Curtis Hitch

In 1789, Sussex County, Delaware, Curtis Hitch signed, along with Isaac Hitch, a 1789 petition to move the county seat from Lewes to the center of the county. Curtis Hitch was listed in the 1790 Census for Sussex County, Delaware, one of nine Hitch households. On Apr 13 1790, Curtis Hitch was chosen to be guardian of Eli Vinson (son of Elijah Vinson), who was over age 14. [SoOCP-1777/92:94]. This was confirmed on Jun 14 1791 when, at the same time Elijah Hitch was chosen to be guardian for Elijah Vinson's sister, Esther who was under age 14. (Ibid.:99). Curtis Hitch was administrator for the estate of his mother Isabella Waller on Aug 29 1791. The inventory amount brought forward was £45.18.7 from Jul 31 1790. Payments to John Pope Mitchell, Isaac Holland for coffin, William Handy and John Scroggin appraisers, money due to the orphans of Elijah Vincent for the money made use of by the deceased received by her as their guardian and retained by this accountant. Distributions to her seven children: this accountant Curtis, Louther, Elijah, Annis Vincent's heirs, Phillis Short, Letty Nicholson's representatives and Lilah Culver. (SoAA-EB16:476/477). Levinah Vinson received from Mr. Curtis Hitch £55.10.5.3 it being the amount of her estate from him as guardian on Nov 27 1794. Testator was Thomas Humphries. (Ibid:716)

In the Somerset County Assessment Record for the years 1793-1796, Curtice Hitch was listed in Broad Creek Hundred and assessed for other property, £45. In 1795, the assessment for 1/3 of a grist mill was added. Total assessment was £45, £45, £90, and £90 for years 1793, 1794, 1795, and 1796, respectively. (SoTA-1793/96)

On Jan 21 1797, Curtis Hitch received the deed for land "Point Patience" from James W. Waller 9¼ acres for £9.5.7½. (SoLR-K:531). On Jan 31 1797, Curtis Hitch received a bond backed by land from Eli Vinson totaling 50 acres for the amount of £200. The land was described as on the north side of the main branch of James W. Waller's Mill beginning at a marked white oak on the side of the pond running the outlines of Eli Vinson's land that his father bought of Nathan Culver. Thomas Humphris and Mary Humphris were witnesses. (SoLR-K:528). On Sep 23 1797, Curtis Hitch received a deed for land called "Gravelly Hill", "Ellis' Chance", and "Ellis' Addition" from Loudy Hitch and wife Betsy, a total of 58¾ acres for £56 (SoLR-L:87).

In the Federal Assessment of 1798, Curtis Hitch was listed in Broad Creek Hundred, Somerset County as occupant of property "situated about 2 mi. from Spring Hill" owned by James Humphris consisting of one dwelling house, framed, one story of wood, size 22' x 24'; one cook house of round poles, one story, size 16' x 18'; one frame milk house, one story, size 18' x 8'; one meat house of sawed logs, size 12' x 10'; contained 40 perches assessed at $150. Also lists one hard log barn, 18' x 20'; one corn house of round poles, 16' x 7'; various land, 111 acres. He was assessed $120 for land. He was also listed as owner and occupant of property "situated near George Waller's Mill about 4 mi. from Salisbury" consisting of one round pole house, 16' x 14' and 136½ acres of land. He was assessed $10 for buildings and $80 for land. (TA1798) In the 1798-1803 records by the Tax Commissioners in Somerset County, Curtis Hitch was listed in Broad Creek Hundred and assessed taxes for 136½ acres of land at 130, one slave under age 8 at £12 and other personal property at £38 for a total of £180 for years 1798-1800. He received 13½ acres of land from James W. Waller in 1801, increasing his assessment for the years 1801-1803 to £195. (SoTC-1798/1803)

In the 1800 Federal Census for Somerset County, Maryland, Curtis Hitch was head of the household with one male under age 10, one male age 16-26, two females under age 10, one female age 16-26, and one female age 26-45 with one slave.

On May 10 1800, Curtis Hitch received a deed for land called "Peace & Quietness" from James Weatherly Waller. It was 13 acres for $60. (SoLR-M:197). In 1801, Curtis Hitch was listed as a co-holder with Thomas Humphreys of Pew No. 33 in the ______ church. He contributed £0.3.0 towards the pastor's salary. (Presbyterian People in Wicomico, John Jacob, Jr.) On May 1 1804, Curtis Hitch received a militia appointment. (Index 51, MSA, B2:33,127). On Sep 5 1804, Curtis Hitch of Somerset County paid £100 to William Elzey of Sussex County, Delaware for 19½ acres of land in two tracts: "Point Patience" and "Mill Lot." It was indicated as bordering land that Nathan Culver sold to Elijah Vinson as well as also Catons Branch (SoLR-P:371).

On Oct 21 1809, Curtis Hitch received a deed for 23 acres of land called "Peace & Quietness" from Esme Marshall Waller for $50. Land beginning at the end of 9¼ perches of the first line of a parcel of land conveyed by deed from James Weatherly Waller to Curtis Hitch and from thence S88-30W 24¾ perches to the end of said first line, thence N55-15W 39½ perches by and with the 2nd line of the afsd deed to the end thereof, thence N48W 15 perches by and with the 3rd line to the end thereof, thence N7-15W 25 perches by and with the 4th line to the end thereof, thence S66-30W 30 perches to the road leading from the afsd Waller's mill to the Baptist Meeting House thence by and with the said road S22-45E 50 perches, thence S17E 18 perches, thence S46E 28 perches to a post on the easternmost side of afsd road, thence N50-30E 50 perches, thence S30E 9 perches, thence N83-30E 11 perches, thence N 12 perches, thence line to beginning containing 23 acres. (SoLR-T:365)

In the 1810 Federal Census for Somerset County, Curtis Hitch was listed as head of Household on page 291 for the Barren Creek District. The household contained one male under age 10, one male age 10-16, one male over age 45, one female under age 10, one female age 10-16, one female age 16-26, one female age 26-45 and one slave.

On Feb 8 1812, Ezekiel Hitch received a deed for 9 acres of part of land called "Ellis' Chance" and "Ellis' Addition" from Curtis Hitch for £18. It is described as beginning 8 perches from the beginning and the 10th line of a tract called "Elliss Addition" thence running with the reverse course of this line to wit S54:30W 8 perches to the beginning of the 10th line, thence S45E 48½ perches with reverse course of the 9th line of the afsd tract, thence N56E 50½ perches till it intersects with the county road leading from Spring Hill Chapple over Esme M. Waller's Mill, thence with said road to the beginning. (SoLR-U:464)

Also, on Feb 8 1812 Curtis Hitch deed part of tracts "Elliss Addition" and "Elliss Chance" to Thomas Humphreys for £11. It describes the land as beginning at the 3rd bounder of tract "Clowlett" at a tree called the "ugly oak" which is down now and a post is in its place thence N75E 15½ perches until it intersects the 12th line of "Elliss Addition", thence with 12th line to the end thereof to wit S57E 28¼ perches, then S70E 4 perches to the end of the 2nd line of "Elliss Chance", thence S39E 46 perches till it intersects the county road leading from Spring Hill over Esme M. Waller's Mill, thence with said road to wit N56W 60 perches, thence N71W 25¾ perches, thence with a line to the beginning, 5½ acres total. (SoLR-U:466)

On Nov 3 1812, Curtis Hitch deeded land, 1/3 of parts of tracts called "Point Patience" and "Mill Lott" and 1/3 of a mill to Robert Hitch for $100. The land is described as beginning at a marked white oak at the northwestern most end of the 3rd line of land Nathan Culver sold to Eli Vinson and on the side of a hill on the eastern most side of a small branch called Caton's Branch and "near to a going over place that crosses" said branch. Thence S87W 13 perches, thence S14:30E 18 perches, thence S45:45E 12 perches, thence S18E 10 perches, thence S18:15W 18 perches, thence S30E 33 perches, thence S13W 10 perches, thence S4:15E 17 perches, thence S41E 10 perches, thence S38W 17 perches, thence S60E 30 perches, thence S4:15E 12 perches, thence S31:30E 20 perches, thence, S55E 44 perches to a marked dogwood, thence N60E till it intersect the 11th course of the afsd Eli Vinson's land 2 poles short of beginning of said course, thence reversing a turning Vinson's course back to said marked red oak. (SoLR-U:397)

In the 1813 Commissioner of the Tax Report for Somerset County, Curtis Hitch is listed in the 1st Election District and taxed for 145¾ acres of land valued at $350. He was also separately listed under the entry for Robert Hitch. (SoTC-1813)

In her will written on Aug 26 1811 and probated Oct 26 1813, Curtis Hitch, along with Ezekiel and Robert Hitch, were listed as witnesses to the will of Sarah Bradley (SoW-EB:194/195).

Curtis Hitch's will was written on Aug 15 1813 and probated in Somerset Co. on Mar 12 1814 and paraphrased as follows: ·To daughter Nancy Hitch, all my pottery ·To son William Hitch, one negro Eben and he to be with Ebenezer Leonard until age 21 to be apprenticed as a tanner ·To other four children Nancy, Elijah, Sarah Cathell, and Leah Hitch; the rest. John Nicholson was Executor with witnesses Thomas Nicholson, Ezekiel Hitch and Robert Hitch. John Nicholson rejected administration to Thomas Humphries. (Ibid:204/205)

On Mar 15 1814, Thomas Humphriss, Ezekiel Hitch, Robert Hitch are bound for Thomas Humphriss as administrator with a copy of the will annexed of Curtis Hitch, deceased (SoBB-EB28:238). Curtis Hitch's inventory was brought forward from May 16 1814, with additions, as $1154.27. Payments were mentioned to John Ellis, Henry Maddux, Eli Vinson, William Hearn, Dr. John Huston, John Wailes, Robert Hitch, John Parsons, Thomas Byrd, Esme M. Waller, William Handy and Joshua Lingo. Administrator was Thomas Humphries and the account approved on Apr 2 1816 and balance ended at $421.57 3/4. (SoAA-EB27:243) That balance was brought forward on Sep 10 1816 and added a debt paid and subtracted money due to Willima H. Irving dec'd, Levina Vinson, William B. Bell and George Waller making new total of $436.91 (Ibid:263). After sales of real estate, the account was tallied at $1342.35 on May 20 1817 (Ibid-JP5:009)

Curtis Hitch's will was written Aug 15 1813 and probated on Mar 12 1814.

Curtis married Hetty Balding, daughter of Caleb Balding and Sarah Cathell. (Hetty Balding was born about 1768 and died in 1810-1813.)