[Oxford University and Captain Henry Worsley Hill, Lieutenant Governor of the Gold Coast.] Copy by Hill of College of Arms pedigree showing his family’s consanguinity with William of Wickham and Nicholas Wadham. With ALS to the warden of New College.

Captain Hill was the son of Vice-Admiral Henry Hill (1775–1849). In 1845 Captain Hill married Amelia Jane Boyce (1821–1895), granddaughter of the Duke of Marlborough, with whom he had ten children. Hill’s letter is written on the back of the pedigree, and addressed to ‘The Revd / The Warden / New College / Oxford’. It reads: ‘Mr. Warden, / I have the honour of transmitting herewith for your information the Copy of a Pedigree which I have received from the Heralds Office shewing the consanguinity of my Family to William of Wickham the Founder of New College Oxford and of the College of St. Mary at Winchester; and I beg leave to request that you will do me the kindness of communicating to me the result of the examination of the said Pedigree by the authorities of New College.’ The pedigree, transcribed by Hill from the original, is 40 x 32 cm, with a central vertical fold. It appears to have been extracted from a binding, causing wear to the central crease, which has been repaired with tape. Otherwise it is in fair condition, on aged and worn paper. Closely written with one correction in pencil, it is headed ‘Pedigree of the Family of Hill shewing their consanguinity to the Family of Nicholas Wadham, Esquire, Founder of Wadham College in the University of Oxford, and also shewing their consanguinity to William of Wickham of New College, Oxford and of the College of Saint Mary at Winchester.’ Hill does not feature, but his father does: ‘Henry Hill of Braishfield near Romsey Co: Southampton 2d. surviving Son. Born 23. May 1772: bapt. at Newport aforesd. Appointed Captain 1 Jan: 1801. Rear Admiral 22 July 1830; Vice Admiral of the Blue Squadron 23. Nov: 1841. Living 1845.’ Also present is Hill’s mother. Accompanying the pedigree is a 20 x 32 cm. pedigree taking the descent down to Hill himself (‘Henry Worsley Hill, Lieut: Governor of the Gold Coast & a Commissioner in the Royal Navy only child by 1st. Wife Born 21 May 1799: bapt: at Freshwater in the Isle of Wight.’) and his wife ‘Amelia Jane eldest daur: of Henry Pitcher Boyce by Lady Amelia Sophia daur of George 4th. Duke of Marlborough KG. Married 1 July 1845 at St. Geo: Han: Square.’ At bottom right is a transcription by Hill of the following statement: ‘We hereby certify the above Pedigree to be faithfully extracted from the Records of the College of Arms London and examined therewith this twenty fourth day of November 1845 by us / Signed / Albert: Co: Woods Lancaster Herald / Geo Harrison Bluemantle’.