Have not been able to determine parentage of Benjamin. His parents have to be one of the following: Benoni and Martha (Lord) Hillard; or Joshua and Esther (Burgess) Hilliard; or David (son of Jonathan and Abigail (Wilbore) Hillard); or Azariah (son of Jonathan and Abigail (Wilbor) Hillard). Most likely, Joshua and Esther (Burgess) Hillard because of his residence of Preston and because most of Joshua's children born in probably Preston were not recorded.

Benjamin served as sergeant in Captain Mott's company, raised for the defense of New London Harbor, 1776.

Will of Benjamin Hillard
I Benjamin Hilliard of Preston in the County of New London being some advanced in years and sick in bed though by the blessing of God, of sound mind and memory. Calling to mind the mortality of my body and that all must die and how soon I must go the way of all living, I know not. I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament commending my Soul to God that gave it me and my body to the dust to be decently buried at the direction of my Executor hereafter named, and as to my wordly interests which I am blessed with here I dispose of it in the following manner (viz)
1st I give to my loving wife Sabra Hilliard the use and improvement of one third of my real estate during her natural life. I also give to my said wife the one third part of my live stock as her own property. I also give to my said wife the use and improvement of so much more of my real estate as to include and contain the one half of my dwelling house at the west end. I also give to my said wife the whole of my household furniture excepting one cherry tree bedstead with a sacking bottom, the sd. bedstead with a sacking bottom I give and bequeath to my daughter Sally.
2nd I give to my five sons (viz) Moses, John, Chester, George Washington & Benjamin Franklin. To each two hundred dollars.
3rd I Give to my five daughter (viz) Sally, Esther, Clarissa, Sophia & Betsey. To each eighty three dollars and one third.
4th If my estate should surmount, or should fall short of amounting to the above legacy my Will is that the said legacy shall be increased or diminished in proportion.
5th My will is that after the appraisment of my whole estate all my just debst and funeral charges first be paid by my executor before the sum of the legacys are ascertained and my will is that all parts of my estate herin disposed of in this will shall be equally liable to the payment of my debst & funeral charges excepting the bedstead given to my daughter Sally,
6th and I do also order & my will is that my said five daughters shall have the improvement of the west half of my dwelling during the time that they or any of them shall remain single & unmarried, and not interupting my sd. Wife in the improvement so long as she shall need it. And my will is also that in case anyone or more of my sons should die in homage and without issue the share or shares coming to him or them shall revert to my other sons, & that it fare in like manner to my daughters - and farther my will is that in case my son Moses is desirous of having my desk & bookcase he shall have the priviledge of it in paying to his mother twenty dollars therefor, and I do hereby appoint my said wife, Sabra Hilliard together with Chester Smith of Stonington the Executor of my last willand testament. Revoking any will by me heretofore made and declaring this to be my my last in witness so hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of April A.D. 1801
Benjamin Hillard
Signed Sealed & Declared
In presence of
Sam Mott, Sarah Smith, Hannah Fillmore

1. 2. Moses HILLARD   b. 28 Sep 1780, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; d. 30 Sep 1837, Preston, New London County, Connecticut.
2. 3. Sarah HILLARD   b. 2 Jun 1782, Stonington, New London County, Connecticut; d. 3 Jun 1805, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; bur. Preston, New London County, Connecticut (Palmer Cemetery).
3. 4. John HILLARD   b. 15 Jun 1784, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut; d. 8 Apr 1853, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut.
4. 5. Chester HILLARD   b. 13 Jun 1786, Norwich, New London County, Connecticut; d. 27 Oct 1818, Havana, Cuba.
5. 6. Esther HILLARD   b. 2 Oct 1788, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 1 Aug 1826, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; bur. Preston, New London County, Connecticut (Palmer Cemetery).
6. 7. Clarissa HILLARD   b. 29 Jan 1792, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 18 Dec 1846, New York City, New York County, New York.
7. 8. Sophia HILLARD   b. 22 Feb 1794, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. Bef 1821.
8. 9. George Washington HILLARD   b. 23 Jul 1796, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 3 Mar 1830, Africa; bur. Preston, New London County, Connecticut (Long Society Cemetery).
9. 10. Betsey HILLARD   b. 20 Sep 1798, Preston, New London County, Connecticut.
10. 11. Benjamin Franklin HILLARD   b. 27 Feb 1801, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; d. 28 Jul 1820, Preston, New London County, Connecticut; bur. Preston, New London County, Connecticut.

Moses was a sea captain, an adventurous energetic man of no small fame in his day. He was master of the ship that brought to America the first news of the burning of Moscow. It is an interesting fact . . . that when Napoleon, after his overthrow at Waterloo, though of flying to this country, friends of his sought and were pledged the aid of Captain Hillard, then in France, in carrying out the design. It was fully arranged between him and them that the emperor should be concealed in a water casket on his vessel's deck and so escape through the English fleet, but for some reason he was not conveyed on board.

In memory of Mrs. Sally Brewster, Consort of Erastus Brewster, who died June 2d 1805, Aged 23 years

Farewell my friends, I bid adieu
To this vain world and things below
Yet I do hope at last to rise
And dwell with God above the skies

Barbour Collection does not specify Havana, just died at sea.

The Barbour Manuscript does not give the place.

Sacred to the memory of Esther, wife of Erastus Brewster, who died Aug. 11, 1827, Aged 38

He died at sea.