Rose (Clark) Hills (abt. 1603 - 1650)

Born about 1603 in Great Burstead, Billerica, Essex, England [uncertain]

Wife of Joseph Hills — married 22 Jul 1624 (to 24 Mar 1650) in Great Burstead, Essex, England

Descendants

Died 24 Mar 1650 at about age 47 in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Richard Draper [send private message], Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], and Jill Milas [send private message]

Rose (Clark) Hills migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

There has been some conflict about the maiden name of Rose Hills, the first wife of Joseph Hills Sr. On some family pedigrees, she is listed as Rose "Cleerke" or "Clarke" (in addition to "Clerk", these are common spelling variations of "Clark"). On some family pedigrees, she is listed as "Rose Dunster", which is incorrect.

Her maiden name was not known for a number of years. An early family historian noted that the will of Henry Dunster, the first president of Harvard College, made reference to "my sister, Mrs. Hills, of Maulden", and assumed he was referring to Rose Hills, Joseph's first wife. "Dunster" was added as her maiden name. In fact, Mr. Dunster was referring to Joseph Hills' third wife, Helen Atkinson, who was the sister of Dunster's second wife, Elizabeth Atkinson.^[1]

Later research found the marriage record of Joseph Hills and Rose Cleerke [Clarke]. They were married at Burstead Magna, Billericay, co. Essex, England on July 22, 1624.^[2]

However, the error designating Rose as "Rose Dunster" persisted in family records, and is still causing confusion. ^[3]

Biography

Rose Clark(e) was born or christened 15 Dec 1603, in Great Burstead, Billerica, Essex, England.^{[citation needed]}

• The Kent, England, Tyler Index to Parish Registers, 1538-1874 (Birth, Marriage & Death) specify that one Rose Clarke was baptized on 5 Feb 1604. She was baptized by her mother Agnes in Kent, England.

Alternate birth: 1611^{[citation needed]}

She married Joseph Hills 22 Jul 1624, Great Burstead, England^[4]

They emigrated in _____, settling in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

She died and was buried Mar 1650 in Malden, Middlesex, ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ William S. Hills, "Rose (Dunster) Hills," in NEHGR, 49 (1895):146
2. ↑ "Corrections: Hills." Correction to submission by A.S.W, August 1906. The Genealogical Exchange. Volume 4, (July 1907)Page 13
3. ↑ "Family History Corrections", archived site for Benjamin Franklin Johnson Family Association.
4. ↑ Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, 2011, Vol II, p. 759.
5. ↑ Massachusetts."Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC9K-12Z : 10 December 2014), Rose Hills, 1650; citing Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts, reference p 351; FHL microfilm 14,774.