CA CA: Hill Jr., James Francis Age: / DOB:

Name: James F. Hill
SSN: XXXX
Last Residence: 92356 Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino, California, United States of America
Born: 21 Apr 1921
Died: 13 Nov 1998
State (Year) SSN issued: Massachusetts (Before 1951)
 
Okay, found him in 1940 census living in Maine with his paternal grandparents, his father, and a female cousin. He was born in Scotland apparently.

Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head Hugh Hill M 77 Scotland
Wife Agnes Hill F 78 Scotland
Son James Hill M 48 Scotland
Grandson James F Hill M 19 Scotland
Granddaughter Frances Martin F 13 Maine
 
Okay, ignore previous post! That turned out to be a completely different James F Hill who died in 2005 very much known to his family.
 
If the James F. Hill in post #2 is correct, I found the following. (How do we know that's the right one? The link has no info except for name.)

He was born in Boston April 21, 1921 to James F. Hill and Anna B. Benson. James Sr, his father, was born in 1893 in Crane, MO, to James Hill and Louise Young and married Anna on 21 April 1918 in Ayer, Massachusetts,, when she was 19. The wedding was performed by the chaplain at Camp Devens, so he was probably in the service at the time. He was living in Shelby, Idaho, when he went into the service. He was a blacksmith and she was a weaver. Her parents were William F. and Josephine F. Horne (or Howe, the handwriting is hard to read).

James Sr died in 1949 and is buried in Framingham, Mass. Anna died in 1984. Before James, they had a daughter, Marion Zetta Hill (Brooks), who died in 2003.

Marion and her husband Morton had 3 children: Sandra, Douglas, and Linda, who would be the nieces and nephews of James Jr. Sadly, Linda died just last month. Her obituary lists the survivors, who could be tracked down to verify if this is the right James F. Hill Jr and if they want to claim him.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/metrowestdailynews/obituary.aspx?pid=180809430
 
I should point out that while I can find James Jr's mother and sister living in a boarding house in 1940, I can't find him or his father that year. However, there is a James Hill of the right age living in the mental hospital, and it says he was there in 1935, as well, so it is possible that Marion's kids don't know he existed.
 
Entirely possible if it is the right one. Relatives with mental health problems were often hidden away in asylums or institutions in this era. In the 1960's to 70's many people were de-institutionalized into the community. Often they had lost contact with relative many years ago. Community mental health centers were to pick up the slack and provide services. It did not happen that way. And over time, mental health care has been decreasing at a steady rate due to lack of funding. Many folks ended up homeless. This could be what happened to Mr. Hill.

I don't think I ever worked on this case, so I can't provide any background as to how the original conclusions about Mr. Hill were formed.
 
I should point out that while I can find James Jr's mother and sister living in a boarding house in 1940, I can't find him or his father that year. However, there is a James Hill of the right age living in the mental hospital, and it says he was there in 1935, as well, so it is possible that Marion's kids don't know he existed.
They actually do know he existed. The James Hill in post #5 was somewhat notorious. Google- James Francis Hill Three Gun Maniac. I met him when he got out of prison on his way out west. I was a kid and he stopped by our house looking for money. His sister Marion (My Grandmother), had asked my parents to help him with a little cash and send him on his way.
 

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
170
Guests online
1,495
Total visitors
1,665

Forum statistics

Threads
590,035
Messages
17,929,218
Members
228,043
Latest member
Biff
Back
Top