Olivia Grace Genealogy

Buker - Hilton - Perkins Cluster Study

17 min read

*This site is not meant as a final result or proof summary - this is an update page for research progress that will include preliminary results as the proof summary is developed. The biographical information is a working theory and should not be adopted until all science is established and the paper trail has been fully exhausted.

The Story as it may have happened: Decorated Revolutionary War soldier Israel Hilton Buker served under George Washington and General Lafayette and was recognized by both for his honorable service in the fight against England for freedom. Israel Hilton Buker lost his father as an infant in what may have been the French Indian War or perhaps being lost at sea. We believe his suspected father, Israel Hilton, was a mariner living in Providence, Rhode Island and was under the command of Captain Ebenezer Jenckes in the French Indian War.

Current Study Theory: We believe that Israel Hilton is the most probable father for Israel Hilton Buker. A current cluster triangulation study is in progress to support this theory using genetic genealogy YDNA and Autosomal tests.

Future Study Theory: Although the study is in infancy and not developed we also believe that another NPE (non-paternal event) occurred as shown in the Haplotree for Vince Leroy Buker and in the BHP Lineage Page. Lineage appears to be Israel Hilton Buker - Israel Hilton - Joseph Hilton - Luke Perkins. The historical documented lineage for Joseph Hilton was considered to be father, Edward Hilton. We believe Edward raised Joseph but that the biological father was Luke Perkins due to our placement within the Perkins YDNA Haplogroup. This 2nd NPE event will be explored at a later date and will need to rely on YDNA evidence. More testers are needed.

Locations:

PERKINS Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England: Our Perkins’ ancestors were from Hillmorton with some of our direct ancestors buried at St. John’s Baptist Churchyard
Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts: migration occurred during the Great Puritan Migration and the Perkins family had landholdings by 1637
Hampton, New Hampshire Colony: brothers Abraham and Isaac Perkins moved about 20 miles North of Ipswich and were among the earliest settlers in Hampton.
Charleston, Middlesex, Massachusetts: Luke Perkins was apprenticed to a shoemaker at 14 and married in Charleston. We believe Luke was the last Perkins in our family grouping with son being born a Hilton.

HILTON Newfields, Rockingham, New Hampshire: Edward Hilton had an estate in Newfields according to probate documents. We believe his son Joseph was our ancestor with both Joseph and his son Israel Hilton having occupations as mariners. Ships were built in both Newfields & Newmarket shipyards by this family grouping.
Weston Township, Fairfield, Connecticut: Israel Hilton relocated and married in Connecticut.
Monmouth, New Jersey: Israel & 1st wife remarried others with Israel remarrying in New Jersey. This occurred in Staten Island.
Cumberland Township, Providence, Rhode Island: Israel married his 3rd wife and fought in the French Indian War in Rhode Island.

BUKER Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts: No birth vital records have been located for Israel Hilton Bowker (Buker after the Revolutionary War). A family bible contained the birth dates that included the one that was adopted for Israel Hilton Buker. We first see him in Bridgewater by marriage and Revolutionary War enlistment.

Providence River & Taunton Tributaries: During Colonial America, the Providence River and its Taunton River tributaries played a crucial role in the development and survival of early settlements in New England. Israel Hilton would have been very familiar with these waterways after he relocated to Rhode Island. These waterways were vital for transportation, trade, and industry, providing colonists with access to inland and coastal markets. The rivers connected farming communities in the interior with ports along Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, enabling the movement of goods like timber, furs, agricultural produce, and later, manufactured items.

The Taunton River, in particular, became a hub for shipbuilding (which was a trade that Israel Hilton and his family were involved), fishing, and early industrial mills, thanks to its navigability and water power. The Providence River, feeding into one of the region’s most important harbors, supported the growth of Providence as a commercial center and helped establish it as a key location in the triangular trade, which included the exchange of goods and, tragically, enslaved people.

Together, these rivers were central to the economic foundation of colonial Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, shaping the region’s economic patterns, settlement growth, and industrial development well into the 18th century.

Israel Hilton as a mariner and a shipbuilder would have been very familiar with these waterways and used them in his profession and during the French Indian War. The location would also explain how Rhode Island and Plymouth colony were connected at this time aiding us in understanding how a father living in Providence, Rhode Island would have a child after his death living in Plymouth, Massachusetts 1 23

  • Question: why is the Providence River & Taunton Tributaries important to our study?
    Answer: this waterway connected Providence, Rhode Island & Bridgewater, Massachusetts by way of a safer water route. Israel Hilton Buker was most likely born in Cumberland, Providence, Rhode Island with a marriage or adoption occurring in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Hilton family were mariners and ship builders. Likely Israel Hilton died and his son, Israel Hilton Buker was then bound out to the Bowker family. (The Buker surname occurred after the revolutionary war). The Bowker families lived in the Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts area.

    A derivate source without source citations was widely accepted as family history narrative amongst all online trees for Israel Hilton Buker and a father named as Hilton Decatur Buker in that publication prior to the study being conducted. YDNA science and historical facts supported by primary documentation disprove many of the claims made within the Muskingum, Ohio historical biography.4

    Paper documentation recovery of events: The Rhode Island archive was contacted 12 Aug 2025 to inquire about the French Indian War Collection in regard to Israel Hilton. Israel Hilton’s war documents were sent by Reference Archivist, Ken Carlson. These are copies of the original documents. We were referred to the Providence City Archivists and reached out about receiving any available documents to help us establish the life and relationships of Israel Hilton including land records, court documents, probate, ship & port records, vitals and more. This contact was made 28 Aug 2025. If necessary, a genealogist may be hired if the archivist is unable to dedicate the time required to complete the request based on the scope of that inquiry.

    Available Autosomal Test Subjects:
    Buker Descendants
    RB: Age 90+ Israel Hilton Buker 3x gg (Alpha Elisha Buker)
    JP: Age 90+ Israel Hilton Buker 3x gg (Edson Buker)
    FW: Age 90+ Israel Hilton Buker 4x gg (Edson Buker)
    DA: Age 80+ Israel Hilton Buker Both Parents Descend 3x gg (Caleb Buker)
    VB: Age 70+ Israel Hilton Buker 4x gg (Alpha Elisha Buker)
    JAG: Age 70+ Israel Hilton Buker 4x gg ( Alpha Elisha Buker)
    Hilton Descendants
    JM: Age 60+ Israel Hilton 7x gg (Atkinson Hilton)

    Available YDNA Test Subjects:
    Test# 1017463: Descendant Israel Hilton Buker (Alpha Elisha Buker)
    Test# 168801: Descendant of Joseph Hilton (Theodore Atkinson Hilton)
    Test# 982667: Descendant of Luke Perkins b. 1641 (Luke Perkins b. 1667)
    Test# 970925: Descendant of Luke Perkins b. 1641 (Luke Perkins b. 1667)

    Test#36559: A tree error or back mutation may exist for this user. Test excluded from study but may become important at a later date.

    Haplogroup refined: Vince Buker’s test was further refined by the test# 168801 a descendant of Joseph Hilton placing them in the same grouping underneath the Perkins grouping in the Family Tree DNA block tree.

    Hilton Cluster Study Progress:
    Phase 1 (surname fully mapped) - Completed
    Phase 2 (chromosome locations verified) - In Progress
    Phase 3 (testers identified/contacted) - In Progress
    Phase 4 (lineage verified by analysis of tree work to rule out errors) -

    Atkinson Cluster Study Progress:
    Phase 1 (surname fully mapped) - Completed
    Phase 2 (chromosome locations verified) -
    Phase 3 (testers identified/contacted) -
    Phase 4 (lineage verified by analysis of tree work to rule out errors) -

    Results & Family Groupings: Out of autosomal range: When mapping a shared ancestor born in

    IH:AtkinsonIH:HannahJH:TheodoreJH:JosephIHB:Sarah Ann
    IHB:RB(AEB)None IDedB.S. 10cmK.S. 20cm
    D.F. 27cm
    K.V. 20cm
    K.K. 20cm
    S.E.M. 13cm
    L.A. 17cm
    L.M. 11cm
    R.E.B. 10cm    		A.H. 9cmDD
    IHB:JP(EB)M.H. 16cm
    R.E. 36cm
    S.H. 34cm
    B.H. 25cm
    W.L. 8cm
    A.F. 8cm
    C.M. 13cm    		B.V.Z. 24cm
    D.K. 23cm
    K.H. 16cm
    R.S. 14cm
    L.Z. 9cm
    C.E.N. 9cm
    J.S. 9cm    		J.F. 9cm
    M.Z. 8cm    		None IDedDD
    IHB:FW(EB)M.H. 9cm
    R.E. 10cm
    R.M. 8cm    		F.C. 11cm
    L.S. 22cm    		D.B.K. 15cmNone IDedDD
    IHB:DA(CHB)M.H. 13cm
    S.L. 11cm
    R.M. 14cm     		S.D. 13cmB.D. 13cm
    L.F. 9cm
    R.Y.S 9cm
    M.F. 11cm
    J.W.S. 12cm
    J.F.N. 19cm    		M.D. 8cmDD
    IHB:VB(AEB)None IDedNone IDedNone IDedP.G.B. 9cm
    M.L. 11cm    		DD
    IHB:JAG(AEB)M.H. 14cm
    L.H. 14cm
    R.E. 36cm
    S.H. 34cm
    B.H. 23cm
    		B.V.Z. 20cm
    K.H. 19cm
    S.M. 14cm
    R.S. 12cm
    L.S. 34cm
    S.T. 37cm
    T.C. 36cm
    L.W. 31cm
    A.B. 29cm    		K.C. 8cmNone IDedDD
    IH:JM(AH)DDDDDDDDT.S.: 15cm

    (AH) Atkinson Hilton Matches to Israel Hilton Descendants.

    Note: DD (Direct Descendant) because the graph compares Israel Hilton Buker descendants against Israel Hilton testers the Israel Hilton test participant is not compared to other Israel Hilton descendants because we already know this test subject directly descends from that grouping. Please note Sarah Ann Buker is a descendant of Israel Hilton Buker. As we get more Hilton descendants to participate in our study they will be moved to their own graph to make these relationships more clear

    M.H.(AH)S.L(AH)R.M.(AH)R.E.(AH)S.H.(AH)B.H.(AH)
    A.C.(AEB)34cm DA
    38cm FW
    P.D.(CLB)20cm DA
    25cm JAG
    26cm JP    		26cm JP25cm JAG
    26cm JP
    S.G.(AEB)41cm JAG
    44cm JP
    46cm FW    		41cm JAG
    44cm JP    		41cm JAG
    44cm JP    		41cm JAG
    44cm JP
    S.Z. (AEB)24cm JAG
    43cm JP
    29cm FW    		24cm JAG
    43cm JP
    C.W. (CHB)164cm DA
    H.W. (CHB)42cm DA
    J.L. (SAB)29cm DA
    N.H. (SAB)34cm DA
    N.A.(JB) 41cm JAG41cm JAG
    P.H.(SAB) 38cm JAG
    58cm JP    		38cm JAG
    58cm JP    		38cm JAG
    58cm JP
    E.G.(AEB) 37cm JAG
    37cm JP    		37cm JAG
    I.S.(EB)2,193cm JP35cm JAG
    2,193cm JP
    S.S.(AEB)33cm JP32cm JAG
    33cm JP    		32cm JAG
    33cm JP
    J.H.(SAB)27cm JP30cm JAG
    27cm JP    		30cm JAG
    27cm JP
    T.D.(CLB)29cm JP29cm JAG
    29cm JP    		29cm JAG
    29cm JP
    C.T.(CLB)27cm JP27cm JAG
    27cm JP    		27cm JAG
    27cm JP
    B.T.(CLB)26cm JP27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		26cm JP
    J.G.(CLB)26cm JP27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		27cm JAG
    26cm JP
    G.S.(CLB)26cm JP27cm JAG
    26cm JP
    K.L.(SAB)42cm JP26cm JAG
    42cm JP
    N.E.(AEB)24cm JP26cm JAG
    24cm JP    		26cm JAG
    24cm JP
    C.C.(AEB)25cm JP25cm JAG
    25cm JP    		25cm JAG
    25cm JP
    J.M.(EB)1,793cm JP25cm JAG
    1,793cm JP
    JAG (AEB)62cm JP62cm JP62cm JP
    L.L. (CLB)27cm JP27cm JAG
    27cm JP    		27cm JAG
    27cm JP
    P.W. (SAB)24cm JP24cm JP
    J.P. (EB)62cm JAG
    V.O. (MAB)21cm JP

    IHB Descendant Key: (AEB) Alpha Elisha Buker (CLB) Charles Livy Buker (CHB) Caleb H Buker (SAB) Sarah Ann Buker (EB) Edson Buker (JB) John Buker (MAB) Mary Ann Buker (DB) Decatur Buker (LB) LaFayette Buker (CB) Cyrus Buker

    The above cm range is compared between the Israel Hilton Buker test as compared to the Israel Hilton Buker test subjects participating in our study that match the Atkinson Hilton Descendant.

    *Please note: this does not encompass all associated tests, but does include direct connections where lineages to these lines are certain. Atkinson descendants L.H., W.L., A.F., & C.M. match the IHB test descendants indicated in the comparison graph between our test group and the Hilton grouping, however, matches to other Buker descendants are not yet developed. L.H. & W.L. do match other Hilton testers included in this cluster triangulation study.

    (H.H.) Hannah Hilton Matches to Israel Hilton Descendants.

    R.S.(HH)K.H.(HH)B.V.Z.(HH)R.C.(HH)L.S.(HH)S.T.(HH)T.C.(HH)L.W.(HH)A.B.(HH)D.K.(HH)S.D.(HH)J.S.(HH)
    P.D.(CLB)25cm JAG25cm JAG25cm JAG25CM JAG25cm JAG
    S.G.(AEB)41cm JAG
    46cm FW    		41cm JAG41cm JAG41cm JAG41cm JAG
    S.Z. (AEB)24cm JAG24cm JAG
    29cm FW    		24cm JAG
    C.W. (CHB)62cm JAG
    39cm JP
    H.W. (CHB)37cm JP
    P.H.(SAB) 38cm JAG
    58cm JP    		38cm JAG
    58cm JP    		38cm JAG
    43cm FW    		38cm JAG38cm JAG38cm JAG38cm JAG
    E.G.(AEB) 37cm JAG37cm JAG37cm JAG
    I.S.(EB)35cm JAG
    364cm FW    		35cm JAG35cm JAG35cm JAG35cm JAG
    S.S.(AEB)32cm JAG
    33cm JP    		32cm JAG
    33cm JP    		32cm JAG32cm JAG32cm JAG32cm JAG32cm JAG
    J.H.(SAB)30cm JAG
    27cm JP    		30cm JAG
    27cm JP    		30cm JAG30cm JAG30cm JAG30cm JAG30cm JAG
    T.D.(CLB)29cm JAG
    29cm JP    		29cm JAG
    29cm JP    		29cm JAG29cm JAG29cm JAG29cm JAG29cm JAG
    C.T.(CLB)27cm JAG
    27cm JP    		27cm JAG
    27cm JP    		27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG
    B.T.(CLB)27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG
    J.G.(CLB)27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG
    G.S.(CLB)27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		27cm JAG
    26cm JP    		27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG
    K.L.(SAB)26cm JAG
    42cm JP    		26cm JAG26cm JAG26cm JAG26cm JAG26cm JAG
    N.E.(AEB)26cm JAG
    24cm JP    		26cm JAG
    24cm JP    		26cm JAG26cm JAG26cm JAG26cm JAG26cm JAG
    C.C.(AEB)25cm JAG
    25cm JP    		25cm JAG
    25cm JP    		25cm JAG25cm JAG25cm JAG25cm JAG25cm JAG
    J.M.(EB)25cm JAG
    545cm FW    		25cm JAG25cm JAG25cm JAG25cm JAG
    JAG (AEB)65cm JP22cm FW
    L.L. (CLB)27cm JAG
    27cm JP    		27cm JAG
    27cm JP    		27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG27cm JAG
    P.W. (SAB)24cm JP24cm JP
    J.P. (EB)62cm JAG797cm JW62cm JAG62cm JAG62cm JAG62cm JAG
    K.C. (EB)248cm JP
    J.B. (DB)39cm JAG
    65cm JP
    S.W. (SAB)22cm JP
    D.M. (CHB)28cm JP
    P.L.(EB)29cm JAG29cm JAG
    F.W.(EB)22cm JAG
    M.F.(AEB)51cm JP
    R.W.(AEB)38cm JP
    G.R.(LB)21cm JP
    N.H.(SAB)34cm DA
    L.M.W.(CB)24cm JP

    *Note: S.M., Hannah Hilton’s descendant, does not have matches with known lineages to Israel Hilton Buker descendant testers other than those included in the participating IHB test group. S.M. does have a match connection to B.V.Z(IH). B.S. (IH) does not share other matches with R.B (IHB). LZ (IH) does not share other matches with JP (IHB). C.E.N. matches other IH D.K. match but does not match IHB descendants.
    Please see the Atkinson Cluster Study for the study on Rebecca Atkinson, Joseph Hilton’s mother.
    YDNA Tests:

  • Luke Perkins b. 1725 (Kit# 982667) I-BY124273
  • William Perkins b. 1724 (Kit# 970925 & Private test) I-FTB99806
  • Richard Hilton b. 1752 (Kit# 168801) I-FTG36749
  • Israel Hilton Buker b. 1756 (Kit#1017463) I-FTG36749

    • Q&A

  • Question: Is Israel Hilton Buker the grandson of Joseph Hilton?
    Answer: There is strong autosomal and YDNA evidence supporting that Joseph Hilton is the ancestor along the Y line of Israel Hilton Buker and this can now be adopted as fact based on genetic science evidence.
  • Question: Is Israel Hilton the father of Israel Hilton Buker?
    Answer: It is highly likely based on autosomal evidence, YDNA evidence, & his name that Israel Hilton is the father of Israel Hilton Buker. Joseph Hilton b. 1720 can be ruled out as father to Israel Hilton Buker based on results of cluster study. Theodore Hilton has a closer relationship than Joseph but the results are showing the strongest results leaning towards Israel Hilton as being the father because of the relationship with Atkinson Hilton who shares half the genetics of the IHB grouping with substantial cm range. The maternal connections to Margaret Bartlett are also a strong indicator that Israel Hilton was the biological father of Israel Hilton Buker. YDNA tests can provide a conclusive result if a male surname descendant of Atkinson Hilton can be found to compare to Kit # 1017463. It does look like RB descends from the maternal Rebecca Atkinson grouping more so than the paternal Joseph Hilton/Perkins grouping.
  • Question: Is Margaret Bartlett the mother of Israel Hilton Buker
    Answer: Although there is DNA autosomal evidence supporting a relationship to Margaret's 2nd husband with Israel Hilton Buker descendants, there is also evidence among those test that IHB descendants may share Maturin Ballou m. Hannah Pike as an ancestor with more than 103 tests mapped to this grouping across all available IHB test subjects. Since Margaret Bartlett's husband has Maturin Ballou m. Hannah Pike as his direct ancestor as well as Hannah Ballou (Margaret's daughter) the results of the study are problematic. If we look at the Bartlett & Tower groupings these can help distinguish the endogamy results. Current evidence does not fully support the relationship and proving beyond doubt that Margaret is the mother will take more research development beyond the scope of this study. Please reach out if you are interested in furthering this study. Results for the Bartlett & Tower group are pending and may clear up more doubt. An autosomal investigation into an ancestor born in 1735 that shares half of the genetics with the study group is problematic however there is reason to believe Hannah has a stronger result than Atkinson. Atkinson also shares half the genetics with the IHB grouping and his relationship to IHB is stronger than Theodore Hilton indicating that Israel Hilton is the father of Israel Hilton Buker.
  • Question: Is Luke Perkins the father of Joseph Hilton?
    Answer: Research has not yet begun but this scenario is highly likely.
  • Question: Is Thomas Atkinson of Concord the biological father of John Atkinson m. Rebecca Atkinson?
    Answer: There is genetic evidence connecting the descendants of Thomas Atkinson's other children to the descendants of John Atkinson. Because of the time frame involved YDNA testers will be required to resolve.

    • Testers Needed

  • Male to male surname descendants are needed for the descendants of Israel Hilton Buker, Israel Hilton, Joseph Hilton, Edward Hilton, John Atkinson, & Luke Perkins. If you are a surname male descendant we encourage you to test with Family Tree DNA.
  • Studies of distant ancestors benefit from the most tests available. The eldest tests are the best for autosomal testing. If you have an elderly tester that would like to participate in the study that directly descends from Israel Hilton Buker, Israel Hilton, Joseph Hilton, Luke Perkins, or John Atkinson please reach out.
  • Genealogy is the study of ancestors not living lineages. Your private data will remain private.

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    Study Acknowledgements: This study would not be possible without the contributions of collaborating researchers & testers who dedicate years to preserving families histories. The following have spent countless hours supporting family research to help resolve our documented history and uncover our lost biological history. Thank you:

  • Chet Ogan: Chet is our family one tree administrator maintaining Wikitree pages and helping other researchers interested in the Buker family line. His page on Israel Hilton Buker is a wonderful resource that includes great sources. He helps us find each other and shares his dedicated research.
  • Janice C. Buker-Wall: We lost Jan in 2023. Her research and collaboration with other researchers included countless hours in cemeteries with her ex-husband and daughter, genealogy travel, a dedication to sources that inspired others including myself to carefully cite sources including contribution acknowledgements on each Find a Grave entry that she saved in her Ancestry.com tree, giving all of us insight and a resource that endures. She later realized the value in an enduring one tree and contributed a great deal to the Wikitree community. She is a collaboration partner that is deeply missed.

    Copyright © 2025 Olivia Grace: “This content is for personal, non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution is not permitted without explicit written consent.”

    How to cite this study: Grace, Olivia. “Buker - Hilton - Perkins Cluster Study”, (https://gracegenealogy.com/Buker---Hilton---Perkins-Cluster-Study : accessed (todays date))

    Footnotes

    1. Providence Working Waterfront Alliance. (https://providenceworkingwaterfront.org/index.php/providences-working-waterfront/history : accessed 18 Sep 2025) ↩

    2. Taunton Iron Works. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taunton_Iron_Works : accessed 17 Sep 2025) ↩

    3. Minchinton, W. E. 1961. “Shipbuilding in Colonial Rhode Island.” Rhode Island History, Vol. 20, October 1961, pp. 119‑124. Rhode Island Historical Society. ↩

    4. Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio; embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co; 1892; page: Page (420/421) (Internet Archive : Accessed 18 Oct 2025.) ↩

    • Graph View