The Founders of Hartford
William Hills, an original proprietor; his home-lot in 1639 was on the corner of the highways now Front and
Sheldon streets. He is supposed to have been the William Hills who came in I he “Lion” in 1632; freeman,
Man., May 14, 1634 ; m. (1) Phillis, dau. of Richard Lyman ; removed to Hartford ; chosen constable, 1644 ; removed
early to Hockanum, where it is a well accepted tradition that he was one of the first settlers. He was captain of the
first trainband on the east side of the river, in 1653; made freeman 1669; he was shot by the Indians1 in
the beginning of King Philip's War, 1675 he m. (2) Mary, widow of John Steele, Jr., of Farmington, and dau. of
Andrew Warner, of Hartford; but he m., for 2d or 3d wife, the widow of Rich and Risley.2 Died July, 1683;
inv. £274. 3; will, dated Feb. 25, 1681-2, names wife Mary and children ; mentions lands in Farmington that he has a
right unto by right of his wife.-Ch.: i. Mary. ii. Hannah. m. Sergt, Thomas Kilbourn, of East Hartford. iii.
William, proposed freeman, May, 1668; buried at Hartford, Aug. 15, 1693 ; left seven ch. iv. John, buried al
Hartford, April 5, 1692, leaving wife and 2 dau. v. Joseph ; his descendants reside in Glastonbury. vi. Benjamin, m.
Jan. 11, 1688, Mary, dau. of John Bronson. vii. Sarah, m. William Ward, of Middletown ; d. before 1660. viii. Susannah,
b. 1651; nl. March 4, 1674, John Kilbourn, of Glastonbury; d Oct. 1701, aged 50. ix. Lieut. Jonathan; m. (1) Dorothy,
dau. of Samuel Hale, of Glastonbury; (2) Mary, dau. of Robert Reeve, widow of Am Mer rills; a prominent man in
East Hartford; townsman, 1698, 1706, 1712.
1 “The enemie having come to Hockanum and shott at William Hill and sorely wounded him,
the Councill sent forth a party of soldiers to make search for the enemie.”-Col. Rec. ii 410. Feb.
18, 1675.
2 See Dist. 219. Thos. Bunce bought land, Feb. 26, 1680, of Wan. Hill, in Podunk Swamp, wh.
formerly belonged to Richard Risley, and came to sd. [fill by right of his wife relict of ad. Risley.
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