Loading...Contents |
Biography
February 7, 1758 -- Isaac Hite, Jr. was born at Long Meadow, Frederick County, Colony of Virginia. He was a son of Isaac Hite and Alida Elenor Elting
Major Hite was a large land-holder. At an early date, he established mills and factories, employing skilled labor brought from the old country.
Isaac (24) married Eleanor Conway Madison (22) (born on February 14, 1760 in Montpellier, Orange County, Virginia; daughter of Colonel James Madison Sr. and Eleanor Rose (Conway) Madison) on January 2, 1783 in [1]. Their children were:
- James Madison Hite was born on April 10, 1788 and died on December 8, 1791, at age 3
- Eleanor Conway Hite (1789–1830) .
- James Madison Hite (1793–1860)
After the wedding, the couple traveled in "a yellow chariot, with horses tandem, and mounted postilions" to their home at the "Old Hall" which was about four miles from the house called Long Meadows the home of Isaac's father. Old Hall was said to be older than Long Meadows itself and was possibly the first home built by Baron Heydt soon after his arrival in the Shenandoah Valley.
While the Major and his wife lived at Old Hall, they built a lavish home known as Belle Grove. Visitors to Belle Grove included Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Jr., Generals Dabney H. Maury and John Smith, and others. This home had its place in Civil War History. It was the headquarters of every Federal Army campaign. General Sheridan’s headquarters were there (Oct 19, 1864) the time of his notable ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, and also on the 5th, 6th, 7th of October , the 3 days called “the days of burning”. Six of Maj Hite’s grandsons gave their lives for the “lost cause”: Cornelius Hite Davison, J. Fontaine Hite, Jr, Irvine Hite, William Meade Hite, George Smith Hite, Hugh Scott Hite. A great grandson lost his arm at Cedar Creek, Oct 19, 1864.[2]
Isaac (45) married Ann Tunstall Maury (21) (born on September 5, 1782 in Virginia; daughter of Rev. John Walker Maury and Mary Stith (Grymes) Maury) on December 1, 1803 in Virginia. Ann Maury was the daughter of the Rev. Walker Maury, who married Isaac and his first wife, Nelly Madison. Ann was only two at the time Isaac married his first wife.[2][3]
Their children were:
- Anne Maury Hite (1805–1833) .
- Isaac Fontaine Hite (1807–1884) .
- Mary Eltinge Hite (1808–1866) .
- Rebecca Grymes Hite (1811–1851) .
- Walker Maury Hite (1811– ) .
- Sarah Clark Macon Hite (1812–1896) .
- Penelope Elizabeth Hite (1814–1838) .
- Hugh Holmes Hite (1816– ) .
- Cornelius Baldwin Hite (1818–1843)
Unfortunately, his beautiful estate and comfortable life was made possible by slavery - he owned 101 slaves in 1820. [4]
Major Hite had 13 children, three by his first wife, and ten by his last. All lived to be married except the eldest, who died at the age of 4. All his sons graduated at William and Mary College in Williamsburg or the University of Virginia at Charlottesville.
He died November 24, 1836 in Belle Grove, Middletown, Frederick, Virginia; burial in Hite Cemetery, Long Meadow, Frederick, Virginia.
Revolutionary War Military Service
Isaac Hite, Jr. was a student at William and Mary College at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, and enlisted in the 8th Virginia Regiment under Colonel Muhlenberg, as a private. Subsequently, Isaac Hite Jr. became an Ensign and Lieutenant sucessively.
Isaac acted as aide to General Muhlenberg at the 1781 siege of Yorktown.
In his private notebook, in his own handwriting, Isaac Hite Jr. recorded the events of each day of the siege, the number of officers, arms, and men surrendered, and also, the articles of capitulation.
Isaac stated as follows:
- On September 28, 1781, the allied armies moved on Yorktown in two columns from Williamsburg.
- September 29, 1781, the ensuing night, ye enemy evacuated their outworks.
- October 1, 1781: Began throwing up our first parallel.
- October 9, 1781: In ye afternoon, our batteries were opened
- Sunday, [October] 14, 1781: An hour after dark, two redoubts of ye enemy were stormed, and carried by ye French and American Light Infantry; etc., to the 19th, when ye articles of capitulation were signed.
- October 19, 1781: In the afternoon, ye British marched out of Yorktown, and ground their arms; etc.
After the close of the Revolutionary War, Isaac Hite, Jr., was commissioned a Major in the militia of Frederick County, Virginia; hence his title. [5]
Later life
In 1783 Major Hite and Eleanor Conway Madison married. She was a sister of James Madison, Jr., who would be elected the fourth President of the United States.
Isaac was a lover of flowers, and imported a variety of seeds, bulbs, and tuberous roots. His orchards and vineyards were very large; and he always kept a Dutch or German vinedresser.
He was always a student; and watched with keen interest every scientific discovery; and, too, the politics of America and England, as well as of Europe, generally.
He was a personal friend and admirer of Thomas Jefferson, and his disciple in politics. [6]
November 24, 1836 -- Major Isaac Hite Jr. died at Virginia, United States. [7]
Descendants
Two of Major Hite's granddaughters, Mary Briscoe Baldwin and Sallie Davison joined the Protestant Church Mission to the Greeks at Athens. Sallie Davison was known as the "Good Lady Mary." Sallie Davison was Florence Nightingale's assistant in the hospitals during Crimean War. [8]
Six of Major Hite's grandsons died fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War.
Slaves
See Slaves of Isaac Hite, Jr., Virginia for a full accounting of the enslaved held by Isaac Hite and family.
Sources
- ↑ Bible Records, Card Index, "Virginia Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ7G-WR4. Accessed on October 12, 2015). Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia. Digital Folder Number 004839858, Image Number 00332. See image.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pecquet du Bellet, Louise, Edward Jaquelin, Martha Cary Jaquelin. Prominent Virginia Families, Volume 4 p. 367.
- ↑ Bible Records, Card Index, "Virginia Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ7G-WR4 : accessed 12 October 2015
- ↑
1820 Census:
"1820 United States Federal Census"
Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Pugh, Frederick, Virginia; Page: 9; NARA Roll: M33_138; Image: 21
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #1089348 (accessed 5 February 2024)
Isaac Hite in Pugh, Frederick, Virginia, USA. 101 slaves. - ↑ Sketch by Cornelius B. Hite, 1925
- ↑ Sketch by Cornelius B. Hite, 1925
- ↑ Bible record, card index, "Virginia, Historical Society Papers, 1607-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ7G-WRZ : accessed 12 October 2015), Reference ID Mss55H63751, Digital Folder Number 004839858, Image Number 00334
- ↑ Sketch by Cornelius B. Hite, 1925
Acknowledgements
- This person was created through the import of 124-DeCoursey.ged on 14 September 2010.
- Adopted by Jon Cunnyngham, December 10, 2012.Isaac and Eleanor Conway Madison were married on January 2, 1783 in Virginia.
