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Hill, Joshua

"Joshua Hill (1773 -1844?) was an American adventurer. In 1832 he arrived on Pitcairn Island which was first inhabited in the 1790s by British mutineers from the HMS Bounty and some Tahitians who joined them. The descendants of the mutineers had recently migrated to Tahiti following the death of the last mutineer, John Adams, but had recently returned. Hill, taking advantage of the instability, was able to be elected President of the island. He served in that position until 1838. His rule became increasingly tyrannical, and he began imprisoning many of the island's inhabitants. He was deposed and driven off the island in 1838, and the descendants of the original inhabitants took control of the island again. Hill is fictionally mentioned in a short story called 'Revolution in Pitcairn' by Mark Twain."

-- Wikipedia

Letter to Earl of Ripon, December 28, 1832
Letter to same, May, 1833.

Local Links

• The Island, the People, and the Pastor - Ch. VII Arrival at Pitcairn
  • in consequence of the intrusion of a Mr. Joshua Hill,
• The Island, the People, and the Pastor - Ch. VII Hill Letter
  • who may have been misrepresented by Mr. Hill,
  • during the time of Hill's influence.
• The Island, the People, and the Pastor - Ch. VII Removal of Hill
  • Happily, the Hill dynasty was not destined
  • and quietly carried off Mr. Hill,
• The Island, the People, and the Pastor - Ch. VII Islanders's Letter
  • a partially deranged impostor, named Joshua Hill,
  • alias Lord Hill, came here, and made much disturbance;
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Joshua Hill
  • in consequence of the arrival of a certain Joshua Hill,
  • and Joshua consequently declared war
  • that our friend Joshua gave out
  • Lord E. Russell soon found out that Joshua,
  • between Joshua Hill and the islanders with H.M. Government.)
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Reports, Fremantle, May 30, 1833
  • "I found on the island a Mr. Joshua Hill,
  • —a gentleman of Mr. Hill's age and apparent respectability,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter, Seymour, Sep 3, 1833
  • between Joshua Hill, George Nobbs, John Buffett, and John Evans,
  • by the said Joshua Hill.
  • and from a Mr. Joshua Hill,
  • of the individuals of whom Mr. Joshua Hill complains,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter, Townshend, Jun 27, 1833
  • stating the complaint of a Mr. Joshua Hill,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter, White, Jun 24, 1833
  • I received yesterday from a Mr. Joshua Bill,
  • Whether Mr. Joshua Hill has any authority
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter, Hill, Mar 25, 1833
  • "(Signed.) JOSHUA HILL.
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter, Mason, Dec 4, 1833
  • Mr. Hill appears to have assumed a power,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter, Heads of Families, Dec, 1832
  • of a disagreement between Mr. Nobbs and Mr. Joshua Hill,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Nobbs Petition
  • Afterwards a Mr. Hill arrived,
  • which he (Mr. Hill) commanded.
  • your petitioner gave Mr. Hill an apartment
  • Mr. Hill had succeeded, by villanous misrepresentations,
  • and several British of Mr. Hill's acquaintance,
  • Mr. Hill then told the natives
  • that Mr. Hill was not acting under the authority
  • with the intention of removing Mr. Hill from the island;
  • of which Mr. Hill had deprived him;
  • at the same time Capt. F. told Mr. Hill
  • he did not approve of his (Mr. H's) conduct,
  • Capt. F. also told Mr. Hill
  • that Mr. Hill wished to get the other Europeans off the island,
  • that he, Mr. Hill, might make himself king over them.
  • Capt. F. also sharply reprimanded Mr. Hill
  • Mr. Hill promised to obey,
  • Mr. Hill began again to oppress your petitioner
  • In August Mr. Hill sent his colleagues
  • As soon as Mr. Hill obtained possession of the muskets,
  • for fear of being maltreated by the colleagues of Mr. Hill.
  • Mr. Hill threatened to give them a flogging,
  • it was the declared intent of Joshua Hill
  • occasioned by Joshua Hill's wicked counsel and conduct,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Buffett Petition
  • until the arrival of Mr. Joshua Hill from Tahiti,
  • His plea (J. H.'s) is,
  • on which Mr. Hill was judge, jury, and executioner.
  • After Mr. Hill's beating me over the head,
  • and Mr. J. Hill would not allow the natives
  • crying shame on his (Mr. J. H's.) proceedings,
  • he, Mr. J. Hill, on the Sunday following read the riot act,
  • and Mr. J. Hill has since kept them in is possession.
  • from the malicious temper of Mr. J. Hill.
  • to get Mr. Hill removed from Pitcairn's Island;
  • The land that Mr. Hill wishes
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Buffett's Sentence
  • "(Signed) J. HILL.
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Evans Petition
  • when a Mr. Joshua Hill arrived at Pitcairn's,
  • Your petitioner gave credit to Mr. Hill's assertions,
  • but scarcely had Mr. Hill been on shore three weeks,
  • the captain of which declared he knew nothing of Mr. Hill,
  • neither had he (Mr. Hill) any authority from the British Government.
  • Mr. Hill used every means in his power,
  • Capt. Freemantle severely reprimanded Mr. Hill
  • this Mr. Hill promised to do,
  • in the character of Joshua Hill.
  • than Mr. Hill (vexed that he had not gained his point)
  • Mr. Hill refused to give him one,
  • Mr. Hill and his colleagues were continually threatening
  • Neither the natives nor Mr. Hill can bring
  • merely to gratify the malevolence of Mr. Hill.
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter to Hill, Oct 3, 1833
  • to Captain Joshua Hill, Teacher, &c.
  • "J. HILL."
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Hill Reply, Oct 4, 1833
  • J. Hill's Answer to the foregoing,
  • "(Signed) JOSHUA HILL.
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letters Quintal/Hill
  • "Our good friend, Capt. Hill, has been,
  • but for the presence of Capt. Hill,
  • "Capt. Hill has all along acted like a father to us all,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter Fremantle/Hill, Jan 12, 1833
  • to Joshua Hill, Pitcairn's Island.
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter Mackinnon/Hill
  • Copy of a Note from Professor Alex. Mackinnon to J. Hill.
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter Hill/Townshend, Jun 20, 1834
  • "(Signed) J. HILL.
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Letter Hill/Townshend, Jun 22, 1834
  • "(Signed) J. HILL.
  • "J. HILL."
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Petition to Townshend, Jun 19, 1834
  • when Mr. Joshua Hill, an English gentleman
  • Mr. Hill brought us a very strong letter
  • And ever since Mr. Hill's arrival,
  • Mr. Hill established at once a Temperance Society
  • a little after Mr. Hill's arrival,
  • that Mr. Hill had agreed to sacrifice his time here
  • in procuring a proper person to succeed Mr. Hill.
  • But Mr. Hill having opened our eyes thus,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Hill Letter Jun 1834
  • "(Signed) J. HILL.
  • "Touching J. Hill's, &c.,
• Pitcairn Island and the Islanders, Mason Letter Jan 2, 1836
  • to investigate the conduct of Mr. Hill,
  • to the victims of Mr. Hill's tyranny and oppression,
  • from Mr. Hill's tyranny and oppression,
• Young's Story of Pitcairn Island, Mr. Joshua Hill
  • Mr. Joshua Hill
  • in the person of Joshua Hill.
  • and at the time of Hill's arrival,
  • Hill at once assumed the reins of government.
  • Hill professed to have been sent out
  • and when, by Hill's order,
  • after Hill's rule had been fairly established.
  • Two women had set afloat some report concerning Hill,
  • while Hill prayed.
  • with the exception of Hill himself;
  • Hill and his party, who were the stronger,
  • done five or six years before Hill came.
  • When Hill was informed of the matter,
  • and Hill's cruelty did not quite reach
  • wrote a lively epigram on Hill,
  • the captain of which condemned Hill's doings unsparingly,
  • had yielded unquestioning obedience to Hill's orders,
  • Hill no longer exercised undisputed sway
  • a quarrel between Hill and one of his former elders,
  • The father was summoned before Hill,
  • Hill declared that the offender
  • Hill rushed into his bedroom,
  • that gleamed in Hill's eye,
  • and, before Hill could divine his intention,
  • to prevent the thrusts of Hill's sword.
  • that he was going to shoot Hill.
  • to dispossess Hill of his sword.
  • render help and deliverance from Hill's power.
  • and while Hill was speaking in his own defense,
  • Hill was relating a story
  • Hill had taken the liberty
  • Hill readily replied
  • that Hill should be removed from the island
  • were: "Is Joshua Hill still on the island?
  • Hill, with his few possessions,
  • Thus passed out of the history of Pitcairn Island Joshua Hill,
• Young's Story of Pitcairn Island, The Flag of Old England
  • AFTER Mr. Hill's removal,
  • Mr. Hill had also spoken strongly
  • When Hill first came among the people,
  • and Hill constituted him his chief elder.
  • by the fact that he stood by Hill to the last,
  • Like Hill, he, too, when aroused by anger,
• 20 Years Residence on Pitcairn's Island - Part III
  • But they say of a late Teacher, Mr. Hill,
• 20 Years Residence on Pitcairn's Island - Part V
  • bringing as passenger, a Mr. Joshua Hill.
  • Mr. Hill would get Adams to his house
  • for the purpose of making known to him (H.)
  • she replied that Mr. Hill was very angry
  • Mr. Hill sent for Evans
  • Mr. Hill, became very angry
  • Mr. Hill appointed him and two other as elders
  • "Mr. Hill is acting very singularly"
  • should his son act as Mr. Hill was acting
  • after prayer (Mr. H. now officiated)
  • and if Mr. H. heard of any
  • These words were soon carried to Mr. Hill
  • Mr. Hill proposed that they should be flogged,
  • Hill framed a law
  • I said to Ed. Quintal, "If Mr. Hill would let me have my gun
  • Joshua Hill, Teacher, &c.
  • Signed by the Elders and JOSHUA HILL."
  • One of the elders (Arthur Quintal) remarked to Mr. Hill,
  • Mr. Hill asked him if he knew
  • Mr. H. became very angry
  • they were disgusted with the conduct of Mr. H.
  • Mr. Hill supposing that we would settle on Lord Hood's Island,
  • Mr. Hill endeavored to prevent their landing,
  • he related a difficulty between Arthur Quintal and Mr. Hill.
  • One day Quintal called on Hill,
  • and after some conversation Mr. Hill became very angry,
  • Fixing his eye steadfastly on Hill,
  • and pushed H. down on to the floor.
  • Hill said to him,
  • and Hill being up tried to get hold of a sword cane,
  • entered the house and secured Hill.
  • that the British government had delegated any power to Mr. H.
  • and that he (Com. M.) had written to Mr. Hill,
  • Mr. Hill endeavored to persuade the people
  • and Mr. Hill was to leave the Island,
  • Who Hill was,
  • and would be very angry if not addressed as "Capt Hill."
• Visit of the Tuscan, Capt Stavers 1834
  • A Mr. Hill had got amongst them and,
  • Governor Hill, as he styled himself,
  • and not allowed to speak to Mr. Hill's party.
  • Mr. Hill had seized him up and flogged him
  • and when I returned to Mr. Hill's House,
  • he came to speak to Mr. Hill before me,
  • They were the leading men before Mr. Hill came
• Visit of the Tuscan, Frederick D. Bennett 1834
  • of an elderly Englishman, named Joshua Hill,
  • and "take old Hill and the muskets off the island."
  • for Mr. Hill's unauthorised intrusion
  • and probably by the fortiter in re of Mr. Hill;
  • and that Joshua Hill had been recommended by his lordship
• Lines from my Logbooks, Dalrymple, Removal of Hill
  • * [The man being deported was Joshua Hill.]
• Letter from Joshua Hill to Earl of Ripon, Dec 28, 1832
  • Joshua Hill.
• Letter from Joshua Hill to Earl of Ripon, May, 1833
  • J. Hill
• Despatch from Capt. Fremantle on the return of the Pitcairners
  • I found on the island a Mr. Joshua Hill,
  • that a gentleman of Mr. Hill's age,