The next three documents were taken from census documents.  As part of the census taking process, all those who had died in the previous 12 months were captured in the census of 1880.   His cause of death was listed as Cholera Morbus and inflammation of the bowels.  Cholera Morbus is a term no longer in scientific use.   Today it is known as acute gastroenteritis, and is a disease that occurs seasonally (hot weather) and marked by cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.  Acute Gastroenteritis is sometimes confused with a far more common ailment - the stomach flu. 

This record also provides confirmation for his birth year (1812) and year the family moved to Allamakee (1855). 

We don't know much about his life, other than what we see in civil records.  What we know looks like this:

• Birth 1812 or 1813
• He farmed in Kilnarath, Tipperary (Knockacappul town land) in the 1840s (see Hill Family of Tipperary)
• Eviction from family farm (1848)
• Immigration to United States in 1848 (no immigration record  in our possession other than note in Margaret Hill's death certificate)
• Living in Concord, New Hampshire (1850 census - see below)
• The Hills began farming in Allamakee County, Iowa in 1855 (according to Edward Hill's death record)
• Death in 1879 (Ancestry.Com noted 1880 but the document it references (1st document in this series) is a census record showing all residents who died in the previous 12 months prior to census taking (June 1879 to May 1880).  Edward Hill died in August of 1879.

EVICTION FROM IRELAND

We know that the Hill family came to America as a result of eviction from their Tipperary farm, as this census taken in May 1850 shows.

Prior to 1849, "free" immigration was offered after eviction notices for "non-payment of rent" were rendered.  Generally these older schemes were designed to increase rents (increases the tenant farmer could not afford) on unwanted tenants.   After 1849, new schemes were perpetuated by mortgage holders, who forced landowners to sell their property because of 'debt incurred due to the great famine", which usually meant that the Quit Rent Office terminated leases "when it discovered that a considerable population was dependent on uneconomic holdings."  Simply put - Too many people trying to make a living on limited acreage.  As an example:

"Esq. Ballikilcline (Tipperary); 463 subdivisions and a population of over 500 on a farm of approximately 602 acres."

Subsequently it forced many families to leave Ireland.  Between 1847 and 1852 thousands left Crown Estates for Canada and the United States.  The English Commissioner of Woods, Forests and Land recommended Canada because

"it would be the best destination as there was a Government Emigration agent who could give advice as to the districts where employment was readily available and pay a small sum to each emigrant on arrival."

Between these years, thousands of Irish sailed to Quebec or New Brunswick (Port of Saint John), but "during the years of the Irish famine, the majority of Irish immigrants who arrived...left immediately for Boston and other New England ports."

The Trip to America

In researching the old ship manifests, the trip to America was difficult, especially for the aged and infant children.  Deaths among these two age groups was not uncommon, and "guides" were provided in local newspapers telling the emigrant how to minimize illness and motion sickness while en-route to their final destination.  The newspapers also suggested that the emigrant bring additional supplies (sugar, spices and tea), and provided guidance as to how they should pack and store their possessions.  These newspapers also told the emigrant not to buy these additional supplies near the docks as they would be overcharged.

England found ways to reduce "the surplus population", and enticed the evicted tenants by paying their passage to the Americas.  The fare was as follows:

• 4 pounds for each adult
• 2 pounds and 15 shillings for each child under 14 years of age

In return, this amount paid the passage and supplies to the Americas.   As an example of the food apportionment, it looked like this (children received half this amount with the exception of meal/biscuits which was apportioned at 3/4th the amount set aside for adults):

• 2 pounds of meal or biscuit per day
• 2 pounds of beef or port per week
• 1 pound butter per week
• 1 pound tea per voyage
• 9 pounds sugar per voyage

Print collection of Maggie Land Blanck

The Illustrated London Times, December 16, 1848

The Ejectment of Irish Tenantry

From early times the land in the west of Ireland was under the control of landlords while tenant farmers maintained small holdings at little or no profit.  The landlords learned that they could make more money from grazing cattle and sheep rather than obtaining rents from their tenants.  At least they didn't have to "fight" for the rent on an annual basis.

The following is an article that was written in 1848 - the same year that the Edward Hill family was forced off their farm. 

EVICTIONS OF PEASANTRY IN IRELAND (Illustrated London Times, 1848 - around Christmas time)

A vast social change is gradually taking place in Ireland. The increase of emigration on the part of the bulk of the small capitalists, and the ejectment, by wholesale, of the wretched cottiers...is absolutely appalling. The Tipperary Vindicator thus portrays the state of the country:_

"The work of undermining the population is going on stealthily, but steadily. Each succeeding day witnesses its devastation - more terrible than the simoon and more deadly than the plague. We do not say that there exists a conspiracy to uproot the 'mere Irish'; but we do aver, that the fearful system of wholesale ejectment, of which we daily hear, and which we daily behold, is a mockery of the eternal laws of God - a flagrant outrage of the principles of nature. Whole districts are cleared. Not a roof-tree is to be seen where the happy cottage of the labourer or the snug homestead of the farmer at no distant day cheered the landscape. The ditch side, the dripping rain, the cold sleet are the covering of the wretched outcast the moment the cabin is tumbled over him; for who dare give shelter of protection from 'the pelting or the pitiless storm?' Who has the temerity to afford him the ordinary rites of hospitality, when the warrant has been signed for his extinction? There are vast tracts of the most fertile land in the world in this noble country now thrown out of tillage. No spade, no plough goes near them. There are no symptoms of life within their borders, no more than if they were situated in the midst of the Great Desert- no more than if they were cursed by the Creator with the blight of barrenness. Those who laboured to bring these tracts to the condition in which they are capable of raising produce of any description- are hunted like wolves, or they perish without a murmur. The tongue refuses to utter their most deplorable - their unheard- of suffering. The agonies endured by the 'mere Irish' in this day of their unparalleled affliction are far more poignant than the imagination could conceive, or the pencil of a Rembrandt picture. We do not exaggerate; the state of things is absolutely fearful; a demon, with all the vindictive passion by which alone a demon could be influenced, is let loose and menaces destruction. Additional sharpness, too, is imparted to his appetite. Christmas was accustomed to come with many healing balsam, sufficient to remove irritation if not to stanch wounds; but its place is usurped by other and far different qualifications. The howl of misery had succeeded the merry carol which used to usher in the season; no hope is felt that an end will soon be put to this state of wretchedness. The torpor and apathy which have seized on the masses are only surpassed by the atrocities perpetrated by those who set the dictates of humanity and the decrees of the Almighty at equal defiance."

Print collection of Maggie Land Blanck. Reprint bought on eBay, 2005

"An Irish Eviction, 1850 by F Goodall, R. A."

Eviction

While we do not know exactly how our ancestors lived, we can only assume that they lived in the same manner as most Irishmen of their day.  Edward Hill, like most men of his time, built his cottage using easily obtained materials such as peat and straw. However if Edward Hill's home had windows, his taxes would have been higher than his neighbors.  And if his door was over a certain height and if he made any type of improvements or enlargements to the dwelling, he would have been charged with higher taxes and tithes to the Church of England.

In looking at the taxes he paid in 1848 (see Griffith table above), it tells us that his home probably looked like the one shown on your left.  Edmund and Jeremiah paid higher rents because their home were also classified as "offices".  This generally suggested some type of improvement to their dwelling.

The Illuminated London News, May 1, 1886

The landlords practiced "Rack Renting" in order to get rid of unwanted tenants. Rents were raised to the point that the tenant could not afford to pay them. The landlord then had the tenant evicted for non payment of rent. There were no appeals and no mercy shown. 

Eviction

 This event occurred after Edward left Ireland, but is something that some of our ancestors would have attended, such as the Campbells and Ryans.  Castlewaller was a little over a mile from our ancestors farm lands (see Newport pictures).

Aug 11 1851
CASTLE WALLER
- NEWPORT
On Wednesday last the Castle Waller estates, Newport, were visited for the first time since his purchase of the property in the Encumbered Estates Court, by Henry Hodgson, Esq., of Dublin. Immediately upon their appearance on the Castle Waller estate, which they first visited, the tenantry assembled and lit a large bonfire, where, having regaled themselves, the merry dance was kept up until a late hour and the greatest harmony and enthusiasm prevailed, the tenants vying with each other in manifesting respect towards a landlord, of whom they may feel justly proud and who
promises that nothing shall be left undone, upon his part to better their condition. Having closely examined the grounds and plantations of the large and beautiful, but long neglected demesne, with its ancient castle, battlements and tower and surrounded with its wooden glens, the growth of centuries, with its clear streams and majestic mountain scenery, both men took their leave in the most affable and condescending manner, of the tenantry, who made the air resound again with their acclamations. Mr. Hodgson then visited his estates at Lackamore (where an excellent copper mine is in full work) and Killeen, where also he was received with a true Irish welcome. Mr. Hodgson has left an agriculturalist and intends expending a large amount of capital in the improvement of the estates, whereby constant employment will be afforded to hundreds.

"Eviction Scene Vandeleur Estate, Kilrush, County Clare 1881"

Photo collection of Maggie Land Blanck. Reprint bought on eBay, 2005

A Tipperary priest in 1852 wrote: "Two-thirds of my congregation have departed to the workhouse or gone to America. I was, God help me, very proud of my flock seven or eight years ago. ... I used to point to them as the decentest and best conducted people in the country. My chapel always overflowed. There is hardly a third of it occupied at present. . . . There is squalor and rags, tottering old age and no children."  The people were "clad like beggars, housed like beggars, and fed like beggars."

Kilrush, in County Clare, was probably 30 miles from Tipperary, and was also the homeland of the McDonnells of Clare.

For many Irish, they saw great hope in their new life; and regardless how hard their new life was in Iowa, it was better than living in Ireland.

     NBM  NBM                                                              YRS                                  NATIVE  NATUR              DEAF/                          OWNER
PAGE DWGS FAM  FIRST-NAME/MI   LAST-NAME        AGE SEX    COLOR  MRD WID  RES  BORN             OCCUPATION     VOTER   VOTER  ALIENS  MIL DUMB   BLIND  INSANE  IDIOTIC  LAND   PAUPER
========================================================================================================================================================================================
478  18   1    Edward          Hill             40  M      .      X   .    1    Ireland          Farmer         .       X      .       X   .      .      .       .        X      .
478            Margret         Hill             35  F      .      X   .    1    Ireland          .              .       .      .       .   .      .      .       .        .      .
478            Mary            Hill             12  F      .      .   .    1    Ireland          .              .       .      .       .   .      .      .       .        .      .
478            Bridget         Hill             9   F      .      .   .    1    New Hampshire    .              .       .      .       .   .      .      .       .        .      .
478            Anne            Hill             5   F      .      .   .    1    New Hampshire    .              .       .      .       .   .      .      .       .        .      .
478            Margret         Hill             1   F      .      .   .    .    Iowa             .              .       .      .       .   .      .      .       .        .      .