The Hill Family

William Hill 1829-1924

William Hill was born 10th March 1829 at Alfreton, an only son of Samuel and Martha Hill before his fathers untimely 1830 death. He was brought to live in Hucknall-under-Huthwaite by his widowed mother, who here remarried to raise her second son named Robert Wright and Williams younger step brother. The reported accounts of village life personally percieved by 82 year old William may be forgiven for finding ambiquities.

Aged nearer one and a half years, William was still too young to remember his fathers death. A young dependant widowed mother, Martha could likely regain parental support before moving into Huthwaite. Housing William with an uncle Stemson could reveal Marthas maiden name as his sister, but its also vague trying to address his former home at bottom of Main Street. Commercial directories do however reveal James Stemson being a framesmith 1844 plus grocer 1853, and his move with nephew into Williams future home reveals the building when sited cornering the market area previously called Ellispool.

Following his uncles example William also later found plenty of employment as a framesmith. Knitting machines largely supported most villagers. William did however recall firstly assisting in the brew house here after James opened the public house he called The Traveller´s Rest. Lasting only a few years it is not found recorded like many other smaller run beerhouses, but when Ernald Lakin photographed the above property he noted later loss of another unlisted public bar called The Crown, again sited here among its old brewery yards.

Mr William Hill is found acknowledged for relaying the graves of Eleazor and wife Rose Hannah Boot from their former Huthwaite chapel yard into the Blackwell Churchyard.