BROOKS FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

BROOKS FAMILY HISTORY 7-533JOHN W. HILL (aka Isaac Hill) (12) is the oldest proven Hill ancestor of theauthors. John was born around 1822. Most census records indicate that Johnwas born in Illinois but others indicated Arkansas and South Carolina. It is believedthat John W. Hill changed his name from Isaac Hill to John W. Hill whenhe moved from Arkansas to Texas. Alta (Crapps) Leath gives the following accountof John Hill’s change of name: my “older half brother (John W. Hill) hada problem with the law and, though he was innocent, he felt it best to leave thearea. He moved with his family and his half brother, Eli Hill, and his half sister,Margaret Elizabeth Hill to Texas and changed his name to John W. Hill.” Thisname change is supported by census records in Arkansas and Texas. Accordingto Certificate of Death of Mrs. Maggie Massey, John Hill married Mary AnnReed. According to Certificate of Death of Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Moore, JohnHill married Mary E. Reed. Mary was born around 1822 in Alabama. In 1850,“Isaac” and Mary Hill were living in Scott County, Arkansas (federal census).In the 1850 Agricultural Census, Scott County, Arkansas lists: “Isaac Hill, 15acres of improved land valued at $250.00 amd $5.00 worth of farming implements.He owned three horses, five milch cows, four other cattle and fortyswine valued at $140.00. His farm had produced 200 bushels of Indian corn, 20bushels of sweet pototoes and 20 pounds of butter valued at $15.00. He hadslaughtered livestock valued at $20.00.According his Confederate pension papers of John W. Hill’s youngerhalf-brother, Eli Hill moved to San Marcos, Texas in 1856 (with his sister andmuch older half-brother, John W. Hill). This migration date to Texas is supportedby numerous census records of John W. Hill and his children. Three censusrecords of Nannie Hill (born 1855) indicate her birthplace as Arkansas -although one later census indicates a birthplace of Texas. The earliest census recordof Magraret Hill (born 1858) indicates her birthplace as Arkansas - althoughthree later census records indicate her birthplace was Texas. All sevencensus records of Benjamin Hill (born 1860) and James Hill (born 1866) indicatethat they were born in Texas. Tax Rolls of Hays County, Texas clearly showJohn Hill living in Hays County, Texas by 1867 and other tax rolls suggest thatJohn Hill resided in Hays County, Texas from 1863 through 1866 as well. JohnW. Hill’s half-sister, Margaret Hill, married in Hays County, Texas in 1867 andRhoda Hill, daughter of John W. Hill, married in Hays County, Texas in 1868.John and Mary Hill were the parents of nine children:............Elijah J. Hill (12.1), b. September 29, 1844, Arkansas............Rhoda Hill (13), b. July 6, 1846, Arkansas............John “C.” Hill (12.3), b. December, 1849, Arkansas............Sarah Elizabeth Hill (12.4), b. May 14, 1850, Arkansas............Thomas H. Hill (12.5), b. November 8, 1853, Arkansas............Nancy J. Hill (12.6), b. January 11, 1855, Arkansas............Margaret Hill (12.7), b. November 28, 1858, Arkansas............Benjamin F. Hill (12.8), b. July 2, 1860, Texas............James M. “Robert” Hill (12.9), b. September 12, 1866, TexasThe 1867 Tax List of Hays County, Texas show John Hill paid taxes on no land,12 horses ($150), 44 cattle ($170), misc. ($105). From 1870 to 1880, “John”and Mary Hill were living in Hays County, Texas. In 1878, John W. Hill had160 acres of land surveyed for his homestead premption in Hays County, Texas.