Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of VirginiaWillis, Carrie Hunter
History
Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia
Willis, Carrie Hunter
Shenandoah National Park (Va.); Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- History
All this land was in the County of Spotsylvania and Hite found that he
and his brothers were too far away from the courts so he became
interested in getting a new county organized in 1734. This was named
Orange, in honor of the Duke of Orange. Later on, having acquired more
land, he found himself again too far removed from a court house. And
again he applied for a new county. In fact he needed two counties for
all his lands and ever-increasing settlers. In 1738 Orange County was
divided into three counties, namely: Orange, Frederick, and Augusta to
the west of the mountain. With Joist Hite and his wife Anna Maria came
their daughters, Mary, her husband George Bowman, Elizabeth and her
husband Paul Froman, Magadelena and her husband Jacob Chrisman, and
their sons John, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham and Joseph. Hite, we are told,
allowed his sons-in-law to choose their own homesteads.
His wife, Anna Maria, died in 1738 at Long Meadows and soon he married
again. We read the following quaint marriage contracts between him and
his second wife:
"In the Name of Jesus
"Whereas, we, two persons, I, Joist Hite and Maria Magadelena,
Relict and Widow of Christian Nuschanger, according to God's
holy ordinance and the knowledge and consent of our Friends and
Children and Relations are going to enter into the holy state
of Matrimony. We have made this Nuptial part one with the
others. First promise to the aforesaid Maria Magadalena all the
Christian Love and Faithfulness. Secondly, as neither of us are
a moment secure from death so I promise her Home or Widow Seat
so long as she lives and the Heir to whom the said House shall
fall shall provide the necessary Diet and Cloathes and if that
do not please but that she rather desire to have her
commendations in any other place, so shall the foresaid Heir to
the House yearly pay her Six Pounds ready money and this is my
well considered desire.
"JOIST HITE."
"And Likewise wife, I Maria Magadalena promise the aforesaid
Joist Hite. First of all, Love and Obedience. Secondly, I am
designed to bring with me to him some cattle, money, household
goods which in agreement with attested witnesses shall be
Described and should I die before the said Hite so shall the
said Hite have the half thereof and the other half shall be
delivered back again to my heirs and this is also my well
considered desire. Thirdly and Lastly, whoever of the aforesaid
persons shall die first the half of the portion the Woman
brings with her shall go back to her heirs."
The following goods were brought by the said Mary Magadelena to Joist
Hite:
"1 In ready money, twenty two pounds seventeen Shillings and
four pence.
2 Two mares one colt value of fourteen pounds.
3 Two drawing steers value three pounds, ten shillings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account