Hi
It is good to hear from someone who may be a relative.

My great grandfather Thomas Hilton (born 1857 in Atherton, Lancashire) went to America, we think, twice - once in 1882/3 and returned to England in about 1885/6. He then went back to the USA in 1888/89. I believe he may have married in the USA, but we know that had his son Frank in Alabama in 1890/91.
He returned to England in late 1891 or early 1892 and stayed here having 2 more sons - Edward & Samuel (he died in 1901 aged 7 yrs).
Thomas's son William we think was born in England (Atherton, Lancashire) in about 1879/80, but I haven't managed to find a birth certificate yet. We know that Thomas was in England for the 1881 census, still living with his mother Mary & his brother Joseph.
We think that Joseph may have come to America with him in 1882/3 and perhaps stayed there.
Frank may have returned to the USA permenantly after 1911 when he finished his apprenticeship as a fitter.

I hope that we have a connection, if you need any further info just let me know.
Look forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes

Yvonne Ansell