William Hill, III

William Hill, III was born in Surry (now Stokes) County, NC in 1773, one of 11 known children born to Rev. William Hill, Jr. and Hannah Elizabeth Halbert. His father came from Caroline County, VA and was a Baptist minister, patriot, and owner of "Popular Hill" Plantation in Rockingham Co, NC. The Hill Family dates back to descendants of one of four brothers who emigrated from Wales in the late 1690's and settled first in Maryland and later in Caroline County, Va. in the early 18th century.

William Hill III came to Raleigh as a clerk to James Glascow, who went out of office in 1798 when William White was elected. In 1803, 30-year old William married Sarah "Sally" Geddy, daughter of Col. John Geddy of Raleigh. The couple would have 5 known children. In 1811, William Hill
became Secretary of State for NC, and served at that post for almost 50 years.

Sarah Geddy died in 1833, and William married again around 1834-1835 to Frances Clark Pollard Connor, the widow of Joseph Blount, III of Chowan Co. No children came from this union. He passed in 1857 at the advanced age of 84. Upon his death, the following appeared in the North Carolina Argus on November 7, 1857:

"WILLIAM HILL, who so faithfully filled the office of Secretary of State for North Carolina for 46 years, is no more. He died at his residence in the City of Raleigh, on Thurday, the 20th ult., at an advanced age of 84 years.
MR. HILL was a native of Stokes County in this State. In 1795, he went to Raleigh and served in the capacity of clerk to JAMES GLASCOW. On the death of JAMES WHITE, who succeeded JAMES GLASCOW in his official position, which occurred in October 1811, MR. HILL was elected Secretary of State, and filled that responsible position from that time until his death. WILLIAM HILL has passed to this rest -- having through his long and useful life enjoyed the confidence and respect -- and carrying with him, in his death, the regrets of the whole people irrespective of party, of his native State."

https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/hill-william-0

William Hill, public official, son of William and Eliza Halbert Hill, was born in Surry (now Stokes) County. His father, a Baptist minister, attended the Provincial Congress at Hillsborough in August 1775 and later served as a chaplain in the American forces that fought at Guilford Court House in the Revolutionary War.

Though Hill pursued a variety of occupations, most of his career was devoted to public service. He taught school for a brief time beginning at the age of sixteen. In July 1795 he obtained a position as clerk in the Raleigh law office of James Glasgow, secretary of state. In 1803 Hill moved to Haywood, Chatham County, and worked as a merchant. Returning to Raleigh the next year, he entered business, and during the 1804–5 session of the General Assembly he was appointed magistrate for Wake County. In February 1806 he was elected registrar of Wake County. The following year he became clerk of court and held that office until 1811, when the General Assembly appointed him secretary of state to succeed the late William White. Hill was reelected (annually until 1835 and biennially thereafter) with regularity until his death forty-six years later. By that time he was known as "Old Sec." Hill also served as state librarian from 1812 until 1842, except for the period between 1827 and 1831.

Hill married twice. His first wife was Sarah Geddy, whom he married in January 1803; they were the parents of Cynthia, Eliza, Louisa, and William Geddy, who became a physician. A year or so after the death of his first wife he married Frances G. Blount on 14 Feb. 1833. He died in Raleigh, and following a funeral at the local Methodist Episcopal church he was buried in the Raleigh City Cemetery.

GEDCOM Source

GEDCOM - Hill, Perry; Imported on 30 Jun 2003 Money, Jack Name: Name: Ancestry.com 6 May 2003;;; Money, Jack, GEDCOM - Hill, Perry; Imported on 30 Jun 2003. (Ancestry.com 6 May 2003;), jackamoney@m33access.com

References/links

• Listed as child of < DAR Ancestor #: A056136 >

GEDCOM Source

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 23 2021, 20:43:48 UTC
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 9 2022, 13:05:56 UTC
• http://rancho.pancho.pagesperso-orange.fr/Sechill.htm
• https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p16062coll15/id/503

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• Residence: Townfork Settlement, Surry, North Carolina, United States
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 4 2023, 10:02:21 UTC