Samuel Hill (1691-1758) played an important role in the life of the Egerton family during the first half of the 18th century. Born Samuel Barbour, he was the brother of Elizabeth Egerton and came from Prees in Shropshire. He attended Eton, and after spending a year at St John's College Cambridge, he was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1708 to receive training in the Common Law. Samuel was aided at the outset of his career by his wealthy uncle, the diplomat Richard Hill, in whose honour he changed his name. Prior to 1714 he spent some time in Italy, building up his impressive art collection, before becoming MP for Lichfield in that year; he remained an MP until 1722, and from 1714 to his death he held the post of Registrar to the Court of the Admiralty, replacing his uncle Richard Hill in the position. In 1722 he married Lady Elizabeth Stanhope, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Chesterfield and sister to the well-known 4th Earl, Philip Dormer Stanhope. Their childless marriage ended after 5 years when Lady Elizabeth died of cholera. In the absence of direct heirs, much of Hill's fortune eventually passed to his nephew, Samuel Egerton of Tatton, whilst other properties went to his cousins Rowland Hill of Hawkstone in Shropshire, and Thomas Hill of Tern in the same county. Samuel Egerton, along with his brothers John and Thomas, benefited from Hill's money and influence after the death of their father John Egerton in 1724. Hill acted as an adviser to their mother and oversaw their education, sending John to Cambridge and arranging apprenticeships on the Continent for Samuel and Thomas. Samuel's inheritance from his uncle explains the presence of some of his papers among the Egerton family muniments; they were presumably removed to Tatton after his death in 1758.
Some of the papers included in this subgroup relate to Samuel's uncle Richard, mentioned above. Richard Hill (1655-1727) was descended from the Hills of Hawkstone in Shropshire and led a highly successful career as a politician and diplomat. After leaving Cambridge in 1675, he worked as a tutor to the sons of the Earl of Burlington and the Earl of Rochester; in the 1690s and early 1700s he went on to hold several eminent positions, such as Paymaster to the forces of William III (during which time he also acted as a diplomat in Europe), and as a Lord of the Treasury. With the fortune he made from his Paymastership (subsequently augmented by loans, investments and mortgages), he purchased estates in many counties, including Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire, thus adding to his already substantial inheritance. His main importance in relation to this collection is as a mentor to Samuel Hill, who was one of the main beneficiaries named in his will, receiving many estates which Richard had systematically purchased with the aim of founding a great dynasty.