Justin Hitchcock's Remarks and Observations

been in public business almost evr^ey year -- before
after he moved to Granville and the year before he
died was a Representativ for that Town. His zeal
in the cause in which our Country was then engaged
prompted him to make this Campaign when pehaps
it would have been more prudent not to have gone
He was an active Man and often engaged in
assisting others He was as I have observed a Deacon
in the Church in Granville and after -- I left home
that church was divided and I think my Father
asked and obtained a dismission from the office
My brothers and I had heard that there was a
mortgage upon his estate but we did not know
as it was so I once took the liberty to ask him. He
gave me no direct answer --But I suspected the it
was so. after his death Brother Merick and I went
to see Col Worthington he wes at that time soured
against the proceeding of the Country (being a Tory)
he answered us very roughly and could scarcely
believe but that we must know the situation of
My Father estate And indeed it appears strange
that he should choose to keep a matter of so much
consequence from his sons after they had become
heads of families The only reason I have ever --been-
able to give why he persevered in this profound
secret was that as he was not an old man he
still hoped to redeem the place and pay the
Mortgage but I think more of pride than good
policy is discouvered in conceeling such a thing
from Children when they come of age. We found to
our mortifacation that the farm was mortgaged and
lost to us My Brother administred upon the estate
which did not prove sufficient to pay the debts