Hillhouse Family of Connecticut and Georgia
Abraham Hillhouse built the original House of Free Hall, Sounty Derry, Ireland. The origin of the family was in County Ayrshire on Sou.coast of Scotland below Glasgow. His son, John and wife, Rachel, probably enlarged and fortified the manor house. The residence was at the foot of a mountain about two miles from Village of Newton, commanded by a fine view of Lough Foyle and many miles around. Abraham m. Janet and had issue: Abraham, James and John who m. Rachel and had: Abraham, Ja...s, William, John, Samuel and Charles. Ref: The Hillhouse Family by Helen T. Hillhouse and Laurens Petigru.
Reverend James Hillhouse, son of John, emigrated to England in 1719 or 1720, m. Mary Fitch, the granddau. of James Fitch, the First Minister of Norwich, Conn. Ref: Mrs. Dulcie Robertson of Mountain Home, Ark. states that in 1735 James Hillhouse m. Molley Dickey of Va. Issue: (1) William, Judge of New London, Conn. for 40 years m. Sarah Griswold, had family of eight. One child, James, became Representative in Congress of U. S. Treasury. (2) George. (3) James. (4) Robert. (5) Sally. (6) Polly. (7) David.
David Hillhouse was born in Connecticut about 1736 and came to Wilkes Co., Georgia before the Revolutionary War, purchasing great parcels of land in Wilkes, Elbert and Jackson Counties. He must have been in the iron business, having a furnace and a forge in Georgia but he was also the owner and editor of an early newspaper as well as an Army Major who laid out the City of Macon. An affidivit to deliver to Robert Cochran at port of Wilmington, N. C. 1500 gallons New England rum, 1500 gallons of molasses and slave, Phillip, ca 17 yrs. old. David Hillhouse acknowledged debt to Cochran dated Middletown, Ga. 7/1784. He was married to Sarah whose LWT dtd 2/1/1831, probated 2/7/1832, Wilkes Co., Ga., Wilkes Wi1l Bk HR, p. 329, naming son-in-law, Felix Gilbert and daus: Sarah Alexander and Mary Shepherd. Sarah, the first woman editor in Ga., printed in her shop the "Early Laws of Georgia" by Order of the Legislature. David and Sarah Hillhouse had issue: Sarah m. Felix H. Gilbert and had Sarah Hillhouse Gilbert, her LWT dtd 10/15/1813, probated 1/6/1814 Wilkes Co., Ga.; Mary who m. Andrew Shepherd; and David G., his LWT Wilkes Co., Ga. Will Bk 1837-1877.
David Hillhouse acquired great tracts of land in Jackson County and became quite wealthy. The following contract describes how Hillhouse turned over 20,000 rations for the soldiers stationed at Rock Landing on the Oconee River for the purpose of negotiating a treaty with the Indians (1789).
Contract between George Walton, Governor of Georgia, and David Hillhouse, 1789 May 22, Georgia [prepared by James] Meriwether Date: 1789 May 22 Description: This is a contract dated May 22, 1789 between George Walton, Governor of Georgia (1789-1790), and David Hillhouse. Hillhouse agrees to furnish over twenty thousand rations for commissioners and soldiers stationed at the Rock Landing, on the Oconee River in Georgia, for the purpose of negotiating a treaty with the Creek Indians the following June. The contract was drawn up by James Meriwether, secretary of the Executive Council, and bears Hillhouse's signature.
Notes from Sue Carlton.
Jeannette, I have used your databased and congrats on such a good job. There is something that needs to be looked up and perhaps corrected about the above mentioned Hillhouse family. I have done lots of research on this family as it is my husbands 4th (I think) Great Grandparents. David was the commissary agent for the area and therefore had guards for it. He owned 5 or more foundries throughout the area. He served in the Revolution as did his wifes Father, General Elijah Porter of Hadley, MA. Her name was Sarah Porter Hillhouse and she died in 1831 in Wilkes County. She is the Editor and Publisher of the newspaper as well as the first person to build 6 frame houses in the area. David and Sarah came to Wilkes County from Hadley, MA through PA and left the children in the care of the Moravians as she did not want them subjected to the "harsh frontier."
We have the lineage documented. There are letters now housed at the Special Collections sections of Duke or UNC Library. This collection is called "The Alexander Letters" and you can get to it online. She did not think much of the "so called prominent ladies of Savannah." Family history states that "she could kill you with a poison pen if she did not like you." Mostly write you out of history. 25 June 2018.
Wilkes County Deeds
David Hillhouse of Wilkes Co. to Thomas Hillhouse of New London County, Connecticut, lands in Franklin, Elbert and Wilkes Counties, being the same where my furnace and forge are located. Test: William Boring, R. Worsham, J. P. 3/12/1792. Jackson Co. Deed Book A, page 69.
Page 69. 12 Mar 1792. David Hillhouse of Wilkes County to Thomas Hillhouse of New London County, Connecticut, lands in Franklin, Elbert and Wilkes Counties, being the same where my furnace and forge are located. Test: William Boring, R. Worsham J. P.
David Hillhouse of Wilkes Co. deeds to William Longstreet of Augusta in Richmond Co., 1/4th of above property. 3/27/1797 3/27/1797. Deed Book A, page 72.
David Hillhouse deeds to Buckner Harris, both of Wilkes Co., one-fourth of his property. 3/27/1797. Jackson Co. Deed Book A, page 72.
Thomas Hillhouse of Montville, Connecticut deeds to David Hillhouse of Wilkes Co. Test: James Murren, David Reed. 7/27/1796. Jackson Co. Deed Book A, page 70.
David Hillhouse of Wilkes Co. deeded to Roderick Easley of Jackson Co. for various sums of money advanced, labor, etc., grants on th e South of Broad River. Test: P. Jack, G. Gaines. Jackson Co. Deed Book A, page 175.
