"branch of the family, who was a person of consideration in the reign of Henry VI., descended a Rowland Hill, styled of Hawkstone, in 1592, who was father of Rowland Hill, born in 1594, and he of another Rowland, born in 1623, who died and was buried at Hodnet, in November, 1700. His eldest son of his own name died unmarried, and Richard his second son became the great founder of this branch of the family. This remarkable person was born March 23, 1654. He was educated at the grammar school in Shrewsbury, and entered at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1675. He became a fellow of his college, and is reported to have entered into deacon's orders, which was no doubt the case, as there is good authority for the fact that king William III. highly commended "his vigilance, capacity, and virtue," in the exercise of his clerical functions. Mr. Hill was engaged by Laurence Earl of Rochester, on account of his distinguished talents, as tutor to his son Lord Hyde, and, while in this situation, he was noticed by the Earl of Ranelagh,(...)".
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