John Hill (c1810-1860), born London, arrived NSW c.1834

[saphsmax]

John Hill was born c.1810 at London (hospital register at death) and arrived New South Wales in mid-1830s as a single man in his mid-20s, relatively wealthy and quite well educated. He there became a stockholder/grazier, being an associate of the Imlay brothers of Twofold Bay, and of explorer Edward John Eyre, among others.  In September 1837 he settled in Adelaide, South Australia, where his subsequent life story is well known and where he died, a bachelor, in 1860 - buried WTC - plot unrecorded.  Apart from what is above, nothing at all is known of him before 1837, including his origins, parentage (not even names), emigration, activities in N.S.W., etc.  His family evidently held high social status but he is not directly related to Rowland Hill (1795-1879), famed for introducing the Penny Post, and Secty of the SA Colonization Commission in London.
This is a difficult one - with a difficult name to boot - any help appreciated re this man's obscure origins.
Max     

[lizdb]

London is a very big place - so looking pre-Civil registration and pre-census for someone with a not very unusual name , and no other info, will be impossible. Sorry.

[pinefamily]

I hate to say it, but usually "plot unrecorded" in West Terrace Cemetery meant poorer origins, or a paupers grave.
It will hard to trace his origins, harder by his not marrying and having children. Have you checked Trove for a newspaper obituary? Either the NSW or SA papers could have run one.

[giblet]

His death notice gives nothing up.

South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)
Wednesday 15 August 1860

Death of Mr. John Hill. — Mr. John Hill, who will be remembered by most old colonists as having arrived in South Australia about 23 years ago, and also as having been the original grantee of the pro- erty now constituting the Portland Estate, died on Sa- turday last, the 11th instant, at the age of 50.

[saphsmax]

Thank you all sincerely for your responses and input thus far.  I already had the newspaper notice of his death, and had also presumed he was buried a pauper, but thanks anyway.  All ideas appreciated as he is a really, really difficult case, hence my cry for help. 
Max

[pinefamily]

It is curious though, if he was the original grantee of Portland Estate as the article said, it would right to assume he was of some means. So you have to wonder what had changed his circumstances for him to be buried a pauper? Have you actually contacted the cemetery authority to confirm this. They are very good to deal with.
A very interesting story here I think.

[pinefamily]

Another thought has just occurred to me , one that I perhaps should have thought of before.
The reason the plot might be unrecorded was he was a single man, and his estate might have only provided for a simple grave, one which may not have been recorded in their records. Contacting them will provide the answer.

[saphsmax]

I have contacted the cemetery authority (most helpful), which was the source of the info that his grave was unmarked, plot unknown. The short story is that he was originally wealthy but later went broke and ended up in debtors prison for a month before being released when declared an insolvent pauper.  SRSA Gaol Registers, etc, were no help - the columns where the usual useful details appear (birthplace, religion, occupation, etc) are struck through with a line and the cryptic comment 'DEBTOR' appears. The Insolvency Court records (SRSA) are no help either - plenty of detail re his debts, but nothing of his personal origins. The Adelaide Hospital records also provide nothing either, except his cause of death was 'ulcus' (ulcer), so perhaps he was an alcoholic by then.

[pinefamily]

That is unusual for the Adelaide Hospital records. They usually show an origin, be it usual abode, or ship of emigration etc. However, I am unfamiliar with those records.