Born at Derby, and was christened on the 25th of October 1807 in St. Peter's Church at Derby, the son of John and Letitia Hill.
Enlisted into the 4th Light Dragoons at London on the 12th of April 1828. Regimental number 582.
No other enlistment details are shown.
Embarked for India on the 4th of January 1829 with the rank of Corporal, "for the duration of the voyage only."
From Private to Corporal: 4th of April 1830.
Corporal to Sergeant: 4th of January 1835.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 7th of January 1841.
Disembarked from India aboard the "Repulse" on the 28th of March 1842, having left Bombay on the 28th of December 1841.
Commissioned as Quartermaster in the 4th Light Dragoons: 22nd of June 1849.
On to half-pay and the rank of Hon. Captain: 15th of November 1859.
On to retired pay: 1st of July 1881.
Captain Hill served as Deputy Provost Marshal, attached to the Staff of Lord Keane, commanding the Bombay Column of the Army of the Indus during the whole of the time it was in the field (from December of 1838 to February of 1840) and was present at the Siege and capture of Ghuznee.
He also served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, the Tchernya and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol, also with the Light Cavalry Brigade in Eupatoria. Medal for Ghuznee and the Crimean medal with clasps.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, the Turkish Medal and the Medal for Ghuznee.
Deaths registered
John Hill, aged 81, June Quarter 1889, Dolgelly.
Mary Anne Hill, aged 86, March Quarter 1901, Dolgelly.
Owen Hill [son], aged 71, March Quarter 1920, Dolgelly.
Mary O. Hill [daughter], aged 80, March Quarter 1931, Dolgelly.
Desmond T. Hill [son], aged 82, March Quarter 1937, Merioneth S.
John Hill died at Werngoch, Brithdir, near Dolgelly (Dolgellau) Merionethshire, on the 31st of May 1889.
The only report of his death is to be found in "Y Dydd" [The Day], a Welsh-language newspaper:
"Mehifin 7 1889 — Marwolaethau. Yn y Werngoch, Brithdir, Cadben Hill, yn 81 mlyddeod. Bu trwy holl frwydrau y Crimea a llaweravaill. Gladddyd ef dydd Mawrth yn Bryncodifor."Translation:
"June 7 1889 — Obituary. At Werngoch, Brithdir, Captain Hill, 81 years old. He went through all the battles of the Crimea and many others. He was buried on Tuesday at Bryncodifor."
His arrears of pension (£31/10/0) were paid over to his son (as sole executor) Desmond Taylor Hill, who lived at Myrtle Villa, Tamworth, Warwickshire. He also had a daughter, Mary Owen Hill. In his will he had left personal effects to the value of £289/13/9d.
He was buried in one of the two family graves in the churchyard at St. Paul's at Bryncodifor, Merionethshire. They are next to each other and situated off the right-hand side of the path leading from the lych-gate and close to the church porch. According to local information both the erected tombstones are still (1985) in excellent condition and clearly engraved.
The inscription on his stone reads:
"In loving memory of Captain John Hill of Werngoch in the parish of Dolgelly, late of the 4th Regt. of Light Dragoons (The Queen's Own.) Born October 3rd 1807 — Died May 31st 1889. Also Mary Anne, his wife, Born January 7th 1815 — Died January 7th 1901. Also their son, Owen Hill, Born August 29th 1848 — Died January 7th 1920."
The other stone is inscribed:
"In loving memory of Mary O. Hill, daughter of the late J. and M.A. Hill of Werngoch. Born 13th March 1850 — Died 23rd February 1931.
Also in loving memory of Desmond T. Hill of Werngoch, Brithdir, Died February 22nd 1937, aged 82 years."
Information from Mr R.T. Wheeler of Dolgellau shows that John Hill was buried on the 4th of June 1889 and that he (and his family) appeared on the Census for Brithdir in 1861, 1871 and 1881.
1861 Census
Llwyntalcen
The 1861 Census shows him as a "Retired Army Quartermaster"aged 52 years, born in Derby, living at Llwyntalcen with his wife, Mary Anne, 46, an "Officer's wife" born at Llanaber, Merioneth.
Three children are shown:
Owen, 12, Scholar, born Ireland.
Mary, 11, Scholar, born Ireland [? CHECK]
Desmond, 6, Scholar, born Brighton?
1871 Census
Werngoch
The 1871 Census shows him as a "Retired Captain" (farming 24 acres), born in the parish of St. Peter's, Derby.
His wife was then shown as having been born at Barmouth, Merioneth.
Only the two younger children were shown as living at home.
There was in addition a general servant (female), born at Dolgelly.
1881 Census
Wern Goch Farm House, Dolgelly
In 1881 he was described as a "Retired Army Pay Captain", and still farming.
His wife was now said to have been born at Dyffryn, Merioneth.
The eldest son, Owen, 32, was unmarried, and a "clerk".
Their daughter, Mary Owen, 30 was also unmarried, with "no occupation".
Their place of birth was then given as Kildare, Newbridge, Ireland, and Roscommon, Co. Kildare.
A number of registrations deaths kindly provided by Chris Poole.