Benjamin L. Hitt (abt. 1813 - 1865)

Born about 1813 in Laurens, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Died Nov 1865 at about age 52 in Laurens, South Carolina, United States

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Biography

Census

1840 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[1]
Benj. Hitt 00001 -- 1001; 1 in agriculture; no slaves
male female
< 5 1
5-10
10-15
15-20 1
1 20-30
30-40

He 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.

1850 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[2]
62/62
Benjamin Hitt 39 M SC $2000 Farmer
Elizabeth Hitt 28 F SC
Ellen Hitt 11 F SC
Ellis Hitt 9 M SC
Mary A. Hitt 7 F SC
Henry Hitt 5 M SC
Rainey Hitt 3 M SC

His brother Martin Hitt lives at 63/63. In the Slave Schedule he is the owner of 5 slaves (July 29).

1860 Laurens Co., South Carolina, p.o. Cross Hill; June 14; pg 40 ^[3]
335/321
Benj'n Hitt 45 MW SC $3500/$11000 Farmer
Ella Hitt 20 FW SC
Ellis Hitt 18 MW SC
Mary Hitt 16 FW SC
H'y Hitt 14 MW SC
Reine Hitt 12 MW SC
Lucy Hitt 10 FW SC
Sarah Hitt 8 FW SC

In the Slave Schedule he is the owner of 11 slaves. He is is the sequence Jesse Hit, Henry Hitt, Benj'n Hitt, Martin Hitt, 6x, Benj'n Hitt. The first 4 are brothers; the last is their nephew.

Military Service

According to Confederate State Roster -- South Carolina, Vol. II (Unit Roster), H. M. Fuller, Cpl., Benjamin L. Hitt, and Martin Hitt were in 5th St. Troops Co. D.

For an explanation of State Troops see

https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/5th_Regiment,_South_Carolina_State_Troops

In concern for further assault from the Federal troops, the Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, requested that the governor supply men for 'local defense and special services'. In the summer of 1863 a call went out for enlistments which resulted in five regiments being created and they became known as the South Carolina State Troops. The initial enlistment was to be for 6 months but the men could be called upon to serve longer. Most of the men were taken from existing militia regiments.

The 5th Regiment, South Carolina State Troops was organized in July 1863 and by mid August they had twelve fully organized regiments [sic; should be 'companies']. It was also known as the 5th Regiment, South Carolina Militia and did not go into active service until September 11, 1863.

Company D - many men from Laurens District

Probate

Probate records for Benjamin L. Hitt are in Box 156, Package 18 (image 777/1339) of Laurens Co. Estate Papers. They can be seen online at familysearch.org.

On January 31, 1866 H. L. Hitt, Henry __, and Aaron Wells are bound to W. H. Langston, Esq., Ordinary for the District of Laurens, in the amount of $5000 to guarantee that H. L. Hitt will faithfully perform his duties as administrator of the estate of B. L. Hitt, dec'd.

The appraisal report is dated February 14, 1866. The most valuable items are the horses and mules (bay mare Mollie ($75), black mare mule ($100), sorrel mare ($75), bay horse George ($125), bay horse Jess ($75), bay mare Mary ($150)). In contrast a cow and calf ($8), 1 bull ($12), 11 head of sheep ($11) are much less valuable. The total is $1376.55. Cash on hand = $214.12. Four notes (Henry Hitt ($378.50), H. L. Hitt ($100), two others ($15)) are considered to be solvent. Three notes on Jesse Hitt ($14.17) and $1600 in Confederate bonds are considered to be insolvent.

A sale took place on February 15, 1866. Mr. H. L. Hitt bought numerous items including 1 bay mare Moly ($103), 1 black mare mule ($163), 1 bay horse George ($125), and part of the homestead tract of land ($250). His total was $1371.33. Mr. Rainey Hitt bought numerous items including 1 bay mare Mary ($159) and 1 sorrel mare Sallie ($81). His total was $309.75. Mr. Martin Hitt bought 11 items ($6.39). Miss Mary Hitt bought numerous items for $58.20. Mr. Henry Hitt Senr. bought 5 items for $5.55. Miss Lucy Hitt bought 1 bed and furniture ($20) and 1 large chest ($1). Miss Sallie Hitt bought 1 bed and furniture ($12.50) and 1 slate ($.10). Mr. Willis Dandy bought Jesse ($60). Eighteen other buyers bought small amounts. Total proceeds were $1877.49.

From 1866 through 1882 H. L. Hitt presents an annual report. Then in an undated petition to the probate court Raney Hitt says that he is an heir at law of Benjamin L. Hitt, dec'd, that Henry L. Hitt is the administrator and has had the estate in his hands for a great number of years, and that the estate should be settled. The result is a citation, Rainey Hitt, plaintiff, against H. L. Hitt as adm. of B. L. Hitt, dec'd, defendant. The defendant responds on December 10, 1884 through an attorney (image 824), stating that he as admin. is largely in advance of the estate of his intestate and has not funds of the estate in his hands sufficient to pay the expenses of a final settlement, that Ella Hill, Lucy Mounce and Sallie Kelley are children and distributees of the said Benjamin L. Hitt and reside in the state of Mississippi and are not made parties to this proceeding, that Mary Hitt one of the children of the said B. L. Hitt has died since the intestate and no administrator has been appointed in this state on her estate, wherefore the said H. L. Hitt prays that the citation may be discharged and dismissed with his costs.

The citation was presumably dismissed because on November 17, 1892 H. L. Hitt petitioned the court to be discharged from his duties as administrator. He was discharged. There is no record as to how the estate was settled.

The following 2 documents copied from Earl J. Hitt's database further elucidate the matter:

State of Mississippi, Lee County Whereas I have an interest in the estate of my father, Benjamin L. Hitt, deceased, both real and personal and whereas Henry L. Hitt the administrator of the personal estate bought the real estate giving a statutory mortgage on the same. Now know all men by these presents, that I, Lucy Mounce of Lee County, State of Ms, do hereby constitute and appoint my brother Rainey Hitt, my lawful attorney and is to receive my share in the real and personal estate of my father, Benjamin L. Hitt, of the County of Laurens, State of S.C. .. this day March, 1885.
Signed: Lucy Mounce
In presence of: William Wineless and B. L. Wilson.

State of Texas, Ellis County. Sallie (Hitt) Kelly to Rainey Hitt.
Deed of Release of Rainey Hitt, et al to Henry L. Hitt; Whereas, Benjamin L. Hitt, late of the county of Laurens, and State of S. C., departed this life on the .... day of November 1865, leaving as his only heirs at law, his children: Henry L. Hitt, Rainey Hitt, Ella Hitt who previously intermarried with Henry Hill, Lucy Hitt who afterwards intermarried with M. L. Mounce, Sallie Hitt who married a Kelly and Mary Hitt who died.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRY-WB8 : Fri Mar 08 00:04:27 UTC 2024), Entry for Benj Hitt, 1840.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8QJ-86D : Sun Mar 10 16:47:49 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin Hitt and Elizabeth Hitt, 1850.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZT8-LDS : Sun Mar 10 17:06:11 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjn Hitt and Ella Hitt, 1860.

• Federal census