Dr. Spencer Hitch

  Notes:

The folowing is from the book, "Lives of Caroline County Maryland Physicians - 1774-1884" by Christian E. Jensen, M.D.:

"SPENCER HITCH, M.D. (1796-1873)
Dr. Hitch was obviously a man of some prominence in his day. He was the son of Spencer Hitch and his wife Sophia of Sussex County, Del. but his grandfather William Hitch, was a landowner in Dorchester County, owner of "Nutters addition". Masonic records indicate that Dr. Hitch was an early member of Howard Lodge No. 81 at Greensboro, formed in 1826, but which had disappeared by 1830. In February, 1832, Dr. Hitch was appointed to the Levy Court for Caroline County. He was subsequently listed as secretary of the newly-constituted Howard Lodge No. 119, A.F. & A.M., at the time of its chartering in November, 1865. In the 1860 census, Spencer Hitch is described as a bank official in Greensboro, and he played a prominent part in the founding of the now-defunct Farmers and Merchants Bank of Greensboro, chartered on August 15, 1862. Mr. John Boulais has a three-dollar bill printed by that bank, and signed by Dr. Hitch's son, Spencer, who was a President of the bank in the late nineteenth century. Dr. Hitch was born February 24, 1796, and died July 14, 1873. His wife Sarah (1794-1885)is buried next to him in the Old Methodist Meeting House Cemetery in Greensboro. Next to the couple lie two sons. Dr. Hitch's tombstone, quite appropriately, bears the traditional Masonic compass and square symbol."

Spencer Hitch is listed as a minor in the Sussex County Orphan's Court Docket Index for 1798. The Docket is to report on the annual valuation of his lands. (Liber G, Folio 13)

On July 1, 1820, William Laws "of Sussex County" received a deed from Spencer Hitch, his wife Sarah Hitch and mother Sophia Hitch, all "of Caroline County", Maryland. For $548.43, Laws received a deed from the Hitches for 112¾ acres of land. It was described as tracts "Nutters Addition" except ¼ acre which is a graveyard, "Hail's Choice (or Chance)", and "Bradley's Discovery". (Sussex Co., DE Land Records, Deed Book AL-34, Folio 627)

On February 13, 1829, Spencer Hitch bought land for $400 from William and Harriett Turner, all were of Caroline County. The land was a lot called "Ingram" in the village of Greensborough that bounds the road from Purnell's blacksmith shop to the Choptank River bridge. (Caroline County Land Records, TR-Q-190)

In the Federal Census of 1830, Spencer Hitch is indicated on page 269 for the Upper District of Caroline County, Maryland with a household comprised of one male age 5-10, one male age 20-30, two males age 30-40, one male age 50-60, one female age 15-20, one female age 50-60 and one slave age 10-24.

In the Federal Census of 1850, Spencer Hitch was listed in Caroline County, Maryland in household 417 as follows: - Spencer Hitch, age 54, cabinetmaker, $2000 in real estate, born in MD - Sarah Hitch, age 56, born in MD - Spencer H. Hitch, age 16, born in MD - Ann Mathews, age 49, born in MD

In the Federal Census of 1860, Spencer Hitch was listed in Caroline County, Maryland (page 193) in a household in Greensboro as follows: - Spencer Hitch, age 64, bank officer, born in MD - Sarah Hitch, age 67, born in MD - Spencer Hitch, age 25, bank officer, born in MD - Annie Sullivan, age 20, servant, born in MD - Thomas Baynard, age 20, black, born in MD

In the Federal Census of 1870, Spencer Hitch was listed in the 2nd District of Caroline County, Maryland (household 57) as follows: - Spencer Hitch, age 74, born in MD - Sarah Hitch, age 76, born in MD - Miriam Hitch, age 21, born in MD - Joseph Woolford, age 13, black, born in MD

In his will written January 20, 1868 and probated July 22, 1873, Spencer Hitch: - Give wife Sarah Hitch all of real and personal estate, also a mortgage executed by George W. and Ann V. Betson for the sum of $200. Sarah HITCH, executor. Witnesses were A.B. Roe, H.V. Green, M.M. Andrew. (Caroline County Wills, Liber WGN, Folio 374)

Spencer married Sarah Matthews, daughter of Henry Matthews and Mary (?), on 18 Feb 1820 in Caroline Co., MD.¹ (Sarah Matthews was born on 12 Mar 1794 in MD,^{6 7 8} died on 18 Apr 1885 in Greensboro, Caroline Co., MD ^{9 10} and was buried about 21 Apr 1885 in Old Methodist Church Cemetery, Greensboro, Caroline Co., MD.)