William Hitch ²

In the 1809 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, William Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred with just himself and no property.

In the 1813 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, William Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred with: 1 negro girl, Bett, age 9 2 horses 1 dry cow 3 cows and calves 1 yearling 1 sow and 9 shoats

William Hitch signed as "agent for Sophia Hitch" (his mother) for her accounting of Spencer Hitch's guardian account on Dec 29 1814 (SxGA:loose))

On August 25, 1815, James Butler "of Caroline County, Maryland" received a deed from William Hitch and Nancy his wife "of Sussex County". Butler paid $400 to Hitch for 57 acres of land that included tracts "Addition to Lott" and "Wright's Inclosed." (SxLR-AI32:62)

In the 1816 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, William Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred with: 1 negro girl, age 11 2 horses 3 cows and calves 3 sows and 7 sheep

On May 23, 1816, a letter granted to Gary and William Hitch on the estate of Daniel Adams deceased in Caroline County. On the same date, letters were granted to "Garry" and William Hitch on the estate of Lovey Adams with Edward Pritchett, Roger Wright Jr., James Houston and Fred Holbrook as appraisers. (Caroline County, MD Orphan's Court Minutes (rough) MSA-9988, Loc. 1/3/1/1)

On May 28, 1816, order was granted to Gary Hitch and William hitch to sell the estate of Lovey Adams (NOTE: Lovey Adams was Gary and William Hitch's sister-in-law, nee Lovey Ross). At the same time, Gary Hitch was appointed guardian to Anthony Adams, age 8 years and William Adams, age 6 years, orphans of Daniel C. Adams. William Hitch was appointed guardian to Edward Adams, age 1 year and Margaret Adams age 3 years also orphans of Daniel Adams. (Caroline County, MD Orphan's Court Minutes (rough) MSA-9988, Loc. 1/3/1/1)

On July 9, 1819, William Hitch "of Sussex County" received a deed from Garey Hitch "of Caroline County", Maryland. For $2,376, William Hitch received a deed from Garey Hitch for 264 acres of land in Northwest Fork Hundred. It was described as land formerly that of Clement Ross, deceased, devised to his son Robert Ross including the dwelling plantation that William Hitch now lives. It was near tract "Rosses Choice" and the State Line. (SXLR-AL34:296)

On January 1, 1820, William Hitch received a deed from William Bell and Maria his wife. For $216, Hitch received a deed from Bell for 36 acres of land. It was described as part of tracts "Rosses Choice" and "Rosses Good Luck". (SxLR-AL34:422)

In the Federal Census of 1820, William Hitch is indicated in the Northwest Fork Hundred of Sussex County (on page 260) with a household of four males under age 10, one male age 16-26, two males age 26-45, three females under age 10, one female age 16-26, one female age 26-45 and one female over age 45

In the 1822 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, William Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred with: 300 acres of land 1 negro girl, Kitta, age 19 1 old horse 1 mare and colt 1 yoke of oxen 2 cows and 1 calf 1 yearling and 5 shoats

On Dec 19 1822, John Richards received a deed from William Hitch and Nancy his wife "of Sussex County". For $92.85, Richards received deed to land in Northwest Fork Hundred described as tracts "Rosses Choice" (7½ acres surveyed to Clement Ross), "Rosses Crops" and "Black Level". This record includes a plat drawing (SxLR-AM35:515). On Nov 15 1823, Joseph Vickers received a deed from William Hitch and Nancy his wife. Vickers paid Hitch $1,500 for land in Northwest Fork Hundred including tracts "Save All", "Rosses Fieto(?)", "Black Level", "White Level", "Rosses Lott", "Rosses Crops", "Hoggs Range", "Poplar Level _____", "Rosses Luck" and "Rosses Choice" (SxLR-AN36:143).

In the 1824 Tax Assessment records for Sussex County, William Hitch is listed in Northwest Fork Hundred. (SxTA-1824) On Apr 29 1828, William Hitch received a deed from Caleb Ross and Leticia his wife. Hitch paid Ross $5,000 for 442 acres of land and property including saw and grist mills, carding machine, mill dam, log ways and all other mill privileges formerly belonging to Benjamin Warren deceased (SxLR-AQ39:21).

William Hitch and family moved to Ross County, Ohio between 1828 and 1830.

In the Federal Census of 1830, William Hitch is indicated in Deerfield Township, Ross County, Ohio (page 229) in a household with one male under age 5, two males age 5-10, one male age 10-15, one male age 15-20, one male age 40-50, one female under age 5, one female age 15-20 and one female age 30-40.

In the Federal Census of 1840, William Hitch is indicated in Deerfield Township, Ross County, Ohio (page 416) in a household with one male age 5-10, one male age 10-15, one male age 50-60, one female age 10-15 and one female age 50-60.

In the 1850 Federal Census, William Hitch is indicated on page 130 for Union Township, Ross County, Ohio in a household with: - William Hitch, age 62, farmer, born in DE - Nancy Hitch, age 59, born in DE - Edward Hitch, age 15, born in OH

In the 1860 Federal Census, William Hitch is listed on page 398 in a household in Union Township, Ross County, Ohio as: - William Hitch, farmer, age 70, born in DE - Nancy Hitch, age 68, born in DE - Edward Hitch, age 25, born in OH.

In the Federal Census of 1870, William Hitch is listed in the household of Lina Willis in Deerfield, Ross County, Ohio as: - William Hitch, retired farmer, age 82, born OH - Lina Willis, age 57, born in DE - Martha Willis, age 23, born in OH - Robert Willis, age 21, born in OH - Spencer Willis, age 19, born in OH - Maria Willis, age 17, born in OH - Wen Willis, age 12, born in OH *Note that one child is named Spencer Willis - no doubt after his great-grandfather Spencer Hitch.

William married Nancy Ross, daughter of Clement Ross and Sarah Collins, on 09 May 1811 in Sussex Co., DE.¹ (Nancy Ross was born on 20 Dec 1791 in Sussex Co., DE,^{9 10 11 12 13} died on 03 Sep 1861 in Ross Co., OH ^{1 8 14} and was buried about 06 Sep 1861 in Browns Chapel Cemetery, Ross Co., OH ⁹.)