James Garrett Pitts

Born [date unknown] in Kentucky, USA

Ancestors

Died 3 May 1845 in New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, USA

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Biography

Name

James G. Pitts

James Garsed Pitts

James Garrett Pitts

Jones G. Pitts (only obit, death notice)

Parents

Josiah Pitts and Lucy Craig

Birth

Unknown date, Kentucky, USA

Occupation

James G Pitts' obituary stated he was editor and publisher of the "Hopkinsville Gazette". In the History of Christian Co., KY published in 1884, it stated "A couple of brothers — Garrett and Bickham Pitts—finally took charge of the paper (Kentucky Republican), and conducted it for a short time after Mr. David S. Patton retired from its control. Bickham Pitts was a printer, and had learned the art in the Republican office; his brother did the editing, and was a kind of half-way lawyer. They carried on the paper but a short time, and the office passed again into the hands of Mr. David S. Patton.

Published in "Meacham's HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY " in 1930.

Mr. Patton, who was a lawyer, after a few years sold or leased the "Kentucky Republican" newspaper (established 1820) to Garrett and Beckham Pitts, brothers, and retired from its control, but after a short while took it back. Mr. Patton served in the General Assembly from 1830 to 1834 and later moved to Paducah, where he died in 1837.

Death

May 3, 1845 Mississippi City, Harrison County, Mississippi, USA

Drowned near Mississippi City in Mississippi River (MS ?)

Another death place found in research was: New Orleans, Jefferson Co., LA

The following newspaper article gives the name Jones G Pitts but other information states his name was actually James G Pitts. His brother mentioned was the Rev. Fountain E. Pitts.

Casualty - The New Orleans Jeffersonian Republican has the following:

Extract of a letter from Col. J.J. MCaughan, dated , "Mississippi City, May 12, 1845(6?).

"On the 3rd inst. Mr. Williams, of Canton Miss., Mr. James G. Pitts, of Kentucky, and a negro man of Dr. Te Garden, left this place in a small boat for Cat Island; and when returning that evening were struck by a squall, which sunk the boat about four miles from land, in fourteen feet water, and they all perished. On the 8th inst. we found the body of Mr. Williams, and buried it on Ship Island; the others we have not yet found, though great exertions have been made. Mr. Williams was a mechanic of good standing, and has left a wife and child."

Mr. Pitts was a native of Kentucky, at one time an attorney, then an editor and publisher of the "Hopkinsville Gazette". He ran the first line of stages between Louisville and Nashville, and afterwards built several steamboats. He was the first to navigate the Green and Barren rivers by steam as far as Bowling Green. He was once in the Senate of Kentucky, and when a lad, was attached to General (or Doctors) Long's expedition to Texas, was wrecked near Barataria, but managed to reach Galveston with only one man out one hundred who started with him.

He there came near being massacred by pirates, and afterwards had a narrow risk of being sent home on a false suspicion of piracy by the United States revenue cutter. But upon examination he was entrusted with the command of a piratical(?) prize, and made his way to New Orleans, where in 1841 he published a city directory. Thus has terminated his adventurous life, and I am now in search of his body to give it burial. He has left a wife and one child and one brother, Rev. Fountain E. Pitts of Nashville (TN).

Burial

Body lost at sea; Specifically: Drowned in the Mississippi River, near Mississippi River and his body was never found.

Sources

• The memorial for his brother Rev. Fountain Elliott Pitts: Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 24 November 2019), memorial page for Rev Fountain Elliot Pitts (4 Jul 1808–22 May 1874), Find A Grave: Memorial #98429012, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Mary & Kent (contributor 47170788) .

This person was created through the import of PittsPenn_2010-09-21.ged on 22 September 2010 by MG Pitts.