BROOKS FAMILY HISTORY - Interactive Family Histories

BROOKS FAMILY HISTORY 7-535JOHN HILL (11)John Hill (11) is believed to be the oldest known Hill ancestor of the authors.John was born in 1800 in North Carolina. The connection between John Hill(born 1800) and John W. Hill (born 1822), direct ancestor of the authors, is notwell documented. This connection is primarily based on information obtainedfrom Alta (Crapps) Leath and 1850 census records of Scott County, Arkansas.Many sources indicate that John W. Hill originated from near Fort Smith, Arkansas.The Certificate of Death of Sarah (Hill) Moore, daughter of John W. Hill,indicates that she was born near Fort Smith, Arkansas. A sketch of the Quickfamily by Al Hohman also indicates that Thomas Henry Hill, son of John W.Hill, was born near Fort Smith, Arkansas. Family Group Sheets by Eunice(Dobie) Watson also indicate that most of the children of John W. Hill wereborn near Fort Smith, Arkansas.The 1850 census of Scott County, Arkansas has two very interesting listings.Scott County is a county located next to the county where Fort Smith is located.One census record lists Isaac Hill (born 1823) and Mary Hill (born 1822) withthree children: Oliver Hill (born 1842), Rhoda Hill (born 1846) and SebastianHill (born 1848). At this time John W. Hill (born 1822) was known to havebeen married to Mary Ann Reed (born 1822) and had three children: Elijah Hill(born 1844), Rhoda Hill (born 1846) and John “C.” Hill (born 1849). Accordingto Alta (Crapps) Leath, John W. Hill “had a problem with the law and, thoughinnocent, he felt it best to leave the area . . . and changed his name to John W.Hill.” Several sources indicate that John C. Hill was also known as “C.” whichcould have been a nickname for Sebastian.Alta (Crapps) Leath also stated that John W. Hill had a sister named Patsy, ahalf-brother named Eli and a half-sister named Margaret. She further stated thatEli and Margaret moved to Hays County, Texas with John W. Hill (this is confirmedby numerous census records and other sources). The second census recordof Scott County, Arkansas shows that a John Hill (born 1800) and NancyHill (born 1811) including three children of Patsy Hill (born 1842), Eli Hill(born 1845) and Margaret Hill (born 1848). These two census records have severalsimilarities to the information known about John W. Hill of Hays County,Texas. Additionally, numerous census records indicate that several children ofJohn W. Hill were born in Arkansas. However, there are also several discrepanciesas well, therefore, these connections should be considered speculative in natureuntil further information is uncovered. Pope County, Arkansas records hasa marriage between a John Hill and Mrs. Nancy Vandyne on January 11, 1836.It is not certain if this is the same John and Nancy Hill that lived in ScottCounty, Arkansas in 1850.Family tradition states that John W. Hill (born 1822) had at least one sister, onehalf sister and one half brother. Alta (Crapps) Leath gives the following accountof John W. Hill’s family: “My mother-in-law was Margaret Elizabeth Hill Leath(Mrs. William Atwood Leath). She told me that she and her brother, Eli Hill,came to Texas with their half brother, John W. Hill from Arkansas. MargaretElizabeth Hill Leath stated that the older half brother had a problem with the lawand, though he was innocent, he felt it best to leave the area. He moved with his