THE LOST TRIBE OF AARON
A few facts about my ancestor, Aaron Hilton, of Scott County, Virginia and Hancock County, Tennessee.
When he was just a baby, Aaron Hilton's parents moved their family across the highest part of the Appalachian Mountains, on their way to Kentucky. Along the way they found themselves in the Holston settlements, along the border between Tennessee and Virginia, and they decided to settle there. They helped to establish a church, the "United Baptist Church of Christ at Big Moccasin Gap" in Washington County, Virginia. It is said to have been the first church established in what was to become Scott County, Virginia. Nearby, on the north side of the North Fork of the Holston River, they built their home.
Aaron and his brothers and sisters grew up there, and established households of their own along the river. The community was to come to be called "Hiltons".
In 1814 Aaron was one of almost 300 men who signed a petition requesting establishment of a new county, whose seat would be nearer to their homes. Portions of Washington, Lee and Russell counties were combined to create Scott County. The courthouse was built about 5 miles from Hiltons, in a town now known as Gate City.
By 1825 Aaron had met and married Judith Pemberton (or "Puckett"). They continued living in Scott County until about 1845. They then moved to the newly created Hancock County, Tennesee, which was just across the state line from the western end of Scott County. They were part of what might be considered a small colony of Virginia born Hiltons.
Aaron's father had established the first church in Scott County, Virginia. Now, Aaron, Judith and other members of their family, joined the first church that had been established in Hancock County: the Blackwater Baptist Church. (It is now known as Kyle's Ford Missionary Baptist Church).
In Tennesee their name was often spelled "Helton", and some of their decendents maintain that spelling today.
Aaron passed away before 1860. It has been reported that he was buried in an unmarked grave in the cemetery at Darthula Baptist Church, in Scott County, which is the name his father's church is known by today. Judith maintained the farm and household, with the help of her daughter, Annis, for some time afterwards. The circumstances of her death and burial are not known, but, presumably, she was buried beside Aaron.
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"Hiltons of Scott County, Virginia" is a thin manuscript which is in the Family History collection of the Scott County Library, in Gate City, Virginia. It was written and copyrighted by James L. Hilton, E. Frank Hilton, and Leila Hilton Neal. Their copyright inscription permits copying for personal use. (The manuscript was later expanded into a book).
The manuscript traces the family from Andrew Hilton of Maryland to Reverend Samuel Hilton, and his sons. His second son was Aaron.
Aaron was listed in the 1830 census of Scott Co. with his own family, which consisted of his wife, Judith, 4 sons and 3 daughters.
The authors found no record of Aaron's family after 1844. They speculated the family had moved to eastern Tn., and that the "Heltons" of that area might be related.
The records show they were right.
Aaron and "Juda" Hilton appear in the 1850 census of Hancock County, Tn. Hancock Co. is just down the Clinch River from Scott Co.
The enumerators handwriting is difficult, and is often interpreted as "Helton" instead of "Hilton".
But the age is right, Juda could easily be a mispronounciation of Judith, and there are four male Hiltons/Heltons in nearby households old enough to have appeared in the 1930 census.
Aaron Hilton/Helton household, 1850:
House / Family / Name / Age / Sex / Born
262 / 262 / Aaron Hilton / 60 / M / S.C.
262 / 262 / Juda Hilton / 58 / F / Va.
262 / 262 / Nancy Hilton / 21 / F / Va.
262 / 262 / Annis Hilton / 19 / F / Va.
262 / 262 / Manuel Hilton / 14 /M/Va.
Nearby heads of households:
240 / 240 / John Hilton / 29
256 / 256 / Jessee Hilton / 31
257 / 257 / Samuel Hilton / 33
263 / 263 / James Hilton / 35
By the time of the 1860 census Aaron is no longer listed. But Judith (age 68) remains, only this time, her name is spelled "July"! Only Annis (age 26) remains from the 1850 household. The ages don't match, exactly, presumably because they are estimated.
There are also 3 children, who are probably grandchildren of Judith's. They are Samuel, age 17, Matison, a 4 year old boy, and 1 year old Rufus.
Judith's last name was unknown to me until I discovered the Hilton Family Genealogical Forum recently. (see: http://genforum.familytreemaker.com ). A couple of people had posted messages naming her as "Juda Pemberton". If you visit that site you can use the search feature to find the messages with her name. She is also mentioned in two other family forums: Helton and Warren.
May 25, 1999 Robin William Hilton
Aaron and his brothers and sisters grew up there, and established households of their own along the river. The community was to come to be called "Hiltons".
In 1814 Aaron was one of almost 300 men who signed a petition requesting establishment of a new county, whose seat would be nearer to their homes. Portions of Washington, Lee and Russell counties were combined to create Scott County. The courthouse was built about 5 miles from Hiltons, in a town now known as Gate City.
By 1825 Aaron had met and married Judith Pemberton (or "Puckett"). They continued living in Scott County until about 1845. They then moved to the newly created Hancock County, Tennesee, which was just across the state line from the western end of Scott County. They were part of what might be considered a small colony of Virginia born Hiltons.
Aaron's father had established the first church in Scott County, Virginia. Now, Aaron, Judith and other members of their family, joined the first church that had been established in Hancock County: the Blackwater Baptist Church. (It is now known as Kyle's Ford Missionary Baptist Church).
In Tennesee their name was often spelled "Helton", and some of their decendents maintain that spelling today.
Aaron passed away before 1860. It has been reported that he was buried in an unmarked grave in the cemetery at Darthula Baptist Church, in Scott County, which is the name his father's church is known by today. Judith maintained the farm and household, with the help of her daughter, Annis, for some time afterwards. The circumstances of her death and burial are not known, but, presumably, she was buried beside Aaron.
________________________________________________
"Hiltons of Scott County, Virginia" is a thin manuscript which is in the Family History collection of the Scott County Library, in Gate City, Virginia. It was written and copyrighted by James L. Hilton, E. Frank Hilton, and Leila Hilton Neal. Their copyright inscription permits copying for personal use. (The manuscript was later expanded into a book).
The manuscript traces the family from Andrew Hilton of Maryland to Reverend Samuel Hilton, and his sons. His second son was Aaron.
Aaron was listed in the 1830 census of Scott Co. with his own family, which consisted of his wife, Judith, 4 sons and 3 daughters.
The authors found no record of Aaron's family after 1844. They speculated the family had moved to eastern Tn., and that the "Heltons" of that area might be related.
The records show they were right.
Aaron and "Juda" Hilton appear in the 1850 census of Hancock County, Tn. Hancock Co. is just down the Clinch River from Scott Co.
The enumerators handwriting is difficult, and is often interpreted as "Helton" instead of "Hilton".
But the age is right, Juda could easily be a mispronounciation of Judith, and there are four male Hiltons/Heltons in nearby households old enough to have appeared in the 1930 census.
Aaron Hilton/Helton household, 1850:
House / Family / Name / Age / Sex / Born
262 / 262 / Aaron Hilton / 60 / M / S.C.
262 / 262 / Juda Hilton / 58 / F / Va.
262 / 262 / Nancy Hilton / 21 / F / Va.
262 / 262 / Annis Hilton / 19 / F / Va.
262 / 262 / Manuel Hilton / 14 /M/Va.
Nearby heads of households:
240 / 240 / John Hilton / 29
256 / 256 / Jessee Hilton / 31
257 / 257 / Samuel Hilton / 33
263 / 263 / James Hilton / 35
By the time of the 1860 census Aaron is no longer listed. But Judith (age 68) remains, only this time, her name is spelled "July"! Only Annis (age 26) remains from the 1850 household. The ages don't match, exactly, presumably because they are estimated.
There are also 3 children, who are probably grandchildren of Judith's. They are Samuel, age 17, Matison, a 4 year old boy, and 1 year old Rufus.
Judith's last name was unknown to me until I discovered the Hilton Family Genealogical Forum recently. (see: http://genforum.familytreemaker.com ). A couple of people had posted messages naming her as "Juda Pemberton". If you visit that site you can use the search feature to find the messages with her name. She is also mentioned in two other family forums: Helton and Warren.
May 25, 1999 Robin William Hilton
