William Hilton was born circa 1800-1810 and died post 1884.
William Hilton
enlisted on
Nor is it known when or where he married his wife Jane but a son William Hilton
Jr. was born in
1. William Hilton b:
2. Edward Henry Hilton b: c 1839-40 m: Ellen Saunders d: 19 Dec 1922
3.Sarah Madeline Hilton b: 5 Feb 1847 m: Frederick Henry Sutton d: post 1899
An extract from the Character Book of the 1st Troop, 1st Brigade, Horse
Artillery - Lahore 23rd October 1849 reads:
Sergeant William Hilton:-
Enlisted 27th September 1825,
Landed in India 16th May,
1826
Regimental No: 6210
Rank & Names: Sergeant
William Hilton
Occurances
& Wounds No entries in the Defaulter's Book against this man since he
entered the Service.
Signed:
W.K. Warner, Captain, BT. Major, Commanding 1st Troop, 3rd
Bat. H.A.
Three other references for William read:
'I have known Sergeant Hilton many years,
four of which he served with the Expense Magazine in Dum
Dum and I have no hesitation in saying I never knew a
more honest man'.
Moltan:
'Mr Hilton, the
Superintending Sergeant, is a very steady man and bears the highest character.
He had given me great satisfaction and I have no hesitation in saying, after a
rather large experience, that he fills his difficult office far better than any
of his predecessors. His situation is one of great trust and I think him
deserving of the confidence that is placed in him.”
La
Martiniere, Lucknow 12th November 1855 Signed: L. Clint - Principal
'I bear willing testimony to the great
efficiency with which Mr. Hilton has discharged the duty of Sergeant Superintendant of the Martiniere for the last four years.
During this period, duties of extraordinary responsibilities have devolved upon
him, which, as well as those properly belonging to his office, he has always
discharged to my entire satisfaction.
His thorough trust-worthiness and his great anxiety at all time to do his duty,
made him a very valuable servant to the College, which his and Mrs. Hilton's
care and attention to the boys have deservedly earned for both a large share of
affection and esteem of the boys and their friend..'
January,
20th 1859 Signed: G. Schilling, Late Principal, La Martiniere, Lucknow
[G. Schilling was Principal of La Martiniere
during the 1857 Siege]
William is listed amongst the “Complete nominal list of the European members,
including women & children of the Lucknow Garrison in 1857 as Mr. William
Hilton, Martiniere Garrison; wife and daughter. There is no mention of son
William and Edward is listed separately.
His son, Edward H. Hilton's book, “The Indian Mutiny - Oudh
& Lucknow 1856-57” does supply us a glimmer of information about William's
life. Edward begins his book with “In
January 1852, at the age of 12, I joined La Martiniere College as a student,
and at the time of the outbreak in 1857, I was one of the senior boys of the
college, to the staff of which institution my father belonged.” Page 19
Edward goes onto describe the preparations made, [under the instructions of Mr.
George Schilling, the Principal of La Martiniere], for the anticipated trouble
and possible siege. He writes, “Considerable
stores of wheat, etc., were collected by my father and placed in small rooms
situated above the second floor of the central building, which was then, and is
now used as the principal dormitory.” Page 31
Edward also writes: “My father also had
several narrow escapes, one of which was from a bullet which passed through the
back of his chair from which he had only risen the
moment before.” Page 87 He then goes on, “While discharging this last duty [superintendent of the boys in
attendance on the sick and wounded in the
On
William Hilton is listed amongst the five witnesses to his daughter Sarah
Madeline Hilton's 1868 marriage to Frederick H. Sutton at
William was
award the Mutiny Medal being described as Instructor La Martiniere College -
Bengal Artillery. He was also no doubt presented to the Prince of Wales [Edward
VII] on
In the recollections of an unknown schoolboy 6 who attended La Martiniere
between 1871-1878 he writes, “Old Hilton
and his son were still going strong and were there to corroborate the facts [re
the siege]”
and then goes on, “There were 2
classrooms in the right wing extension with quarters for a master in the angle
and for Mr. Hilton the Senior Sergeant, at the extremity”. [Again this
suggests that William was widowed as there is no mention of his wife Jane]. A
little further down in the article he writes, “a few daring spirits would climb into the baths through the skylights
at the back for a swim, always taking the opportunity when Mr. Hilton had gone
out”.
Edward’s book includes a portrait of William dated 1884 which indicates
he died post 1884 but before 1899 as he does not appear amongst those amongst
those invited to attend the Memorial to the 32nd Regiment on the 5th April,
that year. Most likely both he and Jane are buried at the
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Please include the word "kenshe" in the subject line.
I would welcome contact from anyone
with a connection to these families.
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