Hilyard Brothers (firm)

Hilyard Brothers was an extensive lumber and shipbuilding business, established in New Brunswick by Thomas Hilyard (1810-1872) in the mid-1800s. Thomas was born at Saint John, New Brunswick, in October 1810, the son of Thomas Hilyard and Margaret Miles. He married Matilda Dyer (1821-1896) and they had sixteen children. Hilyard died in 1872 at Saint John.

Little is known of Hilyard's activities prior to 1852. In 1842 he described himself as a shipwright; he was also a registered shipowner. With the construction of two big ships in 1852, he commenced ship building on a large scale. He obtained a shipyard in Portland, Saint John County initially by lease and later by purchase. In 1854, he acquired an adjoining steam sawmill. In 1856 or 1857, he expanded by leasing and subsequently purchasing a neighbouring shipyard from John Haws, who was then the leading shipbuilder in the area.

Hilyard launched at least 48 vessels, a number surpassed by few Canadian builders. His larger ships were often sold to major shipowners in Liverpool, England while the smaller vessels were generally purchased locally. He gained a high reputation as a shipbuilder and the quality and quantity of his ships and the extent of his saw milling operations made him a leading figure in the economic life of the Saint John region.

Following Hilyard's death in 1872, his two sons, Thomas K. and Henry (1848-1909) continued the enterprise, moving into vessel repair and lumbering. The business closed in 1915.

Created - May 22, 2013

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