William B. Hilton

William B. Hilton was born in October 1751. He was the son of Benjamin and Mary Price Hilton. He grew up in the small family of a Southside innkeeper. As a number of "William Hiltons" (including William R. Hilton, an Albany cartman) were living in the Albany area during the last half of the eighteenth century, this sketch is confined to information specifically referencing "William B. Hilton."

His wife was Margarita Gladdon. Their daughter was christened at the Dutch church in Albany in February 1778.

His name appears to be missing from wartime records. In his twenties during the American Revolution, we seek information on his wartime activities. His older brother was a notorious Tory who was forced into exile in Canada. William B., however, appears to have remained in Albany along with his widowed mother.

In March 1779, the first ward assessment roll showed his real and personal property and also an additional lot. In September he petitioned for and was granted a one-acre lot also in the first ward. A decade later, his personal property and house were accorded moderate assessments.

In 1790, the household of William B. Hilton included three females and three slaves. A few years later, community-based documents called him a carpenter and also a gentleman.

In 1800, the census of the first ward included the household of a "William Hilton" (the only WH on the census in that year) with only an older couple in residence in a location near that of the household of Wiliam B. Hilton described on the census a deacade earlier.

We seek information on the later life and passing of William B. Hilton.

Sources: The life of William B. Hilton has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.