William Hilton III (1677 - 1723)

Born 24 Dec 1677 in York, York, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret (Stilson) Hilton — married 2 Jun 1699 in Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 21 Jun 1723 at age 45 in Manchester, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Biography

William Hilton was the grandson of William Hilton who arrived in Plymouth on the ship Fortune in 1621.^[1]

In 1702/1703 he received a grant of 30 acres in York, some of which had been part of his father’s land. He also had land at the head of Bradbote (Broadbote or Braveboat, Bravefoot) Harbor. This second piece of land was sold to Joseph Hoult in 1711.^[1]

In 1707 Mrs Elizabeth (Hilton) Littlefield, her young son and Joshua Hilton, supposed to be her brother, were attacked by Indians. Joshua Hilton was carried to Canada and there was no further report of him.^[2] There is currently not documentation that links Mrs Littlefield and Joshua, but the birth of a son named Joshua in this family in that same year makes it seem likely that there is a connection.

In 1711 Ensign William Hilton was with a group of men who pursued a Frenchman and three Indians who stole a sloop from York habor that was owned by Capt. Abraham Preble. The sloop was overtaken by men of York, and at a hearing the same night as the capture, Hilton was ordered to kill the prisoners and he proceeded to Boston to claim the bounty with the scalps of the Indians.^[2] He reported that he served under Colonel Walton and that three of the men deserted. The pursuit ended in the recovery of the sloop and the deaths (and scalpings) of the three Indians.^[3] There are many more records of murders, captures and battles during this period which is known as Queen Anne’s war.^[2]

William also had a house in Manchester at Black Cove in Newport. He had another house at Muscongus which he bought in 1719-1720. It is noted that he bought this land from Caesar Moxis and Gustin, Indian Sagamores. It is supposed he may have lived in Muscongus during fishing season. He had a large stock of cattle. In 1719 a road was laid out from Black Cove “near Hilton’s swamp and garden.”^[1][4]

On Saturday, August 21 1721, there is record that Hilton moved his cattle and hogs back to the west, saying all the people had left Muscongus due to fears from the Indians.^[1]

William lived and held lands at York and Manchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony. William was involved in trade along the coast and in fisheries, he improved land and owned large herds of cattle. He was also referred to as William Hilton of Muscongus and Marblehead.^[5]

The records of the land sales may be found in Johnson’s History of Bristol and Bremen and Pemaquid.^[1] This part of Massachusetts Bay Colony is now part of the state of Maine.

William is buried in the Old Burial Ground in Manchester.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} John T. Hassam, "Some of the Descendants of William Hilton, _New England Historical and Genealogical Register_; digital images, _Internet Archive_ (accessed 2013), 31 (1977): 186-7. for #3. William^3 Hilton (William^2, William^1). [1]
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Charles E Banks, History of York, Volume 1, excerpted photographed pages, Baltimore Regional Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD, originally published 1931, viewed 4 May 2017, Boston Public Library, available online at [2].
3. ↑ John T. Hassam, The Dover Settlement and the Hiltons, reprint from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, January 1882, NEHGS, Downloaded 22 Apr 2017 via americanancestors.org.
4. ↑ Francelia Nagle, Hilton file no. 1, Yarmouth NS, Yarmouth County Museum and Archives, 3 Sep 2009.
5. ↑ Emma Lewis Coleman, New England Captives Carried to Canada, Southworth Press , 1925, Suzallo Library, University of WA Seattle, viewed 1997, p.177.

Additional Sources

• WikiTree profile Hilton-345 created through the import of Lent_Vise_2011-05-11aa.ged on May 26, 2011 by Bryan Sypniewski.