Jennie Kerry Neal

Jennie's mother died when she was only 2 or 3 years old. Her father was a "green" from County Kerry, Ireland, while her mother was "orange" from Belfast, Ireland. When her mother died, Jennie and her sister Nellie were taken in by a German-Catholic Orphanage in Paterson, NJ because their father could not support the two young children. Because their father was not Catholic, the Orphanage refused to let him take them back once he was again able.

The children decided to run away to be with their father but only Nellie was successful - Jennie was caught and put up for adoption. A couple by the name of Neal from Laurel, DE adopted little Jennie. They treated her poorly, in many ways like a common servant.

She taught school at Trinity, a small country schoolhouse near Laurel. Jennie was an accomplished pianist and had a beautiful singing voice.

Jennie married Elon Gardner Hitch, son of Rev. Elijah Hitch and Drucilla Caroline Phillips, in 1925 in Laurel, Sussex Co., DE. (Elon Gardner Hitch was born on 21 Aug 1885 in Laurel, Sussex Co., DE, died on 09 Sep 1972 in Peninsula General Hospital, Salisbury, Wicomico Co., MD and was buried about 12 Sep 1972 in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Laurel, Sussex Co., DE.)