Thomas Hills (buried 1899)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Hills
First name: 
Thomas
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
316
Born: 
1825
Died: 
05/04/1899
Buried: 
08/04/1899
Occupation: 
Agricultural Labourer; Gardener; Head Gardener;
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
NWS
Cemetery row: 
6
Cemetery plot: 
12
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/window.gangs.behave
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Headstone description: 
Buried under the headstone for Harriett and William Jillett
Headstone inscription: 
In ever loving of a devoted wife and mother Harriett Jilliett died 23rd Feb 1926 aged 52. Also of William Henry Jillett her husband died 21st January 1951 aged 82

Life story

Life story

Thomas Hills began life as an agricultural labourer and progressed to being a gardener. He was born in 1825/6 in the Storrington area to Thomas Hills and Jane nee Baker. His mother was a widow by the 1841 Census left with 6 children and described as a pauper in the 1851 Census.  Thomas and his sister, Jane , were the same age so perhaps were twins.

In 1856 he married Elizabeth (Gibbs) Penfold on 10 August at Storrington. They had at least 9 children and judging by where they were born  shows how frequently they moved house. Ellen was born in Washington, William in Ashington, George in Tarring, Lucy, Charlotte, Fanny and Frederick in Stoke, near Guildford, Surrey and Ernest in Worthing.

Thomas died on 5 April 1899 at 6, Heene Cottages, and was buried at Heene on 8 April leaving £78 6s, worth about £6,121 nowadays,  to Elizabeth.

Burial researcher: 
Angela Levy

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/00/1825
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Elizabeth Gibbs
Spouse one last name: 
Penfold
Marriage one date: 
10/08/1856
Marriage one address: 
Storrington, Sussex, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
05/04/1899
Age (at time of death): 
73
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Heene Cottages, 6 Heene Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Executors: 
Elizabeth Hills status: Widow
Probate pounds: 
£78

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1841 census: 

Living at Storrington Jane Hills, 45, charwoman; Elizabeth Hills, 20; Jane Hills, 15; Thomas Hills, 15 agricultural labourer; Mary Hills, 14; Henry Hills. 10; George Hills, 9; Ellen Hills, 6

1851 census: 

Living at Bog Common, Storrington, Sussex Jane Hills, 55, widow, pauper; Jane Hills, 27, daughter; Thomas Hills, 2?, son, agricultural labourer; Henry Hills, 21, son, agricultural labourer; Ellen Hills, 16, daughter, Sarah Jane Hills, 1, granddaughter

1861 census: 

Living at Montpellier? Row, Washington, Sussex Thomas Hills, 32, gardener/labourer; Elizabeth, 26, wife; Mary Ann Hills, 2, daughter; Ellen Hills, 7 months

1871 census: 

Living at Stoke Hill Cottage, Stoke, near Guilford, Surrey Thomas Hills, 46, head, gardener; Elizabeth Hills, 36, wife; Mary Ann Hills, 12, daughter, scholar; Ellen Hills, 10. Daughter, Scholar; William Hills, 8, son, scholar; George Hills, 4, son, scholar; Luce (sic) Hills, 18 months

1881 census: 

Living at Worthing House (gardeners house), Worthing Thomas Hills, 55, head, gardener; Elizabeth Hills, 46, wife, laundress; Ellen Hills, 21, daughter, helping at home; George A Hills, 14, son; Lucy Hills, 11, daughter, scholar; Charlotte Hills, 8, daughter, scholar ;Fanny Hills, 6, daughter, scholar; Frederick Hills, 4, son

1891 census: 

Living at 6, Heene Cottages, Heene Thomas Hills, 66, head, gardener; Elizabeth Hills, 55, wife; George Hills, 23, son, butchers assistant; Lottie (sic) Hills, 19, daughter, drapers assistant; Fanny Hills, 17, daughter, helps mother; Frederick Hills , 14, son, scholar,Ernest Hills, 9, son, scholar