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Maria Hill

Posted by Kym Clayton on 2/7/2022, 6:03 pm

I am looking for any information on 3 x great grandmother, Maria Hill. The only information we have on her is that she was the mother of an illegitimate son, Willam Henry Brown Hill who was baptized on 29 April 1819 at St Mary Arches, Exeter. No details of the father provided. He was adopted by a lawyer, a Mr Brown.

We have been told that a Duchess paid for William's education and that at around the age of 20 he found his birth mother and at that stage changed his surname to Brown Hill.

We are also told that he too searched for his birth father and after inquiries at Somerset House he was told to cease further investigations.

It is all a huge mystery to us and we would love to see what we can find out.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Judith on 2/8/2022, 8:32 am, in reply to "Maria Hill"

Somerset house was not in being until 1837, so he would not have a birth certificate as we know it today.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Terry on 3/7/2022, 4:55 pm, in reply to "Maria Hill"

As I've told you elsewhere, the baptism(image of original entry) is on Find My Past, it reads:-

William Henry Brown, Illegitimate son of Maria
Hill, address St Mary Arches Street, Exeter.

There is nothing to suggest that Maria Hill is anything other a woman with a child.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Kym Clayton on 4/7/2022, 10:29 am, in reply to "Re: Maria Hill"

Thanks Terry, I have a copy of the baptism entry. I am just stuck trying to find ways of find out more information about Maria Hill.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Judith on 3/7/2022, 7:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Maria Hill"

Have you obtained his marriage cert Exeter 1843 June qtr to Anne Smith?
I found a Maria Hill baptised 6.3.1792 Exeter St Thos d of James and Margaret.
Might be worth checking her out.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Judith on 3/7/2022, 1:39 pm, in reply to "Maria Hill"

looking at Ancestry, they have a tree which gives his father as George the fourth!!!!
But no details of the marriage.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Judith on 3/7/2022, 1:13 pm, in reply to "Maria Hill"

If you google his name William Henry Brown Hill, it comes up with the same birthdate, and name of his mother Lady Augusta Maria Hill. Hope that helps.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Judith on 3/7/2022, 3:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Maria Hill"

Perhaps she was a married lady? George IV had a lot of mistresses.
Would be worth looking at the actual entry in baptisms for William Henry at the date you know, just in case there is a comment, might also say where she was living.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Roger Donne on 10/7/2022, 10:20 am, in reply to "Re: Maria Hill"

Terry's earlier message listing the baptism entry gives an address of St. Mary Arches Street, Exeter. This appears to be one of the oldest streets in Exeter (see http://demolition-exeter.blogspot.com/2010/10/mary-arches-street.html ) but by the 19th century seems to have fallen on hard times.

Re: Maria Hill

Posted by Kym Clayton on 3/7/2022, 2:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Maria Hill"

Thank you Judith

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