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Pilgrim Village Families Sketch: William Hilton

Robert Charles Anderson

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Birth:William Hilton was born about 1591, the son of William
Hilton of Northwich, Cheshire.

Death: He died between June 28, 1655, and June 30, 1656.

Ship: Fortune, 1621

Life in England: Nothing is known of his life in England.

Life in New England: William Hilton arrived in Plymouth
Colony in 1621. His wife and two children joined him in the
summer of 1623. Shortly after arriving in Plymouth, Hilton
wrote a letter, later included in Captain John Smith’s account of
New England, to a cousin in Old England. In this letter,Hilton
spoke enthusiastically of life in the new colony, saying in part,“I
know not anything a contented mind can here want.” In 1624,
he had a child baptized by Reverend John Lyford although he
was not a member of the church.This action was one of the first
in the controversy between Lyford and the Plymouth government.
Hilton and his family left Plymouth Colony soon thereafter.
He may have joined his brother Edward on the Piscataqua
directly. He was in Dover by 1628, later moving to Kittery
(1648) and York (1651). He served in various official capacities,
including juror and committeeman, in Dover, and York. While
in Kittery he was a tavern keeper and ferry operator.

Family: William Hilton married ___ ____ by 1616 and had
four children. She died by 1636. He married (2) about that time
Frances ____ and had four children.After his death she married
(2) Richard White by June 30, 1656.: William Hilton married ___ ____ by 1616 and had
four children. She died by 1636. He married (2) about that time
Frances ____ and had four children.After his death she married
(2) Richard White by June 30, 1656.

Children of William and his first wife:

  • Elizabeth was baptized in Northwich on June 27, 1616, and buried there August 1, 1616.
  • William was baptized in Northwich on June 22, 1617. He married (1) Sarah Greenleaf by 1641 and had at least one child. He married (2) Mehitable Nowell on September 16, 1659, at Charlestown.
  • Mary was baptized at Northwich on May 11, 1619. She apparently came to Plymouth Colony in 1623, but nothing further is known.
  • John was born in Plymouth about 1624.
Children of William and Frances Hilton:
  • Magdalene was born about 1636. She married (1) James Wiggin by 1656. She married (2) Henry Kenning in 1698.
  • Mainwaring was born by 1646. He married Mary Moulton about 1671 and had at least one daughter. He died before July 4, 1671.
  • Agnes was born about 1647. She married Arthur Beale by 1667.
  • William was born about 1653. He married Ann _____ by 1678.