Rebecca Clarke ¹

Note that many Hitch histories and genealogies to date have surmised Rebecca, wife of Solomon Hitch, to be nee Thompson but w/o a shred of evidence this compiler could find. However, there is a clear indication in the old Somerset County land records when, on Feb 18 1752, there was a triparte land exchange for tracts "Ackworth's Folly" and "Discovery" that gives the final clues to Rebecca's identity. In these records, it states that Levin Hitch, son of Rebecca Hitch, formerly Rebecca Clarke and Mary Storey, spinster, daughter of Joanna Storey, formerly Joanna Clarke. It states further that Mary Storey, spinster of Dorchester, is the only surviving daughter of Joanna Clarke. This firmly identifies Solomon Hitch's wife as Rebecca Clarke, daughter-in-law of Robert Bowditch who married Ann Wilson who was married 1st to an unknown Mr. Clarke. In earlier records for transactions involving "Ackworth's Folly," in 1710/1715, in his will, Robert Bowditch gave the land to his wife Ann Bowditch and then to daughters-in-law Joanna Clarke and Rebecca Clarke and heirs.

Rebecca married Solomon Hitch, son of Adam Hitch and Ann (?), about 1719 in Somerset Co., MD. (Solomon Hitch was born on 09 May 1694 in Somerset Co., MD and died 14 Mar 1748-05 Apr 1748 in Somerset Co., MD.)

Rebecca next married Charles Harris after 1747 in Somerset Co., MD. (Charles Harris was born about 1695 in Somerset Co., MD.)