Philip Pitman is our earliest known ancestor.There is a notice in the Friday, May 17th,1822 issue of the Montgomery Republican that reads : Phillip Pittman,age 68, of this place died on the 14th of dropsy. This is my only clue as to the birth year of our Philip Pitman.
Our Pittman story continues with the will of Philip Pitman of Kershaw District, South Carolina. It is dated June 19, 1821 and probated August 12, 1822. It is from Will Book 1 pg 23 in Montgomery County, Alabama. There is a note that it is also recorded in Will Book 2 page 9. The will mentions : Wife Pherebe; son Burrel Pitman; son James Pitman; daughter Elizabeth Williams; son DRW Pitman; granddaughter Margaret Williams; grandson Phillip Pittman Williams. Witnesses: Jesse S Nettles, John Williams, Thomas P Evans. I do not have a copy of the will but it is in the Alabama Archives.
From the records of the Probate Court of Montgomery County there is the entry in Will Book 2 page 9. It reads: Philip Pittman of Kershaw Co. SC Dated: June 29, 1821 Probated 12 August 1822. State of South Carolina, Kershaw District. In the name of God, Amen! I, Philip Pitman, being in ill health but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, viewing with deep solemnity the certainty of the approach of my disolution, do make and declare this writing to be and contain my last will and testament. 1st I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Phereba Pitman, the following negroes, viz: Paul, Fann, Peter, Elleck, Jane, Cathy, Emily, Dorcas, Joe, Manerva, and Harriett, together with their future increase; also two beds and furniture, two horses named Ball and Bloomer, and my riding chair and harness and all my kitchen furniture. Second, I will and bequeath to my son, Burrell Pitman, the following property, to wit: six negroes named Wat, Charity, Rhoda, Maria, William and Lizzet together with their future increase; one horse called black colt, one mare named ?, and one sorrel horse, one cart and ten head of cattle, all of which property has already been delivered and one bed and furniture that has not yet been delivered to him the said Burrell Pitman, his heirs and assigned forever. Third, I give and bequeath to my son, James Pittman, the following negroes,viz: Lucy and Sook that I have already delivered to him, Davy, Jim, Vine and Betsy that has not as yet been delivered; ten head of cattle, one sorrel mare, one cart and harness one bed and furniture. Fourth, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Eliza Willimas, the following negroes: Sarah, Holland, Peg, Pat and George, together with their future increase; two beds and furniture, fifteen head of cattle, 15 head of hogs, four head of horses, one brown horse, one mare named Lener, one bay filly and one black filly and two beaurows, all which has been delivered. Fifthly, I give and bequeath to my son D.R.W. Pitman the following negroes, viz; Derry, Flora, Jude, Liv, Lotland, Reiver, together with their future increase; two beds and furniture, the following already delivered to wit: one bay colt, one horse called Boykin, ten head of cattle and nineteen head of hogs. Sixthly, i give and bequeath to my granddaughter Margaret Williams, one negro named Kate. Seventhly, I give and bequeath to my grandson, Philip Pitman Williams, one negroe boy named Jack. All the rest and residue dispose of in such a manner as my wife Phereba Pitman may think proper and the proceeds thereof appropriated to the discharge of my just debts. Executrix/executor: Wife, Phereba Pitman, son Burrell Pitman Witnesses: Jesse S Nettles, John Williams, Thomas P Evans To wife, Pherebee, s, furniture, etc To sons, Burrell and James, s, horses and cattle To daughter, Eliza Williams, son H.R.W., horses and furniture To grandaughter Margaret Williams, To grandson, Philip Pitman Williams, .
With the clue that Philip Pitman was from Kershaw County, SC, I searched the Kershaw County deeds and I found a deed where Philip and Pheraba sold some land in Kershaw District in the forks of Pine Tree Creek to James K Douglas.(This was actually mailed to me by a friend, David Pittman, who was calling Pittmans in the phone book in search of his ancestor, Jethro Pitman.) The land bordered the Joseph Kershaw estate, the Duncan McRae estate and the William Ancrum estate and was among other estate papers of Joseph Kershaw. The deed was dated Jan 22, 1822. Following this deed was a release signed by Pheraba Pittman for the "withering man Philip Pitman" where Pheraba was giving up claim to the land for money. This leads me to two conclusions: One is that the Philip Pitman in the 1820 Kershaw Census is our Philip and Phereba and the other is more proof that the Philip Pitman mentioned in the Obit in the Montgomery Republican in May 1822 was our Philip Pitman. He was probably too sick to make the trip or he had already died when Pheraba made the trip by herself.
Pheraba Pittman's will later turns up in Mobile County, Alabama. It lists Pheraba Pittman of Green County, Mississippi; Margaret Williams, a granddaughter; Benjamin Williams, a grandson. Also it lists Burwell Pittman, James Pittman, Eliza Williams, and David R W Pittman as children. The will was written June 21, 1823. I don't know when it was probated.
This information comes from early Mobile County Records: 16 May 1829- On app of William EXUM and on filing affidavit that HAND, Phebe, late of Mobile County and fomerly the wife of [PITMAN?, Philip] AMAN?, Philip P made and executed during her life a will in persuance of the direction contained in the last will and testament of the said Philip Aman A copy of which is to the said affidavit affixed; which said will is in the said affidavit stated to be in the possession of Obedian HAND of the County; It is therefore ordered that Cit issue to said Obediah Hand returnable forthwith requiring him to produce in this court the said will. There is also this entry on page 189. I do not understand the legal jargon- maybe someone can explain what was happening.
There was a book in the Wayne County Library about Obediah Hand but his second wife is only mentioned as a widow Pittman.There are no children from this union. I couldn't find the book the last time I was there but I have a photocopy of some of it.
Burwell Pitman's name is on a petition in 1813 to establish a seat of justice in the town of Mobile. He has a certificate from the United States General Land Office that deeded him land near the Chickasaw Bogue. He sold this land to Bodo Adams in 1830. His copy of the certificates are in a family chest owned by a relative. His name is spelled with one t and he does not sign his name- only is mark.
In the Acts of the Mississippi Territory, 1st session, 1814, there was an act to establish a road from Mobile to McCrays Ferry on the Buckitanny and if necessary to build a bridge over the Oasecautapa, aka Dog River. Burrel Pitman was on this board of commissioners.
A family record has Burwell born Dec 12, 1780, South Carolina, died April 1836 married Isabella McRae on March 4, 1806. She was born February 7, 1784 and died in March 4, 1860. They had 8 children: 1. John W. Pittman born 1806 ( married Mary McCann-Davis born 1808. They had children: Eliza J. born 1832; Edward Davis born 1836; Margaret born 1837). John is buried in the Philadelphus Church and on his tomb is the inscription "of Darlington District, SC".
2. Elizabeth M Pittman born Janurary 3,1808
3. Phillip J. Pittman born July 17, 1811- 1840 ( I don't know what happened to him)
4. Daniel Mcrae Pittman born December 28, 1814 died July 17, 1844( I don't know what happened to him but his grandmother, Margaret McRae,leaves her grandson Daniel McRae Pitman something in her will dated Nov 15, 1830 and probated Dec 25, 1830.
5. Eliza F Pittman born January 3,1816 (An internet friend says she married Laughlin McLaurin from Wayne County) Eliza F McLaurin is buried in the State Line Cemetery but the birth dates are 8-28-1816 to 3-29-1889
6. Frances B.Pittman born 1820 married Margaret Kittrell.They had 7 children:
Mary J born 1856, Elizabeth born 1857, Sarah Isabella born December 16, 1859, John W. 1863-1939,Charles W. born 1866, Margaret C. born 1872 and Phillip J. born 1874.
7. James B Pittman born March 14, 1824 died Dec, 18, 1900
8.Margaret C or G born Sept 7, 1822. died Nov 15, 1822.
Isabella McRae was married to Burrell Pittman. Isabella was the daughter of Margaret McDuffie and Daniel McRae born 1753 in Scotland. Margaret McDuffie was the daughter of John McDuffie and Mary Pattison who also came from Scotland. Daniel McRae was the son of John McRae and Elizabeth McKenzie, also from Scotland.
Children of Margaret and Daniel McRae were 1.Elizabeth Mary born Sept 6, 1792 who married John McRae born Feb 15, 1778. One of their children, John J McRae, was governor of Mississippi from 1854-1858. 2. John McRae 1780-1824 . Some say he was married to Harriet Pegues Powe, daughter of William Powe. 3. Isabella McRae b 1784 married Burwell Pittman 4. Margaret McRae born 1795 and married a Sumrall ( some say Thomas L Sumrall) and 5. Daniel R. W. McRae born 1803. Most of the McRae information comes from Elizabeth Mary McRae's Bible published by the Mississippi Genealogical Society in 1962, Volume 9. Daniel McRae is said to be buried in the William Powe Cementery in Wayne county, MS.This information was in a book on the Powe Family. The cemetery is very much overgrown and I could not find the stone. I question this information.
In a Perry County Will dated Nov 15, 1830 and probated December 25, 1830, Margaret McRae (Mrs Daniel McRae) leaves Burrell Pitman one dollar. Thomas L Summerall is instructed to hold something in trust for her daughter Isobel Pitman and her grandson Daniel McRae Pitman. Grandchildren William Powe McRae, Charlotte Summerall, Arabella Holt, Harriet Margaret Mcrae, are given items and the residue of the estate is given to daughter Margaret Summerall Wit: Jno. Black, A.C.Jennings, John C Case.This information was from a book,Hinds County Wills. pg 112.
James B. Pittman is the youngest son of Burwell and Isabella Pittman. The land south of the Battles community, near the river was held by members of the Pittman family until 1877.A court case, Robinson Land and Lumbar vs Daniel Boutwell named Daniel and John McRae as original owners of some of this land.
James B Pittman married Elizabeth Robertson. She was born May 30, 1831 and died March 31, 1917. She was the daughter of George Robertson born May 5, 1794, South Carolina, and Elizabeth born August 30, 1789. James B and Elizabeth are buried in the Pittman Cementery, Clara, MS.
Family members say James B Pittman once ran a ferry boat across the Chickasawhay River. When the Civil War started he joined Company I 36 Alabama Infantry CSA. Many of the members of this group were from Mississippi but the signed up in Mobile, Alabama.
On Dec 16, 1864 he was captured in Nashville, Tennessee by forces under Major General Thomas. He was sent to a prisoner of war camp in Louisville, Kty and then was forwarded to Camp Chase, Ohio. He took an oath of Allegiance to the United States on June 12, 1865.This document described him as dark haired, blue eyed, fair complexion, 6 feet tall and 110 pounds. He was forty-one years old. Family members say he walked back home and walked into the yard 2 or 3 years later.
James B Pittman and Elizabeth's children were: James S Pittman (Jim) born April 30, 1872 and died June 25, 1959. He married Lula Lithan Brewer born June 16, 1885 and died October 25, 1940. Lithan was the daughter of George Brewer( born May 18, 1860 d Oct 18, 1919) and Mary Smith (born October 19, 1863 and died Aug 1929.) George Brewer was the son of Andrew "Drewry" Brewer and Arcadia Walley. A grandson, says his name was George Washington Brewer. Jim and Lithan, Mary and George, are buried in Pittman Cementery.
Isabelle Pittman (born May 27, 1876 died Dec 31, 1941) married Andrew Lloyd Brewer (born March 27, 1872 died Nov 28, 1943) Andrew Lloyd was the son of John Brewer and Rebecca Douglas. Isabelle and Andrew Lloyd are buried in Pittman Cementery.
Eliza J Pittman born Oct 5. 1858 and died May 18, 1929.She did not marry.Eliza J is buried in the Pittman Cemetery.
Mary Elizabeth Pittman born November 5, 1867 married J E Bazor. Mary Elizabeth is buried in the White House Cemetery.