From "African American Historic Burial Grounds" by Glenn A. Knoblock.
Richard Hill (ca. 1792-1861) Born in Maine according to census records and living in Portland, Maine, by 1830. Served on Gunboat 47, part of the New York Flotilla during the War of 1812.
Gunboats such as he served on were small sloop or schooner rigged vessels about fifty feet long manned by a crew of about 40 and carried several guns. The gunboats of the New York Flotilla saw quite a bit of action in Long Island Sound, and some of them, possibly including Hill's vessel were present at the Battle of Baltimore and witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry.
After the war, his whereabouts were not known until 1830, but it seemed he served as a sailor. he was married by 1830 and had at least one child, a son named Richard, and worked as a laborer.
He was a widower when he was shot to death by his troubled son Richard on September 12, 1861.
--Brock-Perry
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