HILLIARD, Henry (1815-1892) and (first wife) Pheba (c. 1818-c. 1855) and (second wife) Lucinda C. (c. 1828-1887)

An active layperson, Henry Hilliard, originally from Vermont, spent most of his working life farming in the Buck's Bridge-Madrid area of northern New York. He was first mentioned in the Review in 1854 and was, until the 1870s, a leading member and lay preacher at the Buck's Bridge church. He also served on various committees of the New York Conference and was active in the Tract and Missionary societies in New York and Michigan.1EGWLM 845.4

Lucinda Hilliard is of particular historical interest in that she probably taught at the earliest Sabbatarian Adventist school before her marriage to Henry Hilliard. According to Grace Amadon, this pioneering home school in Buck's Bridge was first taught by her mother, Martha D. Amadon, in 1853, but in 1854 “Lucinda Paine” took over and taught the school “in Henry Hilliard's parlor.” According to her mother's obituary, Lucinda Hilliard's maiden name was “Payne.” Despite the difference in spelling, it is likely that “Lucinda Paine” and “Lucinda Payne” were the same person, especially since the school was conducted in 1854 in the home of Henry Hilliard, whom Lucinda subsequently married.1EGWLM 845.5

In several places Ellen White mentioned the hospitality she received at the home of Henry and Lucinda Hilliard. “We always find rest in that pilgrim's home” she wrote in 1863. In 1881 Ellen White told of Lucinda's spiritual depression and of speaking “words … that brought comfort to her mind.”1EGWLM 846.1

See: Obituary: “Henry Hilliard,” Review, Mar. 15, 1892, p. 175; obituary: “Lucinda Hilliard,” Review, May 10, 1887, p. 303; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Pheba (?) Hulliard [sic],” New York, St. Lawrence County, Madrid, p. 285; 1860 U.S. Federal Census, “Lucinda Hilliard,” New York, St. Lawrence County, Madrid, p. 34; History of St. Lawrence Co., New York, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers (Philadelphia: L. H. Everts & Co., 1878), p. 257; Grace Amadon, “The First President of the General Conference: John Byington, Farmer-Preacher,” Review, June 22, 1944, pp. 6, 7; obituary: “Anna Payne,” Review, Dec. 15, 1868, p. 279; search term “Hilliard” in Review and Herald online collection, www.adventistarchives.org; Ellen G. White, Lt 7, 1863 (Nov. 5); Ms 8, 1859 (Oct. 18 entry); Ms 12, 1868 (Jan. 2 entry); Lt 1, 1881 (Apr. 22).1EGWLM 846.2