Peter Hill, Dowlais

[khill]

I am looking for relatives of Peter Hill, who was born in 1890. On the 1891 census he was 7 months old and living at 72 Well Street, Dowlais. His father was Thomas Hill (occupation: Bessemer smelter), born in Ireland. His mother was Margaret Hill (neé O’Brien).

His eldest sibling was my paternal grandfather, John Francis Hill, who was born c. 1886 and was a GP in East London. Peter had another brother, Thomas, who as a GP in Pontlottyn. All I know about Peter is what a relative told me, and I don’t know if it’s accurate: that he had many children, had a draper’s shop in Merthyr Tydfil, and was musical.

I have long wondered about Peter and whether any of his children are still alive. I have only recently found this forum. Best wishes, Kieran

[mikemerthyr]

Hello Kieran have a look on page 2 of this family history page site there is a post about the Hill family of Penydarren/Dowlais by Clementine8. It looks like you have the same Family. There is a death recorded in Merthyr Tydfil of a PETER HILL aged 76 birth date of 18th September 1890 there may be an obit in the local newspaper for him I will have a look.In 1911 census they lived at 11 PANT ROAD DOWLAIS and it looks like JOHN FRANCIS HILL and THOMAS HILL served in the forces in WW1 according to 1918 register of electors I will check for their service numbers/rank and what they branch they served in.

Mike

[mikemerthyr]

I found JOHN FRANCIS HILL in 1918 absent voters list it says he was a CAPTAIN in 7th CAVALRY BRIGADE FIELD AMBULANCE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS . Could not see THOMAS on the list but there was at the same address 11 PANT ROAD DOWLAIS SYDNEY HILL a PRIVATE army number S4/143730 in 10th FIELD BAKERY ARMY SERVICE CORPS. There were 3 other men at the address with the surname EDWARDS also serving in the forces . Hope this is useful.
Regards
Mike

[khill]

Mike, thank you very much for this information, some of which I knew already, but I've never seen the 1911 Census so had no knowledge of the Pant Rd address. Nor did I know the precise brigade my grandfather was in, or of the existence of a Sydney. I was once told that Well Street Dowlais doesn't exist anymore; I see that Pant Rd is still there and on Streetview the houses look quite old. I shall have a look at the Penydarren/Dowlais on page 2. Regards, Kieran

[mikemerthyr]

There is a death obit in the MERTHYR EXPRESS NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 19th edition on page 13 of PETER HILL says he died Feb 4th aged 85 born Dowlais buried in PANT CEMETERY went to ST ILLTYDS R.C church DOWLAIS was a well known musician (piano) leaves widow SYBIL then a patiant in MARDY HOSPITAL MERTHYR, 9 children and 31 grandchildren.Names of family and friends given.

Regards
Mike

[khill]

Mike, thanks for this further information.

I've tried to access Merthyr Express for 1976 editions, but unsuccessfully. I may have to join a family history site first. Also, I was unaware of the existence of absent voters lists.

I would be interested in knowing if any of Peter Hill's children are still alive; maybe one of his relatives will read this.

Thanks again, Kieran Hill

[mikemerthyr]

Kieran If you contact Merthyr Tydfil central library give them the page number and the date of the newspaper article they can send you a photo copy of the obit 5 pence for an A4 sheet of paper or they can scan it and send you an email. Contact details are Telephone [phone] . E.mail [e-mail] all lower case. They can not send any info about anyone alive you can try asking on facebook or one of the other on line chat rooms to see if some one is related ,or contact the Merthyr Express newspaper and put a notice in asking if there are relatives to get in contact there probably are some grandchildren around ?.Not many people do know about the Absent Voters lists and lots of the lists have been lost or destroyed.
Good luck
Mike