Jost HITE

                   7 May 1761 Will probated, Frederick Co, VA, III Will Bk II, p. 4878

["German Origins of Jost Hite, Virginia Pioneer", by Henry Z. Jones, Jr., Ralph Connor, and Klaus West, Edingburg, Va 1979].

From Lee, Tyler, Hite Book:
Baron Jost (Yost) Hite came from Strasburg, Germany with his wife, Anna Dubois and his daughter, Mary. He was a man of great wealth and came in his own ships, bringing with him his gold in huge sacks. He accordingly, in 1731, bought the Van Meter Grant of 40,000 acres. The grant had been obtained from Governor Goock in 1730 by John and Isaac Van Meter. In the year of 1732 Jost Hite with his three son-in-law, George Bowman, Paul Foreman, and Jacob Chrisman, Peter
Stephens, Robert McKay and Robert Duff and others --- 16 families in all cut their way through the forest to the Valley. They crossed the Potomac River about 2 miles up the river from Harper's Ferry and made their way along the Valley till they reached Opequon Creek, here Hite located. To Jost Hite, therefore, belongs the honor of having planted the first standard of civilization in the mountain region of Virginia. Peter Stephens pushed on about two miles further south and built the
first house in what is now Stephens City.

From Samuels Kercheval's "History of the Valley of Virginia" (Winchester 1833) states that "Hite and his party were the first immigrants who settles west of the Blue Ridge."

From Cartnell's "History of Frederick County" page 205, states:
"In the year of 1732, Joist Hite, with his family and his sons-in-laws; George Bowman, Jacob Christman, Paul Froman, Robert McKay, Peter Stephens and several others, amounting to 16 families, removed from Pennsylvania, cutting their road from York and crossing the Cohongoruton (Potomac) about two miles above Harper's Ferry."
"The first Methodist Church at Stephensburg (Shenandoah Valley) was organized by the following; Rev. Elisha Phelps *(his wife was Elizabeth Hite) John Hite, Jr. and John Taylor and his wife."
* this is what it states, but I have Elizabeth married to Paul Froman. ???

A fort and grist mill was built (as a requirement in granting patents of land to settlers in those days; that the patentee should first erect a fort as a protection against Indians and a grist mill). The fort was located several yards south of where the barn was built in about 1747. A large timber from the barn reads "Jost Hite -- 1747". The home named "Springdale" was built in 1753, His initials and the date are carved in one of the stone's of the house. The (present day) Bartonville Stone Mill was built by Jost Hite. His grandson Isaac Hite Jr. designed and built the mansion "Belle Grove", it was completed in 1783.


Hans Jost "Heydt" Hite was one of the pioneer settlers and colonizers of
the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He moved on the land in the fall of
1731. He is listed as the first white settler in this region of the
country. It has been held in the past that Hans Jost Hite was born in
Alsace and that he fled to Holland where, in 1708, he married Anna Maria
DuBois. The Hites are said to have had one child while living in Holland
and to have come to America on one of Hite's own ships. Recent research
indicates that Hite was born in Bonfield, Germany, was married to Anna
Maria Merkel, and that they had two children, born in Bonfield, who died
as infants. Hite imigrated to Holland where, with his wife and one
child, he joined a shipload of Palatine emigrants and sailed, by way of
England, to America. The Rotterdam embarkation lists gives July of 1709
at the time of departure for England. he set sail for America in 1710.
The name of the ship was the "Fifth Party". They lived in the colony of
New York, later in Pennsylvania, and finally, established themselves on
thousands of acres of land Hite had secured in the Shenandoah Valley of
Virginia. His name was originally Hans Joist Heydt. It evolved into
Jost. Many of Jost's grandson's were patriots and soldiers in Virginia
Continental Line. A church in Bonfield, a village in the Necker Valley,
not far from the Necker river and about 20 miles southeast of Heidelburg,
records the birth to Johannes and Magadalene Heyd of a son Hans Justus on
Dec. 5, 1685. The father was butcher and Civic Concilor in Bonfield.
Jost was a weaver by trade.

Book "Prominent Families of VA" by Louise P.
Du Bellet; History of the Valley of Virginia. States that Hans Jost Hite
immigrated from Alsace, Germany with wife Anna Marie du Bois and a
daughter. He came on his own ships, the brigatine Swift and schooner
Friendship, accompanied by sixteen Dutch and German families to settle on
his land. The ships arrived at New York where the families remained for
awhile. The families then moved to Germantown, Pa. Hite moved to
Virginia where he held patent on 1000 acres of land.

==========================================================================================

/memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mgw:@field(DOCID+@lit(mgw1b481))

George WashingtonÕs Diary - March 1748

ÒSunday March 13. Rode to his Lordships Quarter about 4 Miles higher up the River we went through most beautiful Groves of Sugar Trees & spent the best part of the Day in admiring the Trees & richness of the Land.Ó

It has usually been suggested that the party proceeded on 13 Mar. to Fairfax's land across the Shenandoah--the area known as Greenway Court (FREEMAN, 1:212--13; WRITINGS, 1:6). It is more likely that GW was referring to land owned by Lord Fairfax on the east side of the river in the vicinity of Howell's Run (see DICKINSON [1], 48--55).

ÒMonday 14th. We sent our Baggage to Capt. Hites (near Frederick Town) went ourselves down the River about 16 Miles to Capt. Isaac Penningtons (the Land exceeding Rich & Fertile all the way produces abundance of Grain Hemp Tobacco &c.) in order to Lay of some Lands on Cates Marsh & Long Marsh.Ó

Jost Hite (d. 1760) was born in Strasbourg, Alsace, and emigrated to America about 1710, settling first in the vicinity of Kingston, N.Y. About 1716 he moved to Pennsylvania and in 1731 purchased a tract of nearly 40,000 acres from John and Isaac Van Meter in what soon became Frederick County, Va. In 1732 he moved to his Virginia lands with 16 other families of settlers. He was a member of the first Frederick Parish vestry. Hite was one of the leading land speculators and developers in Frederick, eventually settling families on a tract amounting to 94,000 acres. His land purchases involved him in a dispute with Lord Fairfax over ownership of his grants. The case continued in the courts for 50 years and was settled in Hite's favor in 1786, 26 years after his death.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

From: "Jo Anne Schultz" 
Subject: Re: [D-Col] Eltinge, Van Metre 1715
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 16:28:04 -0800
References: <31.1d7f7529.291f03c7@aol.com>


Cynthia,

>From German Origins of Jost Hite (by Hank Jones, etc):

Page 12: On 11 November 1704 at Bonfeld, "Johan Justus Heyd, linenweaver
and son of Johannis Heyd - butcher and civic councilor here - married to
Anna Maria, daughter of Abraham Mercklin - citizen here." Among the
German-born issue of our emigrant Johan Justus (Jost) Heyd2 and his wife
Anna Maria Merckle (spelling varied: Merckle, Merkel, Mercklin) were:
i) Anna Maria3, born 22 Feb 1706 and baptized the same day; sponsors were
Maria Felicitas Hahnsta(with umlaut)tter and Anna Barbara Walter, both
single. The child died 24 Feb 1706, aged 2 days.
ii) Maria Barbara3, born 28 Jan 1707, sponsors were Maria Felicitas
Hahnsta(umlaut)tter and Anna Barbara Walter, both single, and Maria Agatha,
wife of Joh. Andreae, citizen. This child died 1 Mar 1707, aged one month.

Page 15:

The time of Jost Hite's move from the colony of New York to Pennsylvania can
be determined by two known dates. In September 1713 he (Jost Hite) was
still living in New York when his daughter Madalena was baptized in
Kingston. But in May 1714 he purchased 150 acres of land on the Skippack
from Johannes Kolb from Johannes Kolb. We may safely assume that Jost and
Anna Maria Hite made thier move with their three daughter, Mary, Elizabeth
and Madalena, in 1714. Their first son, John, was probably born in
Pennsuylvania or just shortly before his parents settled on the Skippack.

Page 33:

Anna Maria and Maria Barbara were born in Bonfeld. The place of birth of
Mary is unknown. She is undoubtedly the one child listed on the Roterdam
embarkation list.

Elizabeth and Magdalena were both born in the colony of New York and
baptized in Kingston. John Hite's birthplace has not been recorded.

Isaac and Abraham were born in Pennsylvania. Joseph was born at the time of
the family's move to Virginia and his place of birth is uncertain.

Page 35:

The Family of Abraham Merckel, father of Anna Maria Heydt . . . . The
Bonfeld records which were carefully searched in 1977, revealed numerous
entries concering Anna Maria Merckle Heydt and her relations. Most indicate
that her family was prominent in the area and was particularly close to
local notables and to members of the clergy who served as godfathers at
several baptisms . . . . 1687, 16 Jan., Birth of Anna Maria, daughter of
Abraham and Anna Veronica Merckle (date of baptism missing). Godparents:
Veronica Maria Landvatter, daughter of David Landvatter, citizen and cooper
at Wimpfen; Anna Felicitas, daughter of Bonfeld Mayor Mathias Remelin;
Jeremias Bengel, son of Magistrate Ulrich Bengel. (Jeremias Bengel was also
Jost Heyd's godfather).

Jo Anne
----- Original Message -----
From: 
To: 
Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2001 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: [D-Col] Eltinge, Van Metre 1715


> Jo Anne,
> This book wouldn't happen to mention:
> - where the children of Joost and Anna Marie Hite were born or baptized?
> - where/when were Joost and Anna Marie married?
> - does it give Anna Marie's surname?
>
> Lorine's post showed us she was the d/o Abraham Merckle and Anna Veronica
> while I have in my Notes that she was the dau of Jacques and Pierrone
> (BENTYN) Du BOIS. This info came from Bill DeCoursey a long time ago, a
D-C
> List member. Unless, there were 2 Joosts who m. Anna Marie's?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Cynthia
>
> << There is a small book (46 pages) on this family:
>
> German Origins of Jost Hite, Virginia Pioneer, 1685-1761
> By Henry Z. Jones, Jr, Ralph Connor, and Klaus Wust
> Shenadoah Genealogical Source Book No. 3
> Shenadoah History, Publishers
> Edinburg, Virginia
> 1979
>
> Shenadoah History
> P.O. Box 98
> Edinburg, Virginia 22824
>
> I happen to have the book checked out from the library at present.
>
> On page 33, in the appendix, the family of Jost and Anna Maria Hite is
> listed:
>
> Anna Maria, b 22 Feb 1706, died 24 Feb 1706
> Maria Barbara, b 28 Jan 1707, died 1 Mar 1707
> Mary, b 1708 or 1709, married George Bowman
> Elizabeth, bp 4 Nov 1711, married Paul Froman
> Magdalena, bp 13 Sep 1713, married to Jacob Crisman
> John, b 1710/14?, died 1792, married Sarah Eltinge
> Jacob, born 1719, died 1776, married Catherine O'Bannon
> Isaac, born 12 May 1721, died 18 or 18 Sep 1795, married Eleanor Eltinge
> Abraham, born 10 May 1729, died 1790, married Rebecca Vanmeter
> Joseph, born 1731, died by 1758, married Elizabeth (McKay?)
>
> If you do not have access to this book, I would be pleased to copy more
> information from it.
>
> Jo Anne Schultz
>
>
> >>