Abraham Hill, F.R.S., of St John's, Sutton-at-Hone

( 268 ) ABRAHAM HILL, F.ft.S., OF ST. JOHN'S, SUTTON-AT-HONE. BY R. H. ERNEST HILL, A.R.I.B.A. SINCE writing my article on Abraham Hill, F.R.S., which appeared in Archosologia Cantiana, Vol. XXIV., I have made further researches into his ancestry, and find that, although he used the arms of the Hills of Shilston in Devon, there is no evidence to connect him with that family. His father, Richard Hill, came from Slancombe in Moretonhampstead, and was the son of Thomas Hill, who died there at an advanced age (about 98) in 1648-9. Thomas is described as a " tanner" in the Registers of the Cordwainers' Company of London, and was executor of his mother Thomasine, who died a widow in 1605, and (if her son's age is correct) must have been married about 1550. She was assessed to the Subsidy for the first time in 1576 as a householder, and her husband, William Hill of Slancombe, was first assessed in 1571, so that she apparently remained a widow for about twenty-nine years. Further than this I have not been able to trace, though Hills appear in the Subsidy Rolls for Moretonhampstead in the reign of Henry VIII. I conclude, therefore, that, though the statement on Abraham Hill's monument that his father Richard was " ex Devonia ortus " is correct, his descent from the Hills of Shilston, which has been several times printed by Hasted and others, cannot at present be proved, I attach no importance to his use of their arms, but it is possible that there was a connection between the two families which ABRAHAM HILL, P.R.S., OF ST. JOHN'S. 269 was known to him at the time, but of which no record is left. I should also correct my statement that Richard Hill was member for Truro in the Long Parliament. His name does not appear in the published list of members, though he did hold office under the Republican Government. In conclusion, I may refer to a short biography of Richard Hill published in Devon Notes and Queries, vol. iv., pp. 49 and 145 (1906-7), also an article on an interesting inventory of his household goods in the Gentleman's Magazine for May 1904.