Glad you could join me again for the third in the series of the Hitch Family Newsletter (HFN)! The first two issues that were distributed were great successes. The feedback I continue to receive from you folks is tremendous and has enabled me to gather much useful and interesting information about the HITCH family.

In this issue, I cover three subject areas: Benjamin Hitch of Maryland, Hitches in the Somerset County Tax Lists, and the Union Army in the Civil War. These cover a broad range of American History and how our family namesakes contributed to it. This is interesting and important reading for our family heritage.

From the last issue, it seems as if I have raised quite a debate on who Christopher Hitch of MD/VA/TN was - particularly in relation to Adam Hitch of Maryland. I had placed him dubiously as a possible son of Samuel Hitch based upon unsupported circumstantial evidence. Based upon the new light shed on him by my astute readers, I will be investigating him much more thoroughly over the coming months and reporting in the HFN as I gather more information. Christopher Hitch was the patriarch of the Hitch line who settled in Tennessee in the 18th century and migrated to Oklahoma and elsewhere in the 19th century. Hopefully, we can eventually solve the mystery of exactly where this important gentleman fits into the Hitch lineage.

If you know of someone who is interested in receiving the newsletters, please write to me. I will not distribute it on a "global" basis anymore due to cost and effort. I will only be mailing it to those of you who have expressed interest to me in writing. If your mailing sticker on this newsletter has an asterisk (*) next to your name, that means I already have a request to keep you on the mailing list. If you do not see an (*), please make sure to let me know if you want to continue to receive the HFN.

Please continue to write to me with your thoughts, suggestions or comments about the HFN. Thank you and happy reading,

Mike Hitch

Benjamin Hitch of Maryland

Benjamin Hitch was the son of Samuel Hitch who, in turn was the son of Adam Hitch, the patriarch of many of the existing Hitches in America today. "Benny", as he was probably called (See A Hitch Orchard by Daisy Hitch Davies), was the father of an interesting family of offspring that ended up being like a microcosm of the western movement in the U.S. during the early 19th century. This is his story.

Benjamin Hitch was born in Somerset Co., MD in the year 1739 or 1740 and died there in 1814. Like his father Samuel, I have used the court records and Tax Lists to ascertain the approximate year of his birth. He first appears in the Somerset County Tax Lists in 1756. There is no surviving list for 1755 so he probably arrived at age 16 in one of those two years thus making his birth year as 1739 or 1740.

MOUNT PLEASANT

Benjamin Hitch was listed on the Somerset Co., MD Rent Roll for a tract of land called "Mount Pleasant" (total 150 acres with an annual rent of £0.6.0) surveyed May 24, 1684 "lying near the head of the main branch of Wicomico Creek." He bought that property from George Wilson on July 26, 1764. (See Rent Rolls, Liber 9, Folio 157 and Somerset Co. Land Records, Liber B, 1759-1765, Folio 245).

On August 17, 1770, he and his wife, Mary, sold 50 acres of land in "Mount Pleasant" to Thomas Price. The transaction mentions that the land, when he bought it was "then situated in Somerset, now part in Worcester part in Somerset (Counties)". (Worcester Co. Land Records, Liber H, Folio 381-382).

In the 1783 Tax Assessment, he was assessed for land; "Mount Pleasant" which included 100 acres; 2 horses; and 8 cattle in Somerset Co., MD, Wicomico Hundred. In October 1790, Benjamin Hitch petitioned the court of Somerset Co. that the bounds of Mount Pleasant "are become Precarious and uncertain" (Somerset Co. Judicials 11/1788-3/1791, Folio 184). Furthermore, on October 23, 1790, the court records show: "Benj^m Hitch commifson & affidavits... to Gillif Polk, James Bennett, Robert Dashiell and John Harris Hayman of Somerset County Gentlemen..." commissioners agree to examine evidence on behalf of "a certain Benjamin Hitch of the County in relation to the bounds of a tract of land called Mount Pleasant." Deponents were Revel Hayman "of lawful age" and William Hayman, age 22. Judgement was granted to Benjamin Hitch and the boundaries lines of Mount Pleasant were reestablished for him following the ruling. (Somerset Co Judicials 11/1788-3/1791, Folio 302, 303).

The Federal Assessment of 1798 goes further into the property of Benjamin Hitch by indicating that he was owner & occupant of property "situated on the road that divides Somerset from Worcester adjoining Jacob Morris Sr." consisting of "115 acres of land valued at $230 on which is "an old dwelling house, 16' x 15'; kitchen, 12' x 10'; corn house, 12' x 6'; "all 'bad'" valued at $20. He was assessed $15 for all the buildings and $250 for the land that year.

On May 30, 1800, he wrote a deed for land to Joseph Hitch of Somerset, Co. from Benjamin Hitch of Worcester Co. for 50 acres (for a consideration of £5) for his beloved tract called "Mount Pleasant". (Somerset Co. Land Records, Liber V, Folio 652).

On September 30, 1809, this same 50 acres of land changed hands between "Joseph Hitch of Penttletion (sic) County in the State of Kaintucky (sic)" and John Hitch of Somerset County. Joseph sold that land to his brother John for £5. We know this is the same land because the record refers to the earlier deed from Benjamin Hitch to Joseph Hitch of May 13, 1803. (See Somerset Co. Land Records, Liber AA, Folio 338)

Benjamin Hitch kept the remaining 50 acres of Mount Pleasant until he bequeathed it to his son Samuel Hitch in his will of 1814.

As the various records indicate, "Mount Pleasant" was located near or on the border of Somerset and Worcester Counties in Maryland somewhere near the source of a "main branch" of the Wicomico Creek. This branch has been identified as the modern-day Dividing Creek with "Mount Pleasant" lying about a mile or so south of the present tri-county boundary for Somerset, Worcester and Wicomico Counties on the east side (the Worcester Co. Side) of Meadow Bridge Road (which divides the counties of Somerset and Worcester at such point).

The property evidently stayed in the Hitch family until the early 1900s (after Benjamin's son Samuel owned it, it was left to his son Handy Irving Hitch who died in 1901). The property is located only about two miles from where the author grew up and I have had the opportunity to visit the site many times. Today, it is owned by a Ball family and is a large corn field with a pronounced "hill" in its center. This is no doubt what inspired the original patent holder to name it "Mount Pleasant".

Benjamin Hitch's Family

From available records, it appears that Benjamin Hitch married three (3) times in his life. The first marriage was to Mary Pitts, probably in the early 1760s. From this union, there were at least four (4) children: Polly (Mary) (?-?), John (c.1765/75-11/1828), Joseph (7/2/1765-9/28/1847), and Thomas P. Hitch (8/7/1772-2/22/1862). All of these children moved west to Kentucky and Ohio in the late 1790s/early 1800s except for John who stayed in Maryland. Joseph Hitch of Pendleton County, KY and Thomas Hitch of Clermont Co., OH will be covered in more detail in later editions of the HFN.

Mary (Pitts) Hitch died sometime between 1772 and 1780 and Benjamin took on a new wife whose name has been lost to the years. With his second wife, Benjamin Hitch had at least four (4) additional children: Rachel (?-?), Adam (c.1780/84-after 1840), Robert (before 1784- 12/20/1803), and Samuel (1784-c.1858). All of these children stayed in and around Maryland most of their lives. It is said that this second wife of Benjamin was very mean to the children of the first wife and that is what caused them to move west. Benjamin married a third and final time as an older man to Leah Taylor on May 28, 1803.

Other Records

Benjamin Hitch had an account in John Nelms' store in Salisbury, MD from at least 1767, where he bought shoe buckles, pair garters, and tacks for £0/9/0. George Disharoon delivered 4 bu. of corn for a £0/8/0 credit in 1768 and £0/1/0 was carried to Ledger E. In 1775, he bought a gallon of molasses and paid in cash in 1776. He also paid £0/7/6 to the account of Thomas Price, a sailor, in 1768.

In MD Prerogative court records of 1773, Benjamin Hitch appears in Rachel Hitch's will as; "Rach^l Hitch her will of Administration Bond by Ben^j Hitch his administration will annexed with Charles Hayman of Duncan Maine his sureties in the sum of £100 sterl^g dated 17th August 1773." (Liber 45, Folio 182). On September 7, 1774, Benjamin HITCH did do an account and administered the will of Rachel HITCH for £43.18.0. This records mentions, "of money paid by this accountant to Elgit HITCH which was due him from the Deceased out of his Fathers Estate. . ., £9.3.2" The record also mentions the same for Leah HITCH of an amount of £1.4.3 (Somerset Co. Accounts, Liber 71, Folio 201).

In 1780, Benjamin was listed with the Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War in the muster rolls for Salisbury Battalion, Mi(ll) Creek Company.

In his will written March 21, 1814 and probated April 19, 1814, Benjamin Hitch states: "Leaves Addam Hitch of Somerset County & Samuel Hitch of Worc. Co. each one bed & furniture; Equally divide between Robard (Robert), Addam, Rachel, and Samuel Hitch; Leaves to my youngest son Samuel Hitch, plantation I now dwell 50a. pt. in Worc. Co. and pt. in Somerset Co.; wit; John Morris Jr., Jacob Morris, John Pollitt" (Worcester Co. Wills, Folio 47, 48).

The Union Army in the Civil War

In the second part of my report on the services of Hitches in the Civil War, I present those who fought for the Union Army. The following members of the Hitch family are known to have served for the North in this bloody affair:

Thomas J. Hitch: Records in the National Archives state that he was a Union soldier who joined for duty & enrolled on September 15, 1861 for a 3-year term. He mustered-in in Baltimore, Maryland at the Pikesville Arsenal on September 18, 1861 at age 34. He mustered as "present" through June 30, 1862, however was listed as "absent" for the muster of June 30 through October 31, 1862 as he was sent to Alexandria as sick on September 4, 1862. He was discharged at York, PA on December 16, 1862 by a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability which states the reason as "Phthisis Rubmonalis & deformity of sheat(?)".

The certificate also states that he was part of Capt. Samuel A. Graham's Co. D of the Purnell Legion Maryland Regiment of the U.S. Volunteers and gives his personal characteristics as "born in Maryland, Somerset Co., 5'6" tall, dark complexion, blue eyes, black hair." His occupation prior to the war was a carpenter. Finally, he appears on the muster-out roll "near Petersburg, VA" for October 24, 1864.

William H.H. Hitch: Joined the Union Army on September 18, 1862 as a Private in Company C of the Purnell Legion, Maryland Cavalry and was taken prisoner on August 21, 1864. He was transferred to Private, Company I, 8th Maryland Infantry and discharged on November 17, 1864.

John W. Hitch: Joined the Union on October 23, 1861 as a Private in the 73rd Regiment, Company C, of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry for a term of three years. He was age years of age. He was subsequently discharged on June 12, 1862 at Grafton, West Virginia on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability.

Clement Hitch: Joined the Union Army on May 2, 1864 in Company H of the 149th Regiment of the Ohio National Guards commanded by Captain William R. Farlow. He was honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio on August 30, 1864. His personal description at time of enlistment was age 38, height 5'11", fair complexion, light hair and gray eyes. From a "Declaration for Original Invalid Pension" dated October 21, 1886, it states that while in the line of duty "near Frederick City" in Maryland in the "latter days of July 1864", he "contracted rheumatism while on the march from Washington City to Winchester Va. And that said disability probably resulted from wading the Potomac River on said march while he was quite warm or overheated. That said disease became chronic and he has never since been free therefrom and that he has been greatly disabled on account there of each year since in performance of manual labor." Finally, it states that he was treated "at an old church at Harpers Ferry Va. (sic) about the first days of August 1864 for about one week or ten days."

Edward Hitch: Enrolled for a three-year term in the 89th Ohio Infantry. He was taken prisoner in the battle of Chickamanga, Georgia and died of typhoid pneumonia while a prisoner of war in Danville, Virginia. (The information for Edward, Clement, and John W. Hitch were provided by source material sent to me by Dr. Francis Hitch of Columbus, Ohio.)

Ebenezer Vose Hitch: Was a Captain in General Benjamin F. Butler's troops (Union) in the Civil War. Story is told in "Where the Wings Grow" by Agnes De Mille published by Doubleday, NY, 1978. While on detail in Louisiana, he met a southern belle named Mary Beatrice Field to whom he promised to return and marry at the end of the war. He kept his promise.

William P. Hitch: Member of the 91st Illinois Infantry. (Source: R.A. Hitch of White Hall, IL)

Thomas Gillis Hitch: Served as a Corporal in Company G, 11th Regiment of the Indiana Infantry. (Source: William H. Hitch of Thorntown, IN)

Brothers Charles J. Hitch and Stephen Smithy Hitch: Served in the 4th Illinois Cavalry. (Source: William H. Hitch of Atlanta, GA)

There are probably other Hitches who served in the Union Army during the Civil War and I would appreciate any information any of you may have in this area.

Hitches in the Somerset County Tax Lists, 1724 to 1759

The Somerset Co., Maryland Tax Lists were taken every year in the early-to-mid 1700s and used to determine heads of household and other taxables in the county. A "taxable" was the head of the household, males over the age of 15, all slaves and any other dependent male of age.

Many of the years between 1724 and 1759 survive and can serve as a valuable resource for determining the ages and relationships among early Maryland families. Here, I have published the records from the Tax Lists pertaining to the Hitch surname.

Year Head Other Hitches Slaves Others

1724 Adam Hitch Negro Boy

Hannah

Moll

Solomon Hitch

John Hitch

William Hitch

1725 Adam Hitch Sr. Adam Hitch Jr. Toby

Hanow

Moll

Conundom

Samuel Hitch

Solomon Hitch

John Hitch

William Hitch

1727 Adam Hitch Elgate Hitch 3 negroes Isaac Highway

John Hitch

Samuel Hitch

Solomon Hitch

William Hitch

1728 Adam Hitch Elgate Hitch Tobe Jacob Crouch

Hannah

Donnuda

John Hitch

Samuel Hitch

William Hitch

(Tax List incomplete, some listings have been destroyed)

1729 Adam Hitch Adam Hitch Toby

Elgate Hitch Franck

Hannah

Cununda

Mowgah

John Hitch ___ Vinson

Samuel Hitch

Solomon Hitch

(Tax List incomplete, some listings are missing)

1730 Adam Hitch Elgate Hitch Toby

Hanna

Mow

Frank

Cannador

Samuel Hitch Ambrose Riggin

Solomon Hitch Cook

John Hitch

1731 Samuel Hitch

John Hitch Mow

Elgate Hitch Toby

Cunnoodah

(This Tax List is incomplete)

1733 Mary Hitch (widow) Toby Ambose Riggin

Samuel Hitch

John Hitch Slave

Elgate Hitch Hannow

Canowndow

Solomon Hitch Frank Michell Swillvin

Cook Rich'rd Chapman

1734 Mary Hitch (widow) Tobe Ambrus Rigin

Samuel Hitch Frank Price

John Hitch Mow

Elgate Hitch Hannah

Canuna Elix. Price

Solomon Hitch Frank

Cook

1735 Mary Hitch (widow) Tobee Ambros Riggin

Samuel Hitch Jack John Tatum

John Hitch Mercer

Elgate Hitch Hannah Archibald Smith

Conounder James Berrey

Solomon Hitch Frank

Cook

William Hitch George Vincent

1736 Samuel Hitch Slave

John Hitch Slave

Elgate Hitch 3 Slaves William Bird

Sam'l _ent_ace

Solomon Hitch Adam Hitch Frank

Cook

William Hitch George Vinson

1737 Samuel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Morah Richard Nichols

Elgate Hitch Camnundah

Bonney

Amey

William Hitch George Vinson

Thos Vinson Sr

(Tax List incomplete - did not include Nanticoke Hundred where Solomon Hitch was known to have lived)

1738 Samuel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Mowear Richard Nichols

Elgate Hitch 2 Slaves Joseph Piper

Solomon Hitch Adam Hitch

Levin Hitch Cook

William Hitch John Hitch Jr. George Vinson

1739 Samuel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Mouah

Elgate Hitch Conuda Thomas Prise

Bony Alexander Prise

Solomon Hitch Adam Hitch

Levin Hitch

William Hitch John Hitch Jr.

1740 Samuel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Moyah

Elgate Hitch Connundo

Bonny

Amey

Solomon Hitch Adam Hitch Cook

Levin Hitch

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr. Nehemiah Hitch George Vinson

Thos Vinson Sr.

1743 Samuel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Moryer

Elgate Hitch 3 Slaves

Solomon Hitch Levin Hitch Frank

Cook

Rose

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr.

Nehemiah Hitch

Adam Hitch

1744 Samuel Hitch Jack Francis Prise

John Hitch Sr. Moroor

Elgate Hitch Nehemiah Hitch 2 Slaves

Solomon Hitch Levin Hitch Frank

Cook

Rose

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr.

Adam Hitch

1745 Samuel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Murrer

Elgate Hitch 2 negroes John ____

Hugh ____

Solomon Hitch Solomon Hitch Frank

Levin Hitch Cook

Rose

William Hitch Nehemiah Hitch

Adam Hitch

1746 Samuel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Mowyou

Taus

Elgate Hitch Connoundor Adam Priste

Bonney John Tolbut

Solomon Hitch Sr. Solomon Hitch Jr.

Levin Hitch

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr.

Adam Hitch

Nehemiah Hitch

1747 Samuel Hitch Jack

Elgate Hitch 2 negroes

Solomon Hitch Sr. Solomon Hitch Jr. Cooke

Levin Hitch Rose

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr.

Nehemiah Hitch

Ezekiel Hitch George Vinson

1748 Samuel Hitch Robert Hitch Robin

John Hitch Joshua Hitch Slafow? (Mow?)

Elgate Hitch Conunordor

Will

Solomon Hitch Cook

Rose

Levin Hitch

William Hitch

John Hitch

Nehemiah Hitch

Ezekiel Hitch

1749 Samuel Hitch Robert Hitch Park? (Jack)

John Hitch Sr. Joshua Hitch Moyor

Stafford

Elgate Hitch Connodor John Bostuh?

Solomon Hitch Rose

Levin Hitch

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr.

Ezekiel Hitch Nehemiah Hitch

1750 Samuel Hitch Robert Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Joshua Hitch Will

John Hitch Stafford

Elgate Hitch Cannuda

Will

Solomon Hitch Rose John Bostick

Levin Hitch

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr. John Nickolls

Nehemiah Hitch

Ezekiel Hitch

1751 Robert Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. James Hitch

Elgate Hitch Connondor Samuel Doyle

Will

Solomon Hitch John Hitch Rose

Levin Hitch

William Hitch

John Hitch Jr.

Nehemiah Hitch

Ezekiel Hitch

Joshua Hitch Sambo Christopher Piper

Dick

Cole

Green

Sue

1752 Robert Hitch Adam Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Moyer

Staford

Hannah

Elgate Hitch Canoundy Samuel McCall

Will

Solomon Hitch Rose

Levin Hitch

William Hitch Nan

John Hitch Jr. Tam

Nehemiah Hitch

Ezekiel Hitch

John Hitch

1753 Robert Hitch

Rachel Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. James Hitch Mower

Staford

Hanah

Elgate Hitch Conoundo

Will

Solomon Hitch William Hitch Rose

William Hitch Sr.

John Hitch Jr.

Ezekiel Hitch

John Hitch

1754 Robert Hitch

Rachel Hitch Adam Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Joseph Hitch Mower

Staford

Hannah

Sue

Elgate Hitch Conoundo

Will

Solomon Hitch William Hitch Rose

William Hitch Sr.

John Hitch Jr.

Nehemiah Hitch

Joshua Hitch Tam Ratchell Caldwell

James Hitch Green

Mall

Sue

Dick

John Hitch

1756 Rachel Hitch Benjamin Hitch Jack

John Hitch Sr. Joseph D. Hitch Mouer

Staford

Hannee

Elgate Hitch Conader

Will

Solomon Hitch Rose

William Hitch Frank

John Hitch Jr.

Joshua Hitch Forett Dinans

James Hitch

1757 Rachel Hitch Benjamin Hitch Jack

Robert Hitch

John Hitch Sr. Mowe

Staford

Hannah

Sue

Elgate Hitch Conundor

Will

Solomon Hitch Rose

John Hitch Jr.

Joshua Hitch

James Hitch Joseph Hitch

John Hitch

Nehemiah Hitch

Ezekiel Hitch

1759 Benjamin Hitch Jack

Robert Hitch

John Hitch Sr. Mower

Stafford

Hanner

Sue

Gary

Elgate Hitch Grace

Rose

Solomon Hitch Rose

John Hitch Jr.

Joshua Hitch Sr. Tam

James Hitch

Joshua Hitch Jr. Comunda

Will

Nehemiah Hitch

Note how the growth of the families and the transfer of slaves through the years helps to identify various individuals. Also, note how there were other persons in the household who were related to the Hitches through the years including the Vinson (Vincent), Crouch, Riggin, Nichols, Prise (Price) and other families.

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"What is past is prologue."

- Inscription on the walls of the National Archives