Louther (Loudy) Hitch

In the DAR Library in Washington, DC, the following is written of Louther Hitch: "…moved to SC sometime between 1792 and 1800. Born in Somerset County, Maryland 1743, died in Laurens County, SC at 10:00 am Aug 19 1838 (87y, 9m, 14d). He was interred at old Union Quaker Baptist Church in Laurens County Served in Blackwater Regt. of Somerset County and his grave is officially marked as Rev. War veteran. Married 1st wife, Mary, on Jun 30 1771. She was born (Nov 2 1750) & died (Nov 28 1789) in Somerset County. Married 2nd wife, Elizabeth (Betsy), on Jan 1 1792. She was born in MD (Apr 24 1769) and died in SC (Aug 10 1837). He settled in the Duncans Creek area of Laurens County. He died of old age at the house of his daughter, Mrs. Pitts in the Rabun Creek area. See also Somerset County, MD listing for him. Daughter Mary (born Oct 10 1794) married Henry Pitts. Daughter Sarah (b. Apr 16 1796) died single." (NOTE: this compiler finds that the move to SC occurred closer to the latter part of this range, probably in the year 1800)

Between 1775 and 1777, Lowday Hitch had an account in John Nelms' store in Salisbury, Maryland. Records show he brought a balance with interest from Ledger H of £1/8/1. He bought 9 yards of duck and 1 lb. of brimstone for a total of £2/11/7. Elijah Hitch delivered a bushel of peas for credit to his account in 1776. He paid the balance in cash in 1777.

On Nov 6 1779, Louther Hitch received a deed for a tract of land called "Ellis' Addition" from Joseph Ellis, 23¼ acres, for £20. Land on the north side of the head of Wicomico River beginning at the end of the fourth line of the tract thence SW 86 perches, thence NW 34 perches, thence N1E 11 perches, thence NE 95 perches, thence to beginning containing 23¼ acres (SoLR-G:201). 1780 Blackwater Co., Salisbury Battalion, MD Militia in the Revolution. In the Maryland Tax Assessment of 1783, Louther Hitch is listed in Rewastico Hundred of Somerset County and assessed for land: "Gravelly Hill", 50 acres; "Ellis' Addition", 20½ acres plus two horses and five cattle. Whites in the household included four males and two females at the time. (TA1783). On Apr 22 1784, Ezekiel Hitch sold land 50 acres of land called "Gravelly Hill" to Louther Hitch for £80. Begin at a marked red oak thence NW 80 poles, thence NE 100 poles, thence SE 80 poles, thence right line to beginning containing 50 acres. (SoLR-G:483)

On May 16 1789, Louther Hitch received a deed for land from Stephen Elliss of Sussex County, Delaware for tracts "Elliss Chance" and "Elliss Addition," a total of 56¾ acres, for £52.9.10½ current money of Maryland. The land was described as beginning at a marked white oak, the first bounder of "Elliss Chance," thence N39E 140 poles, N51E 12 poles, NW 40 poles, N54½E 28 poles, S74E 22 poles, S57E 20 poles, N51E 5 poles, S39E 116 poles, thence with a line of marked trees to the beginning laid out for 56¾ acres. (SoLR-H:477).

On Apr 13 1790, Loudy Hitch, along with Joseph Humphris, made surety when Curtis Hitch was appointed guardian to Eli Vincent (of Elijah Vincent) who was over age 14. (SoOCP-1777/92:94) In the Nov 1791 court session, there was a case Joseph Scroggin versus Elias Hitch, Loudy Hitch, and Elijah Moor. The Hitch-Moor side confessed judgment to Scroggin for £0.7.6 debt and 3 shillings, 10 pence cost. (SoJ-1791/94:11, MSA C1774-57, MdHR 13,140). In the same court session, the case George Robinson versus Benjamin Disharoon and Elias Hitch produced a confession of judgment in favor of Robinson for £4 debt and 9 pence cost. (Ibid:14)

On Nov 3 1792, Louther Hitch issued a deed for to Stephen Elliss of Sussex County, Delaware for the same land he bought of Elliss on May 16 1789. (SoLR-IPt II:433). On Nov 3 1792, Stephen Elliss of Sussex County, Delaware issued a deed to Louther Hitch for land, part of tracts "Elliss Chance" and "Elliss Addition." This land is described as beginning at a marked white oak, the first bounder of "Elliss Chance," thence N39E 149 poles till it intersects with the 8th line of "Elliss Addition," NE 15½ poles by and with said line to the end thereof, NW 50 poles, N54½E 28 poles, S74E 22 poles, S57E 34 poles, S50½W 51 poles, S39E 7½ poles with the 14th line of "Elliss Addition" till it intersects the 2nd line of "Elliss Chance," N51E 49 poles by and with said line to the end thereof, S39E 121 poles with the 3rd line of "Elliss Chance" till it intersects with a line of marked trees formerly established between Joseph Elliss Sr. and his son Joseph, thence by and with said line to the first beginning laid out for 61¼ acres. (SoLR-IPt II:474).

In the Somerset County Assessment Record for the years 1793-1796, Lowther Hitch was listed in Broad Creek Hundred and assessed for 127 acres of land, £90; and other property, £30. Total assessment was £120, £120, £120, £120 for years 1793, 1794, 1795, and 1796 respectively.

Elias Hitch's inventory of estate was taken between May 11 and Sep 21 1793 and listed as Administratrix was Esther Hitch. Next-of-kin shown were Loudy (this Louther) and Ezekiel Hitch. Total estate value was tallied at £108.15.9 (SoI-EB19:235/237) On Sep 23 1797, Louther Hitch and wife Betsy gave deed for land called "Gravelly Hill", "Ellis' Chance", and "Ellis' Addition", a total of 58¾ acres, for £56 to Curtis Hitch. (SoLR-L:87).

The next time Louther Hitch was mentioned in Maryland records was in the Federal Assessment of 1798 where Ezekiel Hitch was listed as the occupant of property in Broad Creek Hundred owned by Louther Hitch "situated about 2¼ mi. from Spring Hill Chappel" and consisting of "one old dwelling house, framed, one story, 20'x16' under repair; one cook house of round poles, 14'x12', the roof rotten; one blacksmith shop, 12'x14' of slabs; 73 acres of land. Total was assessed at $25 for the buildings and $80(?) for the land (TA1798). He was also occupant of a house owned by Isaac Handy's heirs in Rewastico Hundred "near Salisbury" in a "very old dwelling house framed 20'x16', cookhouse (of) slabs 12'x14'."

Lowday Hitch is listed in the Somerset County Commissioners of the Tax assessment for the years 1798-1803 in Broad Creek Hundred. He was assessed for 73 acres of land at £55 and other personal property at £30 for a total of £85 for years 1798-1801, respectively. In 1801, the land went to Ezekiel Hitch, reducing Lowday's assessment to £30 for 1802 and 1803 (SoTA-1798/1803).

On Mar 11 1801, Louther Hitch appears for the last time in Maryland records when he deeded land called "Gravelly Hill" and "Ellis' Addition" to Ezekiel Hitch, 83¼ acres, for $275. (SoLR-N:148).

In the Federal Census of 1810, "Lowther" Hitch is indicated in Laurens County, SC (pg 46A) in a household comprised of one male age 10-16, one male age 16-26, one male over age 45, one female age 10-16, one female age 16-26 and one female over age 45.

On Apr 14 1812, Louther Hitch deeded land to William Adair for $150, 50 acres, on Duncans Creek including Browns Mill and Mill Shoals. Witnesses were James Hanna, John Hitch, and J.A. Elmore, JQ. There is dower renunciation of Betty Hitch in the record. (Laurens County, SC Deeds and Wills (DAR), Deed Book J-261).

In the Federal Census of 1820, "Luther" Hitch is indicated in Laurens County, SC (pg 22) in a household comprised of one male age 16-26 (with none age 16-18), one male over age 45, one female age 16-26 and female over age 45. In the Federal Census of 1830, Louther Hitch is indicated in Laurens Township, Laurens County, SC (pg 254) in a household comprised of one male age 60-70, one female age 30-40, one female age 50-60 and one female age 60-70.

In 1835, Louther and Elizabeth Hitch gave a 129 acre deed of gift to Sally Hitch (Laurens County, SC Deed Books Index, Book N-110).

From the John Hitch Bible owned (in 1971) by Mrs. Cannie Thackston Woodside of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, we find the statement; "Louther Hitch died on Aug 19 1838, aged 87 years, 9 months, 14 days." (Miscellaneous Bible Records, Greenville, SC 1917, DAR)

Bible Records of John Hitch of South Carolina (DAR). These records say Louther Hitch died on Aug 19 1838 at age 87-9-14. This would put his birth at Nov 5 1750; however, the Federal Census of 1830 for Laurens County, SC show his age at 60-70 (born 1760-1770).

Bible Records of John Hitch of South Carolina (DAR). These records say Louther Hitch died on Aug 19 1838 at age 87-9-14. This would put his birth at Nov 5 1750; however, the Federal Census of 1830 for Laurens County, SC show his age at 60-70 (born 1760-1770).

Louther married Mary Nicholson on 30 Jun 1771 in Somerset Co., MD. (Mary Nicholson was born on 02 Nov 1750 in Somerset Co., MD and died on 28 Nov 1789 in Somerset Co., MD.)

Bible Records of John Hitch of South Carolina (DAR).

Louther next married Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Douglas on 02 Jan 1792 in Somerset Co., MD. (Mary Elizabeth (Betsy) Douglas was born on 27 Apr 1769 in Somerset Co., MD, died on 10 Oct 1840 in Laurens Co., SC and was buried about 13 Oct 1840 in Old Union Quaker Baptist Church, Laurens Co., SC.)

Bible Records of John Hitch of South Carolina (DAR).