1 Jan 1842: Jacob Hottle and Julia, his wife, conveyed to Emanuel Pitman two tracts of land, it being a part of the same two parcels or tracts of land which were conveyed by Joseph H. Samuels, commissioner, by decree in Chancery Court by deed dated June 9, 1830. Deed Book UU, page 328

22 May 1852: Moritz Heller, exor. of Emanuel Pitman, deceased, conveyed to Levi Pitman for the sum of $1080, two certain tracts of land containing about 8 acres and 16 acres respectively. Deed Book 1, page 50

8 Nov 1886; probated 10 Oct 1892: Levi Pitman bequeathed to his wife, Rachel, in lieu of her dower, the use and income of the dwelling house and lands situated in . Olive as long as she lives. After her death the property to be divided equally between the children and heirs. Benjamin F. Borden was appointed as executor. Will Book 24, page 8

1 May 1893: B.W. Hottle and Lydia C., his wife, granted in trust unto M.L. Walton, trustee, all of the real estate of which the late Levi Pitman died seized and possessed, and it was conveyed to the said B.W. Hottle by Benjamin F. Borden and E. D. Newman, special commissioners in chancery suit of B.F. BOrden and wife vs. Minnie Pitman, consisting of two tracts of land at . Olive and nearby, etc.. Deed Book 39, page 356

This house has been rebuilt in part; the old part has some unusually wide (10 inch) weatherboarding. The house stands back in a deeply shaded lawn of irregular old shrubbery and wild grass. A beaten narrow path leads from the road to the house.

Levi Pitman was a clock smith, and it is said that he had the whole upstairs filled with clocks. He was a Northern sympathizer, and had a trap door in the floor where he would go down to hide under the house. This was not in the cellar but about three feet under the floor where he always hid when the Southern Army came too near.

Miss (Mattie) Borden tells that her grandmother, Mrs. Levi Pitman, baked bread for the soldiers while they camped across the road from this home; on one occasion they grabbed it from the oven half baked and ran, with the opposing army in pursuit.

Source: Virginia W.P.A. Historical Inventory Project, 1937

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