The Hill Family of Grove Street, Crinkill

Introduction

Today, Grove Street in Crinkill is a modest, unassuming housing estate. The original street was exactly that, a single street consisting of over half a dozen white washed, thatched cottages, a mix of single storey and two storey, standing in the shadow of the adjacent military barracks. Many of these houses were once home to soldiers or veterans connected with the barracks.

One such family was the Hills. The 1901 census records them at No. 5 Grove Street. The house contained between two and four rooms and had four front facing windows, classifying it as a second class dwelling.

The household consisted of William Hill, his wife Bridget, their children William Joe, Samuel, Annie, and Gertrude, and Bridget’s brother, John Cleary.

The Hills offer an interesting study in how soldiers integrated into the local community and how their families became part of ordinary daily life. Their story is also a stark reminder of how illness and war could devastate a household: within the three period from 1915 to 1918, two-thirds of the family were gone.

Below is a brief biography of each family member:

William Hill

William Hill was born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in 1849, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Hill. Samuel worked as a tailor. William was baptised in St Peter’s Church, Wisbech, on 5 December 1852, when the family was living at Timber Market. The 1851 census records William, his parents, and six siblings living at Jump Walk, Walsoken, Wisbech, Norfolk (Wisbech’s county alignment shifted historically between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk).

William enlisted in the 100th Regiment of Foot at Woolwich on 12 September 1868. At enlistment he was recorded as 5 feet 5½ inches tall, with hazel eyes and dark brown hair.

William served from 12 September 1868 to 6 October 1877 at home, then from 7 October 1877 until 7 March 1880 in India. The remainder of his service, from 8 March 1880 through the formation of the Leinster Regiment in 1881 until 10 February 1900, was at home, amounting to an impressive 31 years of service.

William's Long Service & Good Conduct medal.

In October 1887, while attached to the Leinster Regiment Depot in Birr, he was recommended for the Long Service & Good Conduct medal, which was awarded to him on 17 February 1888.

During this period he married Bridget Cleary in St Brendan’s Catholic Church on 5 May 1885.

At the time of his discharge, William’s service was described as exemplary. He remained on Grove Street for the rest of his life and was likely a witness to the burning of the military barracks, the institution that had shaped his livelihood, in July 1922.

William died on 30 April 1924, probably from heart disease. The Weekly Freeman reported his death on 10 May 1924:

“A Sudden Death – On the way home from a circus at Birr Mr. William Hill, Crinkle died suddenly. He had been under medical attendance for some time previously. For close to 40 years he was connected with the Crinkle Military Barracks.”

He was interred in Clonoghill Cemetery on 2 May 1924.

Bridget Hill (née Cleary)

Bridget was born in County Tipperary. At the time of her marriage, Bridget was working as a domestic servant and living on Moorpark Street, Birr. Her father was James Cleary.

She died in Crinkill on 9 October 1916 from hypertrophy of the heart (two years), dropsical effusion, and an enlarged liver. She was interred in Clonoghill Cemetery on 11 October 1916.

William Joseph Hill

William Joseph Hill was born in Crinkill on 19 June 1886. He entered St Brendan’s Presentation Brothers School on 30 July 1900 but appears never to have attended classes; he was struck off the register on 31 August 1901.

He enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Birr on 18 October 1907. He gave his profession as carpenter, having completed an apprenticeship with William Henry of Birr in June 1907. His skills were later described as “very superior”.

At enlistment he was recorded as 5 feet 10⅞ inches tall, with blue eyes and brown hair. While in the army he obtained his 3^rd class education certificate on 15 May 1908 and his 2^nd class certificate on 21 March 1910. He also reached the rank of corporal.

With the outbreak of the Great War, William was sent to France, arriving on 20 November 1914. He was later killed in action on 18 January 1915. The King’s County Chronicle reported his death on 28 January 1915:

“During this formidable war King's Co. and Tipperary, like the rest of the Emerald Isle, have supplied their share to the roll of honour. Amongst the latest who has laid down his valiant young life is Corpl. William Hill, Royal Engineers. His father, who lives at Grove Street, Crinkle, received the news in the course of last week from Captain Palmer, who wrote a most sympathetic letter, describing him as an ideal soldier. It appeared from the same correspondence that the deceased and four other were building a redoubt when a too well aimed shell burst among them killing all instantaneously. He served his time with Mr Power, building contractor, and was considered an intelligent and industrious young man.”

William had wrote in his last will and testament: “In the event of my death I give all to Mr W Hill my Father.” His name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.

Samuel Hill

Samuel was born in Crinkill on 17 February 1888, when his father was working as a canteen mess waiter. He entered the Presentation Brothers school in Birr on 18 April 1898 but was struck off the register that October. He re-entered the school on 28 May 1903 at age thirteen, attended for 58 days, and was examined at second class level before being struck off again on 30 September 1903.

The 1911 census records Samuel, aged 23, still living at home and suffering from “paralysis”.

He died at home on 23 October 1918 from influenza (five days), bronchitis, and exhaustion. His sister Annie was present at his death. He was interred in Clonoghill Cemetery on 25 October 1918.

Gertrude Hill

Gertrude was born in Crinkill on 28 May 1891. She worked as a governess and died on 15 June 1915 from phthisis and heart failure.

Annie Hill

Annie was born in Crinkill on 6 May 1889 and likely attended the Convent School in Birr. She later qualified as a teacher and spent many years on the staff of the same school. She is still fondly remembered locally as a kind‑hearted woman who would ask her pupils, “Who do you love?”, to which they would reply, “Miss Hill”.

Corpus Christi procession circa 1955. Children from convent school with Miss Hill (right side). Image courtesy of Paul Barber.

She lived in Seefin and remained a teacher until at least 1955.

Annie died in Birr Hospital on 30 December 1961 after being knocked off her bicycle by a reckless motorist. She was interred in Clonoghill Cemetery on 2 January 1962. Her death marked the end of the Hill family in Birr.

Conclusion

The Hill family lasted only a single generation in Crinkill, yet as a soldier’s family they became woven into the fabric of Crinkill and Birr. Had illness and war not struck them so severely, it is impossible to know how much more they might have contributed to the community they had made their home.

What remains of their legacy today lives in the warm memories of Miss Hill, fondly recalled by all who passed through her classroom.