I have a great grandfather named Henry Hills who started a family in Maitland NSW c.1870. I was delighted to read recently of a Lodsworth man of the same name who was a collected singer. I would love to know whether my Henry was related to that Henry – b.1820 or 1830. He even wrote a song, I believe comparing his love to a melodeon, an instrument which I play!
I would appreciate any leads at all.
Tony Smith
Australia
Hi Tony
Thanks for your message. You presumably saw the information about the farmer & singer Henry Hills on our website. There have been many generation of the Hills family farming in this parish. Our burial register includes 46 Hills burials from 1623 to 1942 and our churchyard still has 11 marked Hills graves from 1862 to 1942. I also see that there were 909 Hills living in our local government District in 1939.
If you look at ‘Other history’ → ‘Occupations & Businesses’ → ‘Farms & Nurseries’ on our website, you will see details of the farmer Hills. Also there have been publican Hills and blacksmith/wheelwright Hills: a search of the website will show these. Harry Carver’s article ‘Lodsworth in 1912’ includes some Hills. Also there is a July 2017 post by Tim Waters about part of the family.
Apart from organised 19th century emigration from here to North America, we have no direct information about emigration elsewhere. Hence we have no records of possible Hills family emigration to Australia.
I have posted your query on our website and it is possible that someone else may be able to help. If we can help further, please ask.
Ian Buckingham