Thomas James Hitch

In the Federal Census of 1860, "James" Hitch is indicated in household 1503 in the Salisbury District, Somerset County, Maryland as follows: - James Hitch, age 32 - Betsy Hitch, age 25 - Mary Hitch, age 1 - Fillis Hitch, age 20 (black) - William Hitch, age 14 - Ida Hitch, age 6 All individuals were indicated as born in Maryland.

Thomas J. Hitch was a Union soldier who joined for duty and enrolled on Sep 15 1861 for 3 years. He mustered-in in Baltimore at the Pikesville Arsenal on Sep 18 1861 at age 34. He mustered as "present" through Jun 30 1862, however was "absent" for the muster of June 30 through Oct 31 1862 when he was sent to Alexandria as sick on Sep 4 1862. He was discharged at York, PA in Dec 1862 by a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability which states the reason for discharge as "Phthisis Pulmonalis & deformity of chest". The certificate also says he was part of Captain Samuel A. Graham's Co. D of the Purnell Legion, Maryland Regiment of the U.S. Volunteers, and gives his personal characteristics as born in Maryland, Somerset Co., 5'-6" tall, dark complexion, blue eyes, black hair. His occupation prior to war was indicated as a carpenter. Finally, he appears on the muster-out roll "near Petersburg, VA", Oct 24 1864.

On Sep 30 1862, James Hitch is listed in the U.S. Adjutant General Enrollment for Somerset County Election District No. 9 as age 36 with a note that is already a soldier in the Purnell Legion..

In the Federal Census of 1870, Thomas J. Hitch is indicated in household 4 in the Tyaskin District, Wicomico County, Maryland in a household as follows: - Thomas J. Hitch, age 42, carpenter, born in MD - Betsy Hitch, age 38, born in MD - Mary A. Hitch, age 11, born in MD - James M. Hitch, age 8, born in MD - Willie P. Hitch (female), age 6 months, born in MD.

In the Federal Census of 1880, Thomas Hitch is indicated in District 3, Tyaskin, Wicomico County, Maryland in a household as follows: - Thomas Hitch, age 52, born in MD - Betsy J. Hitch, age 48, born in MD - James Hitch, age 18, born in MD - Willie P. Hitch, age 10, born in MD.

In the 1890 Federal Census of Union Veterans, (Thomas) James Hitch is listed in the Tyaskin District, Wicomico County (ED90), as having been a Private in the Purnell Legion, Company D, where he had enlisted on Sep 15 1862.

Thomas married Elizabeth J. (Betsy) Messick, daughter of Ebenezer Messick and Nancy Johnson, on 09 Jan 1856 in Somerset Co., MD.¹ (Elizabeth J. (Betsy) Messick was born on 16 Sep 1831 in MD ^{6 7 8 9} and died in 1882 in MD ¹⁰.)