Margaret Renton Hill, (1831-12/1/1876). "held in universal respect"

DEATHS

HILL. — On January 12th, at the residence of Thomas Macky, Esq., Hepburn-street, Auckland, Margaret Renton, wife of the Rev. James Hill, of Thames.  -NZ Herald, 15/1/1876.

OBITUARY. 

We regret to have to announce the death of the wife of the Rev. James Hill, Presbyterian Minister at the Thames, which took place at the house of Mr. T. Macky on 12th January. Mr. and Mrs. Hill came to Auckland in the Christmas week, in order to enjoy a holiday amongst their friends here, but she was taken ill, and continued sinking till above date. Her complaint, we believe, was heart disease. The deceased was in the prime of life, and leaves a number of young children. Great sympathy will be felt with Mr. Hill for the loss he has just sustained. Intelligence of Mrs. Hill's death caused a profound impression in Grahamstown, Mrs. Hill being well known and as highly esteemed as her husband, not only among the Presbyterians, but by all classes in the community.  -NZ Herald,15/1/1876.

About 30 members of the Presbyterian congregation of the Thames and brethren of the Masonic Lodge Sir Walter Scott proceeded to Auckland by the 'Hauraki' yesterday morning to attend the funeral of Mrs Hill, wife of the Rev James Hill. The deceased lady was held in universal respect, and many others would have put themselves to considerable inconvenience to pay the last tribute of respect to her remains and testify their sympathy for the Rev James Hill and his bereaved family, only that their business pursuits prevented them from doing so. Too much credit cannot be accorded to the proprietors and agents of the steamer 'Hauraki' for their ready acquiescence in the wish expressed for the alteration of the time table to suit the convenience of those who wished to attend the funeral as well as in making a reduction in the customary fares for the occasion.  -Thames Advertiser, 15/1/1876.

We noticed in the grounds of the neatly-kept Presbyterian part of the cemetery a chaste and seemly monument over the grave of the wife of the Rev James Hill, formerly of Auckland and the Thames, but now minister of St. James', Christchurch. The monument is formed of durable Aberdeen grey granite and Tasmanian coping stone. There is nothing gaudy in the talent memorial, but all is in keeping with the character which the deceased lady bore in her conduct of life. The monument is ten feet in height, surmounted by the chiselled form of the urn of mourning, and underneath, carved in the pediment of the cap, is the emblematic thistle of "Scotia, stern and wild," the land of Mrs Hill's birth. The monument was executed by Mr Wm. Thomas, mason, of Lorne and Victoria streets, and is creditable to his skill and taste. The inscription runs thus: "sacred to the memory of Margaret Renton, the beloved wife of the Rev James Hill, who died 12th January, 1876, aged 45 years. Erected by the Thames Presbyterian congregation."   -Auckland Star, 28/10/1878.

Symonds Street Cemetery, Auckland.