Reuben HILLS

                   The 29 Nov 1817 will of Reuben Hills of Hartford, New York lists hisheirs as wife Hulda (Risley), four sons Reuben, Justin, Ezekiel, andHorace and two daughter, Lorry (Laura) Smith and Sophia Bryant. HuldaHills and Ezekiel Hills were named executors; witnesses were Lyman Hall,Samuel Taylor and Reuben's brother, Aaron Hills.

There are deeds (Washington County Deeds MM:173) in 1835 by Hulda, Justinand his first wife, Mary; Exekiel and his wife, Harriet; and Horace andhis wife, selling the Washington County farm of Reuben Hills Sr. Justinobtained bounty lands in West Almond, Allegany Co., New York where he isburied. Reuben Sr. is buried in the Old Baptist Cemetery in Hartford, NewYork. Reuben Jr. is buried in Allegany County,  New York near Justin'sfarm.

Reuben is also mentioned in the 1793 Connecticut Probate Record of hisfather, Daniel Hills.

Reuben Hills was a Revolutionary War Veteran.  After the war, he andNathan, his older brother bought small portions of their father Daniel'sGlastonbury, Connecticut property. Reuben seems to have been Nathan'sshadow.  Some family researchers suggest their was friction betweenNathan and older brother Levi Hills, executor of Daniel's estate. Levidid not serve in the Revolution and stayed in Connecticut until 1811,moving to Vermont. Nathan had about 20 acres in East Hartford.  Reubenwas next door with about 10 acres.  Levi married Ollie Hollister and wasmarried by the Rec. Thomas Paine...yes, THAT Thomas Paine.  Ollie was adescendent of Robert Treat Paine who signed the American Declaration ofIndependence.

Other information available is: That land was sold to Reuben and NathanHills by brother Levi, executor for Daniel Hills, on 30 Apr 1789. Reubenand Nathan lived next door to each toher in 1790 census of East Hartford,Connecticut, moved to Hartford, New York about the same time in 1793,lived close together in the 1800 and 1810 census of Hartford, New York.Widows lived close to each other in 1820 census.

Wills of Nathan and Reuben are on file in Salem, Washington, New York.While nothing shows absolute proof that Reuben's wife was Huldah Risley,articles published in magazines suggest strongly that Huldah was thedaughter of Nathaniel Risley and Ruth Caldwell, and sister to JerushaRisley who married Nathan Hills, brother of Reuben.

Reuben may have been the steading influence on Nathan.  One of the familyarguments is whether Nathan at age 14 had a son Jesse--the controversialJesse.  In any event, the Washington County (NY) History of 1878 had abio of Nathan R. Hills, one of the many Nathan's and named for hisgrandfather Nathan, that says Nathan and Reuben came to Granville in1794.  Nathan shortly "removed to Hartford (NY)"  The brothers weresuccessful farmers.