John Hillman was born December 4, 1819 in Westbury, Wiltshire, England. He would have immigrated to Upper Canada with his family sometime between 1839 and 1840. It is a guess at the moment; but, the family probably located first in Euphemia Tp. in Lambton County. By the 1851 Census of Canada John occupied 50 acres in Mosa Tp. near the village of Newbury. In 1859 he purchased 150 acres at Clathan, Elgin County which is the farm that my family remembers as the original homestead.
John Hillman married Isabella May who was born in Scotland 22 May, 1822. Their children were Daniel Duncan (1840-?), George(1842-?), Isabella(1843-1914), Hugh(1844-1894), Mary(1846-?), John David(6 June, 1850-4 Feb.,1936), Susan(1855-?), Margerit J.(1857-?), Christie Anne(1859-?), Harriet Elizabeth(1860-?), Angus(1863-?), Nathaniel(12 Aug.,1865-?).
By the 1901 Canada Census the Clathan farm was being run by John David.
John Hillman died at Clathan 3 October, 1906 and was buried beside his wife (who died 5 September, 1906) at McLean cemetery which is located virtually across the county road from his farm at Clathan.
