Henry Hitt and Elizabeth Stephens Ball
Husband Henry Hitt
Born: 1770-1774 - Virginia (Fauquier Co.) Christened: Died: 23 Aug 1830 - Laurens Co., South Carolina Buried:
Father: Lazarus Hitt (Bef 1755-1823) Mother: Eve ( -1819)
Marriage:
Wife Elizabeth Stephens Ball
Born: Abt 1772 - Virginia Christened: Died: 1851 - Laurens Co., South Carolina Buried:
Father: William Ball (Bef 1750-1805) Mother: Sarah Martin ( - )
Children
1 M Jesse Hitt 1
Born: 14 Dec 1797 - Laurens Co., South Carolina Christened: Died: 2 Dec 1864 - Laurens Co., South Carolina Buried:Spouse: Jensey ( -1850)
2 F Elizabeth Hitt 2
Born: 3 Sep 1801 - (Laurens Co., South Carolina) Christened: Died: 11 Sep 1826 - (Laurens Co., South Carolina) Buried: - Hitt Wells Family Cemetery, Cross Hill, Laurens Co., SC 3Spouse: Abraham Hollingsworth (1792-1873) 2 Marr: 9 Jan 1817 - (Laurens Co., South Carolina)
3 M William Hitt
Born: Abt 1805 - South Carolina (Laurens Co.) Christened: Died: 1861 - Laurens Co., South Carolina Buried:Spouse: Millie (Abt 1802-1875)
4 M Henry Hitt
Born: Abt 1810 - South Carolina (Laurens Co.) Christened: Died: 1875 - Laurens Co., South Carolina Buried:
5 M Benjamin L. Hitt
Born: Abt 1813 - South Carolina (Laurens Co.) Christened: Died: Nov 1865 - Laurens Co., South Carolina Buried:Spouse: Elizabeth (Abt 1822- )
6 M Martin Hitt 4
Born: Abt 1815 - South Carolina (Laurens Co.) Christened: Died: 8 Jan 1892 - (Laurens Co., South Carolina) 5 Buried: - New Harmony Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Laurens Co., SCSpouse: Elizabeth (Abt 1816- )Spouse: Mary Anne (1835-1891) 4
General Notes: Husband - Henry Hitt
CENSUS:
<pre>1800 Laurens Co., South Carolina
Henry Hitt 20010 -- 00010; no slaves
male female
2 <10
10-15
16-25
1 26-44 1
>45 </pre>
He is in the sequence Curtis Carnal, 5x, Henry Hitt, 9x, John Pearson, Thomas Hitt, 8x, Drury Sims, 10x, Robert Holingworth, 5x, Abner Hitt, 3x, Peter Hitt, Lazarus Hitt.
<pre>1810 Laurens Co., South Carolina
Henry Hitt 21010 -- 00110; 1 slave
male female
2 <10
1 10-15
16-25 1
1 26-44 1
>45 </pre>
He is in the sequence Curtis Cearnal, Larkin Hitt, x, Benja Hitt Sen'r, 5x, David Hitt, Henry Hitt, x, Lewis Ball.
<pre>1820 Laurens Co., South Carolina
Henry Hitt 210201 --- 10001; 6 in agriculture; 3 slaves
male female
2 <10 1
1 10-16
16-18
2 16-26
26-45
1 >45 1 </pre>
<pre>1830 Laurens Co., South Carolina
Henry Hitt Revd. 00111001 -- 0000001; 8 slaves
male female
< 5
5-10
1 10-15
1 15-20
1 20-30
30-40
40-50 1
1 50-60
60-70
70-80 </pre>
He is in the sequence Henry Hitt Revd., x, Drury Sims, x, Lewis Ball, Elizabeth Hitt.
<pre>1840 Laurens Co., South Carolina
Elizabeth S. Hitt 00001 -- 000010101; 6 in agriculture; 14 slaves
male female
< 5
5-10
10-15
15-20
1 20-30 1
30-40
40-50 1
50-60
60-70 1
70-80 </pre>
She is in the sequence William Hitt Rev., 4x, Jesse Hitt, Lewis Ball, Joseph Ball, Benj. Hitt, 2x, Henry Ball, 2x, Elizabeth S. Hitt. William, Jesse, and Benjamin are brothers. Elizabeth is their mother and Lewis Ball is their uncle.
<pre>1850 Laurens Co., South Carolina
281/281
Elizabeth Hitt 78 F Va $4000 Farmer
Mary Roosin 54 F SC </pre>
Her son Jesse Hitt lives at 282/282. In the Slave Schedule (Aug 14) Elizabeth S. Hitt is the owner of 20 slaves.
MINISTER:
Bethabara Baptist Church Minutes 1801-1881 (Laurens Co., SC; LDS microfilm 22728):
page 23: "The records of the Church from 1795 up to 1805 seems to have been irregularly kept and are entirely lost with the exception of one meeting
"July 25, 1801 -- According to request the presbytery viz John Waller and David Lilly met at Bethabara Church and ordained Henry Hitt a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
The next date in the minutes is June 8, 1805.
From page 3 to page 8 there is a list of male members and on pages 9-21 a list of female members. It seems likely that the first parts of the two lists were created in 1805 when the church began to keep a careful written record of its affairs. Each name occupies the left part of one line. To the right of the name in different handwriting are comments like "Died 1839" or "Recv'd by Experience Sept 12, 1832".
The first entry in the list of male members is "Henry Hitt -- Died Aug 23th, 1830".
Henry Hitt was the pastor of the church from sometime before 1805 until his death and from 1805 onward he was routinely authorized year after year to represent the church at the association, sometimes alone and sometimes with other brethren. He was of course active in church affairs.
August 10, 1805: "In conference we delligated the brethren Henry Hitt John Sadler & Drewry Sims to go to the association"
July 9, 1814: "In conference delegated the brethren Henry Hitt John Sadler and Drewry Sims to look into an evil report about brother Gabriel and make their report of the same to our next meeting"
March 13, 1824: "In conformity with a petition from the Beeverdam church requesting help in the ordination of Mr. Cresman brother Henry Hitt was deligated to assist in that business"
October 9, 1830: "Having lost Elder, Brother Henry Hitt as our pastor application was made to Elder, Brother Joseph Babb and the messengers Lewis and George Ball returned an answer that with the help of the Lord he would supply us as pastor."
WILL and PROBATE:
See "Laurens District Estate Record", Book F (1826-34, LDS microfilm 1029296), pgs 282, 289:
pg 282: On September 27, 1830 the court grants letters of administration on the estate of Henry Hitt, dec'd, to William Hitt.
pg 282: Henry Hitt's will is dated March 3, 1828. His wife is Elizabeth Sevens [hard to read] Hitt. His 3 youngest sons are Benjamin, Henery and Marten. He has 2 other sons William and Jesse. After his wife's death or remarriage his personal property is to be sold and $500 of the money so obtained is to be distributed among the 4 children (Mary, Elizabeth, Susannah and Rainey) of his daughter Elizabeth Hollingsworth. The executors are Lewis Ball and his 2 sons William Hitt and Jesse Hitt. The witnesses are Marten Ball, Williss Ball and Peter H. Boyd. It appears that part of his land adjoins the land of John Hitt.
pg 289: Very brief appraisement of property. Total value is $2926.25 including 8 Negroes $1530.
Probate records for William Hitt are also in Box 36, Package 12 (image 176/1254) of Laurens Co. Estate Papers. They can be seen online at familysearch.org.
Henry Hitt's will (images 178-79) is long and complicated.
South Carolina
Laurence District
In the name of God amen Being Sum what afflicted in Body but of Sound mind and memory praised be god for his Mercies And knowing that it is appointed for all mankind to die and Believing the time of my Desolution is not fare distant I bequeath my Estate which it hath pleased God to give me As follows 1st I Recomend my Soul into the hands of almighty God who gave me also I Recomend my body to the dust Neatly to be Enterred at the Expence of my Executors Secondly I give and Bequeath to my wife Elizabeth Stevens Hitt all my personal Estate dureing her Natureal Life or widowhood Consisting of Negroes Horses and other Stock household and kitchen furniture and plantation tools after paying all my Just Debts fanerel Espences And the prbating this will, my Wish allso is that my Aforesaid ______ sabeth Should give my three youngest Sons Henry ____min and Martin Hitts a feather bead apeace to be as good as my other Sons ware when they Received theirn to be given when they Com to the age of twenty one or day of Marriage, thirdly I now give and Bequeath the Land whereon I now Live Containing three hundred and Ninty acres more or less that is to say I give and bequeath all my Land on the north Side of the Creek where I now Live to my beloved wife Elisabeth Hitt to hold for her Suport if She does not marry until my son Benjamin Hitt Comes to the age of twenty one or day of marriage then my will is that said tract of Land where I now Live be divided as follows begining at the mouth of Drean uppon the Creek at a forked buckeye Corner from there up the drean betwene my two plantations to an old hicry Corner from this Corner to the Back line Joining McWilliams Land in a direction So as to Equally divid the Land and I will And bequeath unto my Son Benjamin Hitt that part Joining Lewis Ball and Abram Hollings Worth which is his at day of mariage or twenty one, the other part whare I now Live, I will and Bequeath unto my Son Martin Hitt at the death or Marriage of my aforesaid wife, the ballance of Said tract of Land Lying on the South East Side of Said Creek Joining Watts Isac Grants and thomas Saulmon I will and bequeath unto my Son Jesse Hitt, I also will and bequeath one other tract or parcel of Land which I Baught of Bejamin Hitt Called the Crawson tract Containing two hundred And Sixty two acres more or less unto my two Sons William Hitt and Henry Hitt to be Divided betwene them as follows Begining at a pine Called the Bullock Corner and then to the back lin on Zimare Carters Land in a direction So as to Equally divide the Land betwene them and I give and bequeath that part unto my son William Whare he now lives the other part Joining Grant and John Hitt I will and bequeath unto my Son Henry Hitt, My will is that after the Death or mariag of my aforesaid wife Elisabeth that my Executors do Expose all my personal property to Sail and from the mony ariseing from the Same that they giv the Sum of five hundred dollars to my daughter Elisabeths Hollings Worths Children namly Mary Elisabeth Susanah and John Rayny Hollngs Worths to be equally divided betwen them as they Com to the age of twenty one in order to make them Equal with my sons for Land, I also giv my two Sons William and Henry one hundred dollars Apeace to mak them Equal with the Rest in Land, and if there Should be a ballance of my Estate my will is that it Should be Equally Divided betwen all my Lawful Heirs, Lastly I nominate and appoint my sons Jesse Hitt and William Hitt and Lewis Ball my Soul Executors to Carry this my will into Execution, a[nd] I do acknowledg this to be my Last will and testiment and hereby Disannul All others wills by me made, to be nul and void Sined Sealed and acknowledged before us this the third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twenty Eight Signed Sealed and acknowledged in presents of us
Henry Hitt
Witness + Martin Ball
+ Willis Ball
Peter H. Boyd
The appraisal is dated November 10, 1830. The total value is $2933.25 including hogs ($70), cattle ($61), sheep ($24), geese ($8), horses ($200), waggon & plantation tools ($72), household and kitchen furniture ($314.25), 8 Negroes ($1530), a lot of corn wheat ($356.75), rough food ($77.37 1/2), cotton on hand ($116).
A sale took place November 25, 1851 after the death of Henry's widow Elizabeth Stevens Hitt. The executor of Henry's estate is still William Hitt. He is also the executor of his mother's estate, and a sale of that estate also took place on November 25.
At the sale of Henry's estate each of his 5 sons bought numerous items. They bought all the slaves and all the horses. Other relatives (Henry Hill, Harrison Fuller, David Owens, Willis Grant, David Whiteford, Aron Wells, Richard Owens, Abram Hollingsworth) bought a few items. There were 31 other buyers, who bought a few items. Total proceeds = $15267.37.
Martin Hitt: Negro man Elijah (waggoner) ($1000) -- $1139.82 1/2
Benjamin Hitt: Negro man Absalom (old) ($507) -- $601.56 1/2
Jesse Hitt: bay mare ($63), Negro boy Willy ($1000), Negro woman Jinny ($900), Negro boy Harry ($695), bay colt ($32) -- $2838.45
William Hitt: black horse ($96), Negro woman Phebe & child Alsey ($545), Negro girl Cornelia ($705), Negro boy Henry ($455), Negro girl Litha ($705), Negro boy Billy ($605) -- $3122.65
Henry Hitt: Negro woman Phebe & children Susan & Anthony ($1200), Negro man Anthony ($900), Negro man Frank ($900), Negro man Albert ($900), Negro woman Julia & child Louisa ($900), Negro boy Joseph ($535), Negro boy Richard ($600), Negro boy John ($505) -- $6520.18
Calculations on images 193 and 194 show the amount due each legatee. The share of each of the 6 children was $2361.10. Each of the 3 living children of Elizabeth Hollingsworth received one third of that amount plus one third of the $500 bequeathed to them in the will of their grandfather.
General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth Stephens Ball
WILL:
South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977, Laurens Co., Wills, 1833-1862, Vol. A, page 141, image 124/263:
In the name of God, Amen! I Elizabeth S. Hitt calling to mind the uncertainty of life, that it is appointed once for all to die, being of sound and disposing mind, and being disirous of disposing of all such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, do make and ordain this my last will in manner following: Viz
I resign my soul to God who gave it and my body to the dust from whence it came.
It my will and desire immediately after my death that my hereinafter named Executor, do sell all of my Estate both real and personal, consisting of lands, negros and horses, and all property of any kind as accumulated by me Since the death of my husband.
It is my desire that my Executor dispose of my clothes by distributing of them amongst my several son's wives.
I will a devise out of the monies arising out of the sales of my Estate, that all my just debts be paid, the residue or ballance of the monies to be equally divided, share and share about, between my Sons Jesse, William, Henry, Benjamin, Martin, and their children.
& Lastly I do constitute and appoint my son William my sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, revoking all others by me heretofore made, this eighteenth day of June, 1844.
her
Elizabeth X Hitt
mark
Signed, Sealed, and published
as my last will in presence of
J. W. H. Johnson
John R. Spearman
H. N. Carter
Recorded in Will Book A, Page 141. Recorded and proven dates not available. W. D. Watts, Ordy. Laurens District. Original will not in files of Probate.
PROBATE:
Probate records are in Box 115, Package 9 (image 911/1255) of Laurens Co. Estate Papers. They can be seen online at familysearch.org. South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964, Laurens Co., Probate Court, Estate papers, 1800-1931, image 911/1255. The will is on image 914.
In the name of God Amen I Elizabeth S. Hitt Calling to mind The uncertainty of life That it is apointed once for all to die being of Sound and disposing mind and being desirious of disposing of all Such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with do make & ordain this my last will In maner following.
Viz
1st. I reseghn my Sole to God who gave it and my body to the dust from whence it came.
2d. it my will & desire amediately after my death That my herinafter named Executor do Sell all of my Estate both real & personal. Consisting of lands negroes & horses, and all property of any kind as acumilated by me Since The death of my husband.
3d. it is my desire that my Executor dispose of my Clothes by distributing of them amongst my Several Sons wifes.
4th. I will a devise out of the monies arising out of the Sales of my Estate that all my Just debts be paid the residue or ballance of the monies to be equally divided Shear & Shear about between my Sons, Jesse, William, Henry, Benjamin, Martin & their Children.
5th. & lastly I do constitute and apoint my Son William my Sole Executor of This my last Will and Testament revoking all others by me heretofore made this Eighteenth day of June, 1844
Sighned Sealed, and
Pulished as my last
will in presents of
her
Elizabeth X Hitt (seal)
mark
J. W. H. Johnson
John R. Spearman
Henry N. Carter
The will was proved April 10, 1851 by the oath of Henry N. Carter. Three appraisers were appointed November 24, 1851. They certified their appraisal November 27. There are 25 items including
196 acres, McGowen Tract $1176.00
79 acres, Sims Tract 395.00
1 Negro woman Sarah 125.00
1 Negro man Elijah (old) 450.00
322 bushels corn 281.75
5 bales cotton 131.135
200 bushels cotton seed 20.00
7 bushels potatoes 1.75
5 bushels seed potatoes 1.00
6 bushels peas 5.625
blacksmith's tools 20.00
The total value is $2727.74. At the sale on November 25, 1851,
Martin Hitt bought Elijah for $580 and 6 other items; total $903.41
Benjamin Hitt bought the Sims Tract for $500
Jesse Hitt bought Sarah for $200 and 6 other items; total $335.42
William Hitt bought 3 items; total $62.15
Henry Hitt bought the McGowen tract for $1310 and 9 other items; total $1344.945
Five other buyers paid $144.02 for various items. Total proceeds were $3294.95.
In the following document the total amount paid to the children of Elizabeth Hollingsworth ($3028.14) is greater than the amount paid to each of the 4 sons of Elizabeth Hitt. For clarification see images 193 and 194 in the probate papers of Elizabeth's husband Henry Hitt. Elizabeth's son William, the executor, also received a share.
Return of William Hitt Exr. of Henry Hitt & Elizabeth Hitt dec'd of monies paid to distributees
paid Aaron Wills in right of his wife $1009.38
" David Whiteford " " " " " $1009.38
" R. M. Owens " " " " " $1009.38
" Benjamin Hitt $2316.10
" Martin Hitt $2316.10
" Jesse Hitt $2316.10
" Henry Hitt $2316.10
proven before 3rd August 1854
William Hitt Exr.
1 Earl J. Hitt, "http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com db: hitthaynie."
2 Beatrice Myers & Vada Phillips, "Benjamin Hitt and Nancy Curnal, their Antecedents and Descendants," 1987, pg 80. Repository: Orange Public Library, Orange, Texas.
3 "Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 151410323.
4 Col. James Leland Bolt & Margaret Eltinge Bolt, Church Cemeteries Laurens County, South Carolina, 1983, Vol 1, pg 120. Repository: Clayton Library, Houston, Texas.
5
"Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 8195694.
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