Author Topic: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena  (Read 25466 times)

Offline Gilby

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #18 on: Saturday 17 September 16 22:15 BST (UK) »
In 1768 land was advertised for sale, apparently as being in the estate of Rolleston Humphrey Esq (Belfast Newsletter, 5th Feb 1768).  It included:

“…that Parcel of Ground called Barley-Hill, with several Houses, Tenements and Gardens, now in the Possession of James Cobham, Thomas and James Magill, James Penny, Matthew Barry and William Barkley…”

However, this was countered on the 12th February:

WHEREAS an Advertisement has been inserted in the Belfast News-Paper, that some Lands and Tenements near the Town of Carrickfergus, in the Possession of James Magill, Thomas Magill, James Cobham, Matthew Barry, and others, called the Estate of Rolleston Humphry, Esq.; are to be sold.  This is therefore to give Notice, that Michael Savage, by his last Will and Testament, bearing Date the 17th Day of December, 1678, did devised the said Lands and Tenements to Thomas Orpin, and Sarah his Wife, their Heirs, or either of them, for ever: That the said Thomas Orpin, by his last Will and Testament, bearing Date the 21st Day of August, 1719, bequeathed the Tenements adjoining the Barley Hill to Mary Barry, otherwise Wissencroft; Margaret (F/P)eny, otherwise Wissencroft, and Others, who are now in the actual Possession of said Tenement, and have been for these 34 Years past: That the said Mary and Margaret, as also Ann Laverty, otherwise Wissencroft, and Martha Peny, otherwise Wissencroft, the Grand Children of said Thomas Orpin, are the lawful Heirs of said Lands and Tenements: That neither the aforesaid Rolleston Humphry, nor any other Person whatsoever has an Right or Title to sell said Lands of Tenements; whereof every one designed to purchase said Lands or Tenements, or any Part thereof, are desired to take Notice.
Dated at Carrickfergus, this 10th Day of Feb. 1768.


I’m guessing the Matthew Barry mentioned was married to Mary Barry, otherwise Wissencroft.  So potentially it could have been:

Matthew BARRY married Mary WISSENCROFT, granddaughter of Thomas ORPIN…
- Matthew BARRY married Ann REILEY, daughter of Garret REILEY

(See next post…)

Offline Gilby

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #19 on: Saturday 17 September 16 22:16 BST (UK) »
Here’s a connection between my last post and the Hills of Hillsmount.  Belfast Newsletter, 1st March 1771:

To be set and entered upon immediately, in the Liberties of Carrickfergus, one Farm of Land called Carnamrock, on which the late Mr. Matthew Barry lived.  Said Farm contains 36 Acres, Plantation Measure, and is divided into proper Parks, with Quickset Hedges, and is very convenient to Lime.  Proposals to be received for the above Farm by John Hill of Hillsmount, near Ballymena.  No Preference to be given to any one.  Also four small Farms to be let in Drumra by said John Hill.  The above Advertisement to be continued only four Times.  Dates this 23d Day of Feb. 1771.

So one Matthew Barry dead by 1771, another still alive in 1773 – Belfast Newsletter 28th May – 1st June 1773:

To be set from the first Day of November next, for such Term as may be agreed upon, a Farm of Land, situate in the North-East Division of the Liberties of Carrickfergus, known by the Name of Bashford’s Land, containing about 37 Acres, all Arable and Meadow.  Proposals in Writing will be received by James Bashford, at his House in Belfast; and the Lands will be shewn by Matthew Barry who lives on and takes Care of said Farm.  Dated May 31, 1773.  This to be continued four Times.

Offline Gilby

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #20 on: Saturday 17 September 16 23:13 BST (UK) »

Belfast Newsletter, 24th Apr 1772:

Dropt on the Road betwixt Ballymena and Portglenone, on Saturday last, a Silver Watch, Maker, William Birnie, Dublin, No. 46; on the outer Case is engraved a Coat of Arms; the Crest a Hand and broken Spear; Dial-plate enamelled, Steel Chain, two Seals; on one of them an H and E in Cypher on one Side, on the other a Hawk; on the other Seal, which is Triangular, is the same Arms in different Sides, &c.  Whoever returns said Watch, &c. to Mr. John Hill at Hillsmount, near Cullybackey, Mr. Hugh Edmonston, Merchant in Ballymena, Mr. Andrew Crawford, Merchant in Portglenone, or the Printers hereof, shall have a Guinea Reward.  Dated 21st April, 1772.


Belfast Newsletter, 3rd-7th November 1775:

WHEREAS on Sunday Night last, being the 29th of October, the Bleach-yard of John and Charles Hill of Hillsmount, near Ballymena, in the County of Antrim, was audaciously entered into by some Villains unknown, who feloniously lifted and carried off said Bleach-yard nin Piexces of 3-4th and 8-8th wide Linen, the Property of John, Charles, and James Hill…


I wonder what relationship John, Charles and James were to each other.

Offline Gilby

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #21 on: Sunday 18 September 16 10:22 BST (UK) »
Note on the Orpins, again from The History of Carrickfergus:

“John Orpin was a pewterer and plumber and of mean descent; the way he came to improve his fortune was by being one of the Executors of the Lady Langford, by which he got considerable, but not justly.”  He died 1661, leaving his possessions here to his son Thomas, a glazier, who died 1719, bequeathing his property to his eldest son John, and his daughter Margaret Wisencraft, and offspring.  – Gill’s MSS. MS.


Offline Gilby

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #22 on: Sunday 18 September 16 13:35 BST (UK) »
Bingo. 

Belfast Newsletter, 6th Dec 1768:

On Tuesday last was married, Mr. John Hill of Drumra in the County of Antrim, Linen Draper, to Miss Berry of Carrickfergus, an agreeable young lady, with a Fortune of 1500l.

1776 – Charles Hill, Drumra – listed in the Deputy Court Cheque Book, election for Antrim
1776 – James Hill, Drumra – listed in the Deputy Court Cheque Book, election for Antrim
1778 – a T. Hill, Esq., of Drumra raised a corps called the Portglenone Volunteers

I think Drumra may be Drumraw, a townland roughly halfway between Portglenone and Cullybackey.

Now that I’ve put John Hill and Anne Barry’s marriage into my tree it has brought up another tree on Ancestry.  It has John Hill’s parents as the Rev. J. Hill and Ann Moore.  It has Anne Barry’s parents as Matthew Barry and Ann Coleman.  I don’t know what the sources are.

Before seeing the above tree I remember making a mental note about a Rev. J Hill who I thought might be connected to John Hill of Hillmount.  I can’t remember where I saw it though!

Offline Gilby

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #23 on: Sunday 18 September 16 16:46 BST (UK) »
Hillmount House, Cullybackey

I’ve just realised this was one of my favourite houses featured in Brett’s Buildings of County Antrim.  He says:

“The Hills were among the earliest of the linen merchants to establish a mass bleaching plant.”  Hillmount, a fine three-storey Georgian mill-owner’s house, was built by one of this family perhaps about 1720, probably around 1760, certainly before 1778.  Shown to be the seat of Mr John Hill in Lendrick’s map of 1780, and Williamson’s revision of 1808.  It seems that the Hills prospered during the Napoleonic wars, adding the handsome single-storey bow-fronted bays at either side, and excavating the lake in front of the house when “the material taken out was distributed in such a way as to suggest to a stranger the remains of extensive earthworks”.  But by 1825 Mr Hill had failed; he was imprisoned for debt in Carrickfergus Gaol, and it was there that the purchase of the house, bleach-green and mill was negotiated by Dr William Young, one of the ubiquitous Youngs of Ballymena.

I’m still convinced John Hill of Hillmount was dead by 1788, so if there was still a John Hill there in 1808 I think it was someone else. 

In 1827 the “House and Lands of Drumra, situated on the main road communicating between the considerable Market Towns of Ballymena and Portglenone” was to let, with applications to be made to Mr. Thomas Hill, Hillmount, Ballymena.

In 1829 there are ads for the “Bleach Mills, House, & Lands of Hillmount, situated about 3 miles from Ballymena” which were to be sold by auction in September.  The ad also mentions the lands and mansion house of Drumra, also for sale.  “Further particulars may be known by applying to Thomas Hill, Hillmount, Ballymena.”

The adds stop in September 1829, so presumably the properties were sold.  However, new ads reappear in 1832 for an auction in July that year, now just for the Hillmount properties (not Drumra) – “for particulars, apply to Alex. & John Montgomery, Belfast”.

This time it looks like there was no sale, because the ads continue, with a new auction date set for September 21st, then 29th October and finally the 14th December at which point they stop again.

The Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail, 8th May 1833, lists Thomas Hill, late of Hillmount, county Antrim, bleacher as an insolvent debtor, his case to be heard on the 23rd May.

In May 1833: “HILLMOUNT BLEACH GREEN: the interest in the Lease to be Sold” with proposals to be received by “Mr. B. Alex. Cannon, No. 4, D’Olier-Street, Dublin; or John Gower, Esq., Roundwood-park, Newtown, Mount-Kennedy.”

April 1834: “To be sold or let” … “Proposals will be received … by John Gower [as above] … Thomas Reilly, at Hillmount, will show the Premises.”

Belfast Commercial Chronicle, 11 May 1836:
Of typhus fever, at Hillmount, near Ballymena, on the 7th inst. Margaret, wife of Robert Young, Esq. and daughter of Wm. Gihon, of Hillhead, Esq.

After this, as suggested by Brett, the Youngs continue at Hillmount for a few decades.  (Incidentally, Robert Young was my 1st cousin 5 times removed.)

Offline Gilby

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #24 on: Sunday 18 September 16 17:00 BST (UK) »
Hillmount House, Larne

Not to be outdone by the Hills of Ballymena, the Hills of Larne also appear to have had a “Hillmount House”.

This ad is from the Belfast Commercial Chronicle, 2nd Nov 1822:

TO BE LET.  For any Term no exceeding Twenty-One Years.  Hillmount House and Gardens, with or without the Farm attached thereto.  The House and Offices are in complete condition for the reception of a genteel Family – situate on the Sea Shore, in a beautiful Bay, on the Road from Larne to Glenarm, within 1 ½ miles of the former.  The beauty of the situation, fine air, and Sea-bathing, cannot be exceeded.  Apply (if by Letter, post-paid) to the Proprietor, GEORGE HILL, Larne, Oct. 23, 1822.

Is this the George Hill who married Mary Hill of Hillmount, Cullybackey?

This could be his death, Limerick Evening Post, 1st Jul 1828:
At Larne, George Hill, Esq.

That’s not very informative, but a copy of his will survives at PRONI. 

The Derry Journal, 22nd Sep 1835, contains a report that on one night in the neighbourhood of Larne, three valuable horses were stolen:

…one belonging to Mr Robert Shaw, of Cairncastle, another to Mr Joseph Barr, of Ballycraigey, and the last to Mr William Kirk Martin, Hillmount.  It would appear that the fellow who stole them had galloped them the whole way to the Waterside – neither of them being saddled; and, having rested them there for a short time, he put them on board one of the steamers of this port, which was on the eve of her departure for Liverpool.  Mr Martin traced the thief to Derry; and having taken a passage in the first steamer to Liverpool, he there discovered two of the stolen horses in the livery stables of a Mr Lucas, who had purchased them from a person who represented himself to be their owner, and who had gone off with the remaining horse to a fair in the country.  Mr Martin got the two horses delivered up to him; and Mr Lucas, we understand, set out in pursuit of the thief.


The Northern Whig, 1st Feb 1842, a “Mr. Richard Hill, Hillmount” is mentioned in a report on a ploughing match of the “County of the Town of Carrickfergus and Kilroot Agricultural Society”.


By the time of the c1860 Valuation Book, Hillmount House in Drains Bay is still shown as belonging to the representatives of George Hill.  This continues all the way through till 1928/9 – 100 years after George Hill’s death!?

The tenants for most of that time by the way were McNeils – presumably descendants of George Hill mentioned in the first post (one of George Hill’s daughters married a McNeil).



p.s. This house was for sale recently and can be viewed online if you fancy a nosy.  Apparently built in the early 19th century, which fits with George Hill's 1822 ad.

http://c1415082.r82.cf3.rackcdn.com/ECSECS35056/ECSECS35056-1.pdf


Offline pablo1

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #25 on: Tuesday 20 September 16 03:01 BST (UK) »
This probably has appeared on this forum before, but I will put it here as well as it seems that there is more interest now on the Hill family of Hillmount and the Matin family.  I am interested if anyone has any additional information on Maria Martin, dau of John Martin of Dublin, who married Alexander Macaulay (See below). Most likely connected somehow with William Kirk Martin's family.

1. Rev. John Hill of Cashel.

 2. Son m.

 3. Arthur Hill

 3. Sarah Hill m. Mr Anderson

 4. Jane Anderson

 3. George Hill m. 1797 his cousin, Mary Hill of Hillmount and Ballymena, youngest dau of John Hill and Anne Barry

 4. Jane Hill m. Capt. George Macaulay, son of Alexander Macaulay, High Sheriff of Co. Antrim and the Hon. Julia Henrietta Acheson, dau of 1st Lord Gosford.

 5. Alexander Macaulay (1819-1849) m. Maria Martin, dau of John Martin of Air Hill, Co. Dublin.

 6. Alexander Macaulay(1849-1880) m. Emily Constance Rotheram, dau of George A. Rotheram, High Sheriff of Co. Meath

 5. Mary Macaulay m. William Harper Lepper, son of Charles Lepper of Laurel Lodge, Belfast and Anne Jane Harper.

 6. Mary Hill Lepper m. 1866 Richard Stewart Dobbs, son of Maj. Gen. Richard Stewart Dobbs and Jane Cathcart, dau of Robert Cathcart.

 6. Anne Jane Lepper m. 1863 William Storrs Fry (1837-1898) of East Ham, son of Wm. Storrs Frly and Juliana Pelly, dau of John Henry Pelly.

 7. Mary Juliana Fry, b. 1865

 7. Ann Susan Fry, b. 1868

 7. Elizabeth Fry, (1871-1881)

 7. Arthur Pelly Fry (1873-1923)

 7. Lewis A. Fry, b. 1874

 7. Ethel O. Fry, b. 1875

 7. Charles M. Fry, b. 1877

 7. Raymond F.(T?) Fry (1880-1960) m. 1913 Amy Nevill Banks, dau of Edward Nevill Banks of Belfast.

 7. William Storrs Fry (1866-1937)

 7. Maud Louisa Fry, b. 1870; m. 1897 Elliott McNeill, son of John McNeill of Hillmount and Dublin and Mary Jane Hodges.

 8. Douglas S. E. McNeill, b. 1898

 8. Sybil Ethel McNeill, b. 1901

 8. John Macaulay McNeill, b. 1903; m. 1929 Thirza Norine Crowe, dau of Dr. George Crowe of Didsbury, Manchester.

 6. Ehen Lepper m. 1874 Charles Leech of Cloonconra, son of Charles Leech, Q.C. and Anna Maria Chambre, dau of Hunt Walsh Chambre.

 5. Harriet Macaulay (1822-1907) m. Rev. Robert Posnett, son of Hutcheson Posnett, J.P. of Belfast, newspaper owner.

 5. Georgina Macaulay m. Henry FitzGibbon (1824-1909), Judge, Recorder of Belfast, cousin of Rt. Hon. Gerald FitzGibbon, Lord Justice of Appeals for Ire..

 6. Capt. Henry Macaulay FitzGibbon (1855-1942), Greystones, Co. Wicklow, barrister; m. Helen Rebecca Barton, dau of Dr. John Kellock Barton and Mary Apjohn, dau of Professor James Apjohn of TCD.

 7. Lt. Richard Apjohn FitzGibbon (1890-1915)

 7. Georgina Rose FitzGibbon, b. 1886; m. 1917 Surgeon Frederick Cecil Wright, R.N., son of Dr. F. W. Wright of Derby.

 5. Anne Jane Macaulay m. George Hill Emerson, her cousin, son of Arbuthnot Emerson and Mary Hill, and nephew of Sir James Emerson-Tennent.

 4. Ann Hill m. 1822 William Walsh McNeill, solicitor, son of John McNeill, solicitor, and Catherine Walsh. He d. 1845.

 5. George Hill McNeill, solicitor, b. 1824; m. 1855 Mary Hudson McNeill, dau of John McNeill, solicitor, of Glenone, Co. Londonderry.

 5. Catherine McNeill, b. 1827 m. 1 1852 J. McNeill; m. 2 Rev. John Moore.

 5. Mary McNeill, b. 1829

 5. John McNeill, b. 1830; m. Mary Jane Hodges

 6. George Hill McNeill, b. 1868

 6. Elliott McNeill, solicitor, b. 1870; m. 1897 Maud Louisa Fry (see above).

 5. Ann McNeill, b. 1833

 5. William Walsh McNeill, b. 1835; m. Martha Neill

 6. Jane McNeill, b. 1871

 6. George Hill McNeill, b. 1873

 6. Mary Georgina McNeill

 5. Eliza Emerson McNeill, b. 1837

 5. Jane Hill McNeill, b. 1838

 5. Harriet Macaulay McNeill, b. 1844

 4. Mary Hill m. 1827 Arbuthnot Emerson, son of William Emerson and Sarah Arbuthnot

 5. George Hill Emerson, b. 1828 m. Anne Jane Macaulay, see above

 2. John Hill, linen merchant; m. Anne Barry, son Mr Barry and Anne Coleman, dau of Dr John Coleman of Carrickfergus.

 3. Mary Hill, youngest dau, m. George Hill, her cousin, as mentioned above.

 3. Elizabeth Hill, eldest dau, m. 1789 William Adams, merchant, of Portglenone.

 4. Capt. Robert Adams, emigrated to Australia; m. 1844 Jane Anderson (Any relation to the previously mentioned Andersons??)

Offline pablo1

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Re: Hill family of Larne, Hillmount and Ballymena
« Reply #26 on: Tuesday 20 September 16 03:05 BST (UK) »
FitzGibbon family--basic pedigree
1.  Gerald FitzGibbon (1748-1837) m. Mary Wyndham
2.  Henry FitzGibbon (1796-1852) m. Mary Martin
3.  Henry FitzGibbon (1824-1909), Recorder of Belfast; m. 1852
Georgina Macaulay, dau of Capt. George Macaulay and Jane Hill, dau
 of George and Jane Hill of Larne.
3.  Margaret FitzGibbon m. R. Atkinson
3.  Gerald FitzGibbon (1829-1855)
3.  Thomas FitzGibbon