Samuel Henry Hitch

Samuel H. Hitch was married on December 23, 1868, two days before his 20th birthday, to Hetty Ann Driscoll. His marriage certificate states Hetty's house was "near Matthew's store." They were married by Lemuel Hall, a Babtist (sic) preacher at Noah Tilghman's.

In the Federal Census of 1870, Samuel H. Hitch is indicated in household 202 (page 843) in the 7th District of Worcester County with a family as follows - Samuel Hitch, age 21, farmer, $100 in personal property, and he can read/write - Hettie Hitch, age 24, keeps house, cannot read/write - Thomas Hitch, age 1 - Harriet Brown, age 70, lady All were born in Maryland.

On January 1, 1878, Samuel Hitch bought land from William H. Dykes and wife and James H. McGrath. For $225, he bought land situated in Worcester Co., 7th Election District, called "Haymans Addition" and "Haymans Great Addition". Bounded on the north by Harry Robertson, on the west and south by Marcellus Brown, and on the east by Allison T. Smith. (WoLR-ITM6)

In the Federal Census of 1880, Samuel H. Hitch is indicated in household 256 in Worcester County with a family as follows: - Samuel H. Hitch, age 32, farmer, born in MD - Hettie Ann Hitch, age 35, born in MD - Thomas H. Hitch, age 11, born in MD - John W. Hitch, age 10, born in MD - Ester E. Hitch, age 7, born in MD - Mollie Hitch, age 4, born in MD.

In the "List of Taxable Males - Worcester County - 1882," taken on March 15, 1882, Samuel H. Hitch is included in District Number 7, Atkinsons.

On April 14, 1883, Samuel and wife Hetty A. Hitch, William H. and wife Henny Washbord, Henry Washbord and his wife, and Mary M. Hitch sold to Levin T. Hitch for $100, 75 acres of land in the 7th Election District called "Heaths Venture" and "Buck Harbor". This was the land that "Washington Hitch owned at his death and on which Matilda M. Hitch now lives." (Ibid-ITM9:574). Note - these were all the children of Washington H. Hitch and had spouses as indicated at the time. It proves that Washington's wife Matilda was still living at this date as well as Henny Hitch Washburn and Mary M. Hitch all of whom do not show up in records after this date.) It is unknown who Henry Washbord/Washburn is but this compiler feels that the clerk noted William H. Washburn twice in the record. The record is signed only by Samuel H. Hitch and his wife Hetty A. Hitch, William H. Washburn and his wife Henny Washburn and Mary M. Hitch.

On April 30, 1883, Samuel H. Hitch gave a Bill of Sale for land to Thomas W.H. White and John McGrath (WiLR Index-SPT1:265).

In the "List of Taxable Males - Worcester County - 1884," taken on March 13, 1884, Samuel H. Hitch is included in District Number 7, Atkinsons.

On July 12, 1884, Samuel H. Hitch of Worcester Co. signed mortgage to John W. McGrath of Wicomico Co. It was for $125 and for land that was "deeded to me this day" by Purnell J. Twigg and devised him by the last will of Thomas Ryan. Witnesses were William J. Riggen and C.C. Smullen. The mortgage was payable on July 12, 1886; however, a note in the record states that John W. McGrath released the mortgage in 1897. (WiLR-SPT6:380).

In the Federal Census of 1900, Samuel H. Hitch is listed in Worcester County, the Atkinson District (District No. 7). These records indicate his household in Election District 106, sheet 12, line 46 as: - Samuel H. Hitch, born 12/1848 in MD - Mrs. Samuel H. Hitch, born 2/1845 in MD - Hester E. Hitch, born 6/1873 in MD - Clarence Hitch, born 8/1880 in MD - Martha Hitch, born 7/1885 in MD

In the Federal Census of 1910, Samuel H. Hitch is listed in Wicomico County, in District 8, Nutters, in a household as: - Samuel H. Hitch, age 60, general farmer, married 40 years, born in MD - Hettie A. Hitch, age 65, born in MD The records show that they had 7 children of which 6 were living at the time of the census.

On October 31, 1914 Samuel H. Hitch gave deed for land to Marion L. Pryor. (Wicomico Co. Land Records Index 1867- 1916, Liber EAT No. 94, folio. 159), Marion Pryor was husband to his daughter Martha E. Hitch.

On November 7, 1916, Samuel was married a second time to Elizabeth Dykes - according to marriage records "at Meadow Bridge." This was a little less than one year after his first wife died. According to contemporary accounts, this marriage was quite controversial especially among the daughters of Samuel as they thought him to be too old (he was almost 69) and they thought it might threaten their inheritance.

In the Federal Census of 1920, Samuel H. Hitch is listed in Worcester County in a household as: - Samuel H. Hitch, age 71, born in MD - Elizabeth E. Hitch, age 70, born in MD

On April 24, 1923, for $10, Samuel H. and wife Elizabeth E. Hitch of Worcester County sold land in Atkinsons District to S. Clarence Hitch and Warren D. Fooks. The 35 acres of land was bounded on the north by land of James E. Fields and Benjamin P. Livingston; to the east by Benjamin P. Livingston and to the south and southwest by John E. Morris. It was the same land conveyed to Samuel H. Hitch from Purnell J. Twigg by deed dated July 12, 1884 (WoLR-ODC46:513)

Samuel Hitch died on August 20, 1924 with the following details from his death certificate: it states death occurred on August 20, 1924 at 1:30pm of gastro-enteritis poison colitis. Burial was at Nassawango on August 22, 1924. Date of birth was December 25, 1848 and he was age 75 yrs 7 mos 25 days. His occupation was farmer. John Hitch (his son) of RR#1, Salisbury signed the certificate.

From his Death Certificate: States death occurred on 8/20/1924 at 1:30pm of gastro-enteritis poison colitis. Burial at Nassawango on 8/22/1924. DOB 12/25/1848 and was 75 yrs 7 mos 25 days old. Occupation was farmer. John Hitch of RR#1, Salisbury signed the certificate.

Samuel married Hester Ann Driscoll, daughter of Thomas Driskell and Mollie Dykes, on 23 Dec 1868 in Wicomico Co., MD.¹ (Hester Ann Driscoll was born on 19 Jan 1845 in Worcester Co., MD,^{2 12 13 14 15 16 17 18} died on 19 Nov 1915 in Worcester Co., MD ¹¹ and was buried about 22 Nov 1915 in Nassawango ("Old School Baptist") Church Cemetery, Snow Hill Rd., Worcester Co., MD.)

Samuel H. and Hettie Ann Hitch were Baptist, having been married by a Baptist preacher and attending the "Old School" Baptist Church. The "old School" church is now Nassawango church (1996) and Samuel and Hettie are buried in the little cemetery in the churchyard.
Married at Noah Tilghman's near Matthew's store by Babtist (sic) preacher Lemuel Hall. From the 1877 maps of the area, Matthew's store is located in the extreme southeast part of Nutters District in Wicomico County, Maryland.

Samuel next married Susan Elizabeth Shockley, daughter of Joshua J. Shockley and Mary W. Claywell, on 07 Nov 1916 in Wicomico Co., MD.¹ (Susan Elizabeth Shockley was born in 1848 in MD,^{2 19 20 21 22 23 24 25} died on 21 Sep 1930 in MD ^{2 11} and was buried about 24 Sep 1930 in Zion Cemetery, Meadow Bridge Rd., Worcester Co., MD.)