Samuel Hitch

On May 15 1812, Samuel Hitch was listed as a Private in the Worcester Militia in the 37th Regiment, 10th Brigade in the War of 1812 (Maryland Militia-Vol. 1, War of 1812 by F. Edward Wright). Also, in Jul 1812, he was listed as a private in "the 10th Brigade, A return of the detachment from the 23rd Regt., Worcester Militia".

Samuel Hitch's father, Benjamin Hitch wrote his will on Mar 21 1814 and it was probated Apr 19 1814. In it, Samuel was bequeathed "one bed and furniture" and Benjamin Hitch also states, "leave to my youngest son Samuel Hitch, plantation I now dwell 50 acres pt. in Worc. County and pt. in Somerset County" (WoW:47,48). Samuel was a witness to the will of his half-brother John Hitch who wrote his will on May 29 1828 and was probated Nov 11 1848 (SoW-1820/37:155,156). Also, he was listed as an heir in the will of his step-mother Leah Hitch, written on May 11 1831 and probated Oct 26 1831 (WoW-1822/33:489).

In the Federal Census of 1830, Samuel Hitch is listed in the 6th District of Worcester County, Maryland (pg 255) in a household comprised of one male age 5-10, one male age 40-50, one female age 10-15 and one female age 40-50. In the Federal Census of 1840, Samuel Hitch is listed in the Western District of Worcester County, Maryland (pg 306) in a household comprised of only two males age 15-20 and one male age 50-60. There were no females present.

On Jul 12 1847, he was mentioned when a public road was surveyed to run through the properties of Benjamin Vincent, Samuel Hitch, Levin Pollitt, William Horsey, Thomas Carey, David Brown, Mike L. Dikes' heirs, & William McGrath. (WoLR-EDM1:112,113) This road maps out the property called "Mount Pleasant" on the Worcester County side of the county road dividing Worcester and Somerset Counties. It also depicts an old school and M.E. Church just down the road from the property. In 2018, both are gone, but the cemetery from Zion Church still stands. The road is described as follows: Beginning at the county road on a line and 8½ feet either side of said line between the lands of Samuel Hitch and Benjamin Vincent, thence S82:30E 60? perches to the corner of said Vincent and Levin Pollitt and Samuel Hitch's lands, thence along the line between Pollitt and Hitch's land N7:30W 38½ perches where it leaves the line. Thence, across Pollitt's land with an old road N65:30E 42 perches to a place in dispute between Hitch and Pollitt by a difference of 1 degree and 45 minutes but the commission is directed to run along the old road N89E 5 perches, thence, S50E 10 perches, thence S61:30E 30 perches, thence S66E 28 perches to lands of William Horsey, "a free black man," and Thomas Carey, thence by and with the line between these two N82E 10 perches. Thence, N65E 10 perches, thence N6E 10 perches, thence N14E 13 perches to David Brown's land, thence N50E 12 perches to land of Mikel Dikes' heirs, thence N81:45E 31 perches, thence N48:30E 12 perches, thence N66:30 12 perches, thence N55:30E 13 perches, thence N19E 16? perches to road leading from county road to William McGrath's, thence with that road S65:30E 15½ perches, S36E 60 perches, S38E 28 perches, thence S57E 50 perches, thence S83E 12 perches across branch near William McGrath's gate. All told a distance of 1¾ miles.

In the Federal Census of 1850, Samuel Hitch is listed in Worcester County, Maryland (pg 193) in household 54, comprised of the following individuals: - Samuel Hitch, age 66, farmer, $200 in real estate - Handy Hitch, age 25 - Harriet Brown, age 40 - Rhoda Brown, age 40 - Eleanor Brown, age 35 - Nancy Brown, age 13 - William Brown, age 19 All were born in Maryland.

Samuel Hitch was apparently an amateur undertaker who performed those duties for his brother-in-law David A. Brown who died on Feb 25 1853. Samuel Hitch is given credit in the court records "for Services in attending to the deceased after his death per his account passed by the Court and assigned to William & John Gunby - $6.00." (WoCC-5:331/344).

Samuel Hitch appears in an old James Morris ledger for mill services (Morris Mill outside of modern Fruitland, MD) on Oct 10 1857.
10 October 1857
Samuel Hitch Dr[Marked] Paid
to Sawing 288 feet of Line at 45 Cts a Hundred
----------------------
2.88
.45
14.40
11.52
129.60

On Apr 22 1858, two land transactions took place involving Samuel Hitch and his sons Handy and Henry. These were undertaken probably in preparation for Samuel's death which occurred sometime between this time and the 1860 census. First, Handy Irving Hitch paid $500 to Samuel Hitch for 50 acres of "land called Mount Pleasant situated and lying in Worcester County adjoining land of Matilda Pusey, Isaiah Pollitt, Harvey Vincent and William Hitch". (WoLR-WET1:181). Also, Samuel, Handy and Sarah E. Hitch were paid $500 by Henry W. Hitch for "a tract of land called "Old Buck Harbour" situated and lying in Worcester County and adjoining the land of William McGrath, Thomas Owens and Thomas Brown thence ____ to the three-forked maple containing 74 acres more or less". (Handy was referred to by the name Irving in the land records index; WoLR-WET1:174,175).

1850 Federal Census: Samuel Hitch is listed as age 66 in Worcester County, MD, born in MD.

Samuel Hitch died after he divested his land to his sons in 1858 but before the taking of the 1860 Federal Census.

Samuel married Henrietta (Henny, Ritty, McRitty) Brown, daughter of David Brown and Nancy (Annie)* Tull, on 24 Oct 1820 in Worcester Co., MD. (Henrietta (Henny, Ritty, McRitty) Brown was born in 1800-1801 in Worcester Co., MD and died in 1831-1839 in Worcester Co., MD.)

WoMR.