John Hitch

Based upon the ages for John Hitch given in the 1800, 1810 and 1820 Censuses, his birth date would be somewhere between 1765 and 1774. However, it appears that he would have been born closer to the beginning of that period of time since he executed a land transaction in Dec 1787 where he presumably would have been age 21 or greater. Thus we place his birth circa 1765/1766.

On Dec 11 1787, John Hitch received a deed for land "The Fork" and "Addition to the Fork" from Stephen Baine (Bayne), a total of 30 acres for £30. The tract was described as near the head of Wicomico Creek beginning at the end of the 1st line and beginning of the 2nd line of "High Meadow," partly belonging to Revel Hayman thence S3E 54 perches, S63½E 27 perches, E 24 perches, N 80 perches, W 20 perches, N32W 12 perches, thence with a right line to the beginning laid out for 30 acres. (SoLR-H:328). On Feb 2 1790, John Hitch received a warrant for 10 acres of vacant land in Somerset County. When surveyed on Jan 7 1791, the actual land totaled 22½ acres and was dubbed "Hitches Chance." The land touched the boundary of "Mount Pleasant" and was described as in Somerset County on the south side of the Wicomico River beginning 40 perches on the first line of "Mount Pleasant" thence N5W 138 perches, thence S85:30W 3 perches, thence S 80 perches, thence W 34 perches, thence N63:30W 27 perches, thence S4E 36 perches, thence S13E 9½ perches, thence S70E 24½ perches, thence N65E 8 perches, thence right line to beginning. (SoLP, Cert 1294)

In the Somerset County Assessment Records for the years 1793-1796, John Hitch was listed in Wicomico Hundred and assessed for 50 acres of land, £40; and one male slave age 14-45, £45. In 1795, he had gotten rid of the slave. Total assessment was £100, £100, £55, and £55 for the years 1793, 1794, 1795, and 1796, respectively.

On Feb 7 1797, John Hitch got deed for land called "Charley's Chance", "Last Choice", and "Corner" from Sarah Hayman. It totaled 28 acres for £40. (SoLR-K:533). In the 1798 Federal Tax Assessment, John Hitch was the owner and occupant of property consisting of 80 acres of land "adjoining Benjamin Hitch and Jacob Morris Sr. valued at $160 on which is": ·a dwelling house of logs, 16'x16' ·Milk house, 8'x8' ·Corn house, 12'x8' ·Old out house, 20'x16' All this was valued at $20. Assessed $20 for buildings and $180 for 80 acres of land. He was also listed as owner of one slave that was over age 12. His land also bordered that of John Pollitt and Isaac Hayman as indicated under the assessment for John Pollitt who owned 228 acres. John Hitch is also listed under the assessment for Jacob Morris who owned 212 acres of property "situated on road dividing Worcester and Somerset adjoining Labra Gunby, Benjamin Hitch and John Hitch". (TA1798)

Also, in the Tax Commissioners report for Somerset County for the years 1798-1803, it indicates John Hitch "of Benj." in Wicomico Hundred being assessed taxes for 80 acres of land at £60, one male slave age 14-45 at £45 and other personal property at £20 for a total of £125, £125 for years 1798 and 1799. He is listed as less the slave 1800 through 1803 when his assessment dropped to £80 for those years. (SoTC-1798/1803)

In the Federal Census of 1800, John Hitch was listed in Somerset County in the Wicomico District on page 31, line 9 with a household consisting of one male under age 10, one male 16-26, one male 26-45, one female under 10, one female 16-26 and one female 26-45.

On Sep 30 1809, John Hitch purchased land from his brother "Joseph Hitch of Penttletion (sic) County in the State of Kaintucky". The 50 acres of land, Mount Pleasant, was bought by John Hitch for £5. The records refer to a deed from Benjamin Hitch to Joseph Hitch of May 13 1803. (WoLR-AA:338)

In the Federal Census for 1810, John Hitch was listed in Somerset County on page 243, Wicomico District, with the following household: two males under age 10, one male age 10-16, one male age 26-45, two females under age 10, one female age 10-16, one female age 16-26, one female age 26-45 and one slave. His household was near that of William Morris, Jacob Morris Sr. and Jr., David Brown, Thomas Brown, and John Pollitt.

This is probably the same John Hitch listed in the Somerset Militia in "A Return of the Detachment Required from the 25th Regiment Agreeably to Brigade orders in conformity with Division orders of 15th May (1812)" as follows: Sergeant: Robert Hitch Corporal: John Earnest, substitute for Adam Hitch Privates: John Hitch. (Maryland Militia-Vol. 1, War of 1812, by F. Edward Wright). Also in the same record, he is listed on page 5 for "The 10th Brigade, A return of the detachment from the 23rd Regt., Somerset Militia", Listed under Privates, John Hitch (first of two John Hitches). In Jul 1812, John Hitch was listed as a Private for "the 10th Brigade, A return of the detachment from the 23rd Regt., Somerset Militia".

In the 1813/14 Commissioner of the Tax Report for Somerset County, John Hitch was listed in the 2nd Election District and taxed for 86 acres of land valued at $160.

On Aug 9 1814, Leah Fooks, Isaiah Hayman, and John Hitch were bound for Leah Fooks as guardian to Obed Bailey (SoBB-EB28:267). This is confirmed in the Somerset County Orphans Court where the proceedings indicate: "Orphan: Obed Bailey; Appointed Guardian: Leah Fooks; Sureties: Isaiah Hayman, John Hitch." (SoOCP-1811/23:45)

In the Commissioner of the Tax Report for Somerset County for 1817-1822, John Hitch is listed in the 2nd Election District and taxed in 1817 for the following property:
·Land, "Charley Chance" and "Addition To The Fork," 86 acres at $2.50 per:$215.00 ·3 horses, yoke of oxen, 8 cattle, 9 sheep, 30 hogs:$154.00 ·3 beds &c, other personal property:$ 50.00

In the Federal Census for 1820, John Hitch is listed on page 133, Wicomico District of Somerset County, with a household consisting of one male age 10-16, one male age 16-18, three males age 16-26, one male age 45+, one female age 10-16, two females age 16-26, one female age 45+ and one slave. His household is near that of Moses Rencher, Jacob and John Morris of John, John Pollitt Sr., and Leah Hitch.

On Jul 20 1822, for $178, John Hitch bought from Joshua Morris, both of Somerset County, land called "Hayman's Outlet" (50 acres) and "Morris' Loss" (20 acres) totaling 71½ acres more or less. (WoLR-AO:91) On Nov 7 1826, John Hitch paid $8 to Joshua Morris (of Joshua) of Somerset County for land; part of "Friends Goodwill", part of "Morris' Loss Recovered", and another small piece of swamp land said Morris' father got from William Pollitt totaling 8 acres. (WoLR-AS:233) For the will of Elenor Morris, widow of Jacob Morris, written on Jan 19 1827 and probated Jul 10 1827, John Hitch and John Laws served as a witnesses. She mentioned daughter Elizabeth Pollitt and grandson Josiah Morris Pollitt. (SoW:135)

In his will written May 29 1828 and probated Nov 11 1828, John bequeathed his estate as (paraphrased): ·to wife Amelia, all lands in Somerset County, old mare and colt, bed and furniture, negro woman named Leah. ·to daughter Mary and son Benjamin Pits (sic) Hitch, live at home with their mother as long as they shall choose ·to son Benjamin Pitts Hitch, one Sorrel mare and one bed & furniture ·to daughter Mary, one bed and furniture ·to daughters Mary Hitch, Eleanor Hayman, Leticia Lankford, $15 each ·(also mentions a total of 3 sons (2 unnamed) and 3 daughters ·Benjamin Pitts and his brothers to cut timber on lands in Worcester County to raise money to pay off any debts. Witnesses: Elijah Ennis Sr., Levin Pollitt, Samuel Hitch (SoW:155/156).

Finally, after his death, John Hitch's land was sold on Jan 24 1829 when William Hitch paid $500 for 250 acres of land from Hyram and Letty (Hitch) Lankford, Mary Hitch, Ellendor (Hitch) Hayman, and Benjamin Pitts Hitch of Somerset County with Thomas Hitch of Worcester County This is the land that they fell heir to after the death of their father John Hitch "that lyeth in Worcester County where said Hitch lived on the Worcester side of the County road". This land is that he bought from Joshua Morris along with another 50 acre plot. (WoLR-AU:519,520).

John married Amelia (Milly) Disharoon, daughter of Obediah Disharoon and Eleanor (?), on 23 Feb 1797 in Somerset Co., MD. (Amelia (Milly) Disharoon was born about 1769 in MD and died between 17 Feb 1843 and 1849 in MD.)

Somerset Parish church records give the date of John Hitch and Amelia Disharoon's marriage.