New Hampshire’s Founding Father – William Hilton
In November 1621, thirty-five colonists on the ship Fortune arrived in Plymouth from England. According to their published accounts, “they found the (Plymouth) settlers in very low condition – many were ragged in apparel and some little better than half naked. The best dish they could offer their friends was a lobster or a piece of fish without bread or anything else but a cup of fair spring water” It is believed that the timely arrival of Fortune ensured the future of the first settlement at Plymouth.
On board the Fortune was my 10 great-grandfather, William Hilton. Below is a letter that William Hilton wrote to his cousin Anthony Hilton of South Shields, England after arriving in New England.
In 1623, two
more ships, the Anne and the Little James, arrived carrying some 90 new
settlers, including William’s his wife, son and daughter. In 1623/4, William
and his family (including his brother Edward) left Plymouth and relocated to
would later be known as Dover, New Hampshire. They were the first
non-natives to settle in this region. William and his brother are often
referred to as the founding fathers of New Hampshire. By 1648, he had moved
approximately 11 miles to Kittery, Maine where he is listed as a tavern keeper
and a ferry operator. “Mr. William Hilton, being licensed for to
keep the ordinary (tavern) at the mouth of the river of Pascataquack and that
none other shall keep any private ordinary there, nor to sell wine, beer nor
liquor upon any pretense.” A year later he was admonished for
not keeping “victual and drink at all times for strangers and
inhabitants.” William died in in 1656 in York, Maine.
Side note: On the return journey the Fortune was captured by French
pirates in the English Channel who pilfered the hold of all the goods.
However, the pirates did not take or destroy the settlers letters. One of
those letters contained the only account of the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving
dinner! (Letter from Edward Winslow 11 Dec 1621)
Part II of
this post will focus on the exploration of the Carolina’s by William’s son who
had a head for navigation.