Calvin Pitman was born on December 8, 1780 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Calvin married Hannah Phares on April 16, 1807, in Hamilton County, Ohio. Calvin Pitman died on November 8, 1843, in Clinton County, Indiana.
Calvin Pitman was born on December 8, 1780 in Freehold, New Jersey, the third of 8 known children of Jonathan Pitman and Rebecca Clevenger. He was born during the Revolutionary War, his father serving as a Captain. When Calvin was around 10 years of age, his family moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, near what is present day Cincinnati, and at the time on the edge of the frontier.
On April 16, 1807, at the age of 27, Calvin married Hannah Phares. Calvin and Hannah had the following known children:
- Rachel Pitman
- Susan Pitman
- Rebecca Pitman
- Jonathan Pitman
- Sarah Pitman
- Joseph P. Pitman
- Charles S. Pitman
Calvin and Hannah had three children prior to the start of the War of 1812, likely in Hamilton County, Ohio.
On August 11, 1812, Calvin enlisted for a six month term in Captain Asa Hinkle's Company, part of the 1st Regiment “Suttons” Ohio Militia. Calvin was a Sergeant. The beginning of the War had started badly for the Americans and there was an urgent need for reinforcements to aid General Hull at Fort Detroit. Captain Hinkle's company marched to Lebanon where they met up with 3 other companies of riflemen, Captains Collins, Leonard and Jenkinson's units and a company of light infantry, Captain Corwin's unit. The combined companies began to march to Urbana, Ohio, by way of Dayton, Ohio, but received news prior to reaching Dayton that General Hull and his army were prisoners. William Henry Harrison assumed command of the Northwestern army and began to dispatch units to open up roads and rebuild forts. Calvin's company was likely one of the units which opened up a road to St Mary's, Ohio and rebuilt the old fort there. St. Mary's is where Calvin and other members of his company were discharged on Feb 10, 1813 after serving six months.
Following his war service, Calvin and his family settled in Milford County, Ohio, close to Oxford. In 1815, Calvin's father Jonathan purchased 148 ¾ acres in Milford County in section 5 and it appears that Calvin and his family occupied the land. Calvin and Hannah had three more children before 1820.
In 1826, oldest daughter Rachel married the son of next door neighbor Joseph Douglass.
In 1829, Calvin's father Jonathan sold the land in Milford. The family moved a few miles away to Oxford County. In the US 1830 census, the family was recorded next to Thomas F. Phares, probably a relative of Hannah. Since, it does not appear that the Pitman's owned any land in Oxford County, the family may have been staying on Thomas' property. In January 1830, daughter Susan married Felix D. Fowler who lived about 2 miles away. The wedding was followed by the birth of Calvin and Hannah's youngest son a few days later.
In November of 1830, Calvin purchased 160 acres of land in Clinton County, Indiana. The family likely delayed a move to Indiana and returned to Hamilton County where Calvin's father lived. In 1832 daughter Rebecca married Zachariah T. Dewitt in Hamilton County. Zachariah had been a neighbor of the Pitman's in Butler County and lived next to married daughter Susan Fowler. In 1834, daughter Sarah married Stephen Whitlock in Hamilton County. Stephen lived in the same township as Calvin's father. When Calvin's father died in August of 1834, Calvin was co-executor of his father's will along with Amos Cleavinger. Calvin was present in Cincinnati, Hamilton County on January 10, 1835 to transfer a deed of his father's estate.
Likely, sometime between 1835 and 1838, Calvin, Hannah and their sons moved to Clinton County, Indiana, where sons Jonathan and Joseph married in Clinton County, Indiana, in 1838 and 1840 respectively.
The US 1840 census indicated Calvin's household contained 3 people, 2 adults and 1 male boy, Calvin, Hannah and Charles. Next door was daughter Rachel Douglass who had been widowed in 1838. The following year, Rachel married neighbor Henry Lipp.
On November 3, 1843, Calvin wrote his last will and testament “being weak in body but of sound mind and memory” and on November 8 Calvin Pitman died at the age of 62. He was buried in Bunnell Cemetery, Frankfort, Indiana.
Calvin's will directed that his wife should have his estate and after her death, the estate would be divided among his children Charles, Susan Fowler and Rebecca Dewitt. The will implied that he had previously given gifts to children Rachal, Jonathan and Joseph. Calvin also left a legacy to his grandson Jared P. Whitlock, son of his deceased daughter Sarah.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Updated: April 2022
Sources:
"United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch, Calvin Pittman, Milford Township, Butler, Ohio, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
"United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch, Calvin Pitmon, Oxford, Butler, Ohio, United States; citing 122, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 127; FHL microfilm 337,938.
"Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996," database with images, FamilySearch, Hamilton > Wills 1798-1861 vol 7-8 > image 205 of 433; county courthouses, Ohio.
"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch, Calvin Pittman, Clinton, Indiana, United States; citing p. 385, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
Calvin Pitman (Crawfordsville, Indiana), State Volume Patent no. 8494; “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records.
Calvin Pitman (Crawfordsville, Indiana), State Volume Patent no. 8495; “Land Patent Search,” digital images, General Land Office Records.
“A History and Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio”, Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, OH., 1882.
United States War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815, database with images, FamilySearch, Calvin Pitman, 1812-1815; citing NARA microfilm publication M602 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); roll 165; FHL microfilm 882,683.
“Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007, War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, ca. 1871 - ca. 1900”. Case File of Joseph LIne - Pvt Capt Asa Hinkle's Co Ohio Mil - Ohio. ID# 186763491. National Archives.
“Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007, War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, ca. 1871 - ca. 1900”. Case File of John McClellan - Pvt Capt Asa Hinkle's Co Ohio Mil - Ohio. ID# 186829042. National Archives.
“Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007, War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, ca. 1871 - ca. 1900”. Case File of Samuel Cosbey - Pvt Capt Asa Hinkle's Co Ohio Mil - Ohio. ID# 110380119. National Archives.
“Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007, War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, ca. 1871 - ca. 1900”. Case File of Leicester Nichols - Pvt Capt Asa Hinkle's Co Ohio Mil - Ohio. ID# 187113764. National Archives.
“Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007, War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, ca. 1871 - ca. 1900”. Case File of David Brecount - Pvt Capt Asa Hinkle's Co Ohio Mil - Ohio. ID# 110383372. National Archives.
“Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007, War of 1812 Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, ca. 1871 - ca. 1900”. Case File of James Burns - Pvt Capt Asa Hinkle's Co Ohio Mil - Ohio. ID# 78019881. National Archives.
“Ohio, Butler County. Deed Records 1803-1876.” images, Family Search. Book E Folio 94.
“Ohio, Butler County. Deed Records 1803-1876.” images, Family Search. Book P Folio 8.
"Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958", database, FamilySearch, Rachel Pitman in entry for Joseph Douglass, 1826.
"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch, Felix Fowler and Susan Pitman, 1830.
"Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch, Zachariah J. Dewitt and Rebecca Pitman, 1832.
"Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958", database, FamilySearch, Sarah Pitman in entry for Stephen Whitlock, 1834.
"Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019", database with images, FamilySearch, Jonathan Pitman, 1838.
Pitman, Calvin. Last Will and Testament of Calvin Pitman. 3 November 1843. Clinton County, Indiana. Book 1 Folio 73.
