Richard John Hillis

Profile Details

richard john

  • Born: 7th or 17th April 1836

  • Father: Joseph Hillis

  • Mother: Jane Hillis (nee Thompson)

  • Married: Margaret Ellis of Shankhill, Lurgan (daughter of James Ellis)

  • Marriage date: 23rd January 1867 in Shankill Parish, Lurgan

  • Marriage witnesses: Joseph J Hillis and Eliza Ellis

  • Married by: His brother, Rev William Hillis

  • Job: Farmer from Aghagallon, but some indication that he may have been somewhat of a businessman

  • Children: Click HERE.

  • Later life: According to 1911 Census, they moved to Banbridge, they had 10 children, 9 still living

  • Died: 6th October 1922

  • Signature: rj hillis signature

Marriage

rj hillis marriage news1

Children

TBC

Documents in Date Order

rj hillis select vestry

Slaters National Commercial Directory of Lurgan 1881 has Richard John Hillis as a farmer.

rj hillis aghalee farm sale

1901 Census

  • Head: Richard John Hillis (64)

  • Wife: Margaret Hillis (55)

  • Daughter: Edith Hillis (25)

  • Son: John George Hillis (22)

  • Daughter: Lizze Jane Hillis (21)

  • Daughter: Elsie Hillis (18)

  • Son: Edward Hillis (15)

Five children living at home by 1901. The others had already left home.

rj hillis newtownards rd 1901
rj hillis will mention overview
rj hillis will mention 2
rj hillis will mention 1

1911 Census

richard john banbridge

Notice in the following image that out of 10 children born to Richard John and Maggie Hillis, only 9 are still alive. Since Minnie (eldest daughter) did not die until 1917, another child must have died prior to this 1911 Census. This has been confirmed as their thrid child Jane Hillis, born in 1870 and died in 1872 (aged 2).

rj hillis 1911 census banbridge
mary minnie hillis death newspaper

Death & Burial

In Belfast City Cemetery is the grave of:

  • Richard John Hillis (86), died on 06/10/1922, grave F608

  • His wife Margaret (73), died 08/01/1919, grave F608

  • Sarah (Sadie) Hillis (55), died 09/12/1935, grave F608

  • Brian Hillis Gough (18 days), died 26/07/1935, grave F608

  • Richard’s brother William Hillis (68), died 09/12/1935, grave F609

  • William’s wife Susannah (Sue) Hillis (73), died 16/12/1949, grave F609

Source: Belfast cemetery archives, 028-90-320202 (Ext 6362)

hillis grave belfast city cemetery christmas 1945

I visited the grave in 2007 and found it in a state of disrepair. I plan to get some work done to repair the grave in the near future.

hillis grave 2009 1
hillis grave 2009 2
hillis grave 2009 3
hillis grave 2009 4
I need to re-visit the grave again, but I recall the name of a deceased "Gough" engraved on the grave surround. I will provide an update when I get more details on this.