African American Civil War veteran, Pvt. Thomas J. HILTON, was born in Lancaster Co., PA around 1836 and died in Philadelphia in 1886. Enlisted by Lt. Col. Louis Wagner in June 1863, Hilton served in Company B, 3rd regiment USCT (USCI)
Pvt. Hilton trained at Camp William Penn in LaMott, PA (Cheltenham Township, Montgomery Co.), outside of Philadelphia. The camp was located on land owned by abolitionist Lucretia Mott's son-in-law. It was also adjacent to Mott's Roadside estate, which was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Pvt. Hilton's 3rd Regiment was the first mustered in at Camp William Penn. Abolitionist Octavius V. Catto, who was the MLK of his day, actively recruited men to this regiment. In July 1863 Frederick Douglass came to the camp and spoke to the 3rd Regiment. It is likely that Pvt. Hilton heard Douglass speak about the importance of their mission to the Union.
Hilton's Third Regiment was sent to the front and was at Fort Wagner when it fell.
The motto on the flag of the 3rd Regiment USCT: "Rather die freemen, than live to be slaves."
Thomas J. Hilton was born in Lancaster, PA (ref 1)
He was born about 1834 and worked as a farm laborer(refs 2,3,4)
Lived in Haverford, Delaware Co., PA in 1860 & 1870 (refs 2, 3)
Lived in Philadelphia, PA in 1880 (ref 4)
Husband of Eleanora J. Hilton (refs 2,3,4)
Father of Mary Ida Hilton Ready (b. abt 1854)--refs 2,3,4
Father-in-law of Thomas Ready (b. abt. 1846) - ref 4
Grandfather of Mary Etta Ready (b. abt 1875)& Ulysses J. Ready (b. abt 1879) - ref 4
Died at age 53 of pneumonia (ref 5)
References:
Phila. Civil War Site Photos: http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc3/philly1.htm
Juneteenth, Philadelphia and the Civil War: http://www.civilwarconsortium.org/juneteenth/campwmpenn.html
1: US Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865
2: 1860 US Census Records
3: 1870 US Census Records
4: 1880 US Census Records
5: Darby Friends Meeting Burials, 1692-1968, Microfilm # MR-Ph 140 (Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library)
Pvt. Hilton trained at Camp William Penn in LaMott, PA (Cheltenham Township, Montgomery Co.), outside of Philadelphia. The camp was located on land owned by abolitionist Lucretia Mott's son-in-law. It was also adjacent to Mott's Roadside estate, which was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Pvt. Hilton's 3rd Regiment was the first mustered in at Camp William Penn. Abolitionist Octavius V. Catto, who was the MLK of his day, actively recruited men to this regiment. In July 1863 Frederick Douglass came to the camp and spoke to the 3rd Regiment. It is likely that Pvt. Hilton heard Douglass speak about the importance of their mission to the Union.
Hilton's Third Regiment was sent to the front and was at Fort Wagner when it fell.
The motto on the flag of the 3rd Regiment USCT: "Rather die freemen, than live to be slaves."
Thomas J. Hilton was born in Lancaster, PA (ref 1)
He was born about 1834 and worked as a farm laborer(refs 2,3,4)
Lived in Haverford, Delaware Co., PA in 1860 & 1870 (refs 2, 3)
Lived in Philadelphia, PA in 1880 (ref 4)
Husband of Eleanora J. Hilton (refs 2,3,4)
Father of Mary Ida Hilton Ready (b. abt 1854)--refs 2,3,4
Father-in-law of Thomas Ready (b. abt. 1846) - ref 4
Grandfather of Mary Etta Ready (b. abt 1875)& Ulysses J. Ready (b. abt 1879) - ref 4
Died at age 53 of pneumonia (ref 5)
References:
Phila. Civil War Site Photos: http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc3/philly1.htm
Juneteenth, Philadelphia and the Civil War: http://www.civilwarconsortium.org/juneteenth/campwmpenn.html
1: US Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865
2: 1860 US Census Records
3: 1870 US Census Records
4: 1880 US Census Records
5: Darby Friends Meeting Burials, 1692-1968, Microfilm # MR-Ph 140 (Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library)
African American Civil War veteran, Pvt. Thomas J. HILTON, was born in Lancaster Co., PA around 1836 and died in Philadelphia in 1886. Enlisted by Lt. Col. Louis Wagner in June 1863, Hilton served in Company B, 3rd regiment USCT (USCI)
Pvt. Hilton trained at Camp William Penn in LaMott, PA (Cheltenham Township, Montgomery Co.), outside of Philadelphia. The camp was located on land owned by abolitionist Lucretia Mott's son-in-law. It was also adjacent to Mott's Roadside estate, which was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Pvt. Hilton's 3rd Regiment was the first mustered in at Camp William Penn. Abolitionist Octavius V. Catto, who was the MLK of his day, actively recruited men to this regiment. In July 1863 Frederick Douglass came to the camp and spoke to the 3rd Regiment. It is likely that Pvt. Hilton heard Douglass speak about the importance of their mission to the Union.
Hilton's Third Regiment was sent to the front and was at Fort Wagner when it fell.
The motto on the flag of the 3rd Regiment USCT: "Rather die freemen, than live to be slaves."
Thomas J. Hilton was born in Lancaster, PA (ref 1)
He was born about 1834 and worked as a farm laborer(refs 2,3,4)
Lived in Haverford, Delaware Co., PA in 1860 & 1870 (refs 2, 3)
Lived in Philadelphia, PA in 1880 (ref 4)
Husband of Eleanora J. Hilton (refs 2,3,4)
Father of Mary Ida Hilton Ready (b. abt 1854)--refs 2,3,4
Father-in-law of Thomas Ready (b. abt. 1846) - ref 4
Grandfather of Mary Etta Ready (b. abt 1875)& Ulysses J. Ready (b. abt 1879) - ref 4
Died at age 53 of pneumonia (ref 5)
References:
Phila. Civil War Site Photos: http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc3/philly1.htm
Juneteenth, Philadelphia and the Civil War: http://www.civilwarconsortium.org/juneteenth/campwmpenn.html
1: US Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865
2: 1860 US Census Records
3: 1870 US Census Records
4: 1880 US Census Records
5: Darby Friends Meeting Burials, 1692-1968, Microfilm # MR-Ph 140 (Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library)
Pvt. Hilton trained at Camp William Penn in LaMott, PA (Cheltenham Township, Montgomery Co.), outside of Philadelphia. The camp was located on land owned by abolitionist Lucretia Mott's son-in-law. It was also adjacent to Mott's Roadside estate, which was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Pvt. Hilton's 3rd Regiment was the first mustered in at Camp William Penn. Abolitionist Octavius V. Catto, who was the MLK of his day, actively recruited men to this regiment. In July 1863 Frederick Douglass came to the camp and spoke to the 3rd Regiment. It is likely that Pvt. Hilton heard Douglass speak about the importance of their mission to the Union.
Hilton's Third Regiment was sent to the front and was at Fort Wagner when it fell.
The motto on the flag of the 3rd Regiment USCT: "Rather die freemen, than live to be slaves."
Thomas J. Hilton was born in Lancaster, PA (ref 1)
He was born about 1834 and worked as a farm laborer(refs 2,3,4)
Lived in Haverford, Delaware Co., PA in 1860 & 1870 (refs 2, 3)
Lived in Philadelphia, PA in 1880 (ref 4)
Husband of Eleanora J. Hilton (refs 2,3,4)
Father of Mary Ida Hilton Ready (b. abt 1854)--refs 2,3,4
Father-in-law of Thomas Ready (b. abt. 1846) - ref 4
Grandfather of Mary Etta Ready (b. abt 1875)& Ulysses J. Ready (b. abt 1879) - ref 4
Died at age 53 of pneumonia (ref 5)
References:
Phila. Civil War Site Photos: http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc3/philly1.htm
Juneteenth, Philadelphia and the Civil War: http://www.civilwarconsortium.org/juneteenth/campwmpenn.html
1: US Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1861-1865
2: 1860 US Census Records
3: 1870 US Census Records
4: 1880 US Census Records
5: Darby Friends Meeting Burials, 1692-1968, Microfilm # MR-Ph 140 (Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library)
Inscription
Co.B. 3rd Reg, Col'd Troops
Aged 53 years
Gravesite Details
listed on 1936 WPA Index at http://www.delawarecountyhistory.com/darbyborough/DarbyFriendsBurialGround.htm
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