Richard Hill

Betsy Wallis

Betsy born in Oct 1817 was their eldest daughter and was the first of the family to marry in December 1840. She married Richard Hill, who’s family lived in Ickleton since 1616 Ickleton is some 10 miles south of Cambridge and about 8 miles from the Wallis’s The couple married in the Chapel at Harston in December 1840. Richard born at Grandsdon in 1819 was some two years younger than his bride, his father Richard Hill was a farmer in the area & owned a “Steam flour mill in Ickleton No doubt Thomas Wallis would get his flour milled at the Hill mill and Richard would have met Sergeant and Betsy at this time. It would seem Richard Hill and Sergeant Wallis became good friends, for Sergeant was best man at Richard and Betsy’s wedding.

Sergeant, my great, great grandfather married Elizabeth Wallis his first cousin in December 1847, The line passing through both Sergeant’s father: Thomas Wallis and his bride’s father Swan Wallis who were brothers.

On their mothers line Elizabeth Wallis’s mother was Elizabeth Sergeant who was sister of Emma Sergeant who was the mother of Sergeant Wallis. This Sergeant line were the children of Page Sergeant who married Mary Wallis which was a further line of the Wallis family. It was this line which will be made reference to in Chapter 13 “The Comberton Story.

Thomas Wallis died in August 1860 and his wife died two years later. The settlement of the estate, Willow Farm, was left in the hands of the family solicitor called Clements who made heavy work of the task and took a long period of time to settle the estate.

Thomas’s will was proved in July 1861 he divided his Estate between Emma, his wife; John ajnd Allen his youngest son. His eldest son Sergeant with Page, and William received only £150 each while the daughters: Betsey Hill, Emily Savill, Mary Ann, Sarah, Ann, and Julia received £80 each.