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Health & Fitness

Notable People from Montville's Past

I'm fascinated in Montville's history. My favorite topic is the people who lived, worked, created new ideas, and loved our town.

THE HILLHOUSE FAMILY

The Town of Montville recently purchased the Congregational Church on Raymond Hill. It seems timely to learn more about the first pastor of the Church and his extended family.  The Hillhouses were an important part of the early Montville history. Additionally, family members played a role in governing colonial Connecticut as well as participating in founding our nation after the Revolutionary War.

Reverend James Hillhouse (1688-1775) was the first of his family to move to Montville from the British Isles.  He was born in Londonderry, Ireland, and became a minister in 1718 according to Henry Jones Ford who wrote The Scotch-Irish in America.

By 1722, Reverend Hillhouse moved from Boston to the North Parish, which was eventually became known as Montville. After four years acting as the pastor to the church, he married Marry Fitch.  The Rev. and Mrs. Hillhouse had four children: John, William, James Abraham, and Rachel. Henry A. Baker states in his book, The History of Montville, Conn. that Rev. Hillhouse, “was pastor of the church about sixteen years.  He died young in the ministry.”   Rev. James Hillhouse and his wife Mary are buried in the cemetery off of Route 163 on the top of Raymond Hill.

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The second born child to Rev. and Mrs. Hillhouse came to prominence during the Revolutionary War as a Major in the Second Regiment of the Connecticut Calvary raise in the state. William Hillhouse, (1728-1816), was a New London County judge who was “greatly trusted and honored by his fellow citizens.” 

Described as “tall, spare and swarthy,” Montville Town Historian Jon Chase quoted Hillhouse’s grandson as stating, “he [Judge Hillhouse] was the Patriarch of Montville.” Judge Hillhouse married Sarah Griswold in 1750.  Sadly, Sarah died in 1777. Following the death of Sarah, Judge Hillhouse married Delia Hosmer in 1778.  He died at age 88, after many years of public service to town and country.

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 James Hillhouse (1754-1810), was one of the most notable members of the family; the third child of Judge William and Sarah Hillhouse. To this day, he is still held in great esteem by the State of Connecticut, City of New Haven, and Yale University. 

There is extensive information on James Hillhouse’s accomplishments which included being chosen as a member of the Continental Congress, a United States Senator, and the treasurer of Yale College for fifty years. James was instrumental in planting the multitude of elm trees in New Haven and why that city is still referred to as “Elm City.”

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