"1. John1 Hill is first mentioned in the Dorchester Records as follows: 'Jan. 6, 1633-4. It is agreed that the great lotts from Mr. Rosciter's to John Hills lott tow[ard] Naponset in bredth and eight score in length shall be forthwith enclosed by good sufficient Pale,' etc. He was born probably about 1602, and was in Dorchester, and a land holder there, as early as 1633. … Dorchester records show that John1 Hill had land granted on Feb. 18, 1636, Jan. 2, 1637-8, and March 18, 1638. There is no evidence that he was a member of the church, and the style of his will is totally different from that in vogue among the religious Puritan colonists. Not having been a church member he could not have been a freeman; and there is no record of his having held any public offices. It has been commonly stated that John Hill of Dorchester was a blacksmith, but nothing appears to substantiate this assertion, and the inventory of his estate indicates that he was a farmer. His residence, after 1644, was in that part of Dorchester called Uncaty, and later setoff as Milton. On Feb. 14, 1733-4, representatives of all his children who had issue sold out their interests in his rights in the undivided lands in Stoughton. (Suffolk Co. Deeds.) 'John Hill of the Great Lotts Departed out of this Life the 31st Day of May 1664.' His will, made 11 Apr., 1660, mentions eldest son John Hill, son Samuel, who had been helpful to him in his infirm days, daughter Mary who had received her portion, and friends Thomas Tilestone and John Minot. The bulk of his estate was left to wife Frances 'for her maintenance and for the bringing up of my children'; at her death the property was to be divided among the nine youngest children, or such of them as survive. Inventory mentions horses, cattle, swine, crops, and 'husbandry tools'; value of estate £287. 1. 0. (Suffolk Co. Probate.)"
