Deborah Degeer was the daughter of James Degeer and Elizabeth Brooks.

She married Christopher Hilts, son of Frederick Hilts and Catherine Schell, on January 13, 1834, in Markham, Ontario, Canada; they were married until his death in 1846. The couple had six children [whose birth years below are approximations], namely:

SAMUEL HILTS (April 8, 1832, Markham, Ontario, Canada - January 6, 1924, Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada) [m. Elizabeth Ann Gardiner];
JAMES HILTS (ca 1833, Markham, Ontario, Canada - unknown);
FREDERICK HILTS (ca 1836, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada - unknown) [m. Sarah Louisa Gardiner];
HENRY HILTS (ca 1837, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada - unknown);
JOHN R. HILTS (ca 1842, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada - Apr 2, 1929, Lenawee County, MI); and
WILLIAM HILTS (ca 1843, Vaughan, Ontario, Canada - unknown).

The widow, Deborah (Degeer) Hilts, married the widower, Thomas Goldsmith Gardiner, son of David Gardiner and Rachel Ladner Goldsmith, on August 22, 1847, in Markham, Ontario, Canada. Thomas was born ca 1803, Hallowell, Ontario, Canada; his date and place of death are unknown. Deborah and Thomas had two children together, namely:

JOSIAH GARDINER (1851, Pickering, Ontario - 1935, Morenci, Lenawee County, MI) and
MELISSA ANN GARDINER (1854, Pickering, Ontario - unknown).

Deborah and Thomas both had numerous children from their first marriages; their second marriage blended their two families. Thomas' late wife, Mary Emily (Scott) Gardiner, died ca 1847.

Frederick Hilts, son of Christopher Hilts and Deborah Degeer, married Sarah Louisa Gardiner, daughter of Thomas Goldsmith Gardiner and Mary Emily Scott, on January 4, 1859, Owensound, Grey, Ontario, Canada. The two were step-siblings; they were not related.

Samuel Hilts, son of Christopher Hilts and Deborah Degeer, married Elizabeth Ann Gardiner, daughter of Thomas Goldsmith Gardiner and Mary Emily Scott, ca 1860, exact date and place unknown. The two were step-siblings; they were not related.