William Henry HILTON was born 17 May 1850 at Springwater, Pilkington in the County of Lancaster, England. His father William HILTON was an engineer, and his mother Nancy HILTON (nee CHARNLEY) (occupation uknown) was apparently unable to write her name as she 'made her mark' on William Henry's birth certificate as she was the informant.

source Certified Copy of Birth Certificate, entry 494 in the Sub-district of Pilkington, Registration District of Bury, County of Lancaster, registered 8 June 1850.

William Henry (aged 10 months) is to be found in the 1851 Census at Springwater with his father (William), mother (Nancy), sister (Mary E.) and 3 brothers (Edward, Samuel and James).

I have not traced him in the 1861 Census (not because he couldn't be found - it is 'on the list').

In the 1871 Census the family are to be found at 14 Rock Street, Radcliffe (of which Pilkington became a part), now consisting of his father (William), mother (Nancy), William Henry (aged 20), 2 brothers (Samuel,25; and John R.,14; Edward presumably having left home, and John R. only 14, being born since the 1851 census), and 2 sisters (Sarah Jane and Nancy E., Mary E. seems also to have left home by now).

In the 1881 Census the family is to be found at 47 Stand Lane, Radcliffe, consisting of father, mother, brother Samuel, Sarah Jane has by now married a William ECKERSALL and they have had a daughter Mary Ellen, and a son John William. John R. and Nancy E. now seem to have left home, and, more importantly for this narrative, William Henry is no longer living with his father and mother.

On the 23 April 1872 the steamer Siberia arrived at Boston from Liverpool. In steerage, amongst others, were to be found James HILTON, 26; Samuel HILTON, 24; Wm Hy HILTON, 22; and John HILTON, 20. (Slight discrepancy with ages!) source Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston 1848-1891 , National Archives, Boston Branch.

22 May 1874, marriage of William Henry HILTON and Mary ARMOUR recorded in Johnston, Rhode Island. HILTON resided in Johnstone, was 24, white (race), occupation weaver, born England of William & Nancy, his 1st marriage. ARMOUR resided in Johnstone, was 21, white, born Scotland of James & Mary, her 1st marriage. source RI Marriages, vol74, page 634; at the RI State Archives, Providence, RI.

20 December 1874 birth of Nancy E HILTON recorded at North Providence. source RI Births, vol74, page 188

1875 Census North Providence, house number 167, family number 203. William H HILTON, 25, male, white, head of family, married, b Eng, weaver. Mary HILTON, 21, fem, white, wife, married, b.Scot, housekeeper. Nancy L (sic) HILTON, 5 months, fem, white, daughter, b No Providence. source RI 1875 Census, North Providence, page 28; RI State Archives.

26 May 1878 birth of Mary Alice HILTON, Pilkington, Lancashire, England. source unknown but possibly the register of the church of St.John, Radcliffe, Lancs, England where she was baptised.

2 November 1879 SS Parthia arrived Boston. On board Wm H HILTON, 28; Mary HILTON, 26 wife; Eloya (sic)(Elizabeth?), 1 fem infant b Eng; Mary HILTON, 1 fem infant b Eng. source Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston 1848-1891 , National Archives, Boston Branch.

October 1894 approx, birth of Bertha HILTON. source photocopy of 1900 census.

2 August 1899 Naturlization of William H HILTON, weaver, of 158 Ames Street, Fall River, MA; (born Ratcliffe, Lancashire, England 17 May 1849) who arrived in Boston MA on or about 15 April 1881. source photocopy of Naturlization Papers.

9 June 1900 William, Mary and Bertha (aged 6) living at 158 Ames Street, Fall River, Bristol, MA. (Where was Nancy E. and daughter Mary on this day?) source photocopy of census.

19 March 1904 death recorded of Mary HILTON. source MA Vital Records, deaths, vol39, page 201

At the 1920 census, William Henry seems to have been living at 379 Main Street, Fall River as a widower.

1 April 1931 death recorded of W H HILTON of 479 Harvard Street, Fall River. source MA Vital Records, deaths, vol36, page 425

In the 1900 Census William Henry states he emigrated in 1872, while his naturlization papers state he "arrived in Boston MA on or about 15 April 1881". This presumably explained by the apparent returning to England somewhere between 1875 and 1878 where his daughter Mary Alice was born, to repeat the trip back to Boston in 1879.

His naturlisation papers (8 February 1895) give him as a weaver, living at 158 Ames street, Fall River, Bristol, Massachusetts 2 August 1899.
Character witnesses were Levi BOOTH (BOATH?), 6 Carver Street, Fall River and
Daniel J.BROWN, 571 South street, Fall River.

Quite a lot of this detail was obtained on my behalf by Nancy Baron of Newton MA, and Charlie Watson of Rhode Island, MA; to whom I express my deepest gratitude.

If you have any information regarding William Henry (or better still, are related) (one can only hope) please e-mail me.