Irish Hingston Line

This line has been prepared from an Ahnentafel File provided to me by Ray Perrault. It is largely based on "The Book of Hingston", by James King, which I believe is only available on microfilm from the LDS. It is not for publication on the web until this has been agreed by both Ray and James.

The first three generations are conjectural. They rely on a rumoured link between the Hingston who went to Ireland with Cromwell, the Hingston who was Cromwell's organist, and the Hingston's of Holbeton.

Generation No 1.

1. ANDREW HINGSTON. Andrew would have been born sometime around 1540, give or take 10 years. TFF shows him as being the son of RICHARD HINGSTON, who was born about 1500; Andrew is described as being of Holbeton or Wonwell. He is the same as No. 1 in Tree HD.

Child of Andrew Hingston is:

Generation No. 2.

2. WALTER HINGSTON is believed to have been the son of 1. Andrew Hingston and died Abt 1627. TFF shows him as being born 1566, with a wife called SABILLA who died in 1642; he is described as being of Holbeton. He is the same as No. 2 in Tree HD.

Shown tentatively in Allen & Dymond

Child of Walter Hingston is:

Generation No. 3.

3. JOHN HINGSTON. Organist to Cromwell. He has an entry in the DNB and also an ntry in Groves Dictionary of Music. Quite a lot is known about him. Grove says that he was born early in the 17th century, possibly in York. The date probably means that he is not a child of Walter, but there could be one or two missing generations. He was buried in London 17 Dec 1688 (in St Margarets, Westminster - the small church next to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey). He was listed as a member of the choir of York Minster on 24 July 1618 and is said to have been a pupil of Orlando Gibbons. He seems to have served Charles I, but later he was employed as state organist and private musician to Oliver Cromwell from 1654 to 1658. Almost uniquely, he retained his place after the Restoration, being appointed as a viol player and in charge of musical instruments at the court of Charles II. He was a member of the Chapel Royal from 1661 to 1666 and in 1663 was elected deputy marshal of the City of London and was given prestigious quarters in Whitehall. He taught John Blow and Purcell was his apprentice and successor. Grove has a copy of his portrait which is hanging in the Faculty of Music, Oxford. The DNB says that his nephew, Peter Hingston, born 1721, became teacher and organist at Ipswich, but the dates do not seem to fit since Peter would have been at least 100 years younger than John.

Neither biography mentions a wife or children, so the idea that he was the father of the James Hingston shown below rests on insecure foundations.

Child of John Hingston is:

Generation No. 4.

4. Major JAMES HINGSTON. Came to Ireland in about 1650, settling in County Cork. Commissariat at Cork, serving in the Parliamentary Army with Cromwell. His family lineage resided close to Mallow, located in north central Cty Cork. It is said that Major James' ancestry includes John Hingston, the organist that was employed by Cromwell, but there is no substantial evidence on this matter.

Children of James Hingston are:

Generation No. 5.

5. JAMES HINGSTON. Born in County Cork, Ireland. Commisariat at Co Crk, succeeding his father. Abt 1679 James married MARY BOWLES, in County Cork, Ireland. She was the daughter of Captain Thomas Bowles, a malt merchant at Cork [King]. His influence with the inhabitants had been instrumental in securing Cork City for Cromwell in 1649.

They had the following children:

Generation No. 6.

6. JAMES HINGSTON was Born in County Cork, Ireland. He was a hereditary freeman in Cork 1714. Purchased estate in Aglish from the Trustees of Forfeited Estates on 29 Apr 1703 for the sum of £829 the town and lands of Aglish, Co. Cork, being 353 acres. James married HELEN MORLEY, in County Cork, Ireland.

They had the following children:

Generation No. 7.

7. WILLIAM HINGSTON Born in Aglish, County Cork, Ireland. Justice of the Peace. Succeeded to Aglish on his father's death in 1728. Buried with his wife in the Hingston Family tomb at Aglish. William married ELIZABETH WEBB, in Aglish, County Cork, Ireland. She was the daughter of John Webb who lived at Clonteadmore, County Cork, Ireland

They had the following children:

Generation No. 8.

8. Rev. JAMES HINGSTON was born abt 1713 in Aglish, County Cork, Ireland. James died in Aglish, County Cork, Ireland on 21 5 1776; he was 63. Occupation: priest. Eldest son and heir. Admitted to Trinity College, Dublin Nov 1729. Ordained priest at Cloyne Cathedral, Mar 1737. Curate of Donoughmore 1737-40 and Kilshannig 1740-50. Rector of Clonmeen, Roskeen and Kilcorney 1751-71. Prebend at Brigowne 1771-2 and at Donoughmore 1772-5. All of his ministry was spent in the diocese of Cloyne, and much of his adult life at his other county seat of Kilpadder, in the parish of Kilshannig. Author of the state of the Diocese of Cloyne 1762, a collection of legal statutes of Ireland, and Translations from Greek Classics. On 3 Jun 1741 when James was 28, he married CATHERINE MURDOCK, in Kilshannig, County Cork, Ireland. She was the only daughter of Rev. Benezer Murdock and Elizabeth (Love); she was the ggd of Col Randall Clayton M.P. and Judith Perceval (d/o Sir Philip, ancestor of the Earls of Egmont) of Mallow, Co. Cork.

They had the following children:

Generation No. 9.

9. Captain BENEZER MURDOCK HINGSTON was Born on 28 Dec 1746 in Kilshannig, County Cork, Ireland. Benezer Murdock died in Aglish, County Cork, Ireland on 31 May 1825; he was 78. He seems to have emigrated to Freehold, New Jersey, before he married, since he married PRISCILLA COMPTON in Freehold, New Jersey, which was at that time still a colony. He served as a recruiter and guide for the British Army during the revolutionary war. He lived in Freehold, Monmouth County, NJ on a large tract of land of 100 acres deeded to him by his father-in-law. He also possessed another three pieces of land containing 85 acres. Because ofhis activities with the British, his property was confiscated and later sold at auction by the Continental Government. The sale took place at Freehold Court House in 1779. Benezer fled the country in 1780, with his wife and children. They returned to Ireland. There is no evidence that Ben was in military service during this time in Freehold. Perhaps he attained the rank of Captain in the Irish Volunteers after he returned to Ireland, in tribute to his service to the British Forces.

From Documents relating to Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, VII extracts from American Newspapers, vol II, 1778, Francis B. Lee, Trenton, NJ: John Murphy Publishing Co., 1903. New Jersey - Monmouth, Inquisition hath been found against the following persons - - - -, Beuzeor Hinkson, (and others listed) - - - - and whereas proclamation hath been made in Court. That if either of them or any person who shall think himself interested, will appear and traverse the said inquisition so found against the said persons and enter into security Agreeable to law, to prosecute such traverse to effect, or else the first default shall be recorded and judgement entered according to law. Signed Samuel Forman, Kenneth Hankinson, Jacob Wikoff, Commissioners, dtd July 29, 1778.

And from Edwin Slater and Geroge Beekman, Old Times in Old Monmouth, Historical Reminiscenses of Old Monmouth, New Jersey, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980. Confiscation in the Revolution, Loyalists of Freehold, Middletown, Shrewsbury, Upper Freehold and Dover. Whereas inquisitions have been found and final judgement entered thereon in favor of the State of New Jersey, against persons herein mentioned -- notice is hereby given that the real and personal estates belonging to ---- Benzeor Hinkson --- (others) --- of the Township of Freehold will be sold at the Freehold Courthouse, beginning Wednesday the 17th day of March next and continue from day to day until all are sold. Samuel Forman, Joseph Laurence, Kenneth Hankinson, Commissioners, dtd February 17th, 1799.

13-Nov-1799. We do certify that Priscilla Compton, daughter of Richard Compton, deceased, married Benezer Hinckson, and he joined the British Army, accompanied by the said Priscilla, previous to the battle of Monmouth, and they have not been heard of since their departure. Signed by John Dey, Henry Perrine, Capt. John Clayton, Zebulon Clayton, and Jacob Smith.

17-Nov-1799. This is to certify that there is in my hands a bond of £66, dated May 15, 1786, being for 1/4 part of sales of land of Richard Compton, deceased, given by Joseph Journee to Joseph Compton, Admír of Richard Compton, for the share of Richard, and the law gives his daughter, Priscilla Hingston, for which bond there is a mortgage given by Joseph Journee, the lands now property of Dr. James Anderson. Signed by Thomas Cook.

Priscilla Compton is mentioned in the will of Richard Compton, dated 19-3-1784

Benezer and Priscilla had the following children:

18. JAMES HINGSTON. (The information for James and his descendants comes from Grant Bertrand <tyjem@bigpond.com>). He was born Aft. 1755, the son of 8. James Hingston and Catherine Murdoch, and died 1840. He had an LL.D. degree and was a JP. He married ANN HODNETT, daughter of WM HODNETT.

Children of JAMES HINGSTON and ANN HODNETT are:

Generation No. 10.

10. Lt. Col. SAMUEL JAMES HINGSTON. Born on 1 11 1775 in Freehold, NJ, USA. Samuel James died on 21 Nov 1830; he was 55. Samuel is No 701 in Vine; that record says that he was the youngest son of James 206 and Catherine 2024; born at Cloyne, Ireland 1775, but King's record is given here. However there is a conflict which should be resolved. If King is correct he went back to Ireland with his parernts when they fled after the revolutionary war, during which they had been loyalists. Married [Vine] WINIFRED CAVINDISH of County Cavin, Ireland, 1797 and had by her three children - Said in parish records of St Patrice de Hinchinbrooke to have been Lt- Adjutant of 99th regiment, Hinchinbrooke at time of Thomas's birth.

Arrived in Canada after 1803 (Thomas was born in Ireland) to participate in the war of 1812.

[B. Winn, 1995] joined 100th Prince Regent's Company of Dublin Regiment, probably in Ireland, possibly at its inception; known to have been at the Battle of Lundy's Lane (Niagara Region), where he was wounded. Discharged at Montreal. The 100th was raised in 1805 and with few exceptions its officers and men were Irish. It was on the fighting line at Sacketts Harbour, Plattsburgh, Chippawa, Fort Niagara (Grenadier Corps) and Fort Erie (assault). It was renumbered the 99th in 1816 and then disbanded at Chatham in 1818. SJH received no pension, possibly receivind a land grant instead.

[Army Lists, 1810-20] Adjutant for 100th Regiment of Foot and Enseign, 4-1-1810; Lieutenant attached to 99th of Foot 15-5-1813; half-pay 25-9-1818.

He was in command of the infantry in Port Erie, Canada, when they bombarded the then village of Buffalo and Fort on the 17th March 1813. Some of the shells fell short, and, falling in the Niagara River, two of them, a six and a ten inch, were dug up by Hingston and Wood's dredge, then in charge of W.E. Hingston, the compiler of these notes, on the 22nd of June, 1889, 76 years afterwards, and are now in his possession. [Vine]

Lieut. Hingston distinguished himself and earned his promotion at the Battle of Chippawa, near Niagara Falls, where he was wounded in the forehead and in the groin, 5 July, 1814. The British loss that day was 138 killed and 365 wounded. When the regiment was disbanded some time afterwards, he chose a very pretty place near Huntingdon, on the Chateauguay river. There he organized the Militia Force, Lord Dalhousie giving him command of the County of Huntingdon, and subsequently Sir James Kempt gave him Colonelcy of the whole County of Beauhamoes (Beauharnois?). He continued, to the end of his life, in 1830, to be lame from the wound he received at Chippawa. [Vine]

1825 Census shows 7 members of Hingston household: 2 single men 18-25 (Samuel Jr and Thomas), 1 married man older than 40 (Samuel Sr), 1 woman under 14 (Eleanor Jr), 2 single women under 45 (Sarah and one other: a maid?) and one married woman under 45 (Eleanor Sr)

From Memorandum from NAC:

The published "Army Lists", 1810-20, contain the following:

(1) on 4 -1-1810, he was assigned as Adjutant for the 100th Regiment of Foot. He attained the rank of Enseign in the Army the same day.

(2) on 15-5-1813, he became a Lieutenant attached to the 99th Regiment of Foot

(3) He was placed on half pay (pension) on 25-9-1818.

British Military and Naval Records "C" Series (R G 8 I) show about 50 references to SJH. Index is on reel C-11822.

Land petitions in Upper Canada (1834, Reel C-2053) and Lower Canada (1822-40, C-2511; 1826, C-2560; 1827-35 C-2533; 1826-30, C-2533; 1835, C-2495)

Officer in Irish Volunteers, with service in Royal Irish Regiment of Artillery. His unit sailed to Canada in 1805 and during the War of 1812 he participated in the shelling of Buffalo, NY (17-3-1813)

On 11 Apr 1815 when Samuel James was 39, he married Eleanor McGrath, in Montreal, Quebec. Vine says in October, 1821, and adds that she died in 1866, having survived him 35 years.

They had the following children:

19. WILLIAM HALES HINGSTON was the son of 18. James Hingston and Ann (Hodnett). Note he is not the same as the William Hales Hingston (707 in Vine and Number 12 in this tree). He was Prebend of Coule in Diocese of Cloyne. He married ANN COTTER, daughter of GEORGE COTTER and MARGARET ROGERS.

Child of WILLIAM HINGSTON and ANN COTTER is:

Generation No. 11.

11. THOMAS HINGSTON (703 in Vine). Eldest son of Samuel 701 and Winnifred 2100; born Cloyne, Ireland, 1801. Was married in Canada, 14 August 1843, to Mathilde Picard 2171. Mr Hingston, who was a farmer, died at his home in Athelstan, 2 March 1883. She died 10 March 1881, leaving a large family - 12. WILLIAM HALES HINGSTON (707 in Vine), born at Huntingdon, Canada, 29 June 1829, eldest son of Samuel 701 and Eleanor 2102. His father died some 18 months afterwards. He is widely known as W.H. Hingston, M.D., L.R.C.S.E., D.C., LL.D. etc., the most popular and able surgeon in Canada. He was invited by the American Consul General to go to Washington to assist in consultation with President Garfield's physicians, but he replied that he concurred in the opinion of Drs. Hamilton and Agnew; that there was already a sufficient number of able surgeons attending the wounded President, and that any further meddling might be disastrous.

Dr Hingston was twice mayor of Montreal, 1875 and 1876. "The Illustrated Paper of Montreal" of 7 April 1875, has a good likeness of him engrossed from a photo, also a brief sketch of his life, from which I quote the following:

"He was sent to a small grammar school in the neighbourhood, kept by a Rev. Mr. Williams, a Church of England clergyman, and afterwards by Mr. (now Sir) John Rose, and subsequently Mr. Anderson. During Mr. Rose's time he obtained the first prize in the Junior class, and during Mr. Anderson's incumbency, the prize among the seniors. Then at 13 he was sent to the Montreal College, where, at the end of the first year he obtained the prize in every branch, carrying three firsts and two seconds, while his chief opponent, the present Superior of the College, obtained the remaining two first and three second. The Rev. Mr. Villineure, one of the masters, often spoke of him as having been at that time full of fun and merriment, "un grand farceur" as he was then termed, and doing anything to create merriment or avoid a quarrel, but when a quarrel was forced upon him, never shrinking from the issue, no matter how uncertain it might appear. He afterwards spent a couple of years in studying pharmacy with R.W. Rexford, when he entered upon the study of medicine at McGill University. He graduated at the end of four years, and immediately left for England. He obtained the Surgeon's diploma of the University of Edinburgh. By the most rigid economy he succeeded in visiting England, Ireland and Scotland, and almost every country in Europe, spending the greater part of his time in hospitals, and bringing back with him diplomas from Scotland, France, Prussia, Austria and Bavaria, one, the membership of the Leopold Academy, purely honory and given only to authors, was the first ever obtained by a Canadian, Sir William Logan and T. Slerry Hunt being the next recipients of the honor. Much of his journeys in Europe were made on foot, an exercise in which he still excels, his travelling companion for the time being young Alexander (now Lord) Shand of Edinburgh and Mr P. Honeymeade of Glasgow. His utter abnigation of self and untiring zeal and benevolence during the cholera season of 1854 has built for him an extensive practice, besides a host of friends.

Soon after beginning practice, Mr. Hingston received unsolicited the appointment of Surgeon to the English speaking departments of the Hotel Dieu Hospital. Many of the more difficult and hazardous operations in surgery have been thus introduced by him to the profession in Canada, such as, for instance, excision of the knee joint, removal of the uterus and congenitalia, and acquired deformities, the successful removal of the tongue and lower jaw at the same time, etc. While visiting Europe in 1867 one of his masters, Professor (now Sir) James Simpson, paid a high tribute to Canadian surgeons in the person of Dr. Hingston, by inviting him to perform a surgical operation of difficulty on one of his (Sir James') patients; and on speaking of him a few weeks afterwards in a British medical journal of the time Sir James styles him 'that distinguished American surgeon lately amongst us'. He received the degree of D.C.L. from the University of Lennoxville (Bishop's University) in 1871, and in 1874 he was unanimously elected Governor of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Lower Canada."

He was elected mayor of Montreal in 1875 by a very large majority. The same paper quoted above, speaking of it, adds: "The boldness and frankness of the new Mayor's inaugural address was of a character to call forth enconiums from the press generally, the Witness speaking of it as equalling Gladstone's efforts in clothing the dryest material in poetic language."

In surgery, Dr. Hingston has probably done as much work as any surgeon in America. When in Europe in 1866 (1886) this fact was recognized by the British Medical Association when electing him an honory member, the President of the Council, Sir Walter Foster, saying, "He is too well known to the members of this Association to require I should say anything regarding him. Dr. Hingston's reputation as a surgeon is not confined to Canada."

In July, 1892, Dr. Hingston went to England at the invitation of the British Medical Association to deliver the inaugural address on surgery before that great body. This is the first time Canada, or indeed America, has been so honored.

Dr. Hingston married, 16 Sep 1875, MARGARET JOSEPHINE McDONALD, daughter of the Honorable D.A. McDonald, Lieut. Governor of Ontario. The ceremony took place in St. Michael's Church, Toronto, and the reception was held in the Government House.

On the Queen's birthday, 1895, Dr. Hingston was created a Knight Batchellor (Bachelor) at the same time as Lewis Morris, the poet, Dr. W. Russell, the war correspondent, Henry Irving, the actor, and Walter Besant, the author. His residence is on the corner of Sherbrooke and Metcalf Sts., Montreal, Canada.

Sir William and Lady Hingston have issue -

13. SAMUEL JAMES HINGSTON (708 in Vine) Posthumous child of Samuel 701 and his wife Eleanor 2102. Born at Hinchenbrooke, 28 June 1831, his father having died December, 1830. He married, 27 November 1856, REBECCA CECILIA TURNEY 2105, of Montreal. Mr. Hingston followed a drygoods or clothing business all his life, and has crossed the Atlantic 27 times to purchase stock, and was for many years senior partner in the firm of Hingston, Coy and Peake, Clothiers, Kansas City, Mo. Mrs Hingston died in 1899. Mr. Hingston and their son, 20. GEORGE SACKVILLE COTTER HINGSTON was born 1817 in Cork Ireland, the son of 19. William Hingston and Ann Cotter and died 25 August 1858 in Queenstown Ireland. He married ISABELLA RUDKIN Abt. 1848, daughter of HENRY RUDKIN and ARABELLA COTTER. George entered Trinity College Dublin on 17 October 1834, ordained in 1845 and appointed Vicar of Queenstown, Ireland in 1856. Isabella, at the age of three performed playing the Irish Harp to audiences in Ireland and England, where she was known as the "The Infant Lyra".

Children of GEORGE HINGSTON and ISABELLA RUDKIN are:

Generation No. 12.

14. SAMUEL HINGSTON (709 in Vine)

Eldest son of Thomas 703 and Matilda 2171. Born at Athelstain, 27 March 1844. Married 22 September 1877, to CATHERINE CLARY, of the same place. They have four children -

15. THOMAS CAVINDISH HINGSTON (713 in Vine)

(Note that the details here, although referring to the same people as in Vine, differ in various ways. I am grateful to Ken Hamilton <ken.hamilton@ns.sympatico.ca> for sending me the details of this family which he has spent some time disentangling. In particular, the order of Thomas' wives is reversed.)

Fifth child of Thomas 703 and Mathilde 2171. Born at Athelstan, 12 April 1852. Married, 9 April 1877, to Miss HELEN MUNRO 2172. She was born in 1854 and died in 12 Oct 1866 (from her tombstone), and left him five children -

Mr Hingston married secondly Miss MARGARET SINCLAIR MUNRO in 1887 (date not confirmed). She had been born 7 Mar 1868 and died in 1901. It is not known whether there was any relationship between Helen and Margaret. They had seven children, the last 4 of whom are not mentioned in Vine - Mr. Hingston and one of his sons are engaged in the hardware and house furnishing business at Ormestown, Canada, and seem to be prospering (as quoted in Vine). Thomas died in 1939.

16. JAMES HINGSTON (719 in Vine)

Youngest child of Thomas 703 and Matilda 2171. Born 5 October 1863. Married, 27 July 1892, Miss ELLEN LANDIS 2179.

They have one child -

17. JAMES WILLIAM HINGSTON (725 in Vine)

Only child of Samuel 708 and Rebecca. Born at Montreal, 26 December 1859. Married, 19 November 1884, ADA SCHUSTER, only daughter of A.H. Schuster and Lucret Price, of St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Hingston was at one time a partner in the firm of Schuster, Hingston & Co., of St. Joseph, Mo. and head of the firm of Hingston and Co., Little Rock, Arkansas. He is now engaged in the music business in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Hingston is much sought after, he having a very fine tenor voice, and has composed a large number of pieces of music.

21. JOHN HINGSTON, Married ANN.

Children of JOHN HINGSTON and ANN are:



Updated 21st August 2001, C.J.B.