Peter Hitt and Sarah James
Husband Peter Hitt
Born: Abt 1726 - (Germantown, Stafford Co., Va) Christened: Died: 1810 (May) - Fauquier Co., Virginia Buried:
Father: Peter Hitt (1680/1683-1772) Mother: Elizabeth Otterbach (1689-Abt 1773) 1
Marriage: 27 Apr 1759 - Germantown, Fauquier Co., Virginia 2
Wife Sarah James 2
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
Father: John James ( -1778) Mother: Dinah ( - )
Children
1 F Elizabeth Hitt 2
Born: 21 Mar 1760 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: 4 May 1848 - Woodford Co., Kentucky Buried:Spouse: John B. Arnold (1754-1818) 2 Marr: 21 Aug 1775 - Fauquier Co., Virginia 2
2 M Nimrod Hitt
Born: 21 Jul 1762 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: 17 Sep 1825 - Culpeper Co., Virginia 3 Buried: - Miller Graveyard, Washington, Rappahannock Co., Virginia
3 F Dinah Hitt 2
Born: 15 Apr 1764 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: 18 Jul 1842 - Fayette Co., Kentucky Buried: - Old Lexington Cem., Lexington, Fayette Co., KySpouse: Tilman Kemper (1759-1836) 2 Marr: 22 Oct 1779 - Fauquier Co., Virginia 2
4 M Joel Hitt 2
Born: 26 Feb 1765 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: 9 Oct 1807 - Henry Co., Kentucky Buried:Spouse: Elizabeth Young (1767-1844) 2 Marr: 23 Dec 1790 - Fauquier Co., Virginia 2
5 F Mirriam Hitt 2
Born: 14 Jan 1766 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: 4 May 1848 - Woodford Co., Kentucky Buried:Spouse: Archibald Holtzclaw (1764-Abt 1828) 2 Marr: 5 Jan 1786 - Fauquier Co., Virginia 4
6 F Mary Hitt 2
Born: 6 Jan 1772 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Joseph Barnett (1761-1854) 2 Marr: 12 Jan 1789 - Fauquier Co., Virginia 5 6
7 M Reuben Hitt 2
Born: 25 Aug 1773 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: 9 Oct 1854 - Virginia 7 Buried:Spouse: Francis "Fanny" Samuels (1775-1863) 2 Marr: 18 Sep 1797 - Culpeper Co., Virginia 2 8
8 F Nancy Hitt 2
Born: 14 Jun 1774 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: 26 Sep 1859 - Rappahannock Co., Virginia 9 Buried: - Miller Graveyard, Washington, Rappahannock Co., VirginiaSpouse: John Miller (1762-1841) 2 Marr: 16 Dec 1789 - Fauquier Co., Virginia 10 11
9 M Peter Hitt 2
Born: 1 Apr 1776 - Fauquier Co., Virginia Christened: Died: Abt 1806 - (Fauquier Co., Virginia) Buried:Spouse: Lucy Rosser ( - ) 2 Marr: 23 Aug 1796 - Fauquier Co., Virginia 12 13
General Notes: Husband - Peter Hitt
CHILDREN:
On page 191 of GERMANNA RECORD NO. 5; Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassua-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750 by B. C. Holtsclaw (The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies, 1964) there is a list of the children of Peter Hitt with their birth dates. The author says "The family record of Peter Hitt, Jr., son of the immigrant, now in the possession of the Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies, shows a more accurate account of his children than was given in GERMANNA RECORD NO. 1 (p. 37ff)." The 9 children are
1) Elizabeth Hitt, b. 21 Mar 1760
2) Nimrod Hitt, b. 21 Jul 1762
3) Dinah Hitt, b. 15 Apr 1764
4) Joel Hitt, b. 26 Feb 1765
5) Miriam Hitt, b. 14 Jan 1766
6) Molly Hitt, b. 6 Jan 1772
7) Reuben Hitt, b. 25 Aug 1773
8) Nancy Hitt, b. 14 Jun 1774
9) Peter Hitt, b. 1 Apr 1776
The dates are the same as in Earl J. Hitt's database 'hitthaynie' except for Elizabeth (21 Mar 1760 (BCH) rather than 12 Mar 1760 (EJH)) and Reuben (25 Aug 1773 (BCH) rather than 25 Aug 1778 (EJH)). 1778 is more plausible. It would be useful to know what the phrase 'family record' refers to. Is it a Bible? It would be useful to see the original handwritten record.
ACCOUNT BOOK:
The following is from Earl J. Hitt's database:
Peter lived at Carter Run, Upper Fauquier County, Virginia. Peter operated an ordinary/general store and his account book is still in existence (the original is in the Warrenton Library and a copy is in the Library of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society at the University of Richmond). Peter's account book indicates that he was a member of Carter's Run Baptist Church. The account records generally cover the period of about 1770 through 1780 and his contributions to the church are mingled with the store accounts. Joseph and Henry Hitt, brothers, and A. Holtzclaw, son-in-law Archibald, are listed in the accounts.
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX LIST:
1782 is the first year that a list of men required to pay a tax on personal property is available for Fauquier Co., Virginia. From 1782 until 1809 Peter Hitt is on the list. His widow Sarah is in the list in 1810 but not subsequently. The columns are 1) white males >21 (1783-1787) or white male tithables >16 (1788--), 2) white males 16-21, 3) Negroes (1782) or Negroes >16 (1783--), 4) Negroes <16 (1783-1787) or Negroes <16 and >12 (1788--), 5) horses/mares/colts/mules, 6) cattle, 7) amount of tax, 8) names of tithables >16 in the household other than the person chargeable with the tax. There are 2 districts. "1TN" means the district of commissioner Travers Nash, arbitrarily assigned the number '1'. "2EH" is the district of commissioner Edward Humston, arbitrarily assigned the number '2'. Commissioners come and go; the districts are stable. Peter Hitt is always in District 2.
<pre>
1782 Peter Hitt 1 7 7 17
1783 Peter Hitt 1 2 5 8 23
1784 Peter Hitt 1 2 6 7 20
1785 Peter Hitt 1 2 6 9 21
1786 Peter Hitt 2 3 8 10 18
1787 2EH Peter Hitt 1 0 4 7 7 17 £6 18/3
1788 2EH Peter Hitt 1 4 2 6 £3 12s
1789 2EH Peter Hitt 1 5 1 6 £3 12s
1790 2EH Peter Hitt 1 4 1 4 £2 18s
1791 2EH Peter Hitt 1 4 1 4 £2 18s
1792 2EH Peter Hitt 1 5 0 4 £2 18s
1793 2EH Peter Hitt 1 4 0 5 £2 10s
1794 2EH Peter Hitt 2 4 0 5 £2 10s William James
1795 2EH Peter Hitt 2 4 1 6 £3 2s William James
1796 2EH Peter Hitt 1 4 1 5 £3
1797 2JW Peter Hitt, Senr 1 4 1 4 £2 18s
1798 2JW Peter Hitt, Senr 1 4 1 5 2.35
1799 2TB Peter Hitt, Senr 1 4 1 6 2.92
1800 2CP Peter Hitt, Senr 1 4 1 6 2.92
1801 2CP Peter Hitt, Senr 1 6 1 5 3.68
1802 2-- Peter Hitt, Senr 1 6 0 6 3.36
1803 2CP Peter Hitt, Senr 1 6 1 6 3.80
1804 2SC Peter Hitt, Senr 1 5 1 5 3.24
1805
1806 2TR Peter Hitt, Senr 1 5 1 6 3.36
1807 2TR Peter Hitt 2 5 0 7 3.04 John Lawler
1808
1809 2TR Peter Hitt 1 4 3 7 3.92
1810 2TR Sarah Hitt 0 4 4 4 4.00
1811
</pre>
LAND in FAUQUIER CO.:
Fauquier Co. was created in 1759 from a part of Prince William Co. The land in the 1746 grant is now in Fauquier Co.
"Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants" (Gertrude E. Gray, 1987), Vol 2, pg 14:
Peter Hitt the Younger, son of Peter Hitt of Prince William Co.; 276 acres in said Co., Surv. Mr. James Genn; adj. Joseph Martin, Mr. Richard Buckner, the Great Run, Peter Kemper, Willis, Henry Martin, Rosser's Run. 13 Feb 1746 -- Land Grant Book F, pg 263
For the complete text of the grant see Earl J. Hitt's database 'hitthaynie'.
The 1770 and 1777 Fauquier County Rent Rolls list Peter Hitt, Jr. with 275 acres of land which is most likely the land of the above grant. (GERMANNA RECORD NO. 1, pg 38) According to Earl J. Hitt Peter Hitt, Jr. is in the 1753-1754 Prince William Co. rent roll with the same quantity of land.
Land Tax Lists for Fauquier Co. are first available for 1783. From 1783 onward until 1806 Peter is the owner of a 276 acre tract. After 1784 it is consistently valued at £98 18s and until 1797 he pays a yearly tax of £1 9/8.25. From 1799 onward he pays $1.58. In 1790 Peter Hitt acquired an additional 68 acre tract from someone named Martin and he pays taxes on it until 1806. Finally in 1798 Peter acquired a 200 acre tract from Fairfax and he pays taxes on it until 1806. From 1809 to 1812 (the last year for which I have seen the list) Peter owns one tract of 344 acres. Since 276 + 68 = 344 one assumes that this tract is just a consolidation of the two tracts that he has owned for a long time. In 1811 his entry is "Peter Hitt, dec'd".
In 1789 Reubin Martin and Joanna, his wife, of Fauquier Co. sold to Peter Hitt of the same place for £8 and other consideration a tract of 60 acres being part of a tract patented to Henry Martin February 10, 1729. It adjoins Holtzclaw, Martin, and Capt. William Pickett. The seller acknowledged receipt of £8 on July 27, 1789. (Fauquier Co. Deed Records 10/149)
On February 5, 1791 Denny Fairfax, lately called Denny Martin, nephew and legatee of Thomas Lord Fairfax, dec'd, and now proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia, acting through his brother and attorney Thomas Brian Martin leases to Peter Hitt a tract of about 200 acres in the Manor of Leeds in Fauquier Co. during the natural lives of Peter Hitt, Joseph Barns and Reuben Hitt. The tract is called Lot 238 and the yearly rent is 50 shillings. There are various conditions. The tenant Peter Hitt is to pay all taxes, he is to build with all expedition one dwelling house 20 feet long and 16 feet wide with a brick or stone chimney and to keep it in good and tenantable repair and leave the same in such good repair at the expiration of the lease period, and he is to plant an orchard of 100 apple trees spaced at least 30 feet apart and to keep them well trimmed and fenced and leave them in good order and well enclosed at the expiration of the lease period. Witnesses: Alexander Welch, Stephen Holtzclaw, Rodam (his X mark) Lunsford. Signed Denny Fairfax, Peter Hitt. (13/507)
On January 6, 1802 John James and Elizabeth, his wife, sold to Peter Hitt and Sarah, his wife, for £165 12s a tract of 138 acres in Fauquier Co. being part of a large tract conveyed by Griffin to James and adjacent to Thomas James, Tullosses path, lot # 7, lot # 5, Benjamin James and Jane's Road [sic]. (15/123) On the same date John James sold 5 other tracts of 138 acres to James Thompson and Dinah, his wife, John Bradford and Elizabeth, his wife, Isaac Eustace and Susannah, his wife, Rodham Tulloss and Ann, his wife, and Charles Hume and Hannah, his wife, and one of 130 acres to Peter Conway and Mary, his wife. Those deeds are recorded on pages 124, 126, 127, 129, 130, 285, respectively.
On June 25, 1811 Sarah Hitt, relict of Peter Hitt, Sen'r and Reuben Hitt both of Fauquier Co. sold to Joseph Hickerson of the same place for £282 a tract of 138 acres in Fauquier Co. on the waters of Elk Run, it being part of a larger tract conveyed to John James from Griffin and granted to Sarah Hitt by the last will of John James, Sen., dec'd. It is described by metes and bounds and is adjacent to lot # 5, Thomas James, lot #8, Tullisses path, lot # 7, Benjamin James and James Road. (18/191)
The previous 2 deeds seem to disagree as to whether Peter Hitt purchased or inherited the 138 acre tract. Some clarification is provided by Will Book 3, page 369. Samuel Blackwell and John Blackwell, Jr. had divided the land of John James, dec'd, among his heirs in accordance with his will and pursuant to an order of the County Court. They perceived a considerable difference in the value of the lots and recommended that Peter Hitt, John Bradford and Peter Conway, who held the lots of greatest value, pay compensation to the other legatees. The court accepted their recommendation April 26, 1802. Peter Hitt is to pay £22 13/4.5 to Isaac Eustace, £16 15/1.5 to Rodham Tulloss and £26 12/4.5 to Charles Hume. Peter Conway is to pay £16 15/1.5 to James Thompson and £7 17/9 to Isaac Eustace. John Bradford is to pay £3 18/10.5 to Charles Hume. The 7 men mentioned in Will Book 3/369 are the same men mentioned in Deed Book 15/123--130, 285, and they are the sons-in-law of the John James who died in 1778. The John James of the 1802 deed is a son of the John James who died in 1778. The 1777 will of his father states that sons Thomas and Benjmain are not to come into possession of their inheritance until after the death of their mother. There is no such stipulation relative to son John, but presumably it applied to him as well. According to Earl J. Hitt Dinah James (widow of the John James who died in 1778) died in 1800. Presumably only then did John James, the son, come into possession of the tract that he was selling to his 7 brothers-in-law. It MIGHT be the case that he first sold the land to his 7 brothers-in-law after which a court ruled that his 7 sisters and their husbands were entitled to the land without having to pay him for it. Everyone kept the tract that he had 'bought' and a court-ordered adjustment was made. In the 1777 will John James inherited a 500 acre tract. I don't know whether that tract included any of the land he was selling in 1802. 6*138 + 130 = 958.
For tax purposes Fauquier Co. was divided into 3 districts. With one exception all the land that any Hitt owned was in one or the other of 2 of those districts. The one case in which someone named Hitt owned land in the third district is the 138 acre tract just mentioned. It was owned by Peter Hitt from 1801 until 1811.
According to a deed (18/186) Peter Hitt owned a tract of 417 acres when he died. For details see notes under his youngest son Peter, Jr. regarding the minor children of Peter, Jr.
BIRTH YEAR:
The year of his birth is just a guess. See notes under his father.
WAR of INDEPENDENCE:
The Peter Hitt who was a soldier in the War of Independence is "Peter on the river" (Peter, John, Peter), not this Peter Hitt. Earl J. Hitt points out that several DAR records incorrectly attribute military service to this Peter Hitt. He lists 7 of them.
WILL and PROBATE:
Peter Hitt's will can be seen at Earl J. Hitt's database 'hitthaynie'. Earl says that the will is on page 153 of Fauquier Co. Will Book 5. It is not on page 153 nor is it in the index to Book 5. I assume it is somewhere, but I do not know where. What is on page 152 of Book 5 is an inventory and appraisement of Peter Hitt's estate. There are 78 items in all with a total value of $3990.69. On page 153 is the way in which Peter Hitt's slaves were divided among his heirs. In the following list the name of the slave is followed by the appraised value and the heir to whom he/she was assigned.
<pre>
Mournfull $ 10
Penders 200
Norfil & child 300 Joel Hitt owes $62.78
Brookes 330
George 300
Robin 250 John Miller owes 12.78
Insey 100 Archibald Holtzclaw is owed 37.22
Anthony 175 John Arnold is owed 62.22
Benjamin 100
Esau, Jacob twins 140
Harry 300 Reuben Hitt owes 62.78
Bill 270 Diner Kemper owes 32.78
Jacks 250 Nimrod Hitt owes 12.78
George, Jr. with one eye 150 George James owes 2.78
Judy 150 Joseph Bennett is owed 87.22
Molly 100 Archibald Holtzclaw
Nancy 90 George James
</pre>
The 6 unassigned slaves are presumably the dower property of Peter Hitt's widow Sarah. Their value is $1080. The value of the others is $2135. The total is $3215 and $1080 is close to 1/3 of $3215. There are 9 separate heirs and 1/9 * $2135 = $237.22. Each heir either owes or is owed an adjustment so that the net worth of what he receives is $237.22.
Apart from the slaves there are other items in the inventory worth $785.69. Also on page 153 is a similar distribution of other property which I was never able to figure out.
On pages 169-171 of Book 5 is the division of Peter Hitt's land among his heirs. Three commissioners appointed by the County Court have assigned a lot to each legatee and their report is dated February 2, 1810. There are 10 lots. Lot 1 (the dower lot) contains 139 acres and lots 2-10 each contain 30 3/4 acres. The total is 415 3/4 acres. There is a plat showing the relative positions of the lots, and each is described by metes and bounds, but there is no indication as to which heir got which lot.
On pages 201-02 of Book 5 is a report of the sale of Peter Hitt's personal property. It is signed George James, administrator. He bought 49 items and 5 other buyers bought 7 items. His report was returned and ordered to be recorded May 27, 1811.
On page 217 of Book 5 is the following statement dated July 22, 1811: "Agreeable to the annexed order we the undersigned have made sale of the land of Peter Hitt, deceeased, and have taken an obligation from Reuben Hitt the purchaser with William James as security for the same and bond returned herewith." My interpretation of this statement is that Reuben Hitt is buying all of his father's land from the other heirs.
A deed (Fauquier Deed Records 18/186), more fully described in the notes under Peter Hitt III, states that his father Peter Hitt II died intestate. That statement casts further doubt on the will found in Earl J. Hitt's database.
The text of the will from Earl J. Hitt's database follows:
"Peter Hitt's will was recorded in Fauquier County on 28 May 1810. (Fauquier County, Virginia Will Book 5, page 153). The complete will is as follows:
In the name of God, Amen. I, Peter Hitt of the County of Fauquier and Commonwealth of Virginia, being advanced in life but of perfect sense and memory, thanks be to Almighty God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following; viz.: I bequeath my precious and immortal soul to Almighty God who gave it in full hope of pardon and remission of all sins and transgressions through the mediatation of my blessed Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and my body I desire may be decently buried at the discretion of my executor, hereafter named. As to such worldly estate wherewith God hath blessed me, I dispose of the same in following. (to wit). Then I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Sarah Hitt, during her natural life for her support all the land I possess in the County of Fauquier except at least of two hundred acres heretofore given to my son, Reuben Hitt, but not yet conveyed; also one negro woman named Pender and her daughters, Sarah and Brooks; also Harry, Bill, George and Bobb; also four horses, choice of my stock and my wagon and gear and all the plantation vessels; all the stock of horned cattle that may be on my estate at my death, also twenty sheep, choice of my flock, also twenty head of hogs, choice of my stock; and all my household and kitchen furniture for and during her natural live only. Then I give to my son, Nimrod Hitt, after the death of his mother, also one bed and furniture, one cow and calf, two ewes and lambs, one sow and pigs, which is all property to Nimrod who shall will to whom he pleases if he lives longer than his mother, but should he decease before his mother, in that case it is my will that the aforesaid property willed to him be equally divided among my other children or their representatives. Then I give and bequeath to the heirs of Peter Hitt, Jr., lawfully begotten of his body, the land I bought of Reuben Martin and one negro girl named Filler and her increases forever, which said property I estimate at one hundred and twenty pounds, the negroes now in possession of the widow of Peter Hitt, deceased. Then I give and bequeath to my son, Reuben Hitt, and his heirs the lease of two hundred acres of land he formerly lived on and which is heretofore excepted and one negro boy named Cato now in possession of my son Reuben Hitt, which said property in addition to what I have formerly given and moneys paid for him, I estimate at one hundred and twenty pounds. Then it is my will and desire that all my personal estate not heretofore willed to my wife be sold at my death on such terms as my executor, hereafter named, may think best for the interest of my legatees and the money arising from such sale be divided between my children hereafter named; to wit, Elizabeth Small, Diana Kemper, Miriam Holtzclaw, Molly Barnett, Nancy Miller or their lawful heirs and the heirs of Joel Hitt, deceased, so as to make the dividend equal to one hundred and twenty pounds which my two sons, Peter and Reuben, have received and after the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds be received by my five daughters or their heirs and the heirs of Joel Hitt, deceased, that the residue of my estate at the death of my wife, Sarah Hitt, be equally divided between all my children or their representatives (except my son Nimrod whom I exclude from such division). Then it is my will that my tract of land on Elk Run which I got by my wife be sold at the death of my wife upon the terms that my other estate may be sold, upon which I leave discretionary with my executor and the money arising from such sale to be divided as above. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my son-in-law John Miller my only executor to this my last will and testament, revoking all other wills and testaments by me made. Signed with my hand and dated this the 26th of April 1808.
Peter Hitt
Witnesses: Arthur Gladstone
Mary Shaw"
General Notes: Wife - Sarah James
CENSUS:
<pre>1810 Fauquier Co., Virginia
Sarah Hitt 00001 -- 00001; 9 slaves
male female
<10
10-15
16-25
26-44
1 >45 1 </pre>
She is next to her son Reuben Hitt.
1 B. C. Holtzclaw, Ancestors and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750, 1964; Germanna Record No. 5; The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, pg 482.
2 Earl J. Hitt, "http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com db: hitthaynie."
3 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 80954540.
4 "Fauquier County Virginia Marriage Bonds and Returns," microfilm, Vol 1, pgs 160, 441. Repository: Clayton Library, Houston, Texas.
5 "Fauquier County Virginia Marriage Bonds and Returns," microfilm, Vol 1, pgs 250, 445. Repository: Clayton Library, Houston, Texas.
6 "Familysearch.org," "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR8X-GY7 : 6 August 2020), Joseph Barnett, 1789.
7 Virginia, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index 1853-1917, Repository: http://www.ancestry.com.
8 John Vogt & T. William Kethley, Jr, "Culpeper County, Virginia Marriages 1780 -- 1853," 1986, Repository: Clayton Library, Houston, Texas.
9 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 80954179.
10 "Fauquier County Virginia Marriage Bonds and Returns," microfilm, Vol 1, pgs 275, 446. Repository: Clayton Library, Houston, Texas.
11 "Familysearch.org," "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRDV-WYQ : 6 August 2020), John Miller, 1789.
12 "Fauquier County Virginia Marriage Bonds and Returns," microfilm, Vol 2, pg 56; Vol 1, pg 456. Repository: Clayton Library, Houston, Texas.
13
"Familysearch.org," "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRDV-6XF : 6 August 2020), Peter Hitt, 1796; pg 56, image 294/688.
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