Spencer Hitch

A Hitch Orchard states the following about Spencer Hitch:

In his will Spencer Hitch made the request to be buried at the old burying place where he then lived. "I give and recommend my soul to the hands of Almighty God that give it and my body to the Earth to be buried in a Christian manner at the old burying place where I now live. Spencer Hitch may have rendered service during the Revolution as a record from an old lady connected with the family stated that the grandfather of Mary Hitch Carey (who was the Spencer Hitch in question) was engaged during the American Revolution gathering supplies for the Army (Continental or English not stated). Spencer Hitch in his will made Feb 5 1796 and probated Jan 21 1797 mentions his wife, Sophia Hitch, and "Sarah Snellen who was to have 100 sq. ft., a small rume in my Hous and one bed and bedin and no more; Anna Hitch, my dau.; Lilly Hitch, my dau.; Sovereign Hitch, my son; Nelly Hitch, my dau.; William Hitch, my son; Clemment Hitch, my son; Elget Hitch, my son; Polly Hitch, my dau.; Spencer Hitch, my son." Executor: Sophia Hitch. Wit: Wm. Mason, Gillis Hitch. (DeW-E:119). Descendants of Spencer Hitch have been widely scattered over the states of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Wisconsin, and other states. Several of these descendants are personages of prominence and education.

From this compiler's records, Spencer is first mentioned in the records of Somerset County when his father, William Hitch's, will was written Nov 17 1771 and probated Dec 27 1771. In the will of Charles Brown written Dec 7 1772 and probated in Dorchester County on Feb 16 1773, Spencer Hitch is listed as a witness. (MdPrW-39:53)

On Jan 19 1778, Spencer Hitch "of Sussex County in the State of Delaware," Gentleman, sold land that was part of "High Suffolk" to William Handy, a total of 10½ acres for £7. (SoLR-G:102). The land is the SE corner of the plantation that which the said Handy purchased of Isaac Hitch on the north side of the main road that leads from Rockawalkin Meeting House to the head of the Wicomico River containing 10½ acres. No metes and bounds given other than these in this record. Spencer Hitch was listed as a property owner in the Northwest Fork Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware in the 1782 and 1785 Tax Assessments and the reconstructed 1790 Federal Census.

On Feb 2 1797, Spencer Hitch received a deed from Joseph Ricards. Hitch paid £1.10.0 to Ricards for "Bradley's Discovery" that was next to "Hale's Choice" in Northwest Fork Hundred. (SxLR-W21:612)

The following is a transcription of Spencer Hitch's Probate records:

Sussex County| State of Delaware| In the Name of God Amen this Fifth Day of Feb one thousand seven Hundred and Ninty Seven I Spencer Hitch of the County and State afsd Being in a very low State of Body but of perfect mind and memory and in my proper Senses thanks be to God. and Caling to mind the Mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is appointed for all Men to die Do Make ordain publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. That is to say. I give and Recommend my Soul to the Hands of Almighty God that Give it and my body to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian manor at the old Burying place where I now Live. And as tuching such Worldly Estate wherewith it Hath pleased God to Bless me with in this Life I Give and Dispose of in the following manner \\..\\..\\..\\

-Item.. I give and bequeath to Sarah Snellen one Hundred feet Square of Ground at the Norwest sid of my House Where the Gardin now is and the Back Small Rume In my Hous and one Bed & Bedin and no more \\..\\..\\
-Item, I give and bequeath unto Anna Hitch my Daughter one Cow & Calf one Bed & Bedin and no more \\..\\..\\
-Item, I give and bequeath unto Lilly Hitch my Daughter one Cow & Calf one Bed and Bedin and no more .|.|.|.|
-Item, I give and bequeath unto Sovereing Hitch my Son one Horse & Sadle and no more \\..\\..\\
-Item, I give and bequeath unto Nelley Hitch my Daughter one Cow & Calf one Bed & Bedin and no more \\..\\..\\
-Item, I give and bequeath unto William Hitch my Son one Horse one Bed and Beden and no more \\..\\..\\
-Item, I give and bequeath unto Clemment Hitch my Son one Horse one Bed & Bedein and no more \\..\\..\\
-Item, I give and bequeath unto Elget Hitch my Son one Cow & Calf one Bed and Bedein and no more \\..\\..\\
-Item, I give and bequeath Spencor Hitch my Son all the Tracks or psles of Land belonging to or that I am possessed with and further. I do hereby appoint and ordain Sophia Hitch My Daier Wife my Hole and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. And hereby Revoking all former Wills. In Witness wherof I Have set my Hand and affixt my seal the Day and year above written \\..\\..\\..\\ Signed Sealed and Acknowledged in| his Presence of pers. \\..\\.....| Spener X Hitch |mark William Mason Gillis Hitch

(This Last Will and Testament was probated in Sussex County on Jan 21 1797 - 1798?)

The Account of Sophia Hitch Executrix of the Testament & will of all such and so much of the Goods Chattels and privaledge and also of her Payments and disbursements out of the ?. The said Accountant charges herself with all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said decd and for Inventory Amounting to £318.14.2

The above Account was Exhibited to the Register the 22nd day of Novr 1797 By
her Phillips Kollock RegrSophia X Hitch
mark

The Testament and Last Will of Spencer Hitch late of Sussex County decd and Credits of the said decd as came to her hands Possession or know out of the same. The said Accountant craves an allowance of her Payments and disbursements out of the same. Paid for Copy Will and Letters Testamentary£1.10.4 Paid Appraisers fees2.13.3 Paid funeral Expenses3.0.0 N1Paid Thomas Ledenum as fr Acct proved6.0
2Paid William Allen as fr do3.15.6
3Paid Whittington Williams as fr do8.0.6
4Paid James Derickson as fr do and Receipt2.1.3
5Paid Joseph Rickards as fr do. . .do7.10.6
6Paid Wm & Thos Sorden as fr do. . .do4.12.8 ½
7Paid Laws & Brown as fr do. . .do10.0
8Paid David Pennewell as fr do. . .do13.3
9Paid Thomas Sorden as fr do. . .do3.15.6 Paid the following Legacies Viz To Anna Hitch a Legacy appraised to10.10.4 Paid for Listing this Account5.7 ½ Paid for Passing ditto and Search1.3.6 Commissions on L48.18.3 ½ disbursements at 10 pcent4.7.9 ------------- £55.5.2 Balance£263.9.0

A Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of Spencer Hitch Decasd as given in By Sophia Hitch Executorx & Apraisd By us the Subcribers Mar 10th 1797 Thos. Sorden William Mason

£ S D
To his Warring Aparel 7..10..0
To 1 Bed & Furniture Sted & No 110..0..0
To 1 Do - Do - Do N.2 9..0..0
To 1 Do - Do - Do N.3 7..10..0
To 1 Do - Do - Do N.4 6..0..0
To Bed Stid 5..0
5 yds fulld Cloth @ 5/- 1..5..0
2 old pine Tables 7..6
1 Blue Chist 10..9
6 Chears @ 4/-1..4..0
5 old Do @ 2/-10..0 1
Small Looking Glass 7..6
3 old Linnen Wheels @ 7/6 1..2..6
1 Earthen Ware in Cubbard 10..0
4 Puter Bason @ 6/-1.. 4..0
6 Puter Plats @ 12..6
½ Doz Tind Spoons 5..0
5 lb old Puter @ 1/3 6..3
1 Pair old Shilar @ 11/311..3
1 Wier Meal Silver @ 9/4 9..4
1 Tin Coffee Pott - 3/9 3..9
1 Do funnall - - - 11d11
a Lott of stone Earthen Ware 7..6
1 Case Knives & Forks 5..0
old Do & Do 3..0
1 Pair Sad Irons 3..9
1 Jug & 2 Bottels 3..9
2 Pair Wool & Cotten Cord 4..0
old Books 3..0
old Shovel & Toungs 7..6
1 Candelstand 1..6
2 old Candelstick & Cuffer 1..0
old Saddel & Bridal 1..0..0
old Loomb & Tacklen 1..0..0
old Woollen Wheel 2..6
-------------- 54..4..2

£ S D
Amount Brogt over 54..4..2
3 old Iron Potts 1..2..
6 old Do Oven 11..3
1 Tea Kettel 10..0
Skillett 2..6
fryen pan 7..6
a Lott Tile Ware 10..0
Hackel 3..9
2 Pot Trammalls 12..6
old Cart Irons 3..0..0
old Cart 4..10..0
3 old Weden Hoes 3..9
Grubben Hoe 5..0
old shovel 5..0
2 old axes @ 2/6 5..0
Box of old Tools 12..6
Halfbushel Masher 3..0
3 old Ploughs @ 7/6 1..2..6
2 old Harrows @ 5/- 10..0
6 old Casks @ 3/- 15..0
3000 sypres shingels 15..0..0
800 feet Pine Bords 3..0..0
208 Bushl Corn @ 4/- 41..12..0
1 Grind Stone 7..6
750 lb Bacon @ 10d 31..5..0
old powdering Tubs 10..0
57 lb Hogs Lard @ 10d 2..7..6
9 Bushl oats @ 3/- 1..7..0
old Shoemaker Tools 4..6
Scane flax from Brak 2..10..0
2 Bushl Buckwheat @ 5/- 10..0
old sider Mill 15..0
2 old Syeth & Cradles 10..0
15 Waggon Bags 2..5..0
2 Bushl flaxseed 1..0..0
½ Bushl Salt @ 3..0
Sorrel Mair Named Dove 20..0..0
Do Do Named Sprig 20..0..0
Do Do Named Poll 12..10..0
Do Colt Named Pickler 14..0..0
Cow and Calf4..10..0
-------------- 243..2..5

£ S D
Amount Brogt up 243..2..5
Cow & yearlen 4..10..0
Cow 4..10..0
yoke of oxen 14..0..0
2 Heffers 4..10..0
1 small stear 1..17..6
19 old sheep & 9 Lambs 7..2..6
1 Sow & 4 pigs 1..10..0
10 Shotes @ 10/- 5..0..0
4 Blads Stacks foder @ 20/- 4..0..0
2 stack Bad foder 10..0
a part of foder house 1..10..0
Wheat on the ground 21..7..6
1 Iron Wedg 3..9
40 gees @ 1/6 3..0..0
1 Bee Hive 7..6
1000 Bricks @ 3/- 1..10..0
2 straw stack 3..0
-------------- 318..14..2 -------------- 318..14..2

The Amount of Sophia Hitch Executrix of Spencer Hitch late of Sussex County decd as well as all such and so much of the said decd property which came to her hands as possession, as also of her sundry payments and Disbursements out of the same to wit.

The said Accountant charges herself with all and singular the said decd property which came to her hands as follows, to wit, --------

With the decd Inventory Accounting to the sum of- $702.53 Amount of Payments- 658.36 ------------
$44.17

The said Accountant crave an Allowance for her sundry payments and disbursements out of the same as follows, to wit,
1. paid Wm Mason per acct prod & rect $26.92
2. paid David Nutter's acct prod & rect 11.27
3. paid Elias Shockley per acct prod & rect 7.60
Commissions for trouble 6.00 paid for Slating paid for paping 4.50
Also for Amount of the widows thirds as per the decd Will 224.74
Also for Legacies to Anna Hitch Balance 12.00
Also for Legacies to Lilly Hitch 40.00
Also for Legacies to Severn Hitch 56.00
Also for Legacies to Nelly Hitch 40.00
Also for Legacies to Wm Hitch 40.00
Also for Legacies to Clement Hitch 77.33
Also for Legacies to Elgate Hitch 40.00
Also for Legacies to Polly Hitch 50.67
---------- $658.36

The Aliases Account was Exhibited to the Register the 29th Decr 1813 on oath
her
By Sophia X Hitch
mark Examined Allowance and passed the same day ------------------------------------

Spencer Hitch's will was written Feb 5 1796 and probated Jan 21 1797 in Sussex County, Delaware. (DeW-E:119)

Spencer married Sophia (?). (Sophia (?) was born before 1755 and died after 28 Dec 1814 in Caroline Co., MD.)