Thank you. An awesome amount of info.
Now I am confused and wondering if you (or someone) could help sort this out:
I found the Last will and testament of John Hill born Thornton 1690. There is evidence that his father is the John Hill that purchased(?) Thornton, who was a retired silk merchant. (Very little information about him.)
In his will he mentions nephews Captain John Hill and Rev. Dr. Hill, who I have to assume is the rector at Thornton el Dale church for quite some time. He also mentions that John Johnson, of Lord Trelawney’s Regiment in Jamaica, can change his name and that of all of his heirs to Hill. (illegitimate son perhaps?)
There are records at Oxford University showing:
Richard Hill, son of Richard Johnson, of Thornton. Aged 17 May 1804, JP, DL, dies 21 Jan 1855, Father of John Richard born 1830
(Birth year 1787)
John Richard Hill 1st son of Richard of Thornton, 1804, Aged 18 in June 1830 becomes JP, DL, rector of Thornton le Dale from 1838 to 1857 Father of Arthur in 1868 and of Richard 1863
(Birth year 1812)
I also located census records for the Reverend John Hill and his family from Lincolnshire locking in that side of the family.
Problem is: Can't find who John Hill the will maker's brother was. (I say brother because his nephew is a Hill); can't find out who John Johnson (no military record found either as John Johnson, Richard Johnson or the same with Hill, is, and whether he is the Richard Johnson named at Oxford when the son Richard attends in 1804. The brother may impact the lineage, as I can't figure out which line is ours, my 82 year old Mother is insisting it wasn't the Reverend's line, which I tend to agree with, as that line is fairly well established. Possible our lineage is with the brother.
Any help at all would be wonderful.
Thanks.
PS> I have just ordered a book on CD on the history of Thornton Le Dale, so that might solve alot.
