I'm not even sure this woman actually exists. The only reference I have for her is in Jane Begley (nee Jane Hill)'s Marriage record. This record states that Jane's parents, who were both deceased by then, were William Hill and Isabella Hodge. However, Jane Begley's death certificate cites her parents as William Hill and Jane Stewart. Given Jane's presence at her own marriage, it seems likely that she would have got her mother's name right and that her grandson, William Begley, who reported her death, may have got confused. On that basis, I have accepted that Jane's mother is Isabella Hodge.

That said, Isabella Hodge is a very uncommon name and so there are not many records, meaning that I was able to examine them all. Nevertheless, I have been unable to find any that could be identified as my ancestor. Similarly, I've looked for Isabella Hills who were married to a William Hill, both in marriage records and in the 1841 and 1851 Censuses - without luck. Unfortunately, I have never been able to find a birth record for Jane Hill with parents called William Hill and Isabella Hodge (nor for that matter, Jane Stewart); so no clues there.

Unfortunately, I think I am going to have to admit defeat on this one.

KEY EVENTS AND DATES

On the assumption that Isabella is Jane Hill's mother ...

1832 - 1840

From the various ages ascribed to Isabella's daughter, Jane, in the 1861, 1871, 1881 an 1891 Censuses, Jane would have been born in this period, although the age shown on her Marriage certificate suggests she would have been born a couple of years earlier. Either way, I have no direct record of her birth. The Censuses show Jane's place of birth as Cramond.

19th August 1873

Isabella's daughter, Jane, married William Begley at the Free Church College on The Mound, Edinburgh. Unbelievably, this was some 17 years after the birth of their first child, Ann, (William's grandchild). Jane was aged 43. Jane and William still lived at 1 Chalmer's Close. Jane's parents were recorded as being William Hill, an Agricultural Labourer and Isabella Hodge (deceased). Their witnesses were Hugh Walker and Robert Begley (probably William's brother?).

3rd June 1894

Isabella's daughter, Jane, died at 8.10 a.m. at 1 South Foulis Close, High Street Edinburgh. Her parents are recorded as being William Hill (deceased) and Jane Stewart (deceased), which is different from Jane's Marriage certificate which records her mother as being Isabella Hodge. Jane's cause of death was Cardiac Lynosse and Chronic Bronchitis and it was reported by her son, "W. Begley", who was present at her death.