THOMAS THOMPSON HILLAS (1850-1915)
married AGNES WELLOCK (1851-1934) about 1875. They had a son in 1876 then in 1877 they emigrated to New Zealand
they finally settled in (and were early settler of) Mauriceville (taken in the 1890s, not known if Thomas & his family are in this photo)


THOMAS & AGNES had 10 children
including the adopted 2 grandchildren when their daughter Annie died after childbirth in 1903

. . 1 . .
1876 - 1926 Fred Hillas
- born in the UK, Fred emigrated when he was about 1
- he married Blanche EAGLE in 1905 in Kopuaranga
23 Aug 1905 ... At the residence of Mr T. T. Hillas, on the 23rd inst., Mr Fred Hillas was married to Miss Blanche Eagle, both bride and bridegroom being well known residents of the district. The happy couple left by the evening northern train on their honeymoon tour. Quite a large concourse of their friends attended at the railway station to bid them adieu, when more than the customary quantity of rice was showered upon them
- Blanche was a daughter of Henry EAGLE & Catherine VILE

. . 2 . .
1876 - 1938 Elizabeth Hillas
- Elizabeth married Robert Charles SEYMOUR (1874-1953) in 1905
- she died on Xmas Eve 1938 in Palmerston North

. . 3 . .
1880 - 1932 George Hillas
- George married Grace Amy CUMINGS (1878-1923) in 1903
- their daughter, Alice Marcia Hillas (1905-1921) died aged 16

. . 4 . .
1881 - 1903 Annie Hillas
- Annie married Henry Cartwright HOLDEN (1868-1942) in 1900
they had 2 children in Temuka
* 1901 - 1919 Annie Decima Holden-Hillas
* 1903 - 1973 John Holden-Hillas
Annie died in Temuka at childbirth & her parents adopted her children. Their names became Holden-Hillas

. . 5 . .
1883 - 1951 Agnes Hillas
- Agnes married John ALGIE (1878-1937) in 1910
- John was born in Killen, County Tyrone to:
William Stewart ALGIE & Mary Elizabeth SEMPLE
- Agnes is buried in Mangatainoka

... 6
1884 - 1962 Sarah Ann Hillas
- Sarah married Hartey MYERS (1882-1966) in 1913

. . 7 . .
1886 - 1955 Thomas Benjamin Hillas
- Thomas married Bertha BRIALEY (1884-1932) in 1914

. . 8 . .
1887 - 1929 Henry Hillas
- Henry married Anna Maria ROSE (1886-1962) in 1913
- daughter of Johannes Joachin Heinrich ROSE & Dorothea Catherina Christina SIXTUS

. . 9 . .
1901 - 1919 Annie 'Decima' Holden-Hillas
- see the 1903 notes in the timeline below
- Decima died aged 18 in Mauriceville
6 Aug 1919 ... The death occurred at Mauriceville yesterday of Decima, the 18-year-old daughter of Mrs T. T. Hillas, after a lingering illness. The funeral will leave the residence at 1 p.m. on Thursday, arriving at the Masterton Cemetery at 2.30 p.m.
- she is buried in Masterton

. . 10 . .
1903 - 1973 John Hillas Holden-Hillas
- see the 1903 notes in the timeline below
- John married Margaret Lyon WATSON (1906-1989) in 1928


TIMELINE for the HILLAS
In 1877
... Thomas arrives into Lyttelton on the OPAWA (in the Second, or Saloon, Cabin) on 16 April 1877 which left Gravesend on 16 January 1877
With him was his wife and 1 child (Fred)

In 1878
... Thomas is a Ratepayer of the Karori Riding, of the Hutt County Council

In 1880
... Thomas is a Milkman of Polhill Gully, Aro Valley, Wellington

In 1883
... Thomas was issued a certificate of title for his section of Block XIII., at Mangahao, (near Shannon Manawatu) it having been improved, fenced, and occupied as required by the Immigrants Land Act of Section 31

1 May 1896
... Thomas was granted the title of sections 206 and 207, Block II at Kopuaranga (14km north of Masterton)

13 Jan 1902
... At the Masterton A & P (Agricultural & Pastoral) Association meeting held in Messrs Lowes and Irons farmers room, considerable time was occupied in appointing the various stewards for the forthcoming A & P Show.
Thomas was given the job of Gate Steward of the Down Sheep

5 Oct 1903
... at the First Annual Meeting of the shareholders of the newly formed Mauriceville Co-operative Store Company, held in the Foresters' Hall, Mauriceville West, the following men were elected directors:
T. T. Hillas
F. W. H. Kummer
Eskild Pedersen
C. C. Jackson
C. Forsberg
Anders Larsen
Hans Jensen
Ole Isakson
Lars Peter Larsen

11 Dec 1903
... their daughter Annie dies at the age of 33, 2 weeks after the birth of her second child. Thomas and Agnes adopted her children

16 Jan 1905
... At the meeting of the Masterton A & P Committee for the forthcoming Show, Thomas was given the job this year of being charge of the tickets to the Fat Cattle exhibits

16 June 1905
... FOR SALE - That well-known and valuable Property in the Kopuaranga Survey District now occupied by Mr T. T. Hillas, being Section 208 and Part I of 202, BLock I and section 100, Block V., Kopuaranga Survey District, being about 40 chains from the Mauriceille Railway Station, fronting the main Masterton-Eketahuna road, with 7 roomed House and outhouses, all in good grass and fences.
For further information apply to Mr A. R. Mackay, Wairoa, Hawkes Bay

23 Aug 1905
... At the residence of Mr T. T. Hillas, on the 23rd inst., Mr Fred Hillas was married to Miss Blanche Eagle, both bride and bridegroom being well known residents of the district. The happy couple left by the evening northern train on their honeymoon tour. Quite a large concourse of their friends attended at the railway station to bid them adieu, when more than the customary quantity of rice was showered upon them

2 Aug 1906
... At the Mauriceville County Council meeting a large deputation of ratepayers interviewed the Council re the footpath on the side of the road adjacent to the overhead railway bridge near the Mauriceville Railway Station. Mr T. T. Hillas pointed out that this part of the road was constantly used by a large section of the residents going to and from the Railway Station, School and Post Office, while the local body has done little, if anything, to accommodate the numerous foot passengers incessantly using this muddiest road in the district, and in fact the residents owe the present footpath, such as it is, the late Wairarapa North County Council. The Chairman and Councillors expressed their sympathy with the object of the deputation, and desired to meet their wishes as far as practical. It was pointed out that it was impossible to widen the road and care would have to be exercised in extending the footpath so that the present narrow roadway may not be further restricted or otherwise injuriously affected.
A committee, consisting of Messrs Hillas, R. and C. Brooks and J. McKenzie, were appointed to meet on the ground with Crs Jackson and Kummer, with a view to devising the best plan of carrying out necessary improvement to the footpath

12 Sep 1906
... Three candidates have been nominated for the vacancy in the Mauriceville County Council, the names being Messrs R. Brown, T. T. Hillas and Martin Kennedy. The election will take place on Monday 17th September
- The results were:
Martin Kennedy polled 29 votes and was declared elected
Robert Brown polled 21 votes
Thomas Thompson Hillas polled 19 votes

4 Oct 1906
... A special meeting of the Masterton branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union was held yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of discussing the Land Bill.
Mr W. Perry was chairman, and there were also present: Messrs J. Cross, F. Maunsell, E. E. Meredith, C. E. Cockburn-Hood, D. McGregor jnr, W. Miller, N. Fowler, B. Rayner, G. Maunsell, J. Judd, J. Bourke, A. Mutrie, J. Colway, D. McKenzie, J. C. McKillop, H. Falloon, T. T. Hills, J. Welch, W. H. Beetham and Hugh Morrison

11 Oct 1906
... CLEARING SALE, FRIDAY, 19th OCT., 1906, at 1p.m.
ABRAHAM & WILLIAMS, Ltd., have been instructed by T. T. HILLAS, Esq., to sell on the property, near Mauriceville Railway Station, the whole of his first-class dairy herd, consisting of 40 young cows, calved and to calve, 1 Shorthorn bull
Auctioneer's Note - The above herd has the reputation of being second to none in the Wairarapa district, and can be recommended with every confidence. The cows, all of which are young, and in good condition, have been heavily culled each season for the past 14 years, and Mr Hillas will be pleased if intending buyers will care to see those in profit milked any morning or evening

26 May 1908
... The seventh annual Conference of the Wellington Provincial District of the Farmers' Union was opened in the Foresters' Hall to-day. Mr J. G. Wilson (President) occupied the chair. Mr T. T. Hillas of Mauriceville was one of the delegates

5 Nov 1908
... A Cricket Match, Mauriceville County Cricket Club v W.F.C.A. Cricket Club, is to be played at Mauriceville on November 9th (King's Birthday), on Mr T. T. Hillas' reserve

18 Jan 1909
... STEWARDS for the next A & P Show were appointed. Thomas was the Steward of Fat Cattle along with A. G. Pilmer as Marshal and A. Snodgrass

29 April 1912
... for the upcoming A & P Show, Thomas Hillas, of Mauriceville, was appointed as a Judge of the Milking Cows along with E. M. Bannister of Masterton, Allen Donald of Featherston, G. Sievers of Carterton, E. Eagle jnr of Carterton and Q. Donald of Featherston

19 Feb 1914
... At the Masterton Ram Fair, Thomas paid 3 guineas for 5 rams (the equivalent in Feb 2011 of about $484 or $97 per ram)

21 May 1914
... At the annual meeting of the Mauriceville Morris Tube Rifle CLub, Thomas was elected as one of the Office Bearers

27 Oct 1914
... At the general meeting of the Mauriceville Sports Club, Thomas was elected as one of the Vice-Presidents

3 Nov 1914
... The Mauricville County received a nomination for Thomas Thompson Hillas to be a Councillor

5 May 1915
... It is with feelings of great regret that we have to chronicle the death of Mr T. T. Hillas, of Mauriceville, which took place yesterday afternoon.
The deceased gentleman was one of the early settlers of Mauriceville, and was generally esteemed for his many sterling qualities. He was 65 years of age, and leaves a widow and a family of seven (four sons and three daughters) to mourn their loss.
The following are the members of the family who are left:-
Mrs Seymour, Palmerston North
Mrs J. Algie, Konini
Mrs H. Myers, Mauriceville
Frederick Hillas
George Hillas
Benjamin Hillas
Henry Hillas

5 May 1915
... The Friends of Mrs T. Hillas are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of her late husband, which will leave the residence, Mauriceville, on FRIDAY, 7th May, at 12.30 p.m., arriving at the Masterton Cemetery at 3 p.m. - G. HYDE, Funeral Director, Telephone 233, Private 324

17 May 1915
... At the monthly meeting of the Masterton Dairy Company, held on Saturday last, the secretary was instructed to send a letter of condolence to the family of the late Mr T. T. Hillas

13 July 1915
... At Messrs W. and G. Turnbull's sale of crutchings at Wellington, on Firday, the following sales were recorded:- ... & estate of the late T. T. Hillas (Mauriceville), crutchings 13?d

In February 1916
.. Thomas's deceased estate is valued for stamp duty in the Wellington District at ?9695 (the equivalent in February 2011 of $1,180,000)

6 August 1919
... The death occurred at Mauriceville yesterday of Decima, the 18-year-old daughter of Mr T. T. Hillas, after a lingering illness. The funeral will leave the residence at 1 p.m. on Thursday, arriving at the Masterton Cemetery at 2.30 p.m.


Thomas Thompson HILLAS died 4 May 1915 in Mauriceville
Anges HILLAS died 11 January 1934 in Palmerston North
* They are buried Plot 7, Row TTH, Plan VI at Archer street cemetery, Masterton


PHOTO
Mauriceville Railway Station next to Thomas Hillas's land