Henry J. Hitt and Martha Jarman

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Husband Henry J. Hitt

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           Born: 1815-1820 - (South Carolina)
     Christened: 
           Died: 1850 - (Sumter Co., Alabama)
         Buried: 

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         Father: Benjamin Hitt , Rev. (Abt 1779-After 1860)
         Mother: Nancy Curnal (Abt 1777-      )

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       Marriage: 20 Jul 1841 - Sumter Co., Alabama 1 2

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Wife Martha Jarman

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1850 - (Sumter Co., Alabama)
         Buried: 

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         Father: Berryman Jarman (Abt 1788-      )
         Mother: Mary "Polly" Wren (Abt 1788-      )

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Children

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1 F Josephine Hitt

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           Born: Abt 1844 - Alabama
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: James C. Mathews (Abt 1835-      )

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2 M Asa B. Hitt

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           Born: 16 Mar 1847 - Alabama
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 Aug 1906
         Buried:  - Starrville Cemetery, Smith Co., Texas 3

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General Notes: Husband - Henry J. Hitt

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CENSUS:

In 1840 Henry, all his brothers except David, and his father are missing from the census.

LAND:

In 1837 9 tracts containing 800 acres in Sumter Co., Alabama were patented to "Henry Hitt". I don't know which ones were patented to Henry J. Hitt and which were patented to his second cousin Henry H. Hitt. The relatively small value of Henry J.'s estate and the fact that no land was mentioned during the probate proceedings suggest to me that most, maybe all, of the land was patented to Henry H. Hitt. See notes under Henry H. Hitt for details.

PROBATE and GUARDIANSHIP:

Henry J. Hitt died intestate, but his estate was probated, and the Orphans' Court appointed guardians for his minor children. See Sumter Co., Alabama Orphans' Court Minutes, Vol 6, pgs 615, 651; Vol 7, pgs 45, 350, 382, 403, 423, 518, 586; Vol 8, pgs 157, 191, 262, 263, 366. No mention is made of his wife, so it seems likely that she died before or at about the same time as he did. She was almost certainly dead by the time of the final settlement in July 1852.

Vol 6, pg 615, October 19, 1850; Estate of Henry J. Hitt, deceased:

Charles Hitt is appointed administrator, having given bond in the sum of $2200 with Austin Hitt and Jesse B. Thorne, securities. James Beavers, Thomas Dearman, Berry Jarman and J. Jones are appointed to appraise the personal property of the deceased. The administrator is authorized to sell the personal property at public sale and to sell the crop privately as the law requires.

Vol 7, pg 382, July Term 1852; Estate of Henry J. Hitt deceased:

"This day came up for action and decree after more than forty days notice given to all persons concerned in adverse interest by three successive weekly publications in the Sumter County Democrat a newspaper published in said county, the account current heretofore filed by Charles Hitt for a final settlement of his administration which shows a receipt of assetts to the sum of nine hundred & fourteen 26/100 dollars & expenditures as per proper voucher to the sum of five hundred & five 26/100 dolls, leaving a balance for the heirs in actual cash $409.00 besides the hire of the Negroes for the present year of ande Austin Hitt who is present being appointed guardian ad litem for said minors, after examination in presence of said adms & guardians by Court It is ordered, adjudged & decreed that said account be received allowed recorded & filed as a final settlement and the adm. reports to the Court that there remains in his hands unadministered Negroes Mary, Lavinia, & Delila whose value is likely to increase, that the heirs are both very young & that a division cannot be effected between the heirs, as his motion be is by the Court allowed to deliver to the guardian of both said wards the whole of said property whenever he may be appointed & such delivery to be a sufficient discharge as to the Negroes.
It is considered that Josephine Hitt by Austin Hitt guard'n ad litem recover of C Hitt Two hundred & four 50/100 dolls
Rec'd this payment in full Sept'r 11 _____ Austin Hitt, Guard'n
& that Asa B. Hitt by Austin Hitt guard'n ad litem recover of C Hitt Two hundred and four 50/100 dolls
Rec'd this pay't in full Sept 11 _____ Austin Hitt Guard'n
It is decreed that Charles Hitt deliver to said distributees for their joint use the said Negroes unadministered & a properly secured note for the hire of the present year.
Rec'd said negroes & note Austin Hitt Guard'n
It is ordered that P. S. C. Strother recover for ________ Two dollars."


Vol 7, pg 403, Sept 1, 1852; Austin Hitt G'd of Henry Hitts heirs:

"Upon application it is ordered by the Court that Austin Hitt be and he is hereby appointed guardian of Josephine Hitt aged nine years & Asa B. Hitt aged 7 years minor heirs of Henry J. Hitt deceased, and it is ordered that letters be accordingly issued to him, he having given bond in the sum of Four thousand dollars Conditioned according to law, with Oswell Hitt and Aba Green securities, which bond is approved & ordered to record & file."

Vol 8, pg 157; May 4, 1854:

Assets for Josephine Hitt $311.91; expenditures $41.35; balance $265.56.
Assets for Asa B. Hitt $311.91; expenditures $39.12; balance $272.79.
Since "the whole of said balance has been paid over to Berry Jarman the acting guardian of both said words, it is ordered adjudged & decreed that the estate of said Austin be _____ discharged."

Vol 7, pg 586, June 24, 1853; Berry Jarman Guard'n of Asa & Josephine Hitt:

"Upon application it is ordered by the Court that Berry Jarman be and he is hereby appointed Guardian of Asa Hitt and Josephine Hitt minor heirs of Henry J. Hitt deceased, and it is ordered that Letters issued to him accordingly he having given Bond in the sum of four thousand dollars Conditioned according to Law with John W. Altman & Nathan Altman securities."

Vol 8, pg 366, April 7, 1855:

The Orphans' Court approves a final settlement of Berry Jarman's guardianship of Josephine and Asa B. Hitt, made with a view to removing the wards and their property to Texas. Berry Jarman has taken letters of guardianship in Smith Co., Texas and he is authorized to remove their property to Smith Co. It consists of $332.97 for Josephine, $340.75 for Asa and the three Negroes, Mary, Lavinia and Delila.

WHO WAS HIS FATHER?:

Since Charles Hitt became the administrator of his estate and since Austin Hitt became the guardian of his minor children, and since Charles and Austin are brothers and sons of Rev. Benjamin Hitt, it seems likely that Henry J. was also a son of Rev. Benjamin. After Austin's death Berry Jarman, the maternal grandfather of the children, became their guardian.

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General Notes: Wife - Martha Jarman

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On February 2, 1850 Berry Jarman of Sumter Co. "for and in consideration of the natural love & affection which I bear unto my daughter Martha Jarman before marriage but now Martha Hitt and for her better maintainance and to assist her in raising her children and also in consideration of the sum of one Dollar" conveys to Martha Hitt one Negro girl named Laveni "during her natural life and then to the heirs of her body to her sole use and benefit free from all liabilities of her present or after husbands" (L/135).

Henry J. Hitt died intestate, but his estate was probated. He died before October 19, 1850. His wife is not mentioned in the probate proceedings, and it seems likely that she died at about the same time as her husband.

1 "Sumter County, Alabama Marriage Records," LDS microfilm 1293884, 885, Vol 1, pg 177.

2 "Familysearch.org," "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG17-4PX1), Henry J Hitt and Martha Jarmon, 20 Jul 1841; citing Sumter, Alabama; FHL microfilm.

3 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 7211875.