The Hilton family of the town of Niskayuna, Schenectady county, New York, represented in the present generation by Peter L. Hilton,descended from an English ancestor. William Hilton, who was born in England, came to America prior to the revolution and settled in the town of Guilderland, Albany county,Here he founded a family. There were other Hiltons and Hiltens in the county, and one William Hilton came from Connecticut, settling in the town of Benton, Yates county. William Hilton, the founder, married and had issue, among them a son Adam, who settled in Guilderland in 1790 and built the old Hilton stone farm house, which was standing not many years ago. Another son was William (2).
(II) William (2), son of William (1) Hilton, of England, was born in 1770, died 1840 in Guilderland, Albany county. He was a farmer of the county, and a member of the Lutheran church. He married Catherine, daughter of John Livingsteen, of German extraction, who came to Guilderland prior to 1750, and was the founder of a large family. This family is easily confounded with the English Livingston family of Livingston Manor. William and Catherine (Livingsteen) Hilton had six children.
- Peter, a well-known farmer and tanner of Schenectady county, where he died very old.
- Adam, a trader on the western frontier, where he died.
- Daniel, of Rayville.
- Nancy, married Adam Packer, and removed to western New York.
- William C., see forward.
- Catherine, twin of William C.; she died in 1866 in Guilderland, New York.
- Margaret Ladd, went to Wayne county, Michigan, and died there in the seventies.
(III) William C., son of William (2) and Catherine (Livingsteen) Hilton, was born in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, in 1812, died in Niskayuna, Schenectady county, New York, 1874. He followed the business of his father and was a tanner, currier and farmer. He was prosperous and respected. He was a Whig and later a Republican. He was a communicant of the Lutheran church. He married, in Guilderland, Margaret Livingsteen (probably a descendant of the same John of Germany), born in that town 1815, died there in middle life. She was the only child of her mother, her father marrying again, had further issue. Children of William C. and Margaret (Livingsteen) Hilton, born in Guilderland:
- Josiah, drowned in Black river in 1837.
- Peter L., see forward.
- Martha E., died young.
- Martha E. (2), died in Schenectady, September, 1907. She married Aaron S. Van Vranken; no issue.
- Margaret, died, unmarried, in Schenectady at the age of thirty years.
(IV) Peter L., second child of William C. and Margaret (Livingsteen) Hilton, was born in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, December 28, 1839. He was educated in the public school, and grew up on the Guilderland homestead farm. He settled in Niskayuna, Schenectady county, in 1863, purchased his first farm, and has since followed farming as his business and has had a very successful career. Everything about his farm is modern, spacious and well adapted to its purpose. He has been active in town affairs, and has served two terms as commissioner. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Reformed church. He is highly regarded in the community. He married (first), in Niskayuna, Susan Van Vranken, born in that town 1843, died there July, 1893, and is buried in the Niskayuna cemetery. He married (second), October 8, 1896, Maria Van Vranken, a sister of his first wife, born in Niskayuna, June 26, 1841. They are daughters of James and Anna (De Graff) Van Vranken. James was the son of Peter Van Vranken, of Niskayuna, son of Jacob, son of Claas, son of Jacob, son of Claas Gerritse, who married Geertruy Quackenbos, December 30, 1704, and settled on the south side of the Mohawk in Niskayuna, where he bought land of Johannes Clute, March 6, 1709-10. He was probably a son of Gerrit Van Vranken who, with a brother, Ryckert, early settled in Niskayuna. The Van Vrankens have been large land owners and farmers of Niskayuna from its earliest settlement. James, born in Niskayuna on the old Van Vranken homestead in 1810, married Anna De Graff, of an equally old and prominent Dutch family. They had children:
- Maria, second wife of Peter L. Hilton.
- Susan, first wife of Peter L. Hilton.
- Margaretta, died, unmarried, in 1864, aged twenty-one years.
- Jacob D., born 1849, the present occupant of the old Van Vranken homestead. He is unmarried.
Peter L. Hilton had four children born on the Niskayuna farm.
- Annie M., born March 8, 1870, married Peter E. Lansing, of Lisha's Kill, and has a son, Edward J., born November 24, 1898.
- Helena, June 30, 1872, residing at the Niskayuna home, unmarried.
- Blanche, July 8, 1875, died January 8, 1899. She was a teacher before her marriage. She married Walter S. DeForrest, of Schenectady, and left one child, Helena Blanche, born November 20, 1898.
- James, born March 2, 1877, engaged with his father in agriculture, unmarried.
By Mr. Hilton's second marriage there is no issue. Mrs. Maria Hilton is a member of the Reformed church, and both she and her husband are prominent in church and town affairs.