B. 4 Nov 1851 in Tisbury, s. of Benjamin and Sophronia (Look) Hillman. Parents marriage took place: 16 Jul 1845, in Tisbury. His father was a 'seaman.'
1870: Living with parents and older sister Rebecca in Tisbury, age 16. His father is a fisherman. (He also has an older sister, Mary, not living in the home.)
Marriage: 8 Oct 1878, to Sophronia Ellen West, dau. of George and Diedama West, in Tisbury,
-------------------------------
(NOTE: Sophronia's mother, Diadema (Tilton) West, was deaf and mute, and four of her seven children were also born deaf and mute. Sophronia West was one of their 3 children born able to hear and speak.)*
-----------------------------
Known children of Grafton and Sophronia:
-Infant daughter - d . Feb 1888 (inc. on this headstone)
- Elsie May Hillman, b. 28 Aug 1897 (possible adoption?)
1880: Grafton and Sophronia living in Chilmark, no children in home. Occupation: Blacksmith
1888: Birth and death of infant daughter
1897: Birth of Elsie May, 28 Aug 1897, in Boston **
--------
1900: Living in Chilmark. No children in their home . Boarder Benj. H Sisson, and servant Abbie West are in the household (Benjamin and Abbie would marry, 3 years later)
This record indicates that Sophronia had one child, not surviving. It's unclear why Elsie May, b. 1898, is not present in their household, unless she is an adopted child, after 1900, or if this was an oversight of the census enumerator.
1910: Living with Sophronia. Elsie, age 12, is now shown living with them, in Chilmark. Grafton has his own blacksmith shop. Age 57. In contrast to 1900 census, this record states that Sophronia has one surviving child.
1916: Dau. Elsie May marries Frederick Cranmore Libby in Chilmark.
1917: Death
----------------
AFter his death:
1930: Widow Sophronia Hillman is living alone in Tisbury, MA, working as housekeeper in private residence. She is single, age 71.
*Source: Deafness in the Chilmark community: Article: "Mark of Chilmark: Deaf and Dumb in the Village of Squibnocket"; Boston Herald; Sunday, Jan 20, 1895; Boston, MA;Page: 24; genealogybank.com
**Source: Birth record for Elsie May Hillman; "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001." Database with images. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 16 January 2021. Citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
1870: Living with parents and older sister Rebecca in Tisbury, age 16. His father is a fisherman. (He also has an older sister, Mary, not living in the home.)
Marriage: 8 Oct 1878, to Sophronia Ellen West, dau. of George and Diedama West, in Tisbury,
-------------------------------
(NOTE: Sophronia's mother, Diadema (Tilton) West, was deaf and mute, and four of her seven children were also born deaf and mute. Sophronia West was one of their 3 children born able to hear and speak.)*
-----------------------------
Known children of Grafton and Sophronia:
-Infant daughter - d . Feb 1888 (inc. on this headstone)
- Elsie May Hillman, b. 28 Aug 1897 (possible adoption?)
1880: Grafton and Sophronia living in Chilmark, no children in home. Occupation: Blacksmith
1888: Birth and death of infant daughter
1897: Birth of Elsie May, 28 Aug 1897, in Boston **
--------
1900: Living in Chilmark. No children in their home . Boarder Benj. H Sisson, and servant Abbie West are in the household (Benjamin and Abbie would marry, 3 years later)
This record indicates that Sophronia had one child, not surviving. It's unclear why Elsie May, b. 1898, is not present in their household, unless she is an adopted child, after 1900, or if this was an oversight of the census enumerator.
1910: Living with Sophronia. Elsie, age 12, is now shown living with them, in Chilmark. Grafton has his own blacksmith shop. Age 57. In contrast to 1900 census, this record states that Sophronia has one surviving child.
1916: Dau. Elsie May marries Frederick Cranmore Libby in Chilmark.
1917: Death
----------------
AFter his death:
1930: Widow Sophronia Hillman is living alone in Tisbury, MA, working as housekeeper in private residence. She is single, age 71.
*Source: Deafness in the Chilmark community: Article: "Mark of Chilmark: Deaf and Dumb in the Village of Squibnocket"; Boston Herald; Sunday, Jan 20, 1895; Boston, MA;Page: 24; genealogybank.com
**Source: Birth record for Elsie May Hillman; "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001." Database with images. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 16 January 2021. Citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
B. 4 Nov 1851 in Tisbury, s. of Benjamin and Sophronia (Look) Hillman. Parents marriage took place: 16 Jul 1845, in Tisbury. His father was a 'seaman.'
1870: Living with parents and older sister Rebecca in Tisbury, age 16. His father is a fisherman. (He also has an older sister, Mary, not living in the home.)
Marriage: 8 Oct 1878, to Sophronia Ellen West, dau. of George and Diedama West, in Tisbury,
-------------------------------
(NOTE: Sophronia's mother, Diadema (Tilton) West, was deaf and mute, and four of her seven children were also born deaf and mute. Sophronia West was one of their 3 children born able to hear and speak.)*
-----------------------------
Known children of Grafton and Sophronia:
-Infant daughter - d . Feb 1888 (inc. on this headstone)
- Elsie May Hillman, b. 28 Aug 1897 (possible adoption?)
1880: Grafton and Sophronia living in Chilmark, no children in home. Occupation: Blacksmith
1888: Birth and death of infant daughter
1897: Birth of Elsie May, 28 Aug 1897, in Boston **
--------
1900: Living in Chilmark. No children in their home . Boarder Benj. H Sisson, and servant Abbie West are in the household (Benjamin and Abbie would marry, 3 years later)
This record indicates that Sophronia had one child, not surviving. It's unclear why Elsie May, b. 1898, is not present in their household, unless she is an adopted child, after 1900, or if this was an oversight of the census enumerator.
1910: Living with Sophronia. Elsie, age 12, is now shown living with them, in Chilmark. Grafton has his own blacksmith shop. Age 57. In contrast to 1900 census, this record states that Sophronia has one surviving child.
1916: Dau. Elsie May marries Frederick Cranmore Libby in Chilmark.
1917: Death
----------------
AFter his death:
1930: Widow Sophronia Hillman is living alone in Tisbury, MA, working as housekeeper in private residence. She is single, age 71.
*Source: Deafness in the Chilmark community: Article: "Mark of Chilmark: Deaf and Dumb in the Village of Squibnocket"; Boston Herald; Sunday, Jan 20, 1895; Boston, MA;Page: 24; genealogybank.com
**Source: Birth record for Elsie May Hillman; "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001." Database with images. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 16 January 2021. Citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
1870: Living with parents and older sister Rebecca in Tisbury, age 16. His father is a fisherman. (He also has an older sister, Mary, not living in the home.)
Marriage: 8 Oct 1878, to Sophronia Ellen West, dau. of George and Diedama West, in Tisbury,
-------------------------------
(NOTE: Sophronia's mother, Diadema (Tilton) West, was deaf and mute, and four of her seven children were also born deaf and mute. Sophronia West was one of their 3 children born able to hear and speak.)*
-----------------------------
Known children of Grafton and Sophronia:
-Infant daughter - d . Feb 1888 (inc. on this headstone)
- Elsie May Hillman, b. 28 Aug 1897 (possible adoption?)
1880: Grafton and Sophronia living in Chilmark, no children in home. Occupation: Blacksmith
1888: Birth and death of infant daughter
1897: Birth of Elsie May, 28 Aug 1897, in Boston **
--------
1900: Living in Chilmark. No children in their home . Boarder Benj. H Sisson, and servant Abbie West are in the household (Benjamin and Abbie would marry, 3 years later)
This record indicates that Sophronia had one child, not surviving. It's unclear why Elsie May, b. 1898, is not present in their household, unless she is an adopted child, after 1900, or if this was an oversight of the census enumerator.
1910: Living with Sophronia. Elsie, age 12, is now shown living with them, in Chilmark. Grafton has his own blacksmith shop. Age 57. In contrast to 1900 census, this record states that Sophronia has one surviving child.
1916: Dau. Elsie May marries Frederick Cranmore Libby in Chilmark.
1917: Death
----------------
AFter his death:
1930: Widow Sophronia Hillman is living alone in Tisbury, MA, working as housekeeper in private residence. She is single, age 71.
*Source: Deafness in the Chilmark community: Article: "Mark of Chilmark: Deaf and Dumb in the Village of Squibnocket"; Boston Herald; Sunday, Jan 20, 1895; Boston, MA;Page: 24; genealogybank.com
**Source: Birth record for Elsie May Hillman; "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001." Database with images. FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 16 January 2021. Citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
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