LYDICK & CHANCE FAMILIES
|
|
THE LITTIG FAMILY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND1752 - 1829
Explanation
Peter Littig was a German immigrant who settled on the outskirts of old Baltimore town sometime prior to 1752. He and his wife Elizabeth had four children, three of them were boys (Philip, Peter and Jost), the other (name unknown) is presumed to have been a daughter.
It was because of Peter's son Jost that I initially became interested in researching this family. I thought I had found new evidence about our Jost. What made me think that? Jost Littig was born about the time we would have expected our Jost Leydig to have been. And in the early 1770s, our Jost (Leydig) resided about 20 miles from Baltimore, near present day Westminster, Maryland. It occurred to me that perhaps the two were the same man, and so a project was begun to determine if that were indeed the case. And for a while it looked like they were one and the same.... that is, until discovery of an notice in an old newspaper, The Baltimore Daily Intelligencer, dated March 24, 1794. The details provided in the newspaper make it quite unlikely that Jost Littig is our Jost Leydig. Briefly, the notice was for a public sale to dispose of the property owned by Jost Littig, deceased, and announced by his "heir at law" Philip Littig. This Jost (Littig) died in 1794, but our Jost Leydig is presumed to have lived at least until 1800 (he's listed on the 1800 census in Somerset County, Pennsylvania),, to have died in Somerset County, PA instead of Baltimore, and it seems likely that one of his own sons would have been his "heir at law" -- none of our Jost's sons were named Philip, at least according to known records.
Why is information about the Littig family included on a website devoted to the family of Jost Leydig?Well, first of all, there is still a slim chance that Jost Littig and Jost Leydig are one and the same. And even if they are not, it's possible that the two families were closely, or even distantly, related and this information will be relevant at some point. A few of the records I've found for the Baltimore Littig family have their last name spelled "Lydick". Same as our family. May be coincidence, may be a clue that the families are allied by blood. Second, even if this family is not connected with ours, quite a bit of information has already been collected and organized and it might be of interest to some other family, so it's being recorded on this page for the use of other researchers.
So there you have it. This one page contains all the information I have collected about the Littig family of Baltimore even though it doesn't appear that these people had any connection to the family of Jost Leydig (Leidig, Leidich, etc.).
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS WEB PAGE:
Let us begin with the infamous newspaper notice which crushed my hopes that the identity of Jost Leydig's father had been uncovered:
FROM THE BALTIMORE DAILY INTELLIGENCER,dated March 24, 1794
MORE ABOUT THE LITTIG FAMILY
We know that Peter Littig and his wife Elizabeth lived in old Baltimore Town in 1752. The date they arrived is not known. From where they came is not known for sure, but there are some family trees (found online) that state they were from Holland but lived previously in York Co., PA (this was information without a source indicated). However, the book, The Chronicles of Baltimore; Being a Complete History of 'Baltimore Town' and Baltimore City From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, suggests to us that this family was German and they lived amongst a German population. And he owned a "German Bible".
Peter was an educated man; his estate inventory includes a collection of religious/church books. Perhaps he served as a lay minister in Baltimore before a church was built. In legal documents (becoming a naturalized citizen and in various land/deed records) he and his three sons signed their own names.
Peter owned land in Baltimore, probably equivalent in size to an entire city block. The land he owned was on Bank Street, Caroline Street, Eden Street, Gough Street, and Petticoat Lane. I believe that this land was the 10 acre parcel from a tract called Mountany's Neck in Baltimore County that Peter purchased from Thomas Sligh. The properties he owned were signed over to his three sons prior to his death (1761).
Peter and his wife Elizabeth had four children, three boys and a girl. The boys were Philip, Peter and Jost; the daughter's name was not included on any documents I have read. Philip was probably the oldest boy -- he was shown as "nearest kin" in his father's estate papers.
The wife of Peter (or his son Philip) was an accoucheuse (midwife) for the German women in Baltimore.
Son Philip was an inn keeper. He was married to Elizabeth Margaret Littig, or Liddick (birth surname not indicated). He had two underage children, Philip and George, at the time of his death. His death in October, 1779 might have been the result of his Revolutionary War service.
Son Peter was a gunsmith of good reputation. More about him in the sections that follow. We know, from land records, that his wife's name was Magdalene, or Magdaline.
Little could be found of son Jost, except that he served in the Baltimore Artillery Company along with his brother Philip during the Revolutionary War. No mention of a wife could be found on any of the land records (a man's wife was usually questioned to make sure she was not forced to give up her "dower" rights when her husband sold a property and the court records would indicate that), so it's possible that this Jost never married. Also from various land records it is evident that Jost assumed a fatherly type role with Philip and George (Philip's sons) after Philip's death. Jost died in 1794, presumably in Baltimore. Philip Littig was indicated as his "heir in law" -- not sure if this particular Philip was Jost's son or his nephew. The last note about said Jost Littig.... on all of the records regarding property owned and sold by him it indicates that this Jost was a resident of Baltimore Town, or Baltimore County. The last land record reviewed was dated 1786, when this website's focal ancestor (Jost Leydig) was already assumed to be living in Somerset County, PA. So it seems fairly unlikely that this Jost (Littig) and Somerset County Jost (Leydig) were the same man. HOWEVER: FOR ALL YOU JOST LEYDIG/LEIDIG/LYDICK RESEARCHERS, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT JOST LEYDIG DID LIVE FOR A TIME IN WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND WHICH WAS PART OF BALTIMORE COUNTY IN THE MID 1700s. AND HE IS PROBABLY ALSO THE JOST LEIDIG WHO LIVED IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND IN 1762. FREDERICK, MARYLAND IS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM WESTMINSTER, WHERE JOST LEYDIG'S SON JOSEPH WAS BAPTIZED.
LITTIG FAMILY RESEARCH FINDINGSin date order
1752 -- "The following list of well-known inhabitants of Baltimore town in 1752, is from a paper in possession of the late Joseph Townsend, who had it many years before his death, from one of the early settlers, who was cognizant of the facts stated .........Philip Littig (whose wife was accoucheuse among the German population), ......" (from page 49 of The Chronicles of Baltimore; Being a Complete History of 'Baltimore Town' and Baltimore City From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, by Col. J. Thomas Scharf, member of the Maryland Historical Society; pub. 1874). note: an accoucheuse was a mid-wife. note: instead of 'Philip Littig', the recollection may have been intended to read 'Peter Littig' (the father of Philip, Peter and Jost). My reasoning is this: Philip and his wife had two fairly young children in 1779, the year he died. That suggests that he was probably too young to have been married in 1752, the year mentioned in the citation above. And I couldn't find any records to suggest that an older generation Philip Littig lived in Baltimore in 1752.
1763 -- Peter Littig residing in St. Pauls Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland (from the Maryland Early Census for year 1763).
1775 -- October 16, 1775. Roster of Baltimore Artillery Company. Inhabitants of Baltimore sign agreement to form an artillery company, with Henry Sheaff as captain. Included among the group of privates are Just Lettig and Philip Lettig. (from page 8 of the Calendar of Maryland State Papers: The Red Books, No. 4, Part 2).
1778 -- By an Act of the General Assembly of Maryland in February, 1777 (session convened by the Council of Safety for the "better security of the Government"), it was enacted that "every free male person within this State above eighteen years of age, unless a Quaker, Menonist or Dunker, shall, on or before the 1st day of March, 1778, repeat, and subscribe the Oath of Fidelity and Support to his State". Included in the list of names for Baltimore County for 1778 are Philip Littig and Just. Littig. Peter Lettie was included in the group of men who swore the oath in Judge William Spears' Baltimore County Court on January 5, 1778. (from pages 1, 53 and 66, of Unpublished Revolutionary Records of Maryland, Vol. 6", by Margaret R. Hodges; pub. by the Maryland Society, DAR, 1941). note: "Just" and "Justin" were familiar derivatives of the German name "Jost" during that era.
1785 -- "In order to avoid any farther trouble, as well as expence, the subscriber doth hereby give this Public Notice, to all those who are indebted to him for ground-rent, to make immediate payment, otherwise he shall be under the disagreeable necessity of making use of legal means to recover the same. He also acquaints the Public in general, and his customers in particular, that he has begun to BREW, and has now new BEER by him, and will give a generous price for merchantable Barley; and at the same time takes the liberty of earnestly requesting of those that are indebted for Beer, had last year, that they would be as expeditious as possible, in discharging the same, as immediate necessity calls loudly for that article -- Cash. PETER LETTIG N.B. The subscriber lives near the east end of the Causeway, between Philpot's and Fell's Point." Baltimore, October 8, 1785. (an advertisement from October 11, 1785 newspaper, Maryland Journal).
1796 -- "GEORGE LITTIG, HAT MANUFACTURER, has on hand, at his Manufactory on the Causeway, three doors below Mr. John Jalland's Garden -- and also, at his Shop in Market Street, No. 142, where Messrs. Frederick Shaffer & Co. have their Brush Store, a complete assortment of well made and neatly finished fine hats, as well as coarse ditto, which he will dispose of by wholesale and retail, on the most reasonable terms for cash, or on the usual credit. Orders from the country will be punctually attended to, and Merchants supplied on the shortest notice. N.B. Cash will also be given for Furs, at either of the above places. October 4." (an advertisement from October 11, 1796 newspaper, Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser). (note: I believe that this George was the son of Philip Littig).
1829 -- "DIED -- Yesterday morning, after a long illness, Mr. George Littig, aged 56 years." (from November 11, 1829 issue of newspaper Baltimore Patriot). (note: this is probably referring to George who was Philip Littig's son).
LITTIG MILITARY SERVICEin the American Revolution
Peter Littig (Lettie) (son of Peter Littig and brother of Philip and Jost.) 1) Born December 10, 1754 in Maryland. Died April 3, 1799 in Maryland. Married to Magdalena. Listed as having been in Patriot Service by the DAR. (from page 1661 of the DAR Patriot Index, Vol. II; pub. in Washington, DC: The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1966). 2) He was a gunsmith, crafting and repairing muskets, and also repaired wagons for the American military during the Revolutionary War. He was under contract on September 17, 1777, to make 150 muskets and was still making muskets in 1781. (from page 162 of Revolutionary Patriots of Baltimore Town and County 1775-1783, compiled by Henry C. Peden, Jr. FHL US/CAN Book 975.26 D2p).
Justin Littig (Lettig) (Justin was a familiar German derivative of Jost. This was Jost Littig, son of Peter Littig, and brother of Peter and Philip). Private, Baltimore Artillery Company, October 16, 1775, and Private in Capt. Sheaff's Company, June 16, 1777. (from page 162 of Revolutionary Patriots of Baltimore Town and County, 1775-1783, compiled by Henry C. Peden, Jr. FHL US/CAN Book 975.26 D2p).
Philip Littig (Lettig) (son of Peter Littig, and brother to Jost and Peter). Private in Baltimore Artillery Company on October 16, 1775. Private in Capt. Sheaff's Company, June 16, 1777. (from page 162 of Revolutionary Patriots of Baltimore Town and County, 1775-1783, compiled by Henry C. Peden, Jr. FHL US/CAN Book 975.26 D2p).
PETER LITTIGREVOLUTIONARY WAR GUNSMITHAccount Records from the Maryland Council of Safety, from 1776-1781
Peter Littig, one of the three sons of Peter Littig Sr., made his living as a blacksmith and gunsmith. He was one of 12 gunsmiths said to have been operating in the larger towns of Maryland in 1776. When the Revolutionary War started, a committee for the Maryland Council of Safety recommended that the colonial government contract with these gunsmiths to produce arms for the Continental troops, rather than establish a gun factory (from chapter 12 of "Supplying Washington's Army", by Erna Risch, found at www.army.mil/cmh-pg/usarmycenterofmilitaryhistory )
A little bit of background on the need for weapons at the start of the war (although please understand that I'm not an expert on American history or the American Revolution, or the history of guns either, for that matter). The American Revolution, a war between the American Colonies and Great Britain for America's independence, began on April 19, 1775 with the Battles of Concord and Lexington, and ended with the Treaty of Paris, in 1783. Prior to the war American Colonists largely relied on Great Britain to supply the arms and ammunition they needed to survive in the Colonies, with the musket being the gun of choice. As war seemed imminent, Great Britain placed an embargo on weapon and ammunition shipments to the Colonies. The Colonists tried ways to smuggle ammunition and some arms from France, but there were problems with this. Smuggling was risky business, and the French musket fired a smaller caliber ball than the British "Brown Bess" (which many colonists already owned). It was clear that weaponry would need to be produced in the colonies if there was to be any chance to defeat the British. The Continental Congress charged each Colony with the responsibility of producing weapons for its troops. In the Maryland Colony, the Council of Safety contracted with the available small number of gunsmiths to produce muskets and bayonets.
So it came to be that Peter made muskets for the colonial military/militia. Specifically the contract called for his shop to make 150 muskets, fixed with bayonets, and additionally to make wagon repairs for the army as needed. Payment was 3 pounds 15 shillings per gun.
Finding information today about the work that he undertook is made easier because the Maryland Council of Safety kept meticulous records of their dealings and accounts, and those records were published by the Maryland Historical Society in 1897. These are a matter of public record and can be found at www.archivesofmaryland.net which is the Maryland State Archives "Archives of Maryland Online". I have included all the references to Peter Littig that I could find; dates range from 1776 to 1779.
It is worth mentioning that in several of these records Peter Littig's name is spelled Peter Lydick.
Further worth mentioning that Peter was probably a very reputable gunsmith because, as you will note, a high percentage of his muskets were tested and found to be "good". I am assuming that "good" meant that a shot would fire fairly accurately toward its target. Let me repeat that I'm no expert on guns, but I seem to recall that muskets were not the most accurate of weapons. The barrel of the musket had to be of a standard caliber size, with the musket ball being slightly smaller, and of uniform size. Any deviation from this or from other variables (such as amount or quality of powder or paper cartridge used, or wind) could cause the musket ball to spin off on an errant course and miss it's roughly intended mark.
Here, following, are transcriptions of account records that document the work Peter Littig and his employees undertook during the Revolutionary War:
1776 -- February 12, 1776, Baltimore. "Honorable Sirs, I now acquaint you that agreeable to your orders directed to Major Gist and myself, I have prov'd all the guns made by the Gunsmiths in Town, as below, in Company with Mr. Vanbibber, who has seen them several times try'd in England. Mr. Keener after seeing the rest try'd refus'd to have his proved but upon my threatning him a good deal he comply'd. We charg'd all the guns with one ounce of powder and two Balls. I have a proof stamp with which I stamp'd all that prov'd good, which stamp I will not deliver to any without your orders. I have the Honour to be your most Obedient Honorable Servant. 1776 Thos. Ewing. Feb. 7 -- Peter Lydick .......... 72 guns ......... 64 good ........ 8 bad. Feb. 7 -- Sam Missersmith..... 27 guns ......... 23 good ........ 4 bad Feb. 7 -- Sam Keener ........... 32 guns ......... 13 good ........ 19 bad. (from p. 155 of source #1*) notes: "Major Gist" referred to Mordecai Gist. "Thomas Ewing" probably was Colonel Thomas Ewing of the Maryland Flying Camp Regiment (Ewing's), formed in 1776, also known as the Battalion for the Flying Camp (Maryland). "Flying camp battalion" was a term generally used for a home defense battalion, like a home guard.
1776 -- April 27, 1776. "Ordered that the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to Mr. Peter Littig sixty five Pounds on Account of his Contract with Mr. Alexander for Musquets." (from p. 392 of source #1*)
1776 -- May 31, 1776. "Ordered that the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to Peter Littig fifty Pounds common Money on Account of his Contract for making Musquets." (from p. 455 of source #1*)
1776 -- May 31, 1776, Baltimore. "General, I have sent by the Bearer John Payne Twenty musquets with Bayonets and seventeen without, fourteen of which I received of Peter Littig, the others being some of the Province Arms Received of Captain Smith, and also six Reams Cartridge paper which I had an order for some time ago and had not then Received it. I am General your most Humble Servant Gerard Hopkins son Rd." (from p. 457 of source #1* )
1776 -- August 27, 1776. Peter Littig, gunsmith. Verification of account; receipt for payment from Col. Thomas Ewing. Account for repairs for guns. (from page 54, An Inventory of American State Papers, Vol. I, "The Era of the American Revolution, 1775-1789"; Annapolis, Maryland: Archives Division, Maryland Hall of Records Commission, 1977).
1776 -- November 27, 1776. "Ordered That the said (sic, Western Shore) Treasurer pay to Peter Littig for the use of Samuel Messersmith One hundred and nineteen Pounds seventeen Shillings and nine Pence." (from page 483 of Archives of Maryland, Volume XII, "Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, July 7: December 31, 1776", published by the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Maryland)
1777 -- Tuesday, July 8, 1777. "Ordered that the said (sic, Western Shore) Treasurer pay to Peter Littig seventeen Pounds sixteen Shillings and six Pence and also the further sum of one Pound five Shillings and six Pence due on accounts passed by the board of accounts." (from p. 312 of source #2**).
1777 -- Wednesday, September 17, 1777. In minutes from the Council of Maryland: "That the said (sic, Western Shore) Treasurer pay to Peter Littig two hundred and eighty one pounds five shillings on Contract for making Arms ......... Peter Littig agrees with the Governor and Council to make and in a Workmanlike manner compleat and finish one hundred and fifty Musquets fixed with Bayonets, Steel Rammers, Swivels priming wires and brushes at three pounds fifteen shillings each the mounting to be of brass or Iron the breech pin to be let into the solid so that in reboring the threads of the Screws shall not be injured that he will enter on the said Work within one Month from the Date hereof and within two Months from the Date hereof will deliver Twenty and so from Month to Month thereafter at least twenty of the said Musquets Compleatly finished as aforesaid, the said deliveries to be at Baltimore Town to Gerrard Hopkins or such other person as shall be appointed by the Governor and Council. The Governor and Council to furnish Locks and such barrels and Bayonets as were furnished to Nicholas White and also to advance to the said Peter Littig two hundred and eighty one pounds five shillings part of the price on giving Bond with good security to comply with this Contract." (from p. 377 of source #2**)
1777 -- Thursday, October 23, 1777. "That the said (sic, Western Shore) Treasurer pay to Peter Littig one hundred sixty Pounds and fifteen Shillings per account passed. That the said Treasurer pay to Samuel Messersmith one hundred fifty nine Pounds six Shillings and ten Pence per account passed." (from p. 403 of source #2**)
1778 -- Friday June 5, 1778. "Ordered that the western shore Treasurer pay to Peter Littig one hundred and seventy nine Pounds fourteen shillings and six Pence due per Account passed by the A. G." (from page 123 of Archives of Maryland, "Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland, April 1, 1778 through October 26, 1779", found at www.archivesofmaryland.net )
1779 -- July 29, 1779. "Peter Lettig to George P. Keeports. Account and receipt for blacksmith work" (from "Maryland Indexes 1775-1897 - Maryland State Papers, Index. MSA S1484). note: George Keeports was a Baltimore County notary public.
1781 -- "Capt. George Hunter (Fells Point) to Peter Littig. April 26, 1781. Receipt for muskets." (from p. 387, "An Inventory of American State Papers, Vol. I", 'The Era of the American Revolution, 1775-1789'. Annapolis, Maryland: Archives Division, Hall of Records Commission, 1977).
* Source #1 -- Archives of Maryland, Volume XI, "Journal of the Maryland Convention July 26 to August 14, 1775. Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, August 29, 1775 to July 6, 1776", www.archivesofmaryland.net
** Source #2 -- Archives of Maryland, Vol. XVI, "Journal and Correspondence of the State Council, March 20, 1777 to March 28, 1778"; pub. by the Maryland Historical Society, 1897, Baltimore, Maryland, www.archivesofmaryland.net ).
LITTIG FAMILY ESTATE RECORDS
Peter Lidick Peter Lidick (also spelled Lottick and Littig), a resident of Baltimore Town, Maryland, died there in August or early September, 1761. He owned property and land in what was a rural area known as Old Town (what is now known at Gay Street Historic District, just east of the downtown business district), although most of his land holdings were transferred to his three sons prior to his death. He left no will, but an inventory of his possessions and an account of his debts was recorded by the Baltimore County Court, and a transcription of each document follows this narrative. Peter's wife was Elizabeth; he preceded his wife and four children in death. Three of his children were Jost, Peter, and Philip (their names were identified in a Baltimore land deed recording). The fourth, presumed to be a daughter, remains unidentified. One can see from the sizable collection of religious books itemized in the inventory that Peter was an educated man and might have been one of the early lay ministers for the German population in Baltimore Town.
INVENTORY (the original spelling was retained whenever possible): "An Inventory and Appraisement of all the Goods, Chattles and Rights, Book, Debts, etc. of Peter Lidick of Baltimore County, lately Deceased. One Waggon with 4 Horses and what belongs to the same......... 46 pounds Two Cows at 3 pounds each .................................................... 6 pounds Two small old Cows at 2 pounds 10 shillings each...................... 5 pounds Three Yearlings ditto at 1 pound each ........................................ 3 pounds Five Shotes* at 7/6 (7 shillings and 6 pence) each ...................... 1 pound, 17 shillings, 6 pence A Sow with 5 young piggs ......................................................... 1 pound, 17 shillings Clothing: 1 Suit of Cloths ......................................................................... 1 pound, 13 shillings Books: A German Bible ........................................................................ 1 pound Jno. Ains's True Christianity ...................................................... 12 shillings a Book of Sermons .................................................................. 4 shillings one Book of Sermons, smaller .................................................. 2 shillings a New Testament ..................................................................... 3 shillings 4 Psalm Books ........................................................................ 8 shillings 5 small Books ......................................................................... 5 shillings Household Goods: One Great Sn(?) ....................................................................... 10 shillings one small ditto .......................................................................... 6 shillings One old Ax ............................................................................... 4 shillings One old Drawing Knife ............................................................. 1 pound, 6 shillings One old Broad Ax .................................................................... 10 pounds One ditto, smaller ..................................................................... 5 pounds, 6 shillings One Upper and under Bed with coverlet bolster and feathers .... 5 pounds A Straw(?) Bed ........................................................................ 9 shillings One old Bedstead .................................................................... 5 shillings One old Slight upper under Ticking .......................................... 5 shillings One old Blankett ..................................................................... 5 shillings One old Straw Bed .................................................................. 2 shillings, 6 pence One Bolster ............................................................................. 6 shillings One Stove ............................................................................... 2 pounds, 10 shillings One old table ........................................................................... 3 shillings One Bench .............................................................................. 1 shilling, 8 pence One old Chest ......................................................................... 5 shillings One (?) of sheets ..................................................................... 15 shillings One old Gun ........................................................................... 1 pound, 5 shillings A (?) of S?illiards .................................................................... 3 shillings 3 Sives (sieves) ....................................................................... 3 shillings Kitchen Furniture: 1 Dozen of Pewter Plates ........................................................ 15 shillings 2 Pewter Dishes ...................................................................... 15 shillings 1 ditto Plate ............................................................................ 4 shillings 1 Large Iron Pott .................................................................... 1 pound 2 small ditto ............................................................................ 12 shillings, 6 pence 1 old Bakeing Pan .................................................................. 4 shillings 2 other Pans ........................................................................... 1 shilling, 8 pence 1 old Brass Pan ...................................................................... 3 shillings 1/2 Dozen of Pewter Spoons, two flesh forks .......................... 6 shillings 1 Dozen of Slight Pewter Spoons ............................................ 3 shillings a small pan ............................................................................ 1 shilling, 6 pence Lanthorn ................................................................................. 3 shillings 1 old Spinning Wheel .............................................................. 7 shillings 1 Coffe Quivern ...................................................................... 5 shillings a Lamp ................................................................................... 6 pence 1 old Tea Cannister, a Tea pott, few cups ................................ 1 shilling, 6 pence 5 old Baggs ............................................................................. 5 shillings Book Debts: Mr. Rudolf Hook(?) ................................................................ 3 pounds Mr. Mickell Diefinbach ............................................................ 18 shillings Total ........................................................................................ 90 pounds, 12 shillings, 4 pence
As two of the greatest creditors we appraisers this inventory... John Buc?d, Mickel Griffen. As the nearest of kin I approve of the appraisement ... Philip Littig Sept. 9th, 1761, Eliza. Litted made oath on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God that the within and foregoing is a fast and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattles which were of the deceased that were come to her hands at the time of the making thereof and that what hath since as shall thereafter come to her hands or possession thereafter ? in and ? that she knows of no concealment of any part of parcel thereof by and person whatsoever and if she shall hereafter discover any concealment or suspect any to be she will acquaint the Commissary General for the time being or his Deputy that it may be inquired into and that she will well and truly give an account of every part of the deceased's personal estate that shall hereafter come to her hands possession or knowledge. Sworn before me, Wm. Young, Deputy Commissary, Baltimore County." (transcribed from original record on microfilm at the Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD)
* a "shote" is a term for a pig
SETTLING DEBTS & ACCOUNTS -- MAY 16, 1763
"Baltimore County. The account of John Seiglor and Elizabeth his wife, administratrix of Peter Lottick late of this County deceased. These Accountants charge themselves with the amount of the deceased's Inventory exhibited into the prerogative office amounting to the Sum of 90 pounds, 12 shillings, 4 pence and they humbly craves allowance of the following payments and disbursements, viz.... Of Sterling due from the deceased to Capt. Jno. Coward as per a joynt bond with sundry persons and paid by these accountants to (?) Jno. Steavenson as per his receipt for 10 pounds, 7 shillings, 11 pence being his proportionable part The Sterling Rated at 45 per cent of 7/6 Currency.......15 pounds, 8 shillings, 6pence. Of Current money Due from the Deceased to Michael Tiferback as per account proved and paid these accountants as per receipt appears .... 20 pounds, 3 shillings, 0 pence. Of ditto due from ditto to Jno. Foul as per account proved and paid by ditto as per ditto.............. 2 pounds, 6 shillings, 6 pence. Of ditto due from ditto to John Sligh as per account proved and paid by ditto as per ditto ............ 1 pound, 0 shillings, 4 pence. Of current money due from ditto to (?) Weesthenall as per account proved and paid by ditto as per ditto.........0 pounds, 18 shillings, 6 pence. Of Commissary's General fees paid A Hall Shriff as per receipt 226 at 12/6 percent .........1 pound, 8 shillings, 3 pence. Of Deputy Commissary's fees paid for Letters ................... 0 pounds, 19 shillings, 3 pence. Of 50 lbs. tobacco paid Wm. Young for passing this account Drawing and stating the same ....................0 pounds, 10 shillings, 0 pence. Of 10 percent allowed on the foregoing.........................4 pounds, 5 shillings, 4 pence. Payments, etc.................46 pounds, 19 shillings, 8 pence. Balance due................... 43 pounds, 12 shillings, 8 pence. The estate accounted for.... 90 pounds, 12 shillings, 4 pence.
This is a final account. The deceased left 4 children. Security are Andrew Stiger. May 16th, 1763. Come John Siglor and Elizabeth his wife administratrix of Peter Lottick late of Baltimore County deceased and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that the foregoing account is just and true which after due examination is passed by Wm. Young, Deputy Commissary, Baltimore County."
Philip Liddick (also spelled Litticg) The Philip Liddick referred to in the following document was the son of Peter Littig and brother to Jost and Peter. Philip's will was written February 10, 1777 and recorded in Baltimore County on October 27, 1779, after his death. It is noted that he signed the will in his own hand. He was an innholder of Baltimore Town and was survived by his wife Elizabeth Margaret Liddick and his two sons, Phillip and George. About the time the Will was drawn up he was in military service (Revolutionary War) as a private in Capt. Sheaff's Baltimore Artillery Company, along with George Letsinger (or George Litzinger, Litzener, or Litsinger) who is referred to in the Will. The cause of his death is not mentioned; it's possible his death was connected with his military service, but I could not find a record of a pension file.
One very interesting note: On Friday, September 19, 1777 the Western Shore Treasurer, acting on the authority of the Maryland Council of Safety, made a payment for Philip's gun, for six pounds ten shillings.* The Council of Safety was responsible for attaining weapons that could be used by the American Troops in the war against Great Britain, and guns were a very scarce and precious commodity. So the fact that his gun was sold a month prior to his death suggests a couple of possible scenarios: 1) Since Philip was in military service, and his death followed a month after his gun was purchased, it is possible that his death resulted from an injury received while in service and his gun was appropriated by the Maryland army for use by another soldier in the war (I'm not sure how things worked during the Revolutionary War, but we might assume that procedures were similar to what happened in the Civil War which was this: when a soldier became injured and unable to fight, his gun would be taken from him until he was able to return to duty. This procedure would ostensibly protect him from the enemy because it was against the rules of engagement to shoot or harm a man without a gun, such as the wounded, physicians, and army musicians among others). Perhaps in Philip's case they knew he would not survive his injuries and therefore made the purchase of his gun. 2) Another scenario is that Philip was ill, knew that his death was imminent and either sold the gun to the Maryland military or they appropriated it for another soldier to use.
* from page 379 of Archives of Maryland, Vol. XVI, "Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, January 1 - March 20, 1777", published by the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, MD.
"LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF PHILIP LIDDICK. In the Name of God Amen, I Philip Liddick of Baltimore Town in the State of Maryland Inholder considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make and declare these presents to contain my last will and Testament: That is to say I give and bequeath unto my Loveing wife Elizabeth Margt. Liddick the Liberty of makeing sale of my House and lott in Gay Street where George Letsinger now lives in case she should not be able to pay of my just debts without selling the same, or necessity should require it for the support of herself and my two children Philip and George Liddick not in the least doubting but she will doe her true Indeaver to bring them up and have them educated in the best manner she can and all the rest of my Estate real and personal, wherewith at the Time of my Decease I shall be possessed or invested or which shall belong or of Right appertain unto me, I do give, devise and bequeath the use thereof to my loving wife Elizabeth Margt. Liddick during her widowhood but in case she should marry then she is to have one third thereof and the other tow thirds to belong to my two children above named to be equally divided between them when they shall arrive of age to receive the same and I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving wife Elizabeth Margt. Liddick to be my whole and sole Executrix of this, my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills and instruments by me made and do declare this to be my last Will. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of February Annoque Domini one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy seven. Signed, Philip Litticg. Signed, sealed and declared to be the last Will and Testament of him the said Philip Liddick in the Presence of us who he desired to be Witnesses thereto and at his request we have signed as Witnesses in his Presence and of each other. Signed Frederick Cole, Godfry Cole, William Aisquith and Gottfried Rose. Baltimore County S.S. October 27th, 1779. Came Frederick Cole, Godfry Cole subscribing Evidences to the aforegoing last Will and Testament of Philip Liddick late of said County deceased and made oath on the Holy Evangels of etc. that they saw the Testator sign and seal and heard him declare the same to be his last Will and Testament that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions he was of sound disposing mind memory and understanding and that they severally subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other Certified by me the subscriber Reg. of Wills for Balt. County. Wm. Buchanan."
|