| Notes |
- From the book by Al Mets Jr. (Metts Family in America"
b. 1752 - d. October 1812
Militia Soldier in the American Revolution
Henry Mitts was born and died in South Carolina. Many documents contain his name, and a reasonable description of his life can be written. His parentage was discussed to establish Henrick and his wife, Margaret, as his father and mother. The date of his birth is not proved. The old family
genealogist, Henry Richard Metts, said that Henry died in his sixtieth year in 1817, hence, a birth year of 1752. With the genealogy are three more pages of outlines of the family, obviously made by family members over the years. The outline gives his birth as 1744, reason unstated.
The old Metts genealogist, Henry Richard Metts, in 1859, wrote that Henry's "death took place in October 1812 (dying in his sixtieth year of age)". Using this best evidence, he was born in Saxe Gotha on the 250-acre farm of his father. He was a child during the long years of building a home in the wilderness, clearing the farm, and living in constant fear of Indian attack. He did not go to school or learn to read and write. It may be said that he was illiterate, but he was not ignorant. His life was successful, though hard.
A long-time genealogist in South Carolina, Lee R. Gandee wrote that no Metts records survived the Civil War, but he believed, "The family seemed to have no legal entanglements and to keep rather out of sight. They were old-believers, devout Lutherans, farmers who practiced the old ways, believed in witchcraft, and held to themselves". He may have been right because the old Germans lived apart. Probably, no one will ever know the name of Henry's wife.
We can identify his children. Documents in Newberry County, in Columbia at the South Carolina Archives, and in Charleston have been studied to find the general story of his life.
Brother Charles must have been older than Henry. He moved to Newberry County and bought the 200 acres on Heller's Creek in 1765. Evidently, Henry followed Charles. No land grant or purchase document has been found that records Henry's purchase of his land on Heller's Creek, but in 1772 a man bought land next to Henry's farm. In 1773, a purchase by a Gartman, next to Charles shows that both Henry and Charles lived on Heller's Creek.
Again, father Henrick died in Saxe Gotha about 1765, Soon after his death, both Henry and Charles acquired land on Heller's Creek. In 1778 and 1779, Henry's name appears on a jury list in Newberry County. Henry's children were being born before he became involved in the American Revolution, but his service will be discussed before the family.
Most Americans think of the American Revolution in the terms presented to them in/school - Bunker Hill, Washington crossing the Delaware, and Yorktown. But there were other sides to the Revolution that many people never have considered. While the northern colonies were eager to fight, many of the southerners had no quarrel with England. The Germans loved Queen Anne as their savior. Their problems were on the frontier - food for their family and protection from the Indians.
Open warfare broke out between the Tories - loyal to England - and those supporting the Revolution. The protection of British troops and authority disappeared. Bands of renegades under the colors of either side pillaged the country. In South Carolina, groups of "Regulators" were organized to try and maintain order. Then, the English encouraged the Indians to renew their attacks upon the frontier. Weapons were provided to the Indians and advisors stirred up trouble. Of course, the Indians were smart enough to realize the opportunities presented by the war. The event that brought the South Carolina frontier strongly to the. American cause was the fall of Charleston to the English on 12 May 1780.
Now, the war was close to home - South Carolina. Henry Mitts joined the militia in the Water's Regiment. Colonel Philemon
Waters was a neighbor. He had served in the Continental Army since the war began. He enlisted his regiment from Laurens and Newberry Counties. There is no way to describe the service of Henry Mitts, other than to present the documentation of his service. These records are in South Carolina.
Archives in Columbia.
Henry was the father of eight children. They are listed in the outline with the HRM genealogy as follows: John, Phillip (our ancestor), Henry, David, Adam, George, Barbara, and "another daughter". This cannot be the correct order of birth. Only three birthdays are known: Barbara on 10 Aug 1778, Henry in 1782, and George on 28 Jul 1790. In the first U.S. Census, Henry Mitts had 4 sons under 16 years old and two women in the household. One would be daughter, Barbara and the other may be his wife. By 1800, he had two sons under 10, two sons between 10 and 16 years, two sons 16 to 26 years, and one woman 16 to 26 years (Barbara). He had one "free person". This means that he had no wife in 1800.
Seven children were at home. The story of Phillip Mitts, our ancestor and son of Henry, will be told later. Since the other children are not in our direct line, discussion of each will be brief. John married Mary M. Koone and had eight children. Their son, Henry married Sara Caroline Vance and moved to Mississippi. John has many descendants in SC, TN, and MS.
Henry, son of Henry, was born in 1782 and married Rebeccah Lake. When she died, he married Missouri Ike, a sister. There were six children. Henry's sons David and Adam both died young, and neither was married. (Gene Brownlow - I think this Adam actually did marry and he is in my line) When Adam died, he owned 90 acres of land. David Lightsey bought the land and the money was divided among Adam's living brothers and sisters. The documents are in Box 20, Package 12, at the Newberry courthouse. Documents of this kind prove the validity of the old RHM genealogy.
George Metts was born in 1790. He is the father of HRM. George married Lucy Strother and Lucretia Holland. Their five children produced many outstanding and well-educated South Carolinians. George was the last owner of the old homestead on Heller's Creek. He sold it in 1835. At that time, HRM was 19 years old.
The daughter of Henry, Barbara, was born in 1778. HRM listed her next to last, the last being an "unnamed daughter". Maybe, it was because she was a girl, but Barbara was far from last, in more than one way. She was big sister in every way! Her husband was a lawyer named Andrew Wicker. She married him in 1805 and they moved to Mississippi in 1818 - long before any of the others.
Andrew was the only well-educated person in the entire "bunch". He wrote the legal documents and rode herd over the family business. There were legal battles, particularly when John died. Andrew was a leading participator.
The old homestead on Heller's Creek must have been a busy place during those years. HRM described the family, "Now what shall I say about these six sons, their father and grandfather. From tradition, and the writer's own knowledge they were honest, industrious, peaceable, quiet, and thrifty family. None of them ever occupied high public trust, they never sought office, but most of/them were what was known as leading citizens of the neighborhood.".
Henry Mitts was a strong and hardworking man who served his country during the American Revolution. His Service and lineage to this writer has been proved to and approved by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Henry died in October 1812.
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1752 - 1812 (60 years)
