Ebenezer Hill (1766 - 1854)

Born 31 Jan 1766 in Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 20 May 1854 at age 88 in Mason, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

Biography

• Fact: Christening (2 February 1766) Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
• Fact: Occupation (03 Nov 1790) Pastor - Untill death
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Regarding the ecclesiastical history of Marlborough, "The proprietors' charter reserved one right of land for the ministry, and another for the first settled minister; but these could not be made available until a minister was settled. No record exists to show that there was any preaching in the township previous to 1771.

At a meeting, July 12 1775. it was voted "to hire some preaching this summer". Several ministers came and went until "In 1779, Rev. Ebenezer Hill supplied the desk for several months, giving good satisfaction, and was invited to settle, but having, only a short time previous, received a similar call from the church and town of Mason, N.H., he declined the call, and was ordained in that place Nov. 3, 1790, where he remained in the work of the ministry for the unusual period of sixty years, and died May 20, 1854, aged eighty-eight years. In a letter written to a friend, under date of May 5, 1790, he writes, "I have tried to think it was my duty to settle at Marlborough, but it appears quite plain to me that Providence has pointed out Mason as the place." Notwithstanding his declination to settle here, he ever entertained for the people of Marlborough an affectionate regard. Mr. Hill was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Cutler) Hill of Cambridge, Mass., and was born at that place January 31, 1766. He entered Harvard College at the age of sixteen, graduated in 1786, and after this he studied theology with Rev. Seth Payson of Rindge." Taken from the book "History of the Town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire" by Charles A. Bemis. The Frost Free Library, Marlborough New Hampshire, 1974. (A facsimile of the 1881 edition with a new foreward by James Dunn - originally printed in 1881 by the Press of George H. Ellis, Boston, Ma.) pg.110

Inscription on his headstone marker Born in Cambridge Jan 31, 1766. Graduated at Harvard College 1786. Ordaned pastor of the church and minister of the town of Mason. November 3 1790. "A faithful servant. He devoted his time and strength to the work of his lord and master: ready at all times to direct the enquiring. To cheer the doubting. To warn the sinful. To visit the sick and inflicted. And to offer to the comfort and support of religion: After a long life of usefulness, he departed in peace. Humbly trusting to receive the welcome message. Well jdone good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

• Fact: Burial Pleasant View Cemetery, Mason, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States

Sources

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPZ5-VXSM : 31 October 2019), Ebenezer Hill and Polley Boynton, 2 Feb 1791; citing Marriage, Townsend, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007011180.

• "New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLG9-FQQ : 8 April 2020), Eban Hill in entry for Ebenezer Hill, 14 Oct 1791; citing Mason, Hillsborough, New Hampshire, United States, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,002.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 December 2020), memorial page for Rev Ebenezer Hill (31 Jan 1766–20 May 1854), Find A Grave: Memorial #82950828, citing Pleasant View Cemetery, Mason, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA ; Maintained by Jack Stevens (contributor 47033206) .
• Pope, Charles Henry. Merriam Genealogy in England and America. (Charles H. Pope, Boston, 1906) Page 229. See footnote.