General Features

As part of the 400th anniversary of the founding of America, a group of descendants from Hylton Castle have travelled from all parts of the world to meet up at the castle.

Eric Lamberton in the "original" Washington as he says has been the organising the trip and tells us:

"We've got descendants of the Hiltons of Hylton Castle from as far afield as Hawaii, in the west, Wisconsin in the north, Virginia in the south and New York in the east of the USA."

The Hiltons at Hylton Castle (the spelling varies from Helton to Hilton to Hylton, the latter was decided on in the 19th Century) are known to the north-east of England since 924 AD when the it was first recorded that Adam de Hilton presented a silver crucifix to the monastery in Hartlepool.

A long line of Hyltons

The first mention of the castle was in 1072 AD, but none of that building remains today. What does remain is the long line of descendants who meet each year at the remains of the most recent castle.

Geneologists, mainly from United States, make the journey to meet up and see the sights. Geneologists are the serious family heritage tracers and this family reunion means a lot to them.

Jerrold Hilton is a direct descendant to William Hilton of North Biddick Hall, who sailed on the ship "The Fortune" to rescue the pilgrims at Plymouth in America in 1621.

When his family of wife, children and brother joined him in 1623, they left Plymouth and went on to found Hiltons Point on the rivers that border New Hampshire and Maine. Jerrold and his wife now live in Wisconsin.

A Hilton of today

We managed to grab Jerrold, or Jerry as he's also known, when he came for this years reunion.

Jerry and Betty Hilton

How long have you been researching your family's history?

"My uncle started it and then I took over. That was 25 years ago. My first trip to Hylton Castle was in 1976 and since then I've been six times."

How do you feel coming to the castle and region your family is from?

"It's very interesting. I wish that it was in better condition, properly cared for. I think it could be turned into a tourist attraction like other castles in England."

Both Jerry and his wife Betty are fans of tracing their roots, we ask Jerry why that is?

"Maybe it's a national interest, looking into your roots and so on.

"It's interesting finding out you're related to the early settlers and we have another view on history in America.

"There isn't hardly any buildings older than 200 years in America. The oldest building in Wisconsin, where I'm from, is from 1853. It's another thing here, here history is being preserved."

The Hylton Family reunion took in the sights of St Peter's church Monkwearmouth, Durham Cathedral and of course Hylton Castle. To learn more about Hylton Castle and the founding father of America, click on the links below.