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Pitt of Isle of Wight County

A branch of the Pitt family settled in Bristol during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, becoming merchants and mariners, later adventuring to Virginia. The family traces back to Nicholas Pitt of Blandford, Dorset, in 1545.

William Pitt, son and heir of Nicholas, married Helena, daughter of James Haviland of the Isle of Guernsey, Justice of the Royal Court of the Island from 1517 until his death 14 October 1540. William Pitt had several sons. His eldest son was John Pitt from whom the Earl of Chatham descends. His second son was Thomas, from whom the Pitt families of the Isle of Wight in Virginia descend. John was clerk of the Exechequer to Queen Elizabeth. He married Joan, daughter of John Swayne of Blandford Forum, Dorset. Captain Christopher Pitt, another son, captain of "Handmaid", a Bristol ship in the Armada campaign of 1588.

Thomas Pitt, a third son of the above John, purchasedthe advowsons of Blandford St. Marys, Dorset, where he resided. His wife was Priscilla Searle.

Reverend John Pitt, eldest son of John and Priscilla, was born 1641, died 1672, Rector of Blandford St. Marys. Wife, Sarah Jay. The second son of John and Sarah was Thomas, afterwards Governor of Fort St. George in the East Indies where he became possessor of the famous Pitt diamond which founded the fortunes of his family. He died 1726 and his wife, Jane, daughter of James Innes, died in 1727.

Robert Pitt of Boconnor was son of Thomas, married Harriet, a sister of John Villiers, Earl of Grandison. They were the parents of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, Prime Minister of England, born 1708, died 1778, buried at Westminster Abbey.

The Isle of Wight County, Virginia family descends through Thomas Pitt, second son of William Pitt and his wife, Helena Haviland. Thomas was a merchant of Bristol and Chamberlin of the City. He made his will dated 1 May 1613, probated 5 Aug 1613. Issue:

• William Pitt married Mary. William was a merchant and ship owner engaged in the turkey and East India trade. He died in 1624 in Bristol, England. Issue:
  1. Robert Pitt, Colonel, of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. His will dated 6 June 1672, probated 9 June 1674. issue:

     1. Robert Pitt, died 1672.
     2. Elizabeth Pitt married Norsworthy.
     3. Hester Pitt married Colonel Joseph Bridger.
     4. Mary Pitt married John Brasseur.
     5. John Pitt, Lt. Colonel of the militia, made his will in 1702, married Olive Hardy, widow of Giles Driver.

  2. Henry Pitt, Capt. of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Wife Anne, widow of Robert Watson.
  3. Thomas Pitt patented 872 acres in Charles City County on the Appomattox River 7 Dec 1641.
  4. Mary Pitt married Andrew Nowell or Newell; removed to New England.
  5. William Pitt.
  6. Anne Pitt.
  7. Maude Pitt married Dr. Richard Russell; removed to New England.
  8. Martha Pitt.
• Alice Pittmarried Northen.
• Robert Pitt.
• Anne Pitt married (1) Waters (2) John Merrick.
• Mary Pitt married Robert Owen.

St. Marys Church, Blandford, Dorset, where Reverend John Pitt was minister.


Prime Minister William Pitt (1754-1806).

Note : The Holbeck Pitt Conservative Club is one of only four Pitt Clubs still in existence by the late 20th century. It is situated at the corner of Domestic Street and Shafton Lane, in Holbeck, Leeds. William Pitt, the Younger (born 28 May 1759, died 23 January 1806) was a British politician of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783, aged 24. He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death. He is known as "William Pitt the Younger" to distinguish him from his father, William Pitt the Elder, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain. He was officially The Hon. William Pitt because his father had a peerage. After the death of the younger Pitt his profile was reproduced as a medal to be hung on the coat or as a collar, which were worn at dinners dedicated to the immortal memory in the Pitt clubs that spread over the land. Only four of these are now in existence, the London Club, the Mid-Cheshire Club, Cambridge University and the Holbeck Pitt Conservative Club in Leeds.

Sources:

Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight; Isle of Wight County wills; Hutchins Dorset 4, page 90; Bristol Privateers, Powell, page 24; Last Will and Testament of William Pitt; Last Will and Testament of Thomas Pitt