WILLIAM' HILTON ( Willinm,' William1), b. about 1678,

probably in York ; m. in Marblehead, June 2, 1699, Margaret

Stilson, daughter of James and Margaret Stilson.* He had a

grant of thirty acres of land in

York Feb. 17, 1702-3 which,

with ten .acres more, lormcrly

granted to his father (Aug. 25, ml-

1 679 ) , were laid out to him, Feb. 24, 1702-3. He had another grant

of thirty acres at the head of Bradbote, Broadbote, or Braveboat, Harbor,

March 17, 1702-3, laid out to him, March 20, 1702-3. His

pursuit and recovery of a sloop stolen out of the harbor of York,

Nov. 8, 1711, by a Frenchman and three Indians, and the proceedings

relating thereto, may be found in the Council Records. He is

there styled Ensign William Hilton of York.f He conveyed to

Joseph Hoult, by deed dated June 4, 1711, recorded with York

Deeds, Lib. 7, fol. 196, the land last granted him by the Town.

In this deed he styles himself of York, fisherman. *

John Brown, snn of Richard Brown, of Barton Regis, co. Gloucester, England, m.

Margaret, dau. of Francis Hay ward, of Bristol, England, and settled at Pemaquid, at the

head of New Harbor, in what is now the town of Bristol in the County of Lincoln, Maine.

By deed dated July 15, 1625, Somerset, or Snmoset, and Unnongoit, Indian Sagamores,

cotiveyed to him a tract of land embracing a large part of the present County of Lincoln,

and including Muscongns Island. He had a son John and daughters: Margaret, who m.

Alexander, or Sander Gould ; Elizabeth, who m. Richard Peirce, son of John Peirce; and

Emma, who m. Nicholas Deming.

Alexander and Margaret Gould had three daughters, one of whom, Margaret, b. in New

H irbor about 1659, in. ( 1 ) James Stilson, by whom she had children : Margaret Stilson, above

n, lined, b. about 1679 ; James Stilson ; a daughter whose name is not known, and perhaps

others. [The records of the First Church of Marblehead, Mass., show the admission of

Margaret Stilson, April 18, 1686. May 2, 1686, Margarett Stilsou was baptized, and, May

16, 1683, Margarett, James, Mary and John, children of Margarett Stilson, were baptized.

Margaret Stilson, innuba, was one of "the children of the Church, who being growne up

did personally owne the Covenant of their Parents, & by their owue act entred themselves

in this society," July 26, 1696, "being of age so to doe."]

About the year 1686, 1687 or 1688, James Stilson, the father, while crossing the water at

Muscongusinacnnoe, was fired upon and killed by the Indians, who took his youngest

daughter, a sucking baby, from her mother's breast, burned it in the fire and carried the

mother and the other two children captives to Canada. In Mass. Archives, xxxviii. A. 2,

in a list of "Nams of English Captives Redeemed from Qubck by math* Gary in oetb' (

95)," is that of " m" Mar" Stilson Pemeqad." In the following list of " N'ims of thos

Remaining Still in hands of the french at Canada," are those of " Jam8 Stiitson [sic] boy

Pemiqud " and " mary : [sic] Stilson gerll pemqud." Mary is undoubtedly a mistake fur

Margaret. These lists were printed in the A. E. Hist, and Gen. Register, vi. p. 87, the

name of the boy being misprinted Stilton. After her release from captivity, Margaret

Stilson, the mother, m. (2), in Marblehead, March 30, 1696, Thomns Pitman, who was admitted

a member of the church in Marhlehead, Feb. 4 or 6, 1686, and who died, 4 mo,

1736, aged 94. She died 1 1 mo, 1750, aged 92.

James Stilson, the son, and his sister Margavet were afterward ransomed. He removed

to Newcastle and Portsmouth, N. H., and she m. June 2, 1699, William Hilton, as above

set forth. The depositions hereinafter referred to, with characteristic inaccuracy, state that

she remained six years in captivity after the release of her mother, and twelve years in all.

t Mass. Council Records, iv. 469, 640. N, E. Hiit. and Gen. Register, xxxiv. 203, 204.

Suffolk Court Files, Ixxxv., 1-3. He already had a dwelling-house in Manchester, Mass., at Black.14 THE HILTON FAMILY.

He already had a dwelling-house in Manchester, Mass., at Black

Cove, in that part of the town called Newport, when he bought land

there of Philip Nichols, Nov. 22, 1709 (Essex Deeds, Lib. 23, fol.

268). He bought other land adjoining, of John Seward, Sept. 30,

1714 (Essex Deeds, Lib. 27, fol. 63). In these deeds he is styled

of Manchester, fisherman and coaster.

He had a dwelling-house at Muscongus, when he bought lands

thereof Kichard Peirce, by deed dated Feb. 1, 1719-20 (Essex

Deeds, Lib. 39, fol. 70.) But little reliance can be placed on the

recitals in the numerous deeds in which he appears as grantor or

grantee, for in these he is styled sometimes of York, and sometimes

of Manchester, Marblehead and Muscongus, his occupation being

that of mariner, coaster and fisherman. He evidently occupied

lands at Muscongus, which he held in the right of his wife Margaret,

and lands which he himself bought of Caesar Moxis and Gustin,

Indian Sagamores (by deeds dated June 5, 1718, and Oct. 25, 1719,

Essex Deeds, Lib. 39, fols. 87, 88), but whether he was an actual

resident, or only lived there during the fishing season in each year,

is a matter of some doubt. He seems to have been extensively engaged

in the fisheries and coasting trade at Muscongus, making great

improvements, and having a large stock of cattle.

At a town meeting in Manchester, Dec. 1, 1715, he was made

one of a committee to procure a minister to preach the gospel, and

March 12, 1715-16, was chosen one of the selectmen of Manchester.

His name appears on the tax list of Manchester for the years

1717 and 1718, and in the former year he was one of the tything-

men, and in the latter, one of the " Chowerds and feld Driveers."

His wife was admitted a member of the church in Manchester, May

26, 17 17. June 11, 1719, the town laid out a highway from Black

Cove, near Hilton's swamp and garden. In the claim entered by

Margaret Hilton, Dec. 1, 1720, in the Book of Eastern Claims in

the Secretary's office, Boston, she styles herself the wife of William

Hilton now living at Muscongus. But if he had any intention of

permanently settling there, the outbreak of hostilities with the Indians

compelled him to change his purpose. In the journal of the

Rev. Joseph Baxter, missionary to the Eastern Indians, is the following : "

The next Day which was Saturday, Aug: 12 [1721], we had a good

wind, and towards night we arrived at Casco-Bay, where we met with Mr

Hilton, of Muscongus in a small vessel with his cattle and Hogs on board,

removing to ye westward, who informed us y* all the People were gone

from Muscongus upon ye rumours they had heard about the Indians."*

He took part in several expeditions against the Eastern Indians.

L*. Gov. Dummer in a letter to Col. Thomas Westbrook acknowledges

the receipt of a letter from Col. Westbrook dated Hampton,

Jan. 22, 1722-3 " inclosing Lieu* Hilton's Journal." Col. West- *

N.-B. Hist, and Gen Register, xxi. p. 55.

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brook in a letter to IA Gov. Dummcr dated St. Georges, March

23, 1722-3, says : "Liev' Hilton has been 111 all this March and is

now grown So weak that I am obliged to give him a furlow home,

and at his request Given ye Charge of his men to Liev* John

March."* He died June 21, 1723, and administration on his estate

was granted to his widow Margaret, the date of his death being

Bet forth in the inventory. At meetings of the Council, July 2

and Sept. 21, 1723, it was advised and consented that there should

be paid " To the Officers & Soldiers in the Muster Roll of William

Hilton Lieut', deceased," and " To the Heirs, Executors or Administrators

of Lieut'. Wm. Hilton decd. and y° Compa. in His Majestys

Service Eastward late under his Cofnand " £. 290 : 3 : 8 and £.

647 : 9, to discharge the Muster Roll.f

He was buried in the old burial ground in Manchester, and his

gravestone bears this inscription :J

Here lyeth the

body of lifnt

William Hilton

Who died June

Ye 21st 1723 aged

45 years.