The ancestry of Peter Hitt, the 1714 colonist, is more uncertain than most of the other Nassau-Siegen immigrants to Virginia. However, it still appears that he was connected with the Heites of Rehbach near Kaan, just east of Siegen, Germany, in the Catholic part of the country. However, the Hitt family were Protestants. The name Hitt or Heite is related in origin to the English word, "heath" and probably came from an original ancestor who lived on a moor or heath.Rehbach was an estate near Kaan which is first mentioned in 1555 in the records and the last time in 1707, at the marriage of our ancestor, Peter Heite and his first wife, Elizabeth Freudenberg. The occupants of the estate were as follows:
- (1) The widow Spiess in 1555
(2) Johann of Rehbach 1568 and 1575
(3) Hans Rehbach of Marrienborn ( a village very close to Kaan) 1600, 1601, and 1602.
(4) Balthasar Heite in 1631
(5) Peter Bell of Rehbach, now of Fickenhuetten in 1652
(6) Johannes Jacob Heite of Rehbach in 1652 and later
The above-mentioned lessees of the manor of Rehbach were probably all related. Johann of Rehbach (1568 and 1575) may have been a son-in-law of the widow Spiess, or possibly a son. Hans Rehbach (1600-1602) was probably a son of Johann. Balthasar Heite was probably son or son-in-law of Hans Rehbach. Peter Bell, who was the godfather of Jacob Heite's son Peter in 1665, was probably a son-in-law of Balthasar Heite, occupying the farm from about 1640-52, until Johannes Jacob Heite married, when Peter moved to Fickenhuetten, an iron works settlement in the Weidenau township near Siegen.
Johannes Jacob Heite of Rehbach was probably born about 1625, the youngest son of Balthasar Heite. He and his wife Cathrin had eight known children, born between 1652 and 1665, whose baptisms were registered at Siegen Church.
- 1. Johann, christened the 4th Sunday after Epiphany, 1652
2. Ann Cathrin, christened the 9th Sunday after Trinity, 1656
3. Chuen (Conrad), christened Exaudi Sunday, 1655
4. Antonius, christened the 21st Sunday after Trinity, 1656
5. Elisabeth, christened Estomihi Sunday, 1658
6. Johann Jacob, christened Trinity Sunday, 1660 (our ancestor)
7. Cathrina, christened the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, 1663
8. Peter, christened the 14th Sunday after Trinity, 1665
Johann Jacob Heite was born in about 1660 in Rehbach, Germany and christened Trinity Sunday, 1660. His parents were Johannes Jacob Heite and his wife Cathrin.Johann married and had a son, our ancestor, Peter.
- Peter - born about 1683, married Mary Elizabeth Fruedenberg, and Elizabeth Utterback
No other records of this family have been found at this time.
Peter (Heite) Hitt 1680-1683 HITT
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