Hilyard Line 2

(1) Robert Hilyard, born about 1250. Son of Peter Hilyard and Alice de Melsa. Married Joanne de Scures (daughter and heiress of Robert de Scures) and had son Robert. (2) Sir Robert Hilyard, born 1273 in Yorkshire, England. Son of Robert and Joanne. Married Ann Amisia (surname unknown) and had son Thomas. (3) Thomas Hilyard, born about 1295, died 1322. Son of Robert and Anne Amisia. Married Emma (surname unknown) and had daughter Catherine. (4) Catherine Hilyard, born about 1317. Daughter of Thomas and Emma. Married her second cousin once removed, John Hilyard, clandestinely.

Notes: Burke's Landed Gentry, Pedigrees of Colonial Familes of Yorkshire by Joseph Foster, and William Paver's 600 Pedigrees of Yorkshire Familes. 'Hilyard' itself is a very unusual, very rare matronimic -- it's derived from the given name 'Hildegarde', which runs contrary to most surnames, which are derived from men's names (i.e. Johns, Robertson, Nelson, etc.) Whoever the original Hildegarde was, she must have been a very impressive woman for her descendants to take on her name as their own. -- Jessica