Richard Hitt and Elizabeth Easter Stephens
Husband Richard Hitt
Born: appr 1812 Christened: Died: 1843 - (Sumter Co., Alabama) Buried:
Father: Benjamin B. Hitt (1786-1850) Mother: Milly ( -Bef 1847)
Marriage: 11 Feb 1834 - Greene Co., Alabama 1 2
Wife Elizabeth Easter Stephens
Born: Christened: Died: 1845 - (Sumter Co., Alabama) Buried:
Father: Charles Stephens (1770/1775-1830/1840) Mother:
Children
1 F Mary Elizabeth Hitt
Born: Abt 1835 - Alabama Christened: Died: 1854-1859 Buried:Spouse: Jesse H. Sims (Abt 1827-1854/1859) Marr: 20 Dec 1849 - Sumter Co., Alabama 3
2 M Benjamin Moore Hitt
Born: Abt 1837 - (Alabama) Christened: Died: Buried:
3 F Jane Meek Hitt
Born: Abt 1838 - (Sumter Co., Alabama) Christened: Died: Bef 1849 - (Sumter Co., Alabama) Buried:
4 M Charles B. Hitt
Born: Abt 1839 - (Alabama) Christened: Died: Bef 1867 Buried:
5 M Lewis C. Walton Hitt
Born: Abt 1841 - (Alabama) Christened: Died: Abt 1853 - (Sumter Co., Alabama) Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Richard Hitt
CENSUS:
<pre>1840 Sumter Co., Alabama; pg 77
Richard Hitt 21001 -- 01001; 2 slaves
male female
2 < 5
1 5-10 1
10-15
15-20
1 20-30 1
30-40
40-50 </pre>
He is in the sequence David Hill, Ephraim L. Banks, x, Marshall Hitt, x, Nancy Hitt, Drury Sims, 9x, John Altman, 4x, John Hitt, Laz Hitt, Aswell Hitt, Alford Hitt, Willis Ball, Moore Stephens, x, x, Henry Hitt, Benj'n Hitt, 6x, Richard Hitt.
The Hitts are David (1800-1880), Marshall (1802-1870/80), John (1790-1846), Lazarus (1814-1872), Oswell (1812-1877), Alfred (1819-1866), Henry H. (1812- ), Benjamin B. (1786-1850), and Richard (1812-1843).
LAND:
On December 1, 1836 Richard Hitt and Easther Hitt, his wife, sell to Lewis Stephens for $20 all right, claim and title to W 1/2 NW 1/4 S19 T22 R1E in Greene Co., it being all the real estate belonging to Charles Stephens, Sr., dec'd, and their right thereto being the 1/10 part thereof. (G/364)
In May 1840 he purchased about 88 acres in S2 T21N R1W in Greene Co. (K/783) and in January 1841 he and Easther sold it (L/285).
PROBATE:
See Sumter Co., Alabama Orphans' Court Minutes Vol 3, pgs 167, 220; Vol 4, pgs 298, 368.
These documents and others can be seen in the Probate Records of Sumter Co., Alabama at FamilySearch.org, "Estate papers Hitt, Henry J. to Hodges, Philamon", film # 2051643, images 159-310/1982.
Vol 3, pg 167; May 17, 1843:
Benjamin B. Hitt is appointed administrator of the estate of Richard Hitt, late of Sumter Co., deceased. He has given bond in the sum of $1000 with John Hitt and Oswell Hitt, securities. John Hitt, Moore Stephens, Jesse W. Thorn & James Bevers are appointed to appraise the personal property of the deceased, and the administrator is authorized to sell the personal property at public auction and the crop privately.
Vol 4, pg 368; May 29, 1845:
The court approves a final settlement and the administrator Benjamin B. Hitt is discharged from any further liability on his bond.
MINOR CHILDREN:
All of the children of Richard and Elizabeth Hitt were minors at the time of their parents' death. Easter Hitt signed her will July 3, 1845 and it was recorded August 8, 1845. Presumably she died between those 2 dates and her husband was already dead by July 1845. The Orphans' Court appointed a guardian for the 3 boys on November 29, 1849 but not for Mary Elizabeth or Jane Meek. Mary Elizabeth married on December 20, and Jane Meek had probably died. Moore Stephens was the guardian of the 3 boys. See Sumter County Orphans' Court Minutes Vol 6, pgs 442, 500; Vol 7, pgs 62, 325, 518; Vol 8, pgs 149, 370; Vol 9, pg 620; Vol 10, pg 5; Vol 12B, pgs 88, 138; Vol 12A, pg 207. Mary Elizabeth and the boys are often mentioned in the probate of the estate of their grandfather Benjamin B. Hitt. She and her husband have died by June 1859 and H. J. Sims is the guardian of their children and of Charles B. Hitt.
Vol 6, pg 442; Novermber 29, 1849; Moore Stephens, Guard'n of Benjamin M. Hitt & others:
"Upon application it is ordered by the Court that Moore Stephens be and he is hereby appointed guardian of Benjamin M. Hitt of the age of twelve years, Charles B. Hitt of the age of ten years, and Lewis W. Hitt of the age of eight years minor heirs of Easter Hitt deceased and the clerk is ordered to issue to him Letters accordingly he having given bond in the sum of Five hundred dollars conditioned according to law, with Lazarus Hitt and James Bevers securities, which bond is by the Court approved and ordered to be recorded and filed."
Vol 8, pg 149; April Term 1854:
Moore Stephens files his account for an annual settlement as to Benjamin M. Hitt and Charles B. Hitt and a final settlement as to Lewis W. Hitt, now deceased. Jesse Sims with his wife Mary is entitled to 1/3 of Lewis's estate.
Vol 9, pg 620; May 1859:
Moore Stephens, guardian of the minor heirs of Richard Hitt files his account current for a final settlement. The court sets the second Monday in June for a hearing.
Vol 10, pg 5; June Term 1859:
Final settlement: Moore Stephens pays the balance of $288.34 in his account to the court and is discharged from any further responsiblity. It is ordered that H. J. Simms, guardian of Charles B. Hitt, recover of Moore Stephens the sum of $216.25, his share of said balance including his distributive share of B. Hitt's interest in it. H. J. Simms, guardian of the 2 minor heirs of Mary Simms, also recovers $36.04 from Moore Stephens for each of them.
Vol 12B, pg 88; August 5, 1867:
H. J. Sims, guardian of the minor heirs of Richard Hitt, is ordered to appear before September 2 and file an account current and vouchers for a settlement of his guardianship.
Vol 12B, pg 138; September 30, 1867:
H. J. Sims appears before the court. He is the guardian of Samuel Sima and Louis Sims and Charles B. Hitt. He files his account current and vouchers for a partial settlement of his guardianship of Samuel Sims and Louis Sims and for a final settlement of his guardianship of Charles B. Hitt, who it appears died after arriving at the age of twenty one years. An administrator is appointed for the estate of Charles B. Hitt.
Vol 12A, pg 207; October 24, 1867:
Samuel D. Sims, Louis Sims and Charles B. Hitt are heirs of Richard Hitt, deceased, and H. J. Sims is their guardian. The court approves a partial settlement of his guardianship of Samuel D. Sims and Louis Sims and a final settlement of his guardianship of Charles B. Hitt, deceased.
AGES OF CHILDREN:
On March 28, 1845 Benjamin B. Hitt, administrator of Richard Hitt, dec'd, provides a list of the heirs in a final settlement of the estate. (Sumter Co., Alabama at FamilySearch.org, "Estate papers Hitt, Henry J. to Hodges, Philamon", film # 2051643, image 188/1982)
Esther Hitt widow
Mary Hitt -- about 8 years old
Benjamin H. Hitt -- about 6 years old
Jane M. Hitt -- about 5 years old
Charles Hitt -- about 3 years old
Lewis Hitt -- about 2 years old
These ages appear to be consistently too young. Mary married 20 Dec 1849, and in the 1850 census she is said to be 15. She must have been at least 10 in March 1845.
On November 29, 1849, 4.5 years later, the ages are given as follows in the probate proceedings of their mother ("Estate papers Hines, Frederich (pt. 2 of 5) to Hitt, Easter", film # 2051642, image 1998/2008):
Benjamin M. Hitt of the age of 12 years
Charles B. Hitt of the age of 10 years
Lewis Hitt of the age of 8 years
These older ages seem more plausible to me.
General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth Easter Stephens
WILL:
Sumter Co., Alabama Probate records at FamilySearch.org, "Will books v. 1-2 1828-1872", film # 1293803, item 3, image 486/1178 (Will Book 1, pg 258):
Will of Easter Hitt
Recorded August 18, 1845
The State of Alabama Sumter County. Be it remembered I Easter Hitt of the State and County aforesaid on this the third day of July Eighteen hundred and forty five being very sick and weak but sound in mind and memory and Knowing that it is appointed to all men and women once to Die to feel resolute to make my last Will and Testament. I first of all give my soul to God who giveth. and as to my Earthly Estate my three sons Benjamin Moses Hitt and Charles B. Hitt and Lewis Walton Hitt to them I give and bequeath my forty acres of Land and my Daughter Mary Elizabeth Hitt to her I give and bequeath one feath Bed and furniture also one chest and also one side saddle and to my daughter Jane Meek Hitt I give and bequeath to her one feather bed and furniture also one trunk and all the balance of my estate after paying my debts I give and bequeath to Benjamin B. Hitt my Father in law and do set my hand and seal to this certifying that this is my only and Last will and Testament.
Acknowledged Signed and her
Sealed in the presence of Easter X Hitt
Benjamin M. Hitt mark
B. N. B. Hammond
Jesse B. Thorn
On August 18, 1845 Jesse B. Thorn attests to the validity of the will before the clerk of the County Court.
Another version of the will (slightly different) can be seen in "Estate papers Hines, Frederich (pt. 2 of 5) to Hitt, Easter", film # 2051642, images 1996-2002/2008.
In image 1998/2008 Moore Stephens, Lazarus Hitt, and James Beavers are held and firmly bound unto the Judge of the Orphans' Court in the sum of $500 on November 29, 1849 relative to Moore Stephen's guardianship of Benjamin M. Hitt of the age of 12 years, Charles B. Hitt of the age of 10 years, and Lewis Hitt of the age of 8 years, minor heirs of Easter Hitt, deceased.
1 Pauline Jones Gandrud, "Marriage Records of Greene County, Alabama 1823--1860," 1969, pg 69. Repository: Clayton Library, Houston, Texas.
2 "Familysearch.org," "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ3-HSLD), Richard Hitt and Elizabeth Stephens, 11 Feb 1834; citing Greene, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,290,852; pg 74, image 153/701.
3
"Sumter County, Alabama Marriage Records," LDS microfilm 1293884, 885, Vol 2, pg 81.
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