Mary (Smith) Pitt (aft. 1670 - aft. 1696)

Born after 1670 in Isle of Wight, Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

Research Notes

• Mary was incorrectly linked as the wife of Thomas Pitt and has been removed as his wife and mother of his children. Thomas could not have been Mary's husband, because she was still married to her first husband, John Hole, when Thomas Pitt's will was proven on 9 August 1688. The idea that Mary Smith Hole wed Thomas Pitt probably began after Thomas died when Arthur Smith joined Thomas Pitt Jr on a bond allowing Thomas Jr. to administer his father's estate.
• in his 1696 will, Arthur Smith named his daughter Mary Pitt and also named her as the mother of John Hole (John Hole Jr.) to whom he bequeathed a parcel of land. If John Hole (obviously his grandson) died without issue, the land was to go to his mother, Mary Pitt.
• Mary, when listed with her two sisters in her father's will, was each time listed last, indicating she was probably one of his youngest children. Brayton estimated that Mary was probably born after 1670, and for now we will use that as her estimated birth date. We are currently using "after 2 December 1696", which was the date of her father's will, as a death date, but will likely change that later.
• Brayton reasoned, logically, that Mary's Pitt husband was probably from the third generation of Isle of Wight Pitts. Of course, Colonel Robert Pitt and his younger brother Henry composed the first generation. Henry's son Thomas and Robert's son John were part of the second generation.
• Brayton felt, and I agree, that Henry (Robert 1, John 2) was probably Mary (Smith) Hole's second husband. For one thing he was known to have a wife Mary. Also, his older brother William married Sarah Smith, Mary's sister, who was later named as Sarah Monro in her father's will, having married Reverend Andrew Monro(e) after William's death. And finally, when Henry Pitt wrote his will, Mary's brother Arthur Smith Jr and his wife Mary witnessed the will.

Sources

• The 2 December 1796 will of Arthur Smith, proven 10 June 1797 in Isle of Wight County court. Isle of Wight County, Virginia Will & Deed Book 2, page 377.
• The John Hole Sr. estate probate. 9 August 1688. Isle of Wight County, Virginia Administrations and Probates, page 70. As cited in John Brayton's book on the Pitts of Bristol and Isle of Wight County, Virginia.
• Brayton, John A. Colonial Families of Surry and Isle of Wight Counties, Virginia. Volume 7. The Pitt Family of Bristol, Gloucester, Charlestown, Massachusetts and Isle of Wight County, Virginia. 2002.