HILL family disappear after 1871 - where did they go?

[Famtreebuilder]

I'm trying to find out what happened to this Hill family and would appreciate any help as I'm drawing a blank at the moment! 

Roderick Hill was born c1821 in South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland and his wife Isabella McPherson was also born c1821 in South Leith.  They married on 31 Oct 1845 again in South Leith.  I haven't been able to find a birth for either but know Isabella's parents were John McPherson and Catherine McKenzie.  Roderick and Isabella had the following children:

Catherine Charteris HILL born 9 Aug 1846 in South Leith (may have died pre-1851 census)
Isabella Campbell HILL born 21 Sep 1848 in South Leith
Roderick HILL born 6 Nov 1850 in South Leith
William Freir HILL born 21 Dec 1852 in Govan
Jane Charteris HILL born 24 Mar 1855 in Govan died as a baby in 1855
Elizabeth Charteris HILL (twin) born 11 Oct 1857 in Govan died as a baby in 1858
Helen Hossack HILL (twin) born 11 Oct 1857 in Govan

I have found the family living in South Leith in 1851, North Leith in 1861 and South Leith again in 1871.  From there I can find nothing on any of them!  I can't find them on the 1881 census and there don't appear to be any marriages or deaths for them in Scotland so I presume they emigrated somewhere after 1871.  I've tried US and Australian records and so far turned up nothing.  It's strange considering the unusual middle names.

Thanks for any help to unravel the mystery!

[CaroleW]

Roderick Hill b 1847 Leith is on the English 1881 occ carpenter - married.  Seems to be on a boat called the Iona

RG11 Piece 1887 Folio 120 Page 1

[Famtreebuilder]

Thanks CaroleW - I'm guessing the 1847 Roderick might be related to my 1850 Roderick but they're not the same person as I've now found Roderick on the 1881 Scottish census living at 55 East Cross Causeway in St Cuthbert's, Edinburgh.  He's living with his wife Agnes and 3 children Roderick, Agnes and James.  He's working as a ship's carpenter like his father.  I've found he married Agnes Stuart Johnston in Govan in 1873 and Roderick McPherson Hill was born there in 1874 so it's definitely the right Roderick.  I've also found a death record for his wife Agnes - she died in Edinburgh in 1882.  I can't find Roderick or his children after that so perhaps they went to wherever the rest of the family disappeared to after Agnes died. 

[Famtreebuilder]

A bit of a breakthrough - Roderick born 1850's daughter Agnes S Hill (guessing S is for Stuart) married Charles Pugsley in Boston, MA in 1901 so it looks like the US and Boston in particular is perhaps the right place.  Of course it could just be that Agnes ended up there on her own but doubtful especially as she apparently arrived in 1888 when she was just 9-10 years old.

[isobelw]

Findmypast has a marine death record for a Roderick Hill who died in Nov 1883 age 33 on the ship Dorunda. Cause of death enteric fever.

[Famtreebuilder]

Thanks isobelw - I had a look at the record.  There's not enough information there to know for sure it was him but it's definitely very possible.  If Agnes died in 1882 and Roderick in 1883 then the kids were left without either parent at a young age.

[willsy]

Young Agnes is here 1900

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9T2-WN9

Name    Agnes S Hill
Event Place    Brookline town (north of Longwood Ave. & east of St. Paul st.), Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States
Gender    Female
Age    21
Marital Status    Single
Birth Date    Nov 1879
Birthplace    Scotland

She may not stick to the year but she keeps Nov!

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
Name:    Agnes H Pugsley
SSN:    566420184
Birth Date:    15 Nov 1884
Claim Date:    16 Jul 1953
Type of Claim:    Life Claim
Notes:    02 Feb 1979: Name listed as AGNES H PUGSLEY

But I cant find anyone else

[Famtreebuilder]

Thanks for those willsy - I hadn't come across them yet    I did find Agnes in the 1910, 1920 and 1930 US census returns though.

Still getting nowhere trying to find the rest of them 

[willsy]

Don't know if these will help but 2 refs for Isabella Campbell Hill

1873 marriage Sculcoates

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DG7-6CG

and oddly enough 2 baptisms in South Africa and an Isabella Campbell Hill as mother....1885

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12422-22438-3?cc=1463648

children John William Allen and Fanny Russell Allen