Col. Robert Pitt (b. March 16, 1605/06, d. Bef. January 09, 1674/75)
Robert Pitt (son of William Pitt and Mary Gibbs) was born March 16, 1605/06 in probably Bristol, England, and died Bef. January 09, 1674/75 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He married Hester Stevens on Abt. 1631, daughter of George Stevens.
Notes for Robert Pitt: On Sep 1631, Robert Pitt, son of William Pitt, merchant, qualified for freedom and admittance to the Merchant Society, Bristol. The plantation of Robert Pitt is mentioned as being included within Isle of Wight Co. in the Act of 1642-43 which passed to determine the boundaries between Isle of Wight and Upper Norfolk [Nansemond] Counties. He represented Isle of Wight Co. in the House of Burgesses 1649-1660. On 5 Feb 1649, bought 350 acres from Richard Young, located on New Town Haven River. [Bk. A, pg. 115] wit: Robert Pitt, Jr. He was Lieutenant Colonel commanding the Isle of Wight militia in 1662. Commissioner, Isle of Wight Co., 9 Feb 1666. Will (dated 6 Jun 1672) lists: wife Martha, son John, grandson John, grandson William, dau. Hester Bridger, dau. Elizabeth Norsworthy, grandson Robert P. (son of Robert, dec'd), dau. Brasheire. Of the children and grandchildren listed above, William (grandson) is not attributed; probably a son of John who died young.
More About ROBERT PITT: Occupation: Merchant Will proved: 09 Jan, 1674/75, Isle of Wight Co., VA; Bk 2, pg. 128 Will written/leg.: see notes.
Colonel Robert Pitt was born about 1607 in England and was like most of his family a sailor and served as a Captain of a privateer out of Bristol named the "Thunder", aiding the Huguenots in the war against France in 1628 - Bristol Privateers, Powell, page 84. As a sea merchant he owned a fleet of ships which sailed out of the Port at Bristol, England. He had moved to the colonies by 1637 as he had patented 550 acres of land in the Isle of Wight, Virginia, on February 14, 1637. This land was located on the New Haven River which was later changed to the Pagan River. Also on April 17, 1648, he patented 300 acres adjacent to the original land. On June 7, 1654, he patented an additional 1,200 acres. In 1664, he patented 3,000 acred on the Blackwater with his son-in-law, Captain Joseph Bridger, and William Burgh. Also, he patented 1,000 acres in Accomac on March 12, 1662 and 3,000 acres in Accomac on October 2, 1663. Between 1649 and 1660 he served as a member of the House of Burgesses for the Isle of Wight, served as a Lt. Colonel in 1662 commanding the Isle of Wight Militia and on the Governor's Council. It is assumed that Col. Robert was married twice; first to Elizabeth Stevens and last to Martha Lear. Colonel Robert Pitt died before January 9, 1674, as his Will was recorded on that date, it was dated June 6, 1672 and witnessed by Richard Jones and Thomas Hill. His wife, Martha, had died before that date as he left in her memory, a parcel of land with the stipulation that his executor would build one house of twenty-five feet within four years of his death on the land to be used for poor women. He also left in memory of his daughter, Martha, "two cows and two female cows, which cattle and their increase are to be put upon the aforesaid land and not to be disposed of until they increase to a number of twelve which number is to be continued upon the aforesaid land, and what shall be over that number of cattle shall be disposed of by the Sheriff, then one half of the benefit of the cows and the whole benefit of the land to be for the estate of poor women and the other half of the benefit of the cattle to be for the estate of poor female orphans". (Will of Col. Robert Pitt recorded in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.)
More About Robert Pitt: Military service: Colonel. Will: January 09, 1673/74, Recorded on that date.
More About Robert Pitt and Hester Stevens: Marriage: Abt. 1631
Children of Robert Pitt and Hester Stevens are:
+Hester Pitt, b. Abt. 1636, probably Bristol, England, d. Bef. January 18, 1711/12, Isl of Wight Co., VA.
Col. Robert Pitt (b. March 16, 1605/06, d. Bef. January 09, 1674/75)
Notes for Robert Pitt: