. Frost to his
son-in-law. Capt. John Hill, prays God
20 keep him from the rage of the
enemie." The letter is signed Your low
ing father-in-Iaw. Frost and addressed
to Capt John Hill, at Saco Fort, hast
post hast Maj. Frost was killed by
the Indians. 1T is a great loss to the
whole province and espesely to his fam
lily. Mistress Frost is very full of sorry"
says the old record.
The New York State Hills are descend
ed from Nathanial Hill. who came from
the north of Ireland, where he was born
in ITO5 He settled as a young man on
the west frontier of the settlement OF
Scotch-Irish settlers on the banks Of the
Hudson. He was a very large land holder.
He married Susanna Armstrong and had
the following children: James, William.
Peter, Catherine, Mary, Martha, Eleanor.
Margaret, and Susanna OF these, the
third son, Peter. was a captain in the
Revolutionary war when he was but
twenty-four. He took part in the defense
of Fort Montgomery, where he distin-
guished himself for gallantry. His son.
Nathaniel, was lieutenant in the war OF
1872. when he was stationed at Harlem
Heights He married Mathilda Crawford,
and had Sarah, Nathaniel p, Isabella,
and Peter. There are many descendants
of this valiant family to be found
throughout New York State.
There was a president of Harvard
named Hill, and one might think that
he came from one Of the notable New
England families of the name. But, on
the contrary, he was the son Of an Eng
fish tanner who settled in New Bruins
wick early in the nineteenth century. The
son, Thomas Hill, was born there in
1918, and was early left an orphan. At
twelve he was apprenticed TO a printer,
and later to an apothecary in the same
town, bpt finally by dint of much hard
work managed to get to Harvard, where
he received his education. He became
a Unitarian minister, but his interest al
ways lay in things mathematical rather
than in theology. and later, as president
Of his alma mater, he was one OF the
most Intellectually gifted men who ever
held that post. His son, Henry Baker
Hill. was a well-known chemist
There was a governor Of New York
named Hill, who traced his descent to
Adam Hill. Of County Derry. Ireland, who
came to Schenectady, N. Y, where he
died in 1854 He had many descendants
in New York State, including David Hill,
the governor.
The Hills have always been well rep
resented in our wars. but the family has
the reputation Of being peacemakers,
and Is found acting in this capacity In
various local histories. One Of the best
known of these peacemakers was Rich
ard Hill, OF Pennsylvania, who did much
to help the cause of the Society OF
Friends In that colony.
There are some fourscore possible coats
of-arms for the Hill family and four for
the Hills family. The one here repro
duced is gules two bars ermine, in chief
a lion PEASANT. per pale or and argent
The crest is a heur de lys argent.
The motto. which is always an optional
matter. is "Esse guam Internationally,
ITO be rather than TO SEEM" or freely.
Better to be than to seem to be-