The Minor Family of Somerset

John Hillier was born in 1783 in England where several points o
f origin havebeen suggested by various Hillier researchers. Th
e three locations most frequently mentioned are the counties o
f Somerset, Dorset and Devon. - locationsevidencing large numb
ers of the surname Hillier. Of the three, Somerset appears to h
ave attracted most attention. No material evidence, however, ha
sas yet been uncovered and the search for John's origin continu
es.
When and why John emigrated to Newfoundland is subject of specul
ative theories. Suffice it to say that John was growing up i
n a country engaged in wars with Napoleon and in extended effort
s to achieve supremacy at sea. England also found itself amids
t an economic turmoil of advancing industrial revolution and it
simpact on economic opportunites at home and overseas.
Judging from the date his first child was born, John Probably ar
rived in Newfoundland before or about 1810. He was, according t
o court records, an agent and bookeeper in the employ of Abraha
m Malzard of Jersey, Channel Islands, merchant in Burin in the1
810's. It is here that John may have met Deborah, believed to b
e Abraham's daughter, whom he married. (For John's activities a
s agent in Burin see fotnot 5 (further below.
John Hillier was one of the early settlers of Lamaline,a fishin
g settlement located about forty miles south of Burin. It is un
certain when and under what circumstances he arrived in Lamaline
. An Archive entry dated 1816 shows John and wife Deborah as re
sidents of Lamaline, with occupation given as planter 3). In La
maline John participated in community activites by being one o
f the fifteen cosigners of Petition 18127 4). John Hillier's si
gnature on this document attests to his literacy.
John and his wifeDeborah apparently spent all of their lives i
n Lamaline. John died there in1863 at an age of eighty years
. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Lamaline, in a grave, t
oDay unmarked covered with mossy grass and almost daily embalme
d in mist and fog encroaching from the sea. The moss, in cushio
n-like formations, provides a cover which protects John's person
al history as well asthat of his wife Deborah put to eternal re
st nearby.
John Hillier had at least ten descendants most of whom, if not a
ll, were born in Lamaline. From here the male members expande
d their family branches throughout the south of the peninsula.
John, born about 1813 in Lamaline, lived and died in Lamaline
.He married Susan with whom he had two daughters; Joh
n 1813 male lineends with the passing away of John
James, born about 1815, in Lamaline is probably the most promine
nt of the first generation of Lamaline line of Hilliers. Jame
s spent his entire life in Lamaline East, married into the Bonne
ll line, and had a family of thirteen children. Of the seven so
ns in his family,six stayed in Lamaline and one moved to Britis
h Columbia.
Edward, born in 1818, married into the Pike line, and moved to P
oint au Gaul where most, if not all, of his eleven children wer
e born.
Thomas, born in 1820 married into the Thornhill live and moved t
o Brunette Island as the founder of the Brunetteline of Hillier
s. There were elven children in Thomas' famly.
Charles, born in 1822, marrield into the Lamaline Thornhihll lin
e and became a lifelong resident of Lamaline East, then locall
y named Muddy Hole. Charles had a family of eleven children.
Henry, born about 1827, assumed to be John's son in theabsenc
e of any documentation or recording re himself or ancestors, wa
s theonly family member to marry into the Malzard line sttlin
g in Point au Gaul with his family of twelve.
Emmanuel, bout about 1834 in Point au Gaul was the first Hillie
r of John 1783 line to be born away from Lamaline, Assuming Emma
nuuel is of John 1783 parentage, this curcumstance raised the qu
estion whetherJohn 1783 himself did not move, perhaps temporar