William Hilliard (abt. 1641 - 1713)

Born about 1641 in Hingham, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Husband of Deborah (Warren) Hilliard — married 12 Jun 1671 in Hingham, Plymouth, MA

Descendants

Died 24 Jan 1713 at about age 72 in Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island Colony

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Biography

William Hilliard was born about 1641 probably in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts and was baptized with his sisters Esther and Mary on 25 Feb 1654/5 by Rev. Hobart.^[1] William died 24 Jan 1713/14 in Little Compton, Bristol, Massachusetts.^[2] He was buried in Old Commons Cemetery, Little Compton, Newport, Rhode Island.^[3]

William married Deborah Warren on 12 June 1671 in Hingham.^[4]

They resided at 'Liberty Plain' in Hingham, where William was a cooper, the industry for which Hingham was well noted. Some of their neighbors included Humphrey Johnson and son Benjamin; Robert Dunbar (a Scotsman); Capt. John Jacob; and James Whiton and son James.

We find no record of William participating in church or town affairs, nor any evidence that he was a property owner. A sister of Deborah's married a son of Daniel Hobart, who was the twin brother of Rev. Peter Hobart, the minister of Hingham for many years.

They may have had a fire some time in November 1683 because the cause of death of their son Isaac on 25 NOV 1683 was recorded as due to "burned in the fire".

During the King Philip's war, the home of a neighbor, James Whiton was burnt by the Indians. Also, the house of Nathaniel Chubbick, probably of nearby Accord Pond, was one of those destroyed on 20 APR 1676. No mention is made of William's home.

The family moved to Little Compton, sometime between the birth in Hingham of Esther on 8 MAR 1684/5 and the birth in Little Compton of Mary on 3 APR 1687. Little Compton was settled about 1676 and it appears that William may have owned land shortly after that date but he was not recorded as one of the original owners.

His gravestone includes a flag denoting military service. No record could be found showing service in King Philip's war, but a record exists showing that a William Hillerd had service in the Sir William Phips' Expedition to Canada in 1690. It shows that under Capt. Samuel Gallup, a body of about 60 men sailed from Plymouth in five Shalops. This battle was won at the expense of many lives. It is hard to believe it is William because he would have been fifty years of age, more likely his son, William.

William appears in multiple town records in Little Compton:

• At the 20 MAR 1703/4 town meeting it was voted that William Hillird is chosen "Clark of the Market" & William or Will Hillird (Hilliard, Hillard) was voted "Clark of the Market" at the town meeting every year thereafter until and including MAR 1708/9.
• He was voted as one of the "Surveyors of the Highways" on 18 MAR 1705/6 and 20 MAR 1707/7
• On 18 MAR 1705/6 it was also voted that Will be chosen as "a monitor to see to our highways".
• On MAR 1708/9 he was selected for the "Jury of Tryalss".
• On 5 MAR 1710/11 and 10 MAR 1711/12 he was chosen as the "Tithing Man".
• On 4 JUL1691, William bought from Joseph Church, Sr., Lot 56 for 5 pounds. * On 8 FEB 1692/3 he bought Lot 54 from Nathaniel Warren for 10 pounds.
• On 8 APR 1697 he bought from Joseph Church for eighteen shillings Lot 23, Lot 24, Lot 33, 1/2 of Lot 25 and 1/4 of Lot 18 and for 24 shillings, Lot 11.
• On 6 JUN 1699 he bought from John Rouse for eighteen shillings, 3/4 of Lot 14.

Additional purchases were made that day from Samuel Bradford and Benjamin Church. The records indicate that a William Hillard sold land 29 APR 1714, to William Fobes. William had died three months earlier in JAN, so this sale may have been finalized after his death.

The will of William, recorded in Taunton, was made DEC 1712 and proved 1 FEB 1713:^[5]

". . .to wife Deborah Hilliard use of real and personal for life. To son David Hilliard one half of my real estate after the death of my wife. To son Jonathan one half of my real estate after the death of my wife. To daughter Deborah, wife of John Paddock 10 pounds. To daughter Esther, wife of Jeremy Geere ten pounds. To daughter Mary, wife of John Palmer 10 pounds. To daughter Abigail Hilliard 15 pounds. To daughter Sarah Hilliard 10 pounds. Rest and residue to wife Deborah including Indian woman . . . ." William Hilliard."^[6]

Marriage 1 Deborah [--?--] Married: BEF 26 JAN 1671/2

Children:

1. [--?--] HILLIARD b: 26 JAN 1671/2 in Hingham, , Plymouth Colony
2. William HILLIARD b: 21 JAN 1672/3 in Hingham, , Plymouth Colony
3. John HILLIARD b: 16 FEB 1674/5 in Hingham, , Plymouth Colony
4. Simon HILLIARD b: 14 MAR 1675/6 in Hingham, , Plymouth Colony
5. David HILLIARD b: 25 FEB 1677/8 in Little Compton, Newport, RI
6. Deborah HILLIARD b: 7 JUN 1680 in Little Compton, Newport, RI
7. Isaac HILLIARD b: 19 APR 1683 in Little Compton, Newport, RI
8. Esther HILLIARD b: 8 MAR 1684/5 in Little Compton, Newport, RI
9. Mary HILLIARD b: 3 APR 1687 in Little Compton, Newport, RI
10. Abigail HILLIARD b: 12 JUL 1690 in Little Compton, Newport, RI
11. Sarah HILLIARD b: 28 JUN 1692 in Little Compton, Newport, RI
12. Jonathan HILLIARD b: 8 NOV 1696 in Little Compton, Newport, RI

William was born in 1645. He passed away in 1714.

Sources

1. ↑ Hobart's Journal (C. Edward Egan, Jr., "The Hobart Journal," in New England Historic Genealogical Register, 121(1967):105)
2. ↑ "Rhode Island, U.S., Vital Extracts, 1636-1899"
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3897 #77372 (accessed 19 December 2021)
   Name: William Hilliard; Death Date: 24 Jan 1714; Death Place: Little Compton, Rhode Island, USA; Page number: 127.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66558737/william-hillard: accessed 25 April 2023), memorial page for William Hillard (25 Jun 1645–24 Jan 1714), Find A Grave: Memorial #66558737, citing Old Commons Burial Ground, Little Compton, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA; Maintained by Barbara Crossler (contributor 47030589).
4. ↑ Mrs. John E. Barclay, F.A.S.G. and Miss Rachel E. Barclay, F.A.S.G., "Elizabeth Danson and Her Four Husbands: Warren-Sendall-Hayward-Wilson," The American Genealogist 47 (Jan 1971); digital images, New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Ancestors (https://www.americanancestors.org/ : accessed 19 Dec 2021) 18.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991," Probate Records 1687-1916; Index, 1687-1926 [Bristol County, Massachusetts]; Author: Massachusetts. Probate Court (Bristol County); Probate Place: Bristol, Massachusetts
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9069 #6816833 (accessed 19 December 2021)
   William Hilliard probate on 15 Dec 1713.
6. ↑ https://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hillard%5Ffamily&id=I3