received by Wendy Heitzman : BEGIN The Hitesman Family (letter) Being requested to write what I know of my ancestors, and all the papers either lost or destroyed, will have to write from memory. The first is traditional being what my great-grandfather told his wife and eldest son, my great uncle George during the Revolutionary War. Traditional: At the end of the religious wars in Germany 1618-1648, as one who had been on the Protestant side refused to live under Catholic rule, and knowing no other trades than soldiering went to Sweden. That country was poor and then at peace, but England had use of good soldiers and sharp swords, so my great-grand-father said his ancestors fought for England for a hundred years. Its not known if they originally came from Eastern Germany or Poland. The name sounds more like Polish. I will now give the facts to the best of my recollection. George Hetsman, or as now written Hitesman, was born at Bristol, England in 1731. Cannot give his fathers given name, but his mothers name before her marriage was Barbara Hulson. George came to America as an officer in an English Regiment in 1759, and was with Wolf(e) at the taking of Quebec, afterwards while being stationed in New York he quit the army, and married one of his fellow officers sister. Her name was Elizabeth Glass. They had six children; George born in 1763; John 1764; Barbara 1766; William 1769; Elizabeth 1772; Jacob 1775. At the beginning of the American Revolution, an American army was sent to Canada under the command of Richard Montgomery. He had known George in the army and wanted him to go with him as he could speak French and knew the country. After Montgomery's death the army came back and he joined Washingtons army and was killed in the summer of 1778. The widow married again and the older boys were bound out as was the custom at that time. The second one, my grandfather John, ran away from the man he was bound to and I cannot tell anything about him until his marriage about 1780. He was then a farming along the river in New Jersey and his children were all born there. He was in the government service during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, and in one skirmish with the whiskey boys. His wifes name was Catherine Conly daughter of Henry Conly, and granddaughter of Major Howard Conly, who came to this country in (1754?) and was drowned at Philadelphia, while trying to rescue a woman who was drowning. Howard Conly was born in Castleber, Ireland. John and Catherine were parents of fourteen children. I will give the years of their birthe; George 1791, Henry 1792, John 1793 (my John- GGGrandfather who married Mary Robbins), James 1794, Sarah April 1797, Mary Sept. 1798, William Dec. 1799, Catherine March 1801, Asa 1802, Charles Feb. 1804, Jesse July 1805, Elizabeth 1806, Jacob 1807, David July 31, 1810. All grew up with the exception of three. Three lived to a quite old age. The three eldest boys served in the War of 1812, but were in no battles, serving along the coast. Thus is now the statement of William Hitesman relative to his line of descent from William born 1799; My father was brought up on a farm, and when he came of age worked in a distillery, but became disgusted with it and went into store clerking. He was opposed to liquor his entire life. On April 20, 1826 he married Ann Schnyder who was born Jan. 25, 1808 in North Canton County, Penn. After the death of Anns father William & Ann bought part of the farm and went to farming. They had five children Catherine Feb. 13, 1827; Elizabeth June 9, 1829; Sarah A. April 6, 1831; John R. April 2, 1835; William H. H. May 22, 1841 (the author). William Sr., died July 4, 1860 and wife Ann died Oct. 26, yr. unknown. My mothers ancestors were pioneers in North Canton (? s/b Northampton) County, Penn area having come here in 1866, from the Ballatine (s/b Pallantine). John Schnyder was born on the same farm as my mother Ann, cannot give dates of his birth or death. His father had settled some five miles north of eastern Penn. among the Indians. John's father was severly wounded in the defense of Ft. Miffin 1777. John Schnyder Sr. married Elizabeth Nubbler a descendant of the emigrants from the Ballatine who came in 1686. Mother was of Frence descent. Her mothers name was Mary Catherine Raymond, now called Ryman. She was born in Wyoming Valley near Wilkesbury, Ohio. Her father had been born in France, but was here during the Revolution having to fight the Indians and Tories. I do not know of one of the descendants of my Grandfather John Hitesman that was able to go that did not serve during the Rebellion of 1861-1865. A.S.A. signed W.H.H.Hitesman 1863 END From Wendy Heitzman 27 Jun 2011: BEGIN Book 28, p. 89 Grantor John Hitesman and wife Mary to Grantee Charles Robins 10 May 1817 $400. Witnessed by Jonathan Robins. James Larason, Comm. signed 28 Sept 1817 Book 28, p.90 Grantor Isaac Robins and wife Mary to Grantees Charles & Jonathan Robins. 26 July 1817 $800. Witnessed by Daniel Aller (last name is obscure). James Larason, Comm. signed 28 Sept 1817 Book 28, p.91 Grantor Susanah Robins to Grantee Jonathan Robins 17 May 1817 $400. Witnessed by Thomas Darymple. James Larason Comm signed 28 Sept 1817 All mentioned estate of Jonathan Robins, dec'd., and all properties are located on the boundary of Alexandria Twp. and Bethlehem Twp. (I did locate what I believe to be the property areas at the very southwest corner of Union Twp. where it borders Alexandria, on the road leading southwest out of Pattenburg./ Beers Atlas to Hunterdon Co.) There is also a 4th Deed from Grantor Adam Everitt & wife Mary to Grantee Isaac Robins 5 May 1817 (property is in Alexandria). $950. This one was a straight land sale with the usual totally illegible writing describing the metes and bounds. Unfortunately I didn't copy this full deed. END Will of John Heitsman, Sr. – Filed June 23, 1832 #3980J BEGIN In the name of God amen I John Heitsman of Bethlehem township County of Hunterdon & State of New Jersey being in perfect health of body & of a Sound Disposing Mind & Memory thanks be Given to God therefore and calling to Mind the uncertainty of this present life and that all flesh must yield unto death Whomsoever it Shall please God to call Do therefore Make and order this My Last Will and Testament in manner and form following first I Commend My Soul to God who gave it and My body to be Decently buried in A Christian Manner at the Discretion of My Executors hereafter Named and as touching My Honor affairs I Leave in the following Manner and form first it is My Will and Mind that all My Just Debts and funeral Charges be first Paid them I give and bequeath unto My kind & tender Wife During her Natural Life all My Real Estate together with as Much of My Personal Estate as She May Please to take together with two beds and beding for her to Dispose of as She May See fit all My Real and Personal Estate Excepting the two beds & bedding to Decend back to My Estate at the Death of My Wife My Estate both Real and Personal to be Divided Equally amongst my children Henry, John, James, Sarah, Mary, William, Catherine, Asa, Charles, Jesse, Jacob, Elisabeth, David it is my Will and Desire that the sharing of John, Mary & Catherine be left in the hands of My executors hereafter named for their Support in old age or as they May Want it It is also My Will and Desire that My Personal Estate Except What My Wife chooses to take be Sold by my Exct as Soon as Convienent after My Decease together with all the Debts Due or that May become Due to Me be collected by My Executors & Paid to My Children above named as Soon as can Convinently can be Done after My Decease Except the three Above Named that is to be left in the hands of My Executors as they May Want it and I Do hearby Make Constitute andAppoint My Two Sons William and Jesse Hitsman full and Sole Executors of this My Last Will and Testament and hereby Revoking Disavowing and Making Void all former Wills and bequeathments by Me Made and Declaring this only to be My Last Will and Testament In Witnesses Whereof I have here unto Set My hand and Seal this 28th Day of May In the Year of our lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty one John Hitsman (his signature) Sind Sealed and Delivered in The Presence of Hugh Hughes James Bird Richard Gano END