Jonathan Hill
Jonathan Hill
| Born | 1763-09-28 Billerica, MA |
| Died | 1815-01-29 Billerica, MA |
| Father | Jonathan Hill |
| Mother | Mary Lane |
| Spouses |
Mary Proctor |
Jonathan Hill was born in Billerica on September 28, 1763, the youngest son of Jonathan Hill and Mary Lane, and grew up on the family farm on the road from Billerica to Bedford, now Concord Road, in South Billerica. By his will of 1795 his father left his older brothers Job Hill and Josiah Hill the south end of the farm and made Jonathan executor and heir to "all the rest" of his lands in Billerica and Carlisle, with the stock and tools and "my clock and great brass kettle," on condition that his unmarried sisters keep rooms in the house. The father died in April 1796, and that December the three brothers divided a Carlisle woodlot of 66 acres under the will, Jonathan taking "his full half."
For the next nineteen years he farmed the homestead and ran the family grist mill on the brook from Nutting's Pond, the later Hill's Mills. He lived in the Jonathan Hill House, which he finished inside, and kept the great barn north of it (see Jonathan Hill Barn). On December 13, 1798 he married Mary Proctor of Bedford. Their children were Mary (1801), who married Samuel Butler of Leominster in 1824; Anna (1802), who married John Simonds of Bedford in 1825; Jonathan (1804), who was living in North Berwick, Maine, by 1834; David, baptized in 1811; and Rufus, born after his father's death, who died in May 1816 at a year old.
Jonathan Hill died without a will on January 29, 1815, aged 51, and was buried in the Old South Burying Ground. His widow declined the administration, and Samuel Whiting was appointed. The appraisers, his kinsman Peter Hill, Timothy Stearns and his brother Josiah, valued "the homestead of said deceased in said Billerica estimated at 150 acres with all the buildings thereon, except the grist-mill" at $5,050, the grist mill at $440 and a woodlot in Bedford at $600. The farm ran from Nutting's Pond on the east, across the Bedford road, to the Concord River, and its buildings were the dwelling house, the barn and hovels, a mill house and cider mill, a corn house and the grist mill. Mary Hill was given her dower in May 1815: about 45 acres, a third of the mill and "one half of the dwelling house," the west room and chambers, with the kitchen and well room in common. The children's guardians, Timothy Stearns and then Joel Fitch of Bedford, kept the mill grinding for the heirs; in 1816 Job Hill paid $16 "for the use of the Mill."
In the spring of 1825, after the daughters had married, the farm of about 180 acres was sold to John Simonds, who married Anna that June: the guardian sold the sons' half at auction, the Butlers and Anna sold the other half with pew No. 12 at the meeting house, and Mary Hill released her dower for $500. That ended the Hill family's ownership of the house. Mary Hill died on February 1, 1848, aged 68.
References
- Hazen, History of Billerica (1883), Genealogical Register p. 71, HILL 25
- Vital Records of Billerica (1908), births p. 99: Jonathan, s. Jonathan Jr. and Mary, Sept. 28, 1763; children Anna (1802) and Jonathan (1804)
- Vital Records of Billerica (1908), marriages p. 269: Jonathan and Mary Proctor of Bedford, Dec. 13, 1798
- Vital Records of Billerica (1908), deaths p. 368: Jonathan, Jan. 29, 1815, a. 51; Mary, w. Jonathan, Feb. 1, 1848, a. 68; Rufus, s. Jonathan and Mary, 1816
- Middlesex probate case 11475 (1815): administration, inventory and dower of Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman
- Middlesex probate case 11476 (1815): guardianship of his children Mary, Anna, Jonathan and David Hill
Title References
| Date | Type | Grantor | Grantee | Summary | Property | Recorded |
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| May 10, 1796 | Will | Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman | Jonathan Hill, his son (and Job, Josiah, Benjamin and Ralph Hill) | Son; residuary legatee and executor under his father's will, 1795-96 | Jonathan Hill House Hill's Mills Jonathan Hill Barn Josiah Hill House Jonathan & Laura Hill House Harvey Snow House Joseph Dane House Concord Road Corporate Center |
Probate #11473 |
Will dated Jan. 12, 1795, with a codicil of Sept. 15, 1795. Sons Ralph and Benjamin, already provided for by deed, get 20 shillings each, and Benjamin the lot in Ashby. "My Kinny-farm, so called, containing by estimation about eight acres, with the buildings thereto belonging" goes to son Job. Job and Josiah share the land in Bedford (except Crooked Meadow) and "the southern part of my farm in Billerica on the east side of Bedford-road," divided from the rest by a line from the drawbars a little south of the grist mill along the wall of the ox-pasture, with the Peter lot of river meadow to Job, the Parker lot of meadow to Josiah, and the right to grind their own grain at the corn mill. To son Jonathan, the executor, all the rest of the lands and real estate in Billerica and Carlisle, Crooked Meadow, the stock, tools, clock and great brass kettle. Money to daughters Mary and Isabella; to the five unmarried daughters Susanna, Lucy, Elizabeth, Zuba and Anna, 20 pounds each, the household furniture, and while single the east chamber, the bedroom below at the northwest corner, the kitchen, well and wash yard, half an acre for a garden and a cow kept for them. Witnesses Henry Cumings, Jacob Richardson and Samuel Whiting. Proved May 10, 1796 before Judge Oliver Prescott. Middlesex probate case 11473.
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| January 22, 1799 | Partition | Job Hill and Jonathan Hill of Billerica and Josiah Hill of Bedford, yeomen, sons and heirs of Jonathan Hill | Each other (Jonathan Hill one half, Job and Josiah Hill one quarter each) | Partition of his father's Carlisle woodlot with Job and Josiah; takes about 32 acres, 1796 | Jonathan Hill House Josiah Hill House |
130/432 (South) |
Agreement dividing "a certain tract of land being wood land lying in the township of Carlisle," 66 acres 46 rods, which their father Jonathan Hill "late of Billerica deceased" by "his last will and testament gave and bequeathed unto us" and "willed to be divided" one quarter to Job, one quarter to Josiah and one half to Jonathan. Bounded from a range way southeast 246 rods on woodland of the heirs of John Hill, by a stone wall, and back to the range way by John Nichols. On Dec. 9, 1796 they laid off about 32 acres to Jonathan "as his full half," about 17 1/2 acres to Job and about 16 3/4 acres to Josiah, and declared themselves "fully satisfied with the division." Signed Dec. 10, 1796; recorded Jan. 22, 1799. Carlisle town book 6, pages 368-370. A woodlot, not the homestead, but it shows the 1795 will being carried out by the son Jonathan who kept the farm.
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| May 17, 1815 | Administration and Dower | Estate of Jonathan Hill of Billerica, yeoman, intestate | Mary Hill, widow (dower), and children Mary, Anna, Jonathan and David Hill | Died intestate Jan. 29, 1815; inventory, appraisal and dower | Jonathan Hill House Hill's Mills Jonathan Hill Barn Concord Road Corporate Center |
Probate #11475 |
Jonathan Hill died intestate early in 1815. His widow Mary declined the administration, and Samuel Whiting of Billerica was appointed administrator on Feb. 28, 1815 (bond $30,000 with Joseph Locke and Jeremiah Farmer). The inventory by Peter Hill, Timothy Stearns and Josiah Hill (March 23, 1815) values "the homestead of said deceased in said Billerica estimated at 150 acres with all the buildings thereon, except the grist-mill" at $5,050, the grist mill at $440 and 13 1/4 acres of woodland in Bedford at $600. The committee to set off dower (Whiting, Peter Hill and Josiah Hill) appraised the real estate: the lot east of the road to Concord, about 98 acres, bounded by the road, Job Hill, the heirs of Jonathan Stickney, Nutting's Pond, Isaac French and the heirs of Joseph Hill ($1,940); the lot west of the road, 70 acres to the Concord River, between the heirs of Joseph Hill and John Stearns, Job Hill and Josiah Hill ($2,020); Long Meadow; the Bedford woodlot; the dwelling house ($600), barn and hovels ($180), mill house and cider mill, corn house and hog sty, grist mill and two pews, $6,200 in all. On May 17, 1815 they set off to the widow about 45 acres east of the road, meadow, woodland and old field, one third of the grist mill and pews, and "one half of the dwelling house (viz.) the west room, bed room, west chamber, and garret over it together with the middle chamber" ($300), the kitchen, meal chamber, well room, milk room and woodhouse to be used in common. The return also provides for the cow that "Jonathan Hill, father of Jonathan Hill deceased" ordered kept for his daughter Susanna. On April 4, 1815 Timothy Stearns of Billerica was appointed guardian of the four minor children Mary, Anna, Jonathan and David at their mother's request (case 11476). Middlesex probate case 11475.
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| 1815 | Guardianship | Mary, Anna, Jonathan and David Hill, minor children of Jonathan Hill (d. 1815) | Timothy Stearns of Billerica, guardian (1815), succeeded by Joel Fitch of Bedford (1816) | Father of the four minor children under guardianship, 1815-25 | Hill's Mills | Probate #11476 |
On April 4, 1815, at the widow Mary Hills request, Timothy Stearns of Billerica was appointed guardian of the four children of Jonathan Hill, "all minors under the age of fourteen years" (bond $30,000 with Samuel Whiting and Isaac Hurd Jr.). After Stearns died, Mary (over fourteen) chose Joel Fitch of Bedford on Sept. 5, 1816, and Fitch was also appointed for Anna, Jonathan and David. The account of Stearnss executor, Elijah Stearns (June 1817), shows the mill at work for the heirs: "cash received for the toll of the gristmill," $9.77 in July 1815; "of Mr. Job Hill for the use of the Mill," $16 in June 1816; and a payment "for mending the Mill dam." On March 29, 1825 Fitch gave bond to sell the minors half of the farm under a license of the Supreme Judicial Court, and posted notice of a "Public Auction ... on Friday the twenty ninth day of April next ... on the premises, two undivided fourth parts of two thirds of the farm, two story dwelling house, Barn, Cider Mill, Grist Mill & other convenient out buildings ... about two miles from Billerica meeting house on the road leading from Billerica to Concord, formerly the estate of Jonathan Hill." Middlesex probate case 11476.
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| April 11, 1826 | Guardian's Deed | Joel Fitch of Bedford, guardian of Jonathan Hill and David Hill, minors | Mather Hayward of Bedford, gentleman | His farm; guardian's sale of his sons' half, 1825 | Jonathan Hill House Jonathan Hill Barn Hill's Mills Concord Road Corporate Center |
265/389 (South) |
Joel Fitch, guardian of Jonathan and David Hill, "minors and children of Jonathan Hill late of Billerica ... yeoman deceased intestate," licensed by the Supreme Judicial Court at Concord on the fourth Monday of March 1825 to sell the whole of the minors' real estate, after thirty days' notice posted in Cambridge, Billerica, Bedford and Burlington, sold at public vendue on the premises April 29, 1825, to Mather Hayward, highest bidder, for $1,900: two undivided quarter parts of about 180 acres "with the buildings thereon standing" in the southwesterly part of Billerica, bounded northerly by the heirs of Joseph Hill deceased, westerly by Concord River, southerly by John Stearns and Job Hill, easterly by the heirs of Jonathan Stickney deceased and Seth Crosby; and two quarter parts of a ten-acre meadow by Elijah B. Hill, Job Hill, a brook and land "this day sold to Elijah B. Hill"; including the minors' reversion in the part set off to the widow Mary Hill as dower. Witnessed by Elijah Stearns and John Simonds; acknowledged May 17, 1825. Hayward quitclaimed the same two quarters to John Simonds for the same $1,900 by a deed dated the same day (Book 265 Page 391). Billerica town book 12, pages 464-466.
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| April 11, 1826 | Deed | Mather Hayward | John Simonds of Bedford, cordwainer | His farm, two quarters passed to John Simonds, 1825 | Jonathan Hill House Jonathan Hill Barn Hill's Mills Concord Road Corporate Center |
265/391 (South) |
For $1,900, quitclaim of two undivided fourth parts of about 180 acres "with the buildings thereon standing" in the southwesterly part of Billerica, bounded northerly by the heirs of Joseph Hill deceased, westerly by Concord River, southerly by John Stearns and Job Hill, and easterly by the heirs of Jonathan Stickney deceased and Seth Crosby; also 2/4 of a ten-acre meadow by Elijah B. Hill. This is the farm of Jonathan Hill (d. 1815). Hayward had bought these two quarters, the share of the minor heirs Jonathan and David Hill, at the guardian's auction the same day for the same price (Book 265 Page 389), so he acted as a straw buyer for Simonds. Lucy Hayward released dower. Signed April 29, 1825; acknowledged May 17, 1825. Billerica town book 12, pages 466-467.
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| 1825 | Deed | Samuel Butler of Leominster and Mary Butler (in her right), and Anna Hill | John Simonds of Bedford, cordwainer | His farm; his daughters Mary Butler and Anna Hill sell their half, 1825 | Jonathan Hill House Jonathan Hill Barn Hill's Mills Concord Road Corporate Center |
265/392 (South) |
For $1,933.25, the other two undivided fourth parts of the same farm and meadow, with Mary's and Anna's reversion in the dower of the widow Mary Hill, and pew No. 12 and horse shed No. 12 at the meeting house. Mary and Anna were daughters of Jonathan Hill (d. 1815); Mary had married Samuel Butler in 1824, and Anna married the buyer, John Simonds, on June 2, 1825. Signed May 5, 1825. Billerica town book 12, pages 467-469.
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| 1825 | Release | Mary Hill, widow of Jonathan Hill | John Simonds of Bedford | His widow Mary releases her dower in his estate, 1825 | Jonathan Hill House Jonathan Hill Barn Hill's Mills Concord Road Corporate Center |
265/393 (South) |
For $500, release of her dower in the estate of her late husband Jonathan Hill. Followed by William Whitford's mortgage back to Simonds (Book 265 Page 442; town book 12, page 470). Billerica town book 12, page 469.
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Recorded is Book/Page at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds unless noted; Probate # is a Middlesex probate case, Ctf a Land Court certificate of title.