Thomas Hilton

by


Thomas Hilton was born in May 1742. He was the son of William Hilton, Jr. and his wife Margarita or Maria Jones. He grew up as a middle child in the smallish family in the home of a carpenter who lived in the first ward.

In 1767, his name appeared on the roster of an Albany militia company. In 1768, he was identified as a single subscriber and in 1771 as a member of St. Peter's Anglican church. In January 1770, he was made a member of the Albany night watch.

His wife was Nancy (Ann) Cadogen. A daughter was christened in September 1779 and a son in 1784 - in the Dutch and Lutheran churches.

Like his father, Thomas Hilton was a carpenter. On a number of occasions over several decades, he was paid from the city treasury for work done.

From the mid-1760s on, his first ward property was valued on city assessment rolls. In 1788, the real and personal property of "Thomas W. Hilton" were accorded the most modest of assessments. In 1790, his household included six members. A decade later, only the parents and two small children remained in the home.

His house was located above South Pearl Street and may have fronted on Hudson. During the 1760s, he acquired additional acreage in that area but could not maintain payments on it and his property agreement with the city was cancelled.

Thomas Hilton died in September 1802 and was buried from the Dutch church. His widow survived at least until 1821 in her home on the corner of Union and Division Streets.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Thomas Hilton is CAP biography number 444. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.





first posted: 12/20/08