Henry John Alexander Hill

• General Notes
  • HENRY JOHN ALEXANDER HILL, born February 7, 1774 at Near The Tar River, Edgecombe Co., NC; married Susannah Swales January 6, 1796 in Edgecombe Co., NC. Susannah was the widow of Sterling Savage and had one daughter, Brittania Savage. She also had two stepsons, Jesse and Sterling Savage, who went with her and Henry J.A. Hill from NC to TN. Two other stepchildren, Loveless and Elizabeth Savage, died young. Henry and Susannah had seven children, Ervin (b. 17 July 1796), Isaac (b. ~ 1798, NC), Asa, Jesse P., Melchesedec, Lucinda, and Hugh Lawson White Hill.  Henry (often called "Harry") led a party of 30 men into the TN wilderness to reconnoiter land on which to settle. Some of this land was obtained through land grants from the state of NC, since what came to be called the state of TN was at one time part of NC. Henry's land was located in what came to be known as Hill's Creek. He was a natural leader and was elected in 1807 to three consecutive terms to the TN House of Representatives.  Henry, while still married to Susannah, met Polly Johnston sometime around 1808 and six children were born to them; Harriett, Sally, George Washington, Andrew Jackson (b. 25 April 1816), William Carroll, and Elenza Grundy Hill. It was apparently well known that Henry and Polly had a long-term extramarital affair that resulted in their six children. It is said that Polly was a friend of Susannah's and had been persuaded to come to TN with the Hills. She was sixteen at the time.  Polly was born Jan. 19, 1787 and was 13 yrs younger than Henry and 20 yrs younger than Susannah. The two families of Henry J.A. Hill lived next door to each other and children by both women were entered into the family Bible.   *Note of interest on Henry J. A. Hill; He was walking on boards over a hot tar pit as a teenager when a board broke, causing one leg and foot to be severely burned. His leg was left twisted and scarred for life and finally in his later years, in 1825, it was amputated. He died nine days later, July 30, 1825, at the age of 51. He is buried in Center Hill Cemetery. His wife Susannah is buried beside him, and his paramour, Polly Johnston, is buried at the foot of his grave. Nothing is known of Polly's background, parents, or place of birth.