Edward Hill, Jr.

Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography [Page 141] Hill, Edward, Jr., was the son of Edward Hill Sr., an account of whom appears above. He was probably born at "Shirley," Charles City county, on the banks of the James, in 1637, and upon the death of his father, about 1663, fell heir to that historic estate. Edward Hill Jr. held many offices in his time. He was commander-in-chief of Charles City and Surry counties, commissioned by Gov. Chicheley, Sept. 27, 1679; speaker of the house of burgesses, 1692; treasurer, elected 1691; collector of upper district of James river, 1692, and naval officer of Virginia duties. In 1697 Gov. Andros appointed him judge of the Admiralty for Virginia and North Carolina. It seems that upon the first day of Bacon's uprising there was an attempt made to pursuade Hill to join them, but he met the proposition with a scornful rebuff. He was an intimate friend of Gov. Berkeley and took an active part in quelling the rebellion. It naturally follows that he was cordially hated by the people in his county where the rebellion began. He was disfranchised by Bacon's house of burgesses in 1676, and after Bacon's death, when the counties capitulated to the King's commissioners, he was made a principal subject of their excuse for rebellion, and accused of oppression, misappropriation of public funds and other wrong doing. Col. Hill answered his accusers very effectively in a long and elaborate paper, but in the list of councillors made by the commissioners late in 1677 they recommended that he be left out, and on Feb. 10, 1678-79, the committee of trades and plantations recommended that Col. Hill, of "evil fame and behavior," be put out of all employment and declared unfit to serve his majesty, which recommendation the King saw fit to follow "until his Majesty's pleasure be further known." With the appointment of Lord Culpeper as governor there was, however, a turn in the tide of Virginia affairs, and Col. Hill's star was again in the ascendant. He was fully restored to both royal and popular favor and many of the offices which he held were bestowed upon him after this date. He died Nov. 30, 1700, at "Shirley," which is still owned by his descendants.

Married twice. His first wife is said to have been one Hannah Jordan, who was the mother of ALL his children and who died before 1696. His second wife was the thrice-widowed Tabitha Scarburgh, with whom he had no children (she was getting a bit old for that).

From Find-a-Grave:

- Commander in Chief of Charles City/Surry County Militias

- Appointed Attorney General in 1679

- Collector of Upper James River (tobacco tax collector and inspector)

- Member of the Governor's Council

- Treasurer of the Colony and Speaker of the House of Burgesses, 1691

- Appointed Judge of Admiralty Court for VA and NC, 1697

- Member of Commission to Revise Laws of Virginia, 1700

- Member of Board of Governors at the College of William and Mary

Info taken from the Shirley Plantations list of events.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Tabitha Scarborough Hill (1640 - 1717)*

Children:

 Edward Hill (____ - 1726)*

• Calculated relationship

Inscription: Here lyeth Intered the Body of Edward Hill Esq. one of his Majesty's Honorable Councell of State Collonel and Comander in chiefe of the County of Charles Citty and Surrey Judge of His Majestyes high court of Admiralty and Sometime Treasurer of Virginia who dyed the 30th day of November in the 63rd year of his age Anno Dom 1700