John Hilton, composer, was organist and lay clerk at St Margaret's Westminster from 1628 to 1644 and was buried in the church on 21st March 1657. He has no gravestone or memorial. He was born in 1599, probably in Cambridge, son of John (died 1608) who was organist and composer at Trinity College in that city. John junior graduated from that college in 1626 and leased a house from the Dean and Chapter of Westminster in the Almonry, near the Abbey. His first publication was Ayres...for three voyces and he went on to compose songs, catches and some church music. His best known work is probably Catch That Catch Can published in 1652. He was also a lutenist to Charles I. On 15th June 1627 he married Frances Trapp at St Margaret's. He ceased to be organist as Parliamentary forces ordered organs to be removed from churches and psalms to be said, not chanted.
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