Hills, Benoni

Name	Town	State	From
Hills, Benoni	Durham	Connecticut	1701
Hills, Benoni	Northampton	Massachusetts	1710s
Hills, Benoni	Durham	Connecticut	1720s
Hills, Benoni	Goshen	Connecticut	1741 or 1742

Patent	Date	Remarks

Contract	for

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Benoni Hills was born at Durham, near Hartford in 1701 and died June 24, 1793 in Winchester, Connecticut where he was buried in WInchester Cemetery. He went to Northampton, Massachusetts where he became apprentice to one of the Pomeroy gunsmiths. Probably Enenetzer Pomeroy who lerned the gun business from his father Medad Pomeroy. I guess when Benoni Hills came to Northamphton Medad Pomeroy (died 1716) had already withdrawn from gun business. However, it would be intersting to know why Benoni named one of his sons after Medad Pomeroy. Benoni Hills married in Northampton Hannah Strong (1704-1776) on December 19, 1723 and went back to Durham. They had several children of which Medad and John became also gunsmiths. About 1741 or 1742 the family moved to Goshen, Connecticut. Reason was probably that nearby Salisbury bog iron depsits were discovered. It was of better quality than any other iron deposits found so far in the Colonies. Especially tough and best suited for gun barrels. With this fine raw material in hand and with help of his sons Medad and John, Benoni Hills established a gun and tool shop in Goshen. That he made excellent weapons soon spread around. In 1757 he made a gun for Nathan Hubbel, who was Captain in the British-American army during the French and Indian War. Unfortunately there are no more that this gun known or existing.

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Benoni Hills was born at Durham, near Hartford in 1701 and died June 24, 1793 in Winchester, Connecticut where he was buried in WInchester Cemetery.

He went to Northampton, Massachusetts where he became apprentice to one of the Pomeroy gunsmiths. Probably Enenetzer Pomeroy who lerned the gun business from his father Medad Pomeroy. I guess when Benoni Hills came to Northamphton Medad Pomeroy (died 1716) had already withdrawn from gun business. However, it would be intersting to know why Benoni named one of his sons after Medad Pomeroy.

Benoni Hills married in Northampton Hannah Strong (1704-1776) on December 19, 1723 and went back to Durham. They had several children of which Medad and John became also gunsmiths.

About 1741 or 1742 the family moved to Goshen, Connecticut. Reason was probably that nearby Salisbury bog iron depsits were discovered. It was of better quality than any other iron deposits found so far in the Colonies. Especially tough and best suited for gun barrels.

With this fine raw material in hand and with help of his sons Medad and John, Benoni Hills established a gun and tool shop in Goshen. That he made excellent weapons soon spread around. In 1757 he made a gun for Nathan Hubbel, who was Captain in the British-American army during the French and Indian War. Unfortunately there are no more that this gun known or existing.