William Hitch

This line, like the connection to Levin Hitch, is believed true based upon the fact that, on January 4, 1826, an administration of Samuel Hitch's estate was performed naming heirs William and Levin Hitch (Delaware Probates Volume A76, Folio 199 and A77, Folios 1-5). More research is required to verify whether this is correct and/or develop other proof for this hypothesis. William Hitch's obituary in the Dec 8 1886 edition of the (Wilmington) News Journal states he is son of Levin Hitch.

On October 3, 1823, John Sirman received a deed from Levin and William Hitch. Sirman paid the Hitches $500 for land in Broad Creek Hundred bounded by Gordons Branch originally bought by John Sirman of Benjamin Wootten, deceased, and adjoining the lands of Samuel Hitch, deceased and Levin/William Hitch. It is land originally bought by Samuel Hitch of Benjamin Wootten. (Sussex Co., DE Land Records, Deed Book AN-36, Folio 139)

On January 21, 1825, William Hitch received a deed from James Marvel, sheriff, for 212 acres of land that included "61 acres of "Cold Harbour", 90 acres for part of "Content", 20 acres of "Double Purchase", 10 acres of "Addition to Folly", plus a sawmill, mill dam, mill pond and 1 acre of land near the mill. William Hitch was highest bidder at $980. This is mentioned as land recovered against Joseph Vinson of George and Hetty his wife for debts of $818.50 and $7.36 when Levin Hitch was administrator to estate of Samuel Hitch. (Ibid., Deed Book AN-36, Folio 539)

In the 1828 Tax Assessment records of Sussex County, William Hitch "of BCH" [Broad Creek Hundred] is indicated in Little Creek Hundred with the following: 209 acres of land 1 saw mill 1829: add mill carding machine from Caleb Ross. 1832: add 221 acres of land from Robert Hitch.

On April 29, 1828, George H. Vinson received a deed from William Hitch. Vinson paid Hitch $1,150 for 212 acres of land and property in Little Creek Hundred including "sundry parcels" and tracts with saw mill dam and pond, this being same land Hitch got from Sheriff James Marvel on June 21, 1825, (Sussex County, DE Land Records, Deed Book AQ-39, Folio 63)

On April 9, 1830, John Sirman received a deed from William Hitch "of Broad Creek Hundred". For $32.60, Sirman received deed to three acres of land in Little Creek Hundred described as part of the land that Hitch bought of Caleb Ross on the south side of the County Road from Laurel to Manean(?) Bull's Mills. (Sussex County, DE Land Records, Deed Book AR-40, Folio 427)

In the Federal Census of 1830, William Hitch is indicated in Broad Creek Hundred of Sussex County (page 161) in a household comprised of one male age 5-10, three males age 20-30, one male age 30-40, one female age 15-20 and one female age 60-70.

In the 1836 Tax Assessment records of Sussex County, William Hitch "of BCH" [Broad Creek Hundred] is indicated in Little Creek Hundred with the following: 1 grist mill 2 houses and lots adjoining Also listed as "Short and Hitch of BCH" with: 1 saw mill 1 grist mill 1841: add house and lot from Philip Truitt.

In the Federal Census of 1840, William Hitch is indicated in Broad Creek Hundred on page 356 with the following in the household: one male under age 5, two males age 15-20, one male age 30-40, one female under age 5 and one female age 20-30.

In the Federal Census of 1850, William Hitch is indicated on page 293 in a household in Sussex County as:
- William Hitch, age 49, born in DE
- Maranda Hitch, age 33, born in DE
- Sarah Hitch, age 15, born in DE
- William Hitch, age 11, born in DE
- George, age 9, born in DE
- Levin Hitch, age 5, born in DE
- Mary Hitch, age 2, born in DE
- Thomas Hitch, age 10 months, born in DE.

In the 1852 Tax Assessment records of Sussex County, William Hitch is indicated in Little Creek Hundred with the following: 1 grist mill

In the 1856 Tax Assessment records of Sussex County, William Hitch "of BCH" is indicated in Little Creek Hundred with the following: 1 grist mill

In the Federal Census of 1860, William Hitch is indicated in household number 1030 (page 457) for Little Creek Hundred in Sussex County as:
- William Hitch, age 57
- Maranda Hitch, age 43
- William L. Hitch
- Phillip G. Hitch, age 19
- Levin Hitch, age 15
- Mary E. Hitch, age 12
- Thomas A. Hitch, age 10
- Annie E. Hitch, age 7
- Samuel B. Hitch, age 5 All persons were born in Delaware.

In 1862, William Hitch is listed as a Delaware States Senator ("History of the State of Delaware", Henry C. Conrad, 1908)

In the Federal Census of 1870, William Hitch is indicated in Broad Creek Hundred, Sussex County (page 434) in a household that consists of:
- William Hitch, age 68, miller, born in DE
- Miranda Hitch, age 53, born in DE
- Levin Hitch, age 23, born in DE
- Samuel Hitch, age 15, born in DE
- Thomas Hitch, age 20, born in DE
- Annie Hitch, age 17, born in DE
- Fanny hitch, age 5, born in DE

William married Maranda S. Short, daughter of Phillip Short and Nancy Hill, on 06 May 1834 in Sussex Co., DE.¹ (Maranda S. Short was born on 26 Aug 1818 in Sussex Co., DE,^{2 3 8 9 10 11} died on 10 Nov 1888 in Laurel, Sussex Co., DE ^{2 3} and was buried about 13 Nov 1888 in Hitch Farm, Near Laurel, Sussex Co., DE.)