Samuel Hill and Clarissa Holloway Hill

Clarissa Holloway Hill Clarissa Holloway Hill was the daughter of William Holloway. Her son, George Littlewood Hill, left a diary of sorts that lists her date of birth as June 18, 1763. Her date of death is clearly April 17, 1847. Her tomb-stone in Smithfield in Henry County, Kentucky says that she was 80 years old at the date of her death that would make her year of birth 1767. Other Hill family researchers indicate that she was born in Virginia while her older brother John was born in England. Very little is know about “Clary” as she seemed to be known. Zeralda Hudson Holloway, who married into the Holloway family, left a diary written in 1911 in which she writes: "A few words concerning Clara Hollo-way Hill. Clara Holloway was a sister of John and George from England. Writer thinks she married in Samuel Hill in England and immigrated to America several years after her brothers did, and settled in Va and died there. They were wealthy in land and slaves, with all needful surroundings.” We do not know how much of this is true. One thing we know to be incorrect is the place of her death. She died in Smithfield, Henry County, Kentucky. Also, there has been no evidence to support the fact that she married Samuel in England. Clarissa’s grandson, Egbert O. Hill (a son of George L. Hill), in a letter to his daughter Louisa I. Rae in 1903 says about Clarissa that “they were quite a numerous and prominent family” Census records would tend to support this. Samuel Hill Zeralda Holloway writes about Samuel Hill: “Samuel Hill was a genuine Englishman with a large strong frame, and a persevering, overbearing temperament and an ungovernable temper, which caused his family much trouble. He was peculiar in his manner of treatment toward his servants and family: he was heard to say to his men "Well! while we are resting we will go and roll logs;" the horses, were resting. He was clear-ing the ground for plowing and rolling logs to be burned. After the death of the old folks, the remainder of the family went to KY to where the Holloways settled.” The particular quote about doing something while you are resting rang loudly in my ears since I have heard my father use that expression almost every day of our life together. Egbert Hill writes of Samuel that he “was an Englishman who came to this country before the Revolution and took sides with the Colonists.” Thus everything seems to indicate that Samuel was born in England and came to America sometime prior to the Revolutionary War. Based on trail documents that are discussed later Samuel Hill appears to have been born in 1755. He died an untimely death in Fredricksburg, Virginia on August 8, 1808. Samuel’s Untimely Death On January 9, 1808, Samuel Hill “with malice aforethought did shoot and discharge . . . [a] gun . . . in and upon the left temple and neck of . . . Gawin Sommerson [also known as William Sommerson] one mortal wound of the depth of one inch and the breath of one inch of which . . . Gawin Sommerson instantly died.” The quotes are from the trial transcript of the Commonweath of Virginia vs. Samuel Hill. The reason for the murder of Gawin Sommerson is unknown. We do know that Sommerson and Samuel had been quarreling for sometime. On the night of the murder, Sommerson came to Samuel’s home and Samuel loaded a gun that he purchased for four dollars and shot him. Samuel’s son (presumably Henry) testified at the trial that Samuel killed Sommerson in defense of one of his slaves. Whether this is true or whether it was only a son’s attempt to save his father’s life we will never know.

During the trial a couple of juror’s held out for a not guilty verdict. Finally they give in for a promise that Samuel would be referred to the Governor of Virginia for clemency. The trail record contains letters from

most of the jurors responding to the Governor on the issue of clemency. Ultimately, clemency was denied and Samuel was hanged in Fredricksburg on August 8, 1808. Samuel’s Will Samuel writes in his will in May 1808 and amended by codicil the day before his execution “I recommend my Soul to the Great creator of the universe hoping and believing I shall receive mercy and forgiveness for my many sins and transgressions through the merits of my Blessed savior and redeemer Jesus Christ.” Samuel divided his land (which apparently con-sisted of at least two farms) among his three sons - Henry, George and William. Other assets were divided among all of his children. A daugh-ter, Nancy, is named and another daughter, Elizabeth, although not named by name, is in-ferred. William, my great-great grandfather who was three months old at the time of Samuel’s death, was also given a slave named Moses. Moses survived William. I have heard my grand-father talk many times of “old Mose Hill” the slave who came to Kentucky with his great grandmother Clarissa. Samuel’s estate con-sisted of thirteen slaves

Clarissa’s Migration West Samuel’s estate was finally settled in October 1811. In 1817 Clarissa left Caroline Co., Virginia for Fayette County, Kentucky with her children Henry (age 24), George (age 19), Nancy (age 16), Elizabeth (age about 13) and William (age 9). She first shows up on the Fayette Co., Kentucky property tax rolls in 1818 and show up there until 1826. Three of her children, George, Nancy and Elizabeth were married in Fay-ette Co. during her say there and Henry married his first cousin in nearby Clark County. Henry’s wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of Clarissa’s brother John who settled in Clark Co., Kentucky. The first year she shows up on the Henry Co., Kentucky property tax rolls was 1828. That places the year of her move to Henry Co. as 1827 since property is valued for taxes on January 1 of each year. She never owned land in Fayette Co. or Henry Co., however I have found records of Henry, George and Nancy owning 106 acres in Henry Co. and William owning 100 acres. Clarissa appears to have lived in Henry Co. much of her life with the exception of a period of time around 1840 when she appears to have visited her son Henry who had already migrated to Missouri. She died in Henry Co., Kentucky on April 17, 1847 and is buried in Smithfield, Henry Co., Kentucky The Sharp Lawsuits Clara Hill moved to Clark County, Kentucky following her daughter, Elizabeth, who lived there after her marriage to John Sharp. Clara’s brother, John Holloway also lived in Clark County. Elizabeth Hill Sharp died about three to five weeks after the birth of her second child, Owen T. Sharp. Clara and Sally Sharp

(probably Elizabeth’s sister-in-law) where with her when she died. Clara moved back to Fayette County after Elizabeth’s death where she stayed for several years before moving on the Henry County, Kentucky. Samuel’s will left gave Clara a life interest in his entire estate. Upon her death the slaves were to go to Samuel’s children. Since his daughters, Nancy and Elizabeth, did not receive a share of the land, they were to receive a double share of the value of the slaves. Upon Elizabeth’s death, John moved to Pendleton County, Kentucky and married Jennetta McClenachan. John and Jennetta had three sons and four daughters. John also had one illegitimate son, John Sharp, Jr., apparently after Elizabeth’s death and before his marriage to Jennetta. In 1837 John gave Samuel Thomas Hauser of Falmouth, Kentucky his power of attorney for the purpose of suing William L. Hill and Clara in order to recover the value of the slaves that where willed to Elizabeth by her father. Henry, George and Nancy were apparently also defendants in the suit. The suit was instituted in Henry County, Kentucky Circuit Court. Plaintiffs included John Sharp and his two children Mary Jane and Owen T., both under twenty-one years of age. According to a transcript of the record, John was afraid that Clara, who was about seventy-four at the time, was going to move to Missouri to live with her son Henry, and take the slaves out of his reach. According to the transcript of the record “Clara, in company with her son Henry and son-in-law William Pickett is now about to remove the slaves to Missouri. Her sons George and Henry some time since removed and Henry is now in from Missouri with said William Pickett, are about to remove with Clara and take another portion of the slaves to Missouri. Clara, Henry and William have packed up and are ready to start in a day or two to Missouri.” The plaintiffs asked for an injunction against the move and for an accounting of all the estate of Samuel Hill. The court ultimately held for the plaintiffs and the verdict was appealed to Kentucky’s Court of Appeals (then the state’s highest court). The Court of Appeals upheld the verdict in the lower court. John Sharp died in December 1846 . His will, which was proven in February 1847, purported to leave his entire estate to Jennetta for life and after her death, to his children. At issue was whether this included what ever interest in the value of the slaves that were left to his first wife, Elizabeth. Owen T. and Mary Jane, John’s children by Elizabeth, along with Mary Jane’s husband, William Cummins, contested the will and were successful in having the will set aside.

The Trial of Samuel Hill

[Back of Page] An Indictment Against Samuel Hill for murder A True Bill Thos. Loman, foreman Witnesses: Hopkins Sommerson Sworn to give evidence to the grand Jury Wm. Sommerson R Herring Hiram Hord Richard Philips John Bontivele Andrian Bowler George Alsop Thomas Miller We the Jury find the prisoner guilty of murder of the first degree, but from some mitigating circumstances which came out in the evidence, are unanimously disposed in to recommend him the Mr. Executive for as a proper object for mercy.

R. H. [*] foreman

[Front of Page]

Virginia District Court of Fredricksburg Caroline County Court

The jurors of the Commonwealth of and for the body of the District composed of the counties of Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Orange, Culpepper, & Madison, do upon their oath present that Samuel Hill late of the Parish of St. Mary’s in the County of Caroline aforesaid labouror, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil, on the ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight and in the thirty second year of the Commonwealth at the parish aforesaid, at the county last mentioned (and within the jurisdiction of the court of the aforesaid District) with force and arms, in and upon one Gawin Sommerson on the peace of God and of the Commonwealth at the time and place first mentioned being feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault: and that he the said Samuel Hill a [*] gun, of the value of four Dollars, at the time and place last mentioned charged with gun powder and divers leaden shot (which gun the said Samuel Hill in his house at the time & place last mentioned had and held) to, against and upon the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did soot and discharge; and that the said Samuel Hill with the leaden shot aforesaid out of the gun aforesaid at the time and place last mentioned by force of the gun pow-der shot and sent forth as aforesaid the aforesaid Gawin Sommerson in and upon the left temple and left neck of him the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned with the leaden shot aforesaid out of the gun aforesaid by the said Samuel Hill so as aforesaid shot, discharged and sent forth feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did strike penetrate and wound Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned with the leaden shot aforesaid so as aforesaid shot and discharged out of the gun aforesaid by the said Samuel Hill in and upon the left temple and neck of him the said Gawin Sommerson one mortal wound of the depth of one inch and of the breath of one inch of which said mortal wound the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned instantly died. And so the ju-rors aforesaid upon their oath aforesai do say that the said Samuel Hill, the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned, in manner aforesaid last mentioned, feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder against the peace and property of the Commonwealth.

The Trial of Samuel Hill

The Trial of Samuel Hill The Judgement of Death

SSermon Delivered at Execution of Samuel Hillermon Delivered at Execution of Samuel Hill

VIRGINIA HERALD

Friday, August 12, 1808

Extract from an Address, delivered by the Rev. Samuel B. Wilson, on Monday last, at the execution of Sam-uel Hill, who was condemned for the murder of William Summerson, of Caroline county, Virginia.

"OCCASIONS like that which has called us together to-day, but seldom occur in this country. The mildness of our laws have greatly mitigated the punishment of criminals; and very laudable efforts have been made, to pro-portion the punishment to the turpitude of the crime, But you are now present to see the rigor of the law, in awful justice, take its course on one of your fellow creatures. By one fatal act of ungovernable passion, he has deprived himself of all earthly happiness, and must now suffer the most dreadful penalty that human laws can inflict. While you are spectators of this solemn scene, let the voice of reason be heard, and salutary counsel make a deep im-pression on your minds. Punishments like this are intended to deter vicious members of society from the perpetra-tion of crimes, that endanger the lives of their fellow citizens, or the peace of society; and involve themselves in the deepest misery. Let me entreat you then to suppress the hard emotion of irregular passion. Were we to trace bak the different steps of vice from the blackest crime to the first bud of iniquity in the soul, we would often find its origin in malice, envy, or ambition, produced by causes the most trivial and insignificant. Pass not then, the sacred limits of rectitude--verge not on the steep and craggy precipice of iniquity--for the ungovernable passions of the human mind once roused, like an irresistible tempest may sweep you from the bosom of domestic happiness and social comfort, to the darkest dungeon of human misery. Without the salutary restrains of religion, you will ever be ex-posed to the worst of evils. No human laws can ever produce that virtue, which is necessary for the existence, and well being of society, while religion is treated as a fable. Let it be indelibly impressed on your minds that you are accountable to God your maker for all your conduct, that his omniscient eye is ever on you, and that dungeons of the greatest misery are prepared in another world for the workers of iniquity. This religionwhich I recommend, ex-hibits not only motives of terror, but also of love. It makes its possessor happy here and prepares him for complete and everlasting happiness hereafter. It enriches the human breast with the most noble virtues, and blesses society with its most honourable members.

The tide of social happiness rises or falls in proportion to the progress or decline of religion. Where there is no religion, iniquity must prevail, and like a cancer in the human body, must extend its deadly poison to the vitals of every government. May I not call then, on every lover of his country, to manifest his patriotic principles, by person-ally renouncing iniquity in every shape, and embracing the religion of Jesus. That man, who by his profession, or his practice discountenances religion, must be an enemy to his country; he gives his voice against that also which can quell the turbulent passions of the human mind, and diffuse order and happiness thro' our world. Let the heaven-born principles of religion this day inspire your minds with piety, and a resolution now be formed, that you will by precept and example, instruct your fellow-men to venerate that religion which alone will secure individual happiness and social order. Then shall war give place to peace, confusion to order, malice to philnthropy, and man shall no more raise the weapons of death to shed a brother's blood.

To you my unhappy fellow-man, I must address the last words of friendly counsel that can ever reach your ears from me. Cut off from earthly happiness, and beyond the power of human aid, you can have no safe refuge but your God. Although he is a God of holiness and jealous of his honour--although his justice inflicts tortures greater than human tongues can utter, yet he is a god of boundless mercy to the penitent soul. Think, O think! how solemn your situation. A trembling soul, you stand on the verge of that precipice that overhangs eternity. Death will soon hurry you off to that world whence there is no return. Before this God of justice you must render an ac-count of all your transactions, and from his mouth receive a sentence that can never be reversed. If you appear before him with crimes unconfessed, and not repented off, you must expect the fiercest of his wrath. But in Jesus there is hope. His mercy to penitent souls exceeds our highest thoughts. A dying thief on the cross received his pardonand his title to life. Those who trust in him shall never be disappointed. But those who despise him shall die without hope."

Will of Samuel Hill

Codicil to Samuel Hill’s Will

1 Henry Hill was born about 1793. He died on June 08, 1852 on the Oregon Trail near Goshen,

Wyoming. He married Elizabeth Holloway, his first cousin, September 14, 1816 in Clark County, Kentucky. Elizabeth was the daughter of John Holloway, Clarissa’s brother, and John’s first wife, Lucy Schuyler. Henry, Samuel and Clarissa’s oldest son, is believed to be the son who testified at the trial of his father. He would have been 15 years of age at the time. During 1814 Henry served in the War of 1812 as a private in the company commanded by Captain William F. Gray of the Vir-ginia militia commanded by Col. Boyd of King and Queen County Virginia. Henry moved to Fay-ette County, Kentucky and moved on to Henry County, Kentucky around the time of his mother, Clarissa’s move their. Ultimately he moved on to Monroe County, Missouri. Henry died while strik-ing out for gold in California. The location of his grave is two miles southwest of Henry, Nebraska in Goshen County, Wyoming.

2 George Littlewood Hill was born January 12, 1798 in Caroline County.,

VA and died in Clinton, De Witt County, Illinois on November 30, 1887. He married Louisa Venona Hickman October 15, 1822 in Fayette County, Ken-tucky. Louisa was the daughter of William Lewis Hickman and Sarah Finney Thompson of Fayette County., Kentucky. George and Louisa also moved to Henry County., Kentucky with his mother, Clarissa and lived there until October 1837 when he move to Clinton, De Witt County, Illinois. He purchased a farm of 640 acres on which he lived and died. According to George's obituary in

the Clinton Republic, December 9, 1887, he “was an intimate and per-sonal friend of Abraham Lincoln, who often visited him at home.”

3 Nancy Fisher Hill was born April 25, 1801 and died January 12, 1872. She married William Pickett

March 22, 1821 in Fayette County, Kentucky. Nancy and her husband William Pickett moved to Monroe County, Missouri and lived near her brother, Henry Hill.

4 Elizabeth Hill was probably born about 1803. She married John

Sharp November 03, 1821 in Fayette County, Kentucky. Elizabeth died shortly after the birth of her son, Owen. Elizabeth and John lived in Clark County, Kentucky until Elizabeth’s death, when John moved to Pendleton Co. He remarried and had sevaral children by his second marriage. Elizabeth had two children, Mary Jane Sharp, born July 12, 1823, and Owen Sharp, born June 25, 1825.

5 William L. Hill was born May 01, 1808 in Caroline County, Virginia

and died February 16, 1864 in Henry County., Kentucky. He married Amanda S. Walker December 17, 1834 in Henry County, Kentucky. Amanda was the daughter of James Walker and Eliza S. Oliver, na-tives of Henry County, Kentucky.

Final Settlement of William L. Hill Henry County Court Division of Lands Book 1 1864 We the undersigned Commissioners appointed by order of the Henry County Court at its February term 1864 to allot to the widow of W. L. Hill deceased her Dower in the land and slaves of W. L. Hill, deceased and to allot to the chil-dren of said Hill the remainder of said land and slaves. We met at the late residence of said Hill in Henry County, Kentucky on the 2nd day of March 1864 having been duly sworn and proceeded to execute said order. We valued the slaves of said Hill at the sum of $3,300.00. 1/3 of which to: Amanda Hill dower $1,100.00 Shares to children 366.66 2/3 2,200.00 $3,300.00 We allotted to the widow for Dower Negro man Moses 200.00 Negro man William 325.00 Negro Martha and child 350.00 Negro Emily 250.00 Negro Eliza 150.00 ________ $1,275.00 Out of which to pay Heirs 175.00 ________ $1,100.00 We allotted to Parthenia Buttorff (Late P. Parthenia Hill negro man Sinclair 350.00 negro girl Caroline 300.00 _____ 650.00 To pay to the Heirs 283.33 1/3 _____ 366.66 We allotted to Eliza Hill Negro girl Sarah 275.00 The widow to pay her 91.66 2/3 _____ 366.66 2/3 We allotted to Horace W. Hill Negro boy Willis 300.00 The widow to pay him 66.66 2/3 _____ 366.66 2/3 We allotted to James Hill Negro man George 350.00 The widow to pay him 16.66 2/3 _____ 366.66 2/3 We allotted George Elzy Hill Negro boy Owen 200.00 Buttorff to pay him 166.66 2/3 _____ 366/66 2/3 We allotted to Clay M. Hill 150.00

Obituary of George Littlewood Hill

Obituary of George Littlewood Hill, son of Samuel and Clarissa Holloway Hill and brother of William L. Hill, Clinton Public, Clinton, Illinois, Friday, December 9, 1887 Sketch of George L. Hill One of the Pioneers of DeWitt County George L. Hill was born January 12, 1797, in Caroline county, Virginia, near Fredericksburg. He was left fatherless at the age of twelve years, and with his widowed mother moved to Kentucky in 1815, and there took charge of her busi-ness, at the age of eighteen years. He then rented land of Lewis Hickman, whose daughter, Louisa V., he married October 20, 1822. While a renter in Fayette county there were born to them three children, Egbert O., Phoebe L., and Sarah L. In the year 1827 he returned to Henry county, Ky., where the remaining five children were born, Lewis S., John H., Emily H., Rodney P., and Benjamin T. In Henry county he purchased 104 acres of heavy timber which he cleared himself. In those early days, when settlers were few, it was the custom for the neighbors to band together and assist in clearing their farms. At such times it was customary to furnish whisky for the crowd. Mr. Hill noticed that his children began to like the sugar in the bottom of the glass and to ask for a little dram. This set him to thinking seriously of the fate that might be in store for them if they learned to like their dram. He and one of his neighbors made a firm resolve to do away with whisky, and concluded that if they could not get help to roll their logs without it they would do their rolling themselves. At first they were obliged to do their work alone, but their neighbors found them in earnest and at last joined them in their good work. In the year 1828 he professed religion, and with his wife joined the Baptist Church at New Castle. Being ambitious Mr. Hill was not content to stay on a small farm, so in 1835 he started out on horseback on a pros-pecting tour, and while passing through Illinois was delighted with the country. After returning to Kentucky he could think of nothing but Illinois, and in 1836 made a second trip to the State and purchased the farm of 640 acres on which he agreed to pay five dollars per acre. He moved his family to his new home in October, 1837. While in Clinton attending to the pur-chase of his farm he assisted in raising the third house in town. It was on the west side of the square where the Masonic hall now stands, as was called the Macon House. He could not immediately sell his farm in Kentucky so he borrowed from an old friend the money to pay for the Illi-nois farm. He made thirteen trips to Kentucky on horseback during the following twelve years to settle up his own and his mother’s estate. As Illinois was then a new State he with his family had to endure many hardships and privations, which were cheerfully borne. To sell his grain he was obliged to haul it to Chicago (then a village) with an ox team, and returning brought with him groceries and salt for the coming year. When his bacon was ready for market he would start for St. Louis, that being the best market for bacon and lard. For breadstuff he had to go to Springfield and Mechaniesburg. When the roads were impassable they had to do without until they were better, and at one time they were six weeks without bread-stuff in the house. The next best thing was hominy beaten on a block, and the children did this, taking turns. The finer was sifted out for corn bread and the courser boiled for hominy. When a doctor was needed they had to send to Decatur. That was also the nearest point from which they could get their mail. One of the hardest privations that he and his wife had to endure was that of having no church privileges, so in his home, on the 1st day of February, 1839, was organized the first Baptist Church of Clinton, and for the following two years meetings ere held there. About the year 1846 he gave twenty acres of land to William McPherson, Baptist minister, for a home, and then he built the first Baptist Church in Clinton, furnishing the timber himself, hauling the logs to mill, and doing the work at his own expense. He was deacon of the church for twenty-two years, and faithfully did his duty. For years he furnished the fuel for the church, cutting the wood and hauling it himself. At the time of his death he was the only constituent member of the church he helped to organize, and to which he tenderly attached. He was the oldest pioneer settler known in the county. He was a man of sterling integrity, and was often heard to say that “his word was as good as his bond,” and it was never known otherwise. He was never sued in his life. His ambition for himself and his children was for them to be honest and Christian members of society. Mr. Hill’s sympathies were with the South in the troubles preceding the war, but when the first gun was fired on Sumter he said, with tears in his eyes, that he could not hold with those who fired on his country’s flag, as was after that until his death a strong Republican, casting his last vote for Blaine and Logan. He was an intimate and personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, who often visited him at his home. His wife preceded him to the better land a little over a year ago. He leaves six children, thirty-one grand-children, and fourteen great-grand-children. He was sick about two months before he died, and little could be done for him but to give him tenderest care which his children lovingly did. His disease was just a breaking up of the system, and he suffered terribly, but through it all his hope and trust in a risen Savior shone clear and bright and sustained him. He did not murmur but said he was ready and anxious to go, only waiting his Master’s call. And at the last, when his feet touched the cold stream, his Savior took him gently across, and the peaceful look on his grand old face showed that for him indeed death had lost its sting. The above obituary was given to me in 1996 by Mabel Gaffney, then 104 years old, a descendent of George Littlewood Hill through his son Benja-min Thomas Hill.

Other Hill Obituaries

Obituary of William Morgan Hill, son of Rodney P. Hill and grandson of George Littlewood Hill, Clinton Register, Clinton, Illinois, Friday, April 1, 1910 Death of William Hill William Hill who has been confined to Brokaw Hospital in Bloomington for several weeks suffering from ulceration of the stomach died Monday evening. The deceased was born in DeWitt county March 17, 1863, and was 47 years of age at the time of his death. With the exception of ten years spent in Nebraska, he was a resident of DeWitt county all his life, residing on a farm near Clinton. He was a member of the Baptist church of Clinton and also a member of The Modern Woodmen. Besides the wife and three children, Neva, May, Ethel and Ferne, leaves his father, Rodney P. Hill, and one brother, County Judge F. C. Hill, of Clinton. Funeral Services were held at the Baptist church Wednesday afternoon conducted by Rev. G. W. Ballinger of Tremont, Ill., assisted by Rev. J. E. Hart. Rev. Ballinger’s discourse was one of exceeding beauty and appropriateness, paying a high tribute to Mr. Hill’s life and character. The church was filled to its utmost capacity with the people from all walks in life who had known and loved the deceased as God’s highest creation, an honest, earnest, conscientious christian. The Modern Woodmen and Royal Neighbors of which Mr. Hill was an honored member were present in large numbers. The pallbearers were all members of the Baptist church; they were C. H. Righter, Emerson Vandervort, Lee Williams, Harry Oakford, T. O. and K. S. Brown. Interment was made in Wood-lawn cemetery. Obituary of Emily Hill Weld, daughter of George Littlewood Hill and granddaughter of Samuel and Clarissa Hill, Clinton Register, Clinton, Illinois, April 21, 1911 Another Good Woman Called Death Visits the Weld Home, And Takes A Christian Mother From Loved Ones - Funeral Was Held Wednesday For some time Mrs. Emily Weld had been sick at her home one mile south of Clinton and while it was feared she would not recover, many were the prayers that she might be spared to her friends and family. But hope and prayers were in vain, and she passed away at 7:30 Monday morning, aged 72 years. She had not been well since January, when she fell and hurt her hip. She was born in Henry county, KY Nov. 29, 1832, and her parents Geo. and Louisa Hill came to Illinois in 1837, and located on a farm one mile south of Clinton where they lived the rest of their lives. In September 1855 she was married to Edwin Weld, who was a contractor of rail-road building, having assisted in the building of the Illinois Central through DeWitt Co. In 1858 he bought the farm which they settled on that year. About two years ago Mr. Weld died, but she had continued to make her home where they had lived half a century. Mrs. Weld was among the best known women in the county, and there were hundreds of friends made sad by the news of her death. She united with the church in early life and had con-tinued faithful in the service of her master. For many years she had been a member of the Pres-byterian Church of Clinton, and one of its most faithful workers at all times. She was always ready to assist in any worthy cause and many felt grateful to her for kind acts in time of need. Of the eight children, the following are living: Mrs. Clark Allis, Medina, N.Y.; Mrs. J. E. Hart-sock, Dayton, Ohio; Mrs. C. S. Bogardus, of Clinton; Edwin Weld, who lives near the old home;

Other Hill Obituaries

Frances and Nettie at home. R. P. Hill and Mrs. Phoebe L. Beatty of Clinton are brother and sis-ter of deceased. Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday at 10:30, conducted by Rev. Fulton, of the Presbyterian church. Interment in Woodlawn Cemetery. Obituary of Phoebe Hill Beatty, daughter of George Littlewood Hill and granddaughter of Samuel and Clarissa Hill, Clinton Register, Clinton, Illinois, December 23, 1917 Death of Oldest Resident Lacked but Seven Years of a Century Mark - Mother of T. O. Beatty of Clinton Mrs. Phoebe Beatty, the oldest resident of Clinton and probably of DeWitt county, died Sat-urday morning at 6 o’clock in her ninety-fourth year following a brief illness. She was the mother of Mrs. Mary F. Coultas and T. G. Beatty of Clinton. Mrs. Beatty had been active and alert to her surroundings until near the time of her death and had passed through all of her life in western countries. Phoebe L. Beatty was born October 16, 1824, in Fayette county, Kentucky, and was the daughter of George L. and Louisa V. Hill. She was married in 1847 to John D. Mahon and to this union three children were born, all of whom died in infancy. She was married in 1853 to Isaac B. Beatty who preceded her in death. There are surviving the following children: George H. Beatty of Taylorsville, Mary F. Coultas and T. O. Beatty of Clinton. There are also the following step-children: J. C. Beatty of Decatur, H. G. Beatty of Clinton and Julia A. Adams of Wateska. There are seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. There is also one brother, R. P. Hill of Clinton who is surviving. Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the late residence in charge of Rev. A. M. Wells of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Beatty has been a member of the Bap-tist church from childhood. The above obituaries were given to me in 1997 by Michael Jackson, a descendent of George Littlewood Hill, through his son Rodney P. Hill.

William Weldon Hill and Bernice Harlan Wedding Announcements

Married June 9, 1919 in LaGrange, Kentucky

Henry County Local, Henry County, Kentucky. June 13, 1919 Weldon and Marshall Hill, who have been keeping "bach" on their farm 2-1/2 miles West of New Castle are no longer living in a womanless home. Tuesday morning when A. Sid Morgan and other neighbors of the Hill brothers look toward their home they were surprised to see a young lady on the premises stirring hither and thither and looking the mistress of all she surveyed. It developed that Weldon Hill, the elder of the two boys, had been married the evening before at 8 o'clock in LaGrange without pomp and unusual ceremony, and some time between the two days they had rounded in at the Hill homestead and were already set up for business and each performing his or her part properly in their new and sacred relation. The bride is none other than Miss Bernice Harlan, daughter of those clever persons, Mr. and Mrs. Ed L. Harlan of LaGrange former residents of New Castle Kentucky. The bride is a business like and sensible girl, who for five years has been associated with Ballard Brothers in a clerical capacity. She is a girl of comeliness and personal worth, and her husband should be overwhelmed with congratulations by reason of his good fortune in making good his claim upon her heart. The Hill brothers are clever boys. They have a nice new home nearing completion with all arrangements nearly completed for the incoming governess. Why wait, thought Weldon, she might as well come in now and have the satisfaction of ordering the details. So the wedding was speeded up some. The manner in which the whole transaction was effectuated evidences the good common sense of the parties. The groom is a son of Pat Hill former clerk of Henry County now deceased. [This is incorrect. His father was Horace William Hill.] His mother if the wife of J. B. Pyles of LaGrange. Oldham Era, LaGrange Kentucky June 13, 1919 Miss Bernice Harlan and Mr. Weldon Hill were married Monday evening at 8 o'clock, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Harlan. The house was decorated in roses, sweet peas, ferns and honey suckles. Miss Ruby Starks was maid of honor, and was dressed in a handsome blue chiffon, carry-ing a bunch of sweet peas. The bride wore a wistaria greogette crepe over crepe de chine. Mr. Jesse Harlan was groomsman. It was a pretty home wedding, none but the immediate family being present. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. Frank Richardson, of the Methodist Church. The bridal couple left im-mediately after the ceremony for their home near Smithfield. Both the young people are favorites here and received many handsome, also useful presents of silverware, furniture, cut glass, household linens, etc.

This is the home built by William Weldon Hill and his brother, Marshall Tyler “Rip” Hill, prior to Weldon’s marriage to Bernice Harlan. The rooms on either side were added in the 1960s and the house was subsequently bricked by Horace Ed-gar Hill [Sr.] and Betty Washburn Hill. The house was sold along with the farm in the 1990s after the death of Horace Edgar Hill [Sr.]

The Weldon Hill Home

Hill Gravesites

Many of the older generations of Hills are buried in the Smithfield Cemetery in Smithfield, Henry County, Kentucky. In the Smith-field Cemetery there are two locations of graves - the “older site” and the “new site. The picture at the right is a view of the older grave site. The graves, from right to left, are Clarissa Hill, Wil-liam L. Hill, son of Clarissa, and Amanda S. Walker Hill, Wil-liam’s wife. Also buried in the “older site” is Parthenia Hill But-torff, Minta Hill Tidrick and James Hill, children of William L. and Amanda. The older site is at the top of the circle furthest away from the road just as you enter the cemetery.

The tombstone of Clarissa Hill at the left is hardly readable now. It says “In Memory of our mother Clarissa Hill Wife of S. Hill Died April 17, 1847. “

Mattie Lamaster Hill is buried with her second husband and

near Horace William Horace William Hill is buried in a newer section of Smithfield Cemetery

The tombstone of William L. Hill

The tombstone of Amanda S. Walker Hill

Tombstone of George Elzy and Fitsy Watkins Hill

Hill Grave Sites

Catherine Parthenia Hill, daughter of William L. Hill, buried in the older section of the Smithfield

Cemetery

James S. Hill, son of William L. Hill, buried in the older section of

the Smithfield Cemetery

Elizabeth Arminta Hill Tidrick, daughter of William L. Hill, buried in the older section

of the Smithfield Cemetery

Horace Leslie Hill, son of Horace William Hill, buried in the newer section of the Smithfield

Cemetery

William Weldon Hill, son of Horace William Hill, buried in New Castle Cemetery, Henry County,

Kentucky

Minnie Hill Batts, daughter of George Elzy Hill, buried in the newer section of the Smith-

field Cemetery