John Hites, Sr. (3 Jun 1762 – 7 Oct 1834)

Born on 3 Jun 1762 at Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France, John Hites came to America with the army of General Marquis de Lafayette, departing France on 2 May 1780 and arriving at Newport, Rhode Island on 10 Jun 1780 (37, 579). He was among 5,500 French soldiers who landed at Rhode Island. When he arrived in Rhode Island, John was 18 years old.

John Hites enlisted in the Continental Army near New York City, New York and remained in New York until Sep 1781. He was present at the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia and at the defeat of the army of Lord Cornwallis. Following the Siege of Yorktown, John Hites was assigned to a Continental Army headquarters at Williamsburg, Virginia where he served as a messenger, carrying letters to other military stations. In the spring of 1782, he marched to Baltimore, Maryland under General Rochamebeau where he ended his service at the close of the American Revolution (37).

On 5 Sep 1783, John Hites married Catherine Brouwer in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. At their marriage, Catherine Brouwer was 15 years old, and John Hites was 21 (792). Before Sep 1787, John Hites and Catherine (Brouwer) Hites migrated to Virginia where five children were born: Michael Hites on 21 Sep 1787 (1351); John Hites, Jr. on 18 Feb 1790 (567); George Hites on 29 Apr 1794 (794); Christian Hites in 1797; and Barbara Hites on 30 Apr 1798.

Before 1809, the John Hites family migrated from Virginia to Jefferson County, Ohio where John appears on a 1809 tax list for the Knox Township (183).

The 1820 federal census of the Island Creek Township in Jefferson County, Ohio enumerates the household of John Hites, over 45 years old, and a female, presumably Catherine (Brouwer) Hites, also over 45 years old (554). Living nearby were the households of John Hites, Jr., Chrisly Hites, presumably Christian Hites, and Michael Hites.

The 1830 federal census of the Prairie Township of Holmes County, Ohio enumerates the households of John Hites and his son Michael Hites on the same page (555). The census enumerates John Hites of Prairie Township as 60–69 years old and his wife, presumably Catherine (Brouwer) Hites as 70–79 years old.

A Revolutionary War pension application by John Hites states that he was 70 years of age on 24 Jun 1832.

John Hites died at Millersburg in Holmes County, Ohio on 7 Oct 1834 (579). He is buried in the Works’ Hill Cemetery in Holmes County, Ohio.

John Hites Census Summary

1820 U.S. Federal Census (554)
John Hites Household
Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio
7 Aug 1820
John Hites, a: 45+
+ Female, a: 45+ (Catherine Brouwer)

1830 U.S. Federal Census (555)
John Hites Household
Prairie, Holmes County, Ohio
1 Jun 1830
John Hites, a: 60–69
+ Female, a: 70–79 (Catherine Brouwer)

Declaration for Revolutionary War Pension Application by John Hites

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832.

The State of Ohio. County of Holmes. Sct:

On this twenty fifth day of March A.D. 1833. personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas sitting in and for said County of Holmes, John Hites a resident of Hardy Township in said County of Holmes, aged seventy years on the 24th June last past, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted at first under Gen’l. LaFayette in France, landed at Rhode Island in the year A.D. 1780, marched to Providence, in the United States, and joined the Continental Army under Gen’l. Geo. Washington at the Long Plains, so called, within fifteen miles of the City of New York - remained at New York till September 1781. and then marched to Little York in Virginia, and was in the Seige at the capture of Lord Cornwallis; then went to head quarters at Williamsburgh, Va. and was there employed, as an express, to carry letters to other military stations, as I understood the German, French, and English languages, and could on that account better avoid dangers, as it was thought by my officers; and then in the spring of 1782, marched to Baltimore under Gen’l. Rochamebeau, and there ended my service with the close of the Revolutionary War, and was out two years in the service of the United States in said War, and since the close of sai War, have resided in the United States and become a citizen thereof, have a wife laboring under the infirmities of age as well as myself. and am now unable to support myself and family on account of my extreme poverty.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in Any State.

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John Hites
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Sworn to and subscribed this day in your _____.

I Robt. K. Enos Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Holmes County aforsaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the subject proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Hites for a pension.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal of office this

The State of Ohio Holmes County

I Robert K. Enos Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said county hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Hites for a pension

In Testimony of the foregoing I have hereto set my hand and seal of office the 22nd day of April A.D. 1833.

R. K. Enos Clerk