Lieutenant Abner Hill

Abner Hill

Abner Hill was born in Sturbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts on October 8th, 1768. His parents are believed to be Joseph and Miriam (Sawyer) Hill; however there are varying documents suggesting his parents could be others. Further research is being done to hopefully find who his parents are.

It is recorded in Turner's History, that Abner's appearance is as follows, "Abner Hill was a man of medium stature and weight, being five feet six inches in height and weighing one hundred and seventy pounds. He had a lightish complexion, with brown or very dark gray eyes. He had much force of character, and was of commanding appearance."

It is important to note, that a son of Abner Hill, named Francis Abner Hill, also went by his father's name. On several records Francis Abner Hill using the name, Abner F. Hill. It is important to be aware of this detail while researching either the father or son.

William Hill

Abner Hill was of the sixth generation from William Hill, who came to Boston from England on a vessel named the 'John and Francis.' William arrived in the colony on June 5, 1632. The names of John and Francis have been prominent through the succeeding generations of the family.

Abner Hill in the Military

Abner Hill fought in the War of 1812, but prior to that, Abner Hill was in the United States Military, recorded serving between 1798 and 1802. In, The Military History of Wayne County, Abner Hill is listed as apart of Captain Thomas Morris' Troop; and on August 27th, 1798, Abner Hill is listed as an Ensign. As an Ensign, one of his duties would be, "carrying the colors" or carrying the flag. He would have assisted higher rank officials such as Captains and Lieutenants. Ensigns have also been known to be called junior commissioned officer rank. In February 10, 1802 Abner Hill is listed as being apart of Lieutenant-Colonel Swift's regiment. At this point, in 1802, Abner is now listed as being a Lieutenant.

Thanks to The Daughters of The American Revolution, and help researching from Parker Maybe, a young man who also repairs headstones and does extensive research on deceased veterans (his Facebook account listed below), it was found that Abner Hill fought in the War of 1812.

Recorded from August 28th, 1814 to November 8th, 1814, Abner Hill was a rank of Private in The War of 1812 under Captain Ira Wilson and Company of Lieutenant Corporal John McMaham on the Niagara Frontier in the New York Militia Regiment.

Abner Hill In Palmyra/Macedon

Upon coming to the Palmyra/Macedon area in the late summer or fall of 1791, Abner Hill was one of the first settlers, two years after Webb Harwood, and the Harwood family settled. Others that joined Abner and Webb in the wilderness of the area included, Ebenezer Reed, Israel Delano, David Comstock, Darius Comstock, Jerome Smith, Jacob Gannett, John Ribson, Barnabas Brown, Adam Kingman, Stephen and Abraham Spear, Jonathan Warner, Constant Southard, Paul Reid, Bartimeus Packard, and Barney and Phillip Woods.

Abner purchased land in what would later be Macedon and later would be known as the Richmond farm, northwest of Macedon Center. With him he brought a small chest about thirty inches in length, eighteen inches in width, and nineteen inches in depth. Proceeding his arrival, between 1791 and 1792, especially in the summer of 1792, Abner chopped off and cleared a small portion of the land and built a log house.

In the Spring of 1793, Susannah, his future wife, came to the Palmyra/Macedon area. Abner married Susannah Thayer on November 12th, 1793. On their wedding day, Mr. Hill and Miss Thayer rode on the same horse to Canandaigua, with Susannah riding behind her betrothed. They were married by a minister named Irons.

On December 6th, 1795 Abner Hill sold to Gideon Durfee, or exchanged with him, and obtained the farm on the hill, known afterwards as David Hoag's Hill, one mile east of Macedon Center. When they came to this place they built a new log house a little south of where Abner and his wife lived until his death in 1829.

According to '1789 History of Wayne County New York With Illustrations 1877,' Abner was one of the original nineteen members of the Baptist Church in 1800. He is also recorded to have voted in the first town minutes in 1793 when Palmyra was still called Swift’s Landing/Tolland.

Throughout several years, Abner Hill was a member of the Overseers of the Highway for Palmyra. While which district he was in charge changed over time; him in 1801 being in charge of the 9th district and in 1809 in charge of the 12th district, he remained in an authoritative position that influenced the town.

He is recorded as a Resident of Palmyra on the Tax Assessment rolls of the following years, 1813A, 1813B, 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821.

1809 Minutes: Overseers of the Highways

Abner worked with other members of the Baptist Church and also members now buried in the Old Baptist Cemetery; members such as Ephraim Green, Isaac Arnold, David Wilcox and Israel Delano, members who also had a position of influence in the small town and are recorded in various town minutes.

In the 1820 Minutes for Palmyra, Abner Hill is not an Overseer of any highway but is mentioned in regard to a "...public highway beginning at the center of the highway running east and west from Abner Hill's..."

He is listed in several of the Town Minutes until his death, having influence in the town affairs.

On the first Tuesday of April 1823, the Annual Town Meeting was hosted at Abner Hill's house.

Abner Hill's Death

Abner Hill died on July 28th, 1829 in Macedon in his harvest field. He was found about a quarter mile east of the hill, and on the fiat on the south side of the road running east to Green's Corners. According to the Wayne Sentinel (July 31st, 1829), "The cause of his death is attributed to a fit of the apoplexy." Apoplexy in modern day is usually considered a stroke.

It is recorded in the 'Pioneers of Macedon' book that "He [Abner Hill] was buried in the burying ground by the schoolhouse in the eastern part of the town, but there is nothing to mark the spot." The location in the book matches the location of the Old Baptist Cemetery. The Old Baptist Cemetery has also been refered to as 'The Baptist Burying Grounds,' in some records.

Abner getting a Military Headstone?

In every document found, there is no record of Abner having a headstone of his own, or it is specified that he had no marker to mark his burial spot. Since Abner did serve in the United States Military, he is eligible for a military headstone, similar to the ones, Lemuel Spear, Levi Wood, and Ephraim Green have acquired. More information is needed to gain a military headstone for Abner.

Photo taken by Bob Davis on findagrave

Susanna's Headstone Inscription:

"Susanna Thayer

Wife of Abner Hill. born in Braintree Mass.

June 16. 1770. Died Feb. 6. 1856.

Mother of Ira. & Horace Hill"

Susannah (Thayer) Hill

Susannah Thayer was born June 16, 1770, in Braintree, Mass., thirteen miles south of Boston. She was the daughter of William and Susannah (Dunham) Thayer. Mrs. Hill was a descendant of Richard Thayer, who was born in Thornbury parish, England, on February 10, 1600, and who emigrated from England and settled in Braintree in 1641.

In the Spring of 1792, Susan, at age 22, rode around three-hundred miles on horseback from Massachusetts all the way to the Palmyra/Macedon area to see Abner. Joining her was a servant girl for the family of Lieutenant John White.

Susannah was described in Turner's History as five feet, one inch in height and weighing about one hundred and fifty pounds. She had light complexion and greyish blue eyes. She was mild in temperament, very motherly in disposition and of Puritanical opinions and views. She was a dedicated Christian.

In the log cabin with Abner, Susannah is recorded to have been extremely lonely, sometimes going weeks without talking to another white person besides her husband and a man that worked for him. Her nearest neighbors were two miles away through the forest. While living in the log cabin, Native Americans would visit her. The Native Americans are recorded to have come to her door asking for bread or to lie on the floor near the fire on cold nights. Usually they were very friendly and courteous but sometimes they would be cross in which Susannah would be kind but firm with them, in which the Native Americans respected her.

Susannah had seven known children with Abner.

After the death of Abner, Susannah moved in with Ira, her oldest son in Ontario, New York. Seven years before her death, Susannah slipped and fell, injuring her hip. Going forth in life until her death, she could not walk without crutches. Susannah Hill died February 6th, 1856 at the age of 85. She is buried at Ontario Center Cemetery, with her children Ira, Horace, and Lovisa; all of them eighteen minutes away from the Old Baptist Cemetery.

Children of Abner and Susannah

Abner and Susannah Hill had seven known children, four boys and three girls. Their first child soon died after birth with no name. Their other children are listed in order of their birth, Ira, Electra, Horace, Lovisa, Hiram and Amanda. Only Ira, Horace and Lovisa lived to old age, while the others died before they turned twenty.

The following Hill children have findagrave.com accounts (Updated as of 4/3/25)

Ira Hill buried at Ontario Center Cemetery. Photo taken by Bob Davis

Horace Hill buried at Ontario Center Cemetery. Photo taken by Bob Davis

Lovisa Hill buried at Ontario Center Cemetery. Photo taken by Bob Davis

Parker Maybe's Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/GoneGraving/ & his Youtube account: https://www.youtube.com/@GoneGraving

Parker Maybe has been a wonderful help for the Old Baptist Cemetery Project. He does lots of repairs and research on his own, all seen on his social media pages.

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