Gillis Hitch

On July 15 1803, Gillis Hitch and his wife Elisha conveyed land to Levin Records. For $200, they sold land in Bridge Branch (modern-day Bridgeville, DE), about one mile below the bridge, 5 3/4a of land at the west of an old mill dam and 1 1/2a of land at the east end of said dam and stream and was left to said Hitch by will of his father William Hitch. (SxLR-Y:431) In another transaction that day, Gillis and Lisha HItch, by heirship of his father William Hitch and mother Mary Hitch, and William Hitch deceased, his brother, by virtue of a deed of sale from Spencer Hitch and Sophia his wife, Unice Jessop, widow of John Jessop, Whittington Hitch and Delia his wife, and Sally Hitch, heirs of William/Mary Hitch and William Hitch, deceased. The deed dated Nov 29 1796, Gillis became seized of 19a of land,part of "Hailes Chance" or "Hailes Choice" lying at the village of Bridge Branch in Northwest Fork Hundred including certain houses and improvements where James Ralston and John Wilson now live and part of tract and branch called "Hitches Lott" as was surveyed by warrant granted to Mary Hitch, deceased, in the year 1796. Gillis and Lisha Hitch sold to Thomas Sorden for 250 pounds. (SxLR-Y:302)

From A Hitch Orchard by Daisy Hitch Davies we glean the following information: "Excerpts of letters from Mrs. Mary F. Hymer to Mrs. Davies in 1968:

May 6 1968: Just thought that you might like to know what Ralph and I uncovered about Gillis Hitch. We invested in a genealogist in Kentucky to find him. She stumbled on to the fact that he was in the Revolutionary War, sent for his papers and sent us what she found out! What she came up with was papers where William Henry, (my grandfather) applied for a pension for Gillis.

He was born about 1758 in Bridge Branch (Bridgeville) Sussex County, Delaware. His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother, who kept a public place, and an older brother. He lived in Bridgeville all his life except from 1840 to 1847, when he came to Crawfordsville, Indiana to live with William Henry. He could not remember how long he served in the Revolution at the time of his application but said that he was stationed near Bridge Branch to watch for Tories. His wife was dead but was survived by three living sons, William Henry, John and Gillis. He died in Crawfordsville Nov 7 1847 and was 89 years old.

Jun 3 1968: We just came home from looking for Gillis!!! (at Crawfordsville). Guess what??? We feel sure we found him but no proof. In the old I.O.O.F Cemetery (Locust Hill Cemetery) the D.A.R. has recorded all names buried therein - - William Henry and Ellender Isles Hitch and their son Uncle Tommy who died during the Civil War are buried there. On a tombstone "7GH" between Hitch and Hunter markers. We took the information to one of the researchers for Crawfordsville who is a relative on another line who showed us a book that stated, Gillis Hitch was a soldier buried in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana.

This information correlates with this compiler's findings where, in the Pension Application files at the National Archives, Washington, DC, Gillis Hitch was a Revolutionary War veteran who applied for pension in 1847. He made a deposition that year as "age 89" (born 1757-1758) stating his father died shortly after he was born. He enlisted at "Bridge Branch" in Sussex County, Delaware, marched to Dover, then Wilmington then on to Philadelphia. He then went back to Bridge Branch where he was stationed as a Minute Man to guard against Tories. He never faced battle. He states that "Bridge Branch" is now called "Bridgeville" DE where he lived until "5 or 6 years" prior to the deposition. He was in KY in Sep 1837, but resided in Crawfordsville, IN at time of deposition. (Pension Application File R5049, National Archives). Gillis Hitch was also mentioned in William Hitch's will made in 1795 and probated on Feb 26 1796. Heirs listed are William's brother Gillis Hitch, Sarah Hitch & Unicy Joseph. The Executor was "brother" Gillis Hitch and witnesses included John Polk, Bessie Snow, and Nutter Cannon. (DeW-E:73) Gillis Hitch was then a witness for Spencer Hitch's will made Feb 5 1796 and probated Jan 21 1797. (DeW-E:119)

The following is an article I wrote about Gillis Hitch in the Hitch Family Newsletter:

Gillis Hitch in the American Revolution

Gillis Hitch served in the American Revolution. Based on that service, Gillis corresponded with the U.S. government later in life to try to collect his pension due to him.

The documents are part of File Number R5049 of the National Archives, Revolutionary War records. That file includes an early letter from "Old Sholder" Gillis Hitch to Washington attempting to find out the status of his pension application. The letter, dated Jul 10 1839, was written when Gillis was already an old man of about 81 years, having been born in 1757/58. He wrote the letter from Pentleton (sic) County, Kentucky, or "Carntucky" as indicated about halfway down his letter. Also, by reading the complete letter, one can see that even in old Gillis' day, it was tough working through the Washington bureaucracy to get anything accomplished!!

Note also that he states that he "neve Recevd one Dollar but the Eight that I tuck of the Drum Hed." In the Revolution, it was common to take all the booty from a battle, raid or other campaign and place it on the head of a drum for division among the soldiers that were involved. The booty may have consisted of anything from personal effects, watches, jewelry to actual cash or gold. In this case, it appears that Gillis seized the opportunity to enrichen himself by "Eight Dollars" off the drum head.

In File R5049, there are other documents and correspondence that give many clues to Gillis Hitch's age, family and service records during the Revolution. For instance, there is a deposition in the file dated Feb 19 1847 where Gillis Hitch appeared before Robert Taylor, the Probate Court Judge for Montgomery County, Indiana, in another, more official attempt to secure his pension money. By this time, the document states, Gillis Hitch was 89 years old and living in the aforesaid county, and still attempting "to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed Jun 7th 1832 (i.e., the pension act)." The front page from the file is shown in Figure 24.

The document goes on to give some good details of his service in the Revolution. It states that he served under Captain Vaughn "who was afterwards promoted to the rank of Col., Charles Kid first lieutenant, and Mitchell Renshaw second lieutenant. He had "inlisted in Aug, two years after the commencement of the war," but cannot swear to the length of his service for "reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory." He thought, however, that his service covered about four years and six months.

In the deposition, it states that Gillis Hitch had enlisted at "Bridge Branch, Sussex County, Delaware and marched to Dover, then to Wilmington, then Philadelphia and then back to Bridge Branch and was stationed there as a minute man to guard against Tories." His mother and elder brother kept a "public house at Bridge Branch" and he was allowed to remain there until the close of the war in company with fellow soldiers Joshua Cliffen, Bartholomew Adams, Richard Starrs and Thomas Matney. He could not remember whether he was in the "Continental or State Troops of Delaware but think in Continental."

Questions were then set forth as part of the deposition. They are transcribed exactly as follows:

Question 1st: Where and what year was born. Answer: At Bridge Branch now called Bridgeville, Sussex County, Delaware. Don't recollect the year.

Question 2nd: Have you any record of your age and if so where is it? Answer: There never was any record made of my age. My father died shortly after my birth and all I know was from the age of my older brothers.

Question 3: Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived sinse the Revolution war; and where do you live now? Answer: At Bridge Branch now called Bridgeville Branch and lived there sinse the revolutionary war untill within five or six years. Sinse that time I have lived here in Crawfordsville.

Question 4th: How were you called into service: were you were draughted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom? Answer: I volunteered of my own accord. I took the bounty off the drum head and never received anything else but a cocked hat.

Question 5th: State the name of some regular officers who were with the Troops. Where you served: Such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect; And the general circumstances of your service. Answer: I cannot recollect any other officers than those mentioned in my declaration. And the circumstances of my services are also stated in my declaration correctly as I believe.

Question 6: Did you ever receive a discharge from the Service and if so by whom was it signed; and what has become of it? Answer: I received a discharge by the hands of Col Joseph ______ Vaughn. He brought it to me when he returned from receiving? His pay. I have sense lost it. I believe it was thrown overboard in the Chesapeak bay with other papers which I considered of no value at the time.

Question 7th: State the names of persons in your neighborhood at present who can testify to your character for vericity and their belief of your services as a revolutionary soldier. Answer: I have no general acquaintance except as persons come to the house of my sons where I now live. I have but little recollection of their names. I don't go out any. I will name Samuel C. Wilson and Thomas Campbell, Ryland T. Brown and John N. Rush.

In a later deposition by William Hitch (Gillis Hitch's son) in Montgomery County, IN, dated Oct 3 1851, it was indicated that Gillis died on Nov 7 1847. He left no widow but he was survived by only known living children William, Gillis and John Hitch.

Finally, William Hitch initiated a Power of Attorney on Aug 16 1854 to "Charles C. Tucker of Washington City District of Columbia" to prosecute the claim of Gillis Hitch for Revolutionary War pension. There are no further records in the file whether the family ever received the pension that was entitled to them.

In other records, Gillis Hitch was listed as an heir in his father's will written on Nov 17 1771 and probated on Dec 27 1771 as follows:

Paraphrase of Will of William Hitch being "sick of body" ·To son Spencer Hitch, land "Nutter's Addition" and 1 shilling ·To loving wife Mary Hitch and my daughters all my houses at Bridge Branch with 20 acres of land to wife for widowhood and daughters Eunice, Betty, Sarah and Sally while they remain single ·To son William Hitch, land "Hale's Choice" after wife marries or at her decease and 1 shilling ·To son Whittington Hitch, 1 shilling ·To son Gillis Hitch, grist mill and 5 acres of adjacent land and 1½ acres other land (MdPrW-38:558).

Gillis Hitch is listed as one of the nine Hitch households in Sussex County, Delaware in the Federal Census of 1790. In his brother William Hitch's will written in 1795 and probated Feb 26 1796, Gillis is indicated as a brother. Sarah Hitch and Unicy Joseph. Gillis HITCH was also executor with witnesses John Polk, Bessie Snow and Nutter Cannon. (SxW-E:73). Gillis Hitch was a witness for Spencer Hitch's will written Feb 5 1796 and probated Jan 21 1797. (SxW-E:119).

On Apr 28 1796, Gillis Hitch petitioned the Sussex County Orphans Court as executor of William Hitch to sell William's lot of ground in Bridge Branch known as the "Hitch Lot" that "being the whole of the said deceased real estate." (SxOC-F:164)

On Jul 15 1803, Thomas Sorden received a deed from Gillis Hitch and Lisha his wife for 19 acres of land in Northwest Fork Hundred. The record states that Gillis got "Heirship" from his father William, his mother Mary and his brother William, all deceased, by virtue of a Deed of Bargain from Spencer Hitch and wife Sophia, Unice Jessop widow of John Jessop, Whittington Hitch and wife Delilah, and Sally Hitch - all heirs as described of the same William, Mary and William Hitch. The land was part of tract "Hale's Choice (or Chance)" situated at the village of Bridge Branch "where Doc James Ralston and John Wilson now live". (SxLR-Y23:302,309)

In the 1803 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, Gillis Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred for just himself and no other property. (SxTA-1803)

In the 1807 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, Gillis Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred with: capitulation 1 sow (SxTA-1807)

In the 1809 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, Gillis Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred for just himself and no other property. (SxTA-1809)

In the Federal Census of 1810, "Gilly" Hitch is indicated on page 357 in Northwest Fork Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware in a household including two males under age 10, one male age 10-16, one male over age 45, two females age 10-16, one female age 16-26 and one female over age 45.

In the 1813 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, Gillis Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred with: 1 cow and calves (SxTA-1813)

In the 1816 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, Gillis Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred for just himself and no other property. (SxTA-1816). In the 1827 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, Gillis Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred for just himself and no other property. (SxTA-1827)

In 1835, Gillis Hitch is listed in the Tax Assessment for Northwest Fork Hundred, Sussex County, DE and assessed for "his person," $134.00. It should be noted that the entry was first written as Whittington Hitch and crossed out and replaced with Gillis Hitch. (SxTA-1835)

File Number R5049 of the National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension records includes a deposition dated Feb 19 1847 stating Gillis Hitch is age 89. Another deposition, this by his son on Oct 3 1851 states Gillis died on Nov 7 1847.

File Number R5049 of the National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension records includes a deposition dated Feb 19 1847 stating Gillis Hitch is age 89. Another deposition, this by his son on Oct 3 1851 states Gillis died on Nov 7 1847.

Gillis married Lisha Hatfield, daughter of Elijah Hatfield and Unknown. (Lisha Hatfield was born before 1765 and died on 05 Oct 1814 in Bridgeville, Sussex Co., DE.)

A Hitch Orchard, Volume III, Daisy Hitch Davies, 1931