I wasn't exactly sure where to put this, so I though that I would post it here.
I am looking for help with my ancestor, Thomas Hillier. I have hit a brick wall while researching, and it is really bugging me. Thomas is believed to have been born in or around 1780, though I have no proof of this, it is just what FamilySearch says. He was married to a Mary, and the village vicar confirmed that Thomas married Mary Dark in Andover in 1808. Thomas and Mary had two children, Eneas Hillier and Eleanor Hillier.
Eneas is supposed to be born on the 31st of May, 1805, in Lockerley, Hampshire. He is supposed to have died in 1845, also in Lockerley, Hampshire. He also married Elizabeth Grist. His record states that his alternate names are; Enos Hillier and Enias Hilliard.
Eleanor is supposed to be born in 1808, witch a christening on the 17th of April, 1808. She married William Payne.
The reason I have posted here is because I suspect this family of being travellers. Some others members of this family, who do family history, also believe this. This is because:
- A family loving of horses.
- One elderly member of the family remembers hearing as a kid that the Hillier family were travellers before dealing in horses.
- To the above, one family member commented that they knew they had gypsy blood in them.
- The elderly family member mentioned before also stated that she had moved houses countless
times, and another member of the family stated that they had moved houses a lot and that their
mother had said horses were in their blood.
- Another member of the family stated that their mother said there was gypsy blood in the family
and they had once asked an elderly member of the family and they told them that "years ago they
were tinkers". This same family member, at the time of posting, was about to move for the 15th
time.
- Another family member has also stated that their mother had moved house at least twenty times.
This is the reason that they, and I, believe that the Hilliers were originally travellers.
Any help is appreciated as this is really bugging me. Thank you!
EDIT: I have just discovered that another family member of mine has discovered some interesting information on Thomas. Apparently, his wife Mary was buried at Lockerley in 1855 and was born in 1766. Apparently Thomas died in 1824, his probate date was 20/08/1824. His eldest son is said to have married Penelope Mackerel from Bramshaw and settled there (they are buried at Bramshaw). Also, on this record, Thomas' name is spelt Hilliar.
Now, I am not sure what this could mean but hopefully it will come of some use. Thank you!
