John Hitch

In the Federal Assessment of 1798, John Hitch was listed in Rewastico Hundred of Somerset County as owner and occupant of property "situated near Rockawalkin Branch on the main road leading from Spring Hill to Salisbury" consisting of one framed wood dwelling house, one story, size 26' x 18'; one sawed log hitching (sic?), one story, size 16' x 20'; the assessment contained 80 perches assessed at $120 and also lists one hewed log barn, 20' x 18'; one round log corn house, 16' x 6'; Total assessment was $25 for buildings and $20 for 228 acres of land. He was also listed as owner of three slaves, two over the age of 12. (TA1798). In the 1798-1803 Commissioners of the Tax Received Report for Rewastico Hundred, Somerset County, John Hitch was assessed taxes for 221 acres of land at £175, one male/female slave under age 8 at £1, one male slave age 14-45 at £45, one female slave age 14-36 at £30, two ounces of plate at £16.8, and other personal property at £48.3.4 for a total assessment of £300 for years 1798 through 1800 when all was indicated as going to "Levin Handy of R.I." (SoTA-1798/1803)

On Apr 10 1799, "Hitch's Hard Luck" was surveyed for John, William, Laban, Nancy and Peggy Hitch. Also for Edward Brown and wife Betsy, Joshua Pollitt and wife Sarah, William Elgate Hitch and wife Polly and Levin Handy and wife Nelly. The survey was for a new tract that included parts of tracts "High Suffolk", "Last Choice" and "Maddux's Luck" as well as tracts "Wilson's Discovery", "Hitch's Choice", and "Father's Neglect." The survey amounted to 1256 acres of land.

On Jun 15 1799, Wm. Hitch and John Hitch, with wife Jean Hitch, sons of Joshua Hitch, sold land "Come By Chance" and "Culver's Folly" ("Culver's Folly" was a resurvey of 134 acres of "Come By Chance" by William Hitch) to Thomas Humphries Jr. (Land Records of Wicomico County, 1666-1810, Ruth Dryden, pg 96). On Sep 9 1799, John Hitch gave deed for land "Flower Field" to Jacob and Joseph Morris and Elizabeth Adams. It was for 221 acres for bond on Joseph Morris and £5. (SoLR-L:543). The records mentions John as "devisee of Joshua Hitch". On Mar 8 1800, John Hitch, as "devisee of Joshua Hitch", received a deed for 220 acres land called "Flower Field" from Robert Morris and Polly Ray for bond on Joseph Morris "sevr of Joshua Hitch" and £5. (SoLR-M:70).

On May 6 1800, John Hitch "of Joshua" and "devisee of Joshua Hitch", gave a deed for land "Flower Field" to Levin Handy, 221 acres for £500. (SoLR-N:36). This record mentions Jane Hitch as John's wife. Also on May 6 1800, John Hitch, with William Elgate Hitch and Polly Hitch, Edward and Betsy Brown, Levin and Nelly Handy, Joshua and Sally Pollitt, Nancy Hitch and Peggy Hitch, gave deed for 300 acres of land called "Hitch's Hard Luck", "Maddux's Lot", and "Wilson's Discovery" "on road from Salisbury to Spring Hill" for $500 to Thomas Rencher Sr. (SoLR-M:146).

John Hitch moved to Baltimore sometime around the year 1800 as demonstrated by his listing in the 1800 Federal Census for the city of Baltimore (page 253b, line 5) where his household contains two males age 26-45 and two females age 26-45. On Jan 22 1801, John Hitch and his wife Jane Hitch, and Edward Brown & wife, deeded land called "Hitch's Hard Luck" to William E. Hitch for $2,000. (SoLR-N:67). Mentions John Hitch as "of the city of Baltimore, Maryland".

In John Hitch's will written Oct 29 1803 and probated Feb 7 1804, he names his wife Jane Hitch. Witnesses were George Aires Sr. and Littleton Aires. (SoW-1800/20:81). John Hitch's inventory was conducted Feb 13 1804, brought forth Apr 10 1804 and his account approved May 18 1805 with administratrix Jane Hitch. Total account was $712.26. Payments were to Stephen Collins, Dr. John Houston, William Handy, John Nicholson, John Reddish, Dr. Levin Irving, Polk & Henry, and Thomas Reddish. (SoAA-EB27:20, SoInv-EB26:001,060).

On Jun 11 1811, Stephen Collins and Whittington Polk reported the sale of lands of John Hitch to John Taylor (SoOCP-1811/23:9). On Nov 21 1816, Stephen Collins and Whittington Polk to pay Stephen Dykes, who intermarried with widow of John Hitch. (Ibid:70)

It is assumed that John Hitch had reached age 21 to be listed in the Federal Assessment of 1798.

John Hitch's will was written Oct 29 1803 and probated Feb 7 1804. (SoW-1800/20:81)

John married Jane (Jean, Jeanie) Polk, daughter of Benjamin Polk and Sarah Whittington, on 23 Jan 1797 in Somerset Co., MD. (Jane (Jean, Jeanie) Polk was born about 1774 in Somerset Co., MD and died after 1824 in Somerset Co., MD.)

SoMR.