Notes for Cynthia Rakestraw
Cynthia's parents are unknown at this time.
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1840 Census Enumeration: taken between 1 June and 17 October 1840
1840 Giles Co, TN page 141, line 21 C. Bites - 0221/0101001:
C. Bites [Cynthia Bittick, widow of John R.]
2 m 5-10 c1835-40 = John R. 1832 & Samuel F. 1835
2 m 10-15 c1825-30 = Isaac Newton 1826 & Jerome 1824
1 m 15-20 c1820-25 = Absolem 1822
1 f 5-10 c1830-35 = Elmira 1830
1 f 15-20 c1820-25 = Elgina 1820
1 f 30-40 c1800-10 = Cynthia [should be age 40-50 c1790-1800]
[NOTE - Cynthia's son, Hiram, is enumerated next to her as H. Bites]
1850 District 13, Giles Co, TN, 17 Oct 1850, p359a:
#41/41 Bettick, Jerome m 26 TN farmer
Cynthai f 49 NC [Cynthia]
John m 18 TN
Eglina f 28 TN
Mira f 16 TN
Samuel m 14 TN
1860 Northern Subdivision, Lynnville PO, Giles Co, TN 5 Jun 1860, p7a:
#80/80 Bittox, Syntha f 70 SC weaver and sewer, $/200
Eglina f 38 TN farming
John m 23 TN farming
Elmira f 20 TN domestic
[Where is Samuel?]
1870 13th District, Buford Station PO, Giles Co, TN, 4 Aug 1870, p270b/271a:
182/182 Bitticks, Cynthia f 72 NC keeping house White/Mulatto
Egrina f 50 TN White/Mulatto
Jerome m 45 TN farmer $2355 White/Mulatto
p271a Bitticks G --- L. m 15 TN farm hand [Green? L/T?] White
Bratten, William m 13 TN farm hand White
------ , Hyram? m 18 TN farm hand Black
Phillips, Charles m 16 TN farm hand Black
[Note: This family is enumerated as Colored on Ancestry.com index. Starting with #179/179 on p270b it is difficult to tell if the race is W or M but on p271a the Bitticks boy is listed as W.]
1880 District 13, Giles Co, TN, ED 111, 11 June 1880, p259b:
#146/156 Bittick, Jerome m 50 TN NC NC farming
Cynthia f 80 NC -- -- mother keeping house
Eglina f 60 TN NC NC sister
Elmira f 40 TN NC NC sister
Note: 1860 census lists she was born in South Carolina.
1850, 1870 and 1880 lists she was born in North Carolina.
1820 census lists age as 26-45, b 1775-94
1830 census lists age as 30-40, b 1790-1800
1840 census lists age as 30-40, b 1800-10 [should be 40-50 b 1790-1800]
1850 census lists age as 49, b 1801
1860 census lists age as 70, b 1790
1870 census lists age as 72, b 1798
1880 census lists age as 80, b 1800
Assuming she was at least 18 when she married in 1814 she was born by 1796.
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Cynthia, widow of John R, received a pension for her husband's service in the War of 1812. Census records indicate she was a mid-wife, weaver and sewer. She was said to have lived to age 107. Late in life Cynthia moved to Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee and lived in a small log house with two old maid daughters. Near Pulaski they lived in 'Bitticks Hollow'. [Irene Bittick]
Mrs Ikard handed down a family legend that a brother of John R. served with the British in the Revolutionary War and was killed in the Battle of Cowpens. [FGS of Dorothy Miller, Jun 1990.]
Edward Joseph Bittick, father of Leigh Bittick Hendricks, described Cynthia as a small red head who could still mount a horse by herself when she was near 90 years old.
Widow's Pension App, #3262.
deceased c1894 at age approximately 97. Family records state she was closer to 107 when she died but lack any proof.
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[For Cynthia's Widow's Pension file, see Other Documents, Pension Records]
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Index to War of 1812 Pension Applications Files
FHL Film #840438
War of 1812.
Numbers:
W.O. 7036
W.C. 32632
Bounty Land: 42253-160-56
Soldier: Bitticks, John R.
Widow: Bitticks, Cynthia
Service: Pvt., Capt. James Cowan’s Co., Tenn. Mil.
Enlisted: Nov. 11, 1813
Discharged: Mch. 19, 1814
Remarks: Certificate of Discharge on file
Residence of Soldier:
Residence of Widow: 1855, Giles Co., Tenn. [Bounty Land]
1871, Giles Co., (P.O. Pulaski) Tenn. [Widow’s Pension]
Maiden name of Widow: Soldier previously mar. - ?
Cynthia Rakestraw
Marriage of Soldier and Widow: Dec. 25, 1814, Williamson Co., Tenn.
Death of Soldier: Jan. 8, 1838, Giles Co., Tenn.
Death of Widow: About 1894
[FHL Film #840438]
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