Hill, Whitmel, 1743-1797

Whitmel Hill (February 12, 1743 – September 26, 1797) was an American planter from Martin County, North Carolina and commander of the Martin County Regiment of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution. He was a delegate for North Carolina to the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1780 and served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1778.

Born in Bertie County, North Carolina, Hill attended the common schools before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and returning to North Carolina to begin developing his own plantation, Hill’s Ferry, in what was to become Martin County when it was established in 1774. Hill supported the rising revolutionary sentiment, and when the Martin County Regiment of the North Carolina militia was organized he was named its Lieutenant Colonel, and was later its Colonel in 1778. When the revolutionary North Carolina Provincial Congress met in 1775-1776 he represented Martin County. Then, in 1776 he was advanced to the Provincial Council to represent the Edenton district. During this time, he was also a member of the local Committee of Safety.

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