Hardy Elgate Hitch

From A Hitch Orchard, Daisy Hitch Davies, 1931:

Hardy Elgate Hitch, most of his sons and many of his grandsons were sailmakers. During the Civil War this knowledge came in handy for making army tents as some two or three in the family did. He and his second wife are buried in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven, MA. I own the lot. There are five generations buried in this lot. Some having been moved from the old cemetery at the foot of Williams Street, viz: - Betsy Delano, her mother Abigail, her son Obed Freeman Hitch, her grandson William Gould Hitch, and her great grandson William Gould Hitch Jr.

Betsy Delano was a direct descendant of Phillipi Delano, the Huguenot, who came to America in the Fortune in 1624. A vessel was built and named for her in Fairhaven, MA. Some years later Betsy was a member of the Society and attending the Congregation Church. She retained the dress and speech she was reared in. She was short, plump and pretty, very pious having her Bible often in her hands. Hardy Hitch, her husband, was in the sail-making business with two Taber brothers. This was the only sail-making business in Fairhaven, MA. The sail loft was a large three story stone building located near the Acushnet River and near the shipyard.

He was at one time a Free Mason. His wife kept his apron and regalia which she would occasionally show the grandchildren. He was hale and hearty, full of cheer and delighted in his many grandchildren with whom he played and told stories. He was a plain of face as his wife was pretty. I have a photograph of them taken together. She is in her Quaker Garb with her Bible in her hands. One of his grandchildren, Mrs. Elizabeth Hitch Thomas of Fall River, MA gave me most of this information and writes me that all his grandchildren loved him and delighted to climb on his chair, ride on his limbs as he sang and told them stories. The old Hitch homestead is the corner of Church and Laurel Streets, Fairhaven, MA.

Hardy E. Hitch was in the War of 1812. He was one of the garrison of Fort Phoenix, Fairhaven, MA. His record follows; Office of Adjutant General State House, Boston, MA, May 17 1928. Hitch, Hardy E., is of record on p 57 of the published Rolls of Massachusetts Militia in War of 1812-14, and on page 164 of the written rolls on file in this office, as having served as a Private in Captain William Nye's Company, Lieut. Colonel Benjamin Lincoln's Regiment from Jun 30 to Jul 10 1814 at New Bedford and Fairhaven. (Name corrected from Fitch.). This man is probably the same individual who had prior service as Private in the same company and Regiment at New Bedford from Jun 17 to Jun 29 1814 as reported under the erroneous name of Fitch on page 55 of the published Rolls and 159 of the written rolls on file in this office.

In the Federal Census of 1800, Hardy Hitch is indicated in Bristol County, Massachusetts (pg 425) in a household comprised of one male under age 10, one male age 16-26 and two females age 16-26. In the Federal Census of 1810, H.E. Hitch is indicated in Bristol County, Massachusetts (pg 290) in a household comprised of three males under age 10, one male age 10-16, one male age 26-45, one female under age 10 and one female age 26-45.

In the "General Society of the War of 1812" (Registry of 1972, page 498), Hardy Elgit Hitch is listed as a Private in Captain William Nye's Company, Lt. Col. Benjamin Lincoln's 17th Regiment for Jun/Jul 1814. He was also a gunner in the Sea Fencibles from Aug 11 1812 to Apr 5 1815 (where he was honorably discharged). This records states that he was born on Jun 12 1775 and married Betsey Delano (born Oct 9 1777, died Dec 3 1863) of Fairhaven, Massachusetts on Dec 16 1803, and died on Aug 30 1858.

In the Federal Census of 1820, Hardy Hitch is indicated in Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts in a household comprised of two males under age 10, two males age 10-16, one male age 16-18, one male age 16-26, one male age 26-45, two females under age 10, one female age 26-45. It states that one person in the household "manufactures." In the Federal Census of 1830, Hardy Hitch is indicated in Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts in a household comprised of one male age 5-10, one male age 10-15, one male age 15-20, one male age 20-30, one male age 30-40, one male age 50-60, one female age 10-15, one female age 15-20 and one female age 50-60.

In the Federal Census of 1850, Hardy E. Hitch is indicated in Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts (page 161, household 43) in a household as follows: - Hardy E. Hitch, age 75, sailmaker, $3,000 in real estate, born in MA. - Betsey Hitch, age 73, born in ME.

In the Massachusetts State Census of 1855, Hardy E. Hitch is listed in household 298 in the South District of Fairhaven as follows: - Hardy E. Hitch, gentleman, age 80, born in MA - Betsy Hitch, age 77, born in MA.

A small article about Mr. Hardy Hitch, age 81, sailmaker, appeared in the Oct 18 1856 (Baltimore) Sun newspaper.

Hardy married Martha (Patty) Mayhew, daughter of William Mayhew Esq. and Margaret Mayhew, on 14 Dec 1796 in New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA.¹ (Martha (Patty) Mayhew was born on 21 Sep 1775 ^{4 9} and died on 05 Nov 1801 in New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA ¹⁰.)

Hardy next married Betsy Delano, daughter of Jethro Delano and Abigail Eldredge, on 11 Dec 1803 in New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA.¹ (Betsy Delano was born on 09 Oct 1777 in ME ^{2 3 11 12 13 14} and died on 03 Dec 1863 in Bristol Co., MA ².)