1799, in answer to which Hill published ‘Reformation Truth Restored.’
In 1803 Bishop Tomline of Lincoln censured evangelical preaching somewhat severely in his charge, when Hill with much warmth defended the evangelical clergy from Tomline's accusations. Hill was a hearty supporter of the British and Foreign Bible Society, but failing health prevented him from appearing as its champion. Soon after the dissolution of parliament in the autumn of 1806 the same cause induced him to give up his seat, and he retired to Hawkstone. He died on 28 Nov. 1808, and was buried in a vault known as the ‘Sepulchre of the Hills,’ in the parish church of Hodnet, Shropshire, where a monument was erected to his memory. He was unmarried, and was succeeded as third baronet by his younger brother John, the father of Rowland, first viscount Hill [q. v.], and of Sir Thomas Noel Hill [q. v.] Among his friends Hill was held in the highest esteem on account of his simplicity and kindliness. Kenyon declared that he knew not ‘within the circle of human nature a better man than Sir Richard Hill.’ Hill's writings consist chiefly of religious pamphlets, the most remarkable of which are noticed above. Two of his works, ‘A Present for your Poor Neighbour’ and ‘The Deep Things of God,’ were long popular, and have been several times reprinted.
[Life of Sir Richard Hill, by the Rev. Edwin Sidney; Oxford Graduates; Public Advertiser, 22 March 1782; Alumni Oxon.; Notes and Queries, 3rd ser. ix. 427.]
HILL, otherwise HULL, ROBERT (d. 1425), judge, was perhaps born at Heligan, Cornwall (Bibl. Cornub. i. 240). He is mentioned as a lawyer acting as an arbitrator in 16 Richard II (Rot. Parl. iii. 302). In 1399 he was king's serjeant, and was called on for a ‘loan’ of 100l. to aid the king against the Welsh and Scotch. On 14 May 1408 (not, as Rymer says, 9 May 1409) he was appointed a judge of the common pleas, and in 1415 he was one of the judges who tried Richard, earl of Cambridge, Henry, lord Scrope, and Sir Thomas Grey at Southampton for treason. Two years afterwards he was appointed to hold sessions in Wales. In the first year of Henry VI's reign he was chief justice of the Isle of Ely. The last fine acknowledged before him is in Hilary term 1425, about which time he probably died. He lived at Shilstone in Devonshire, and married (1) Isabella, daughter of Sir Thomas Fychet; and (2) a daughter of Otto de Bodrugan, sheriff of Cornwall. Both ladies were Cornish heiresses. His son Robert was sheriff of Devonshire in 1428–9, and was ancestor of Abigail Hill, lady Masham (Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. viii. 10).
[Foss's Lives of the Judges; Cal. Inquis. p.m. iv. 462; Deputy-keeper of Records, 8th Rep. p. 163; Acts Privy Council, i. 202; Dugdale's Orig. p. 46; Cal. Rot. Parl. p. 234; Year-Books, 1 Henry VI p. 8 b, and 2 Henry V p. 5 b; Prince's Worthies; Fuller's Worthies.]
HILL, ROBERT (d. 1623), divine, a native of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, was, as he says, 'descended from mean but honest parentage' (will in P.C.C. 87, Swan). He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. in 1584, M.A. in 1586 (University Register). In 1588-9 he was admitted fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and from about 1591 to 1602 was perpetual curate of St. Andrew, Norwich (Blomefield, Norfolk, 8vo ed., iv. 301}. Hill took an active part in the disputed election to the mastership of St. John's in 1595 (T. Baker, Hist. of St. John's, ed. Mayor, pt. ii. p. 607). By October 1601 he was chaplain to Lord-chief-justice Popham. Having commenced B.D. in 1595, he was incorporated at Oxford on 10 July 1605 (Wood, Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 304). In 1602 he became lecturer of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Address to parishioners in Pathway to Prayer, ed. 1613), and on 15 Sept. 1607 rector of St. Margaret Moyses, Friday Street (Newcourt, Repertorium, i. 404). In 1609 he proceeded D. D. On 24 February 1613 he was preferred by Lord-chancellor Ellesmere to the well-endowed rectory of St. Bartholomew Exchange (ib. i. 292) when he resigned his other cure. Here he was a 'principall meanes to builde the parsonage house.' Hill died in August 1623, and was buried by his desire near his first wife in the chancel of St. Bartholemew. He was a member of the Vintners' Company, and left them 10l. to buy a piece of plate. He married, first, between 1613 and 1615, Margaret, daughter of John (?) Witts of Ghent, and widow of Prebendary Adrian de Saravia, who died in childbed on 29 June 1615, aged 39. Her death was mourned by Joshua Sylvester. Hill's second wife, Susan, apparently the sister of Thomas Westfeild, afterwards bishop of Bristol, survived him.
Hill was author of: 1. 'Life everlasting; or the trve knowledge of the One Jehovah, Three Elohim, and Iesvs Immanvel: collected ovt of the best modern Divines, and compiled into one volume,' 4to, Cambridge 1601. 2 'Christs Prayer expounded, a Christian directed, and a Communicant prepared … To which is added a Preface of Prayer, a pithie Prayer for Christian Families,' &., 8vo, London 1606. Hill afterwards issued a greatly enlarged edition, under the title of
