Gittings family: Difference between revisions

==Early history==

==Early history==

Thomas Gittings arrived in Maryland in about 1684 (possibly from another American colony such as Pennsylvania), where he established a farm called Gittings’ Choice in [[Long Green Valley Historic District|Long Green Valley]], northeast of the future site of Baltimore. His son James Gittings, Jr. (1769-1820) married the daughter of George Buchanan, one of the founders of Baltimore and proprietary of [[Druid Hill Park|Druid Hill]].{{cite web |title=Gittings, John Sterett |work=Baltimore American |date=December 9, 1879 |access-date=2025-02-22 |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/001500/001546/pdf/bio_gittings1.pdf }}{{cite book |last=Mayer |first=Brantz |title=Baltimore: Past and Present. With biographical sketches of its representative men |publisher=Richardson and Bennett |year=1871 |pages=289-291 |chapter=John S. Gittings |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/baltimorepastpre00maye/page/n347/mode/2up }}

Thomas Gittings arrived in Maryland in about 1684 possibly from another American colony established a farm called Gittings’ Choice in [[Long Green Valley Historic District|Long Green Valley]], northeast of the future site of Baltimore. His son James Gittings, Jr. (1769-1820) married the daughter of George Buchanan, one of the founders of Baltimore and proprietary of [[Druid Hill Park|Druid Hill]].{{cite web |title=Gittings, John Sterett |work=Baltimore American |date=December 9, 1879 |access-date=2025-02-22 |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/001500/001546/pdf/bio_gittings1.pdf }}{{cite book |last=Mayer |first=Brantz |title=Baltimore: Past and Present. With biographical sketches of its representative men |publisher=Richardson and Bennett |year=1871 |pages=289-291 |chapter=John S. Gittings |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/baltimorepastpre00maye/page/n347/mode/2up }}

==Notable family==

==Notable family==

The Gittings family were a wealthy, powerful and prominent family in Baltimore, Maryland during the 19th and 20th centuries.^[1] At one time in the late 19th century they were described as the largest real estate holders in the city, and the largest single taxpayer in the city. The Gittings, known for devout Christian piety and political conservatism, were elected politicians, heads of railroads and banks, foreign diplomats, city commissioners, and in one case, an important gay rights activist.

Early history

Thomas Gittings arrived in Maryland in about 1684 possibly from another American colony. He established a farm called Gittings’ Choice in Long Green Valley, northeast of the future site of Baltimore. His son James Gittings, Jr. (1769-1820) married the daughter of George Buchanan, one of the founders of Baltimore and proprietary of Druid Hill.^[2][3]

Notable family

John Sterett Givenings (1798-1879)

John Sterett Gittings, born May 27, 1798, was the son of James Gittings, Jr. (1769-1820) and Harriet Sterrett (1750/51-1787). He attended Dickinson College, and studied banking in the counting house of James A. Buchanan. He founded John S. Gittings & Son, 1832 (a banking house). Was President of Chesapeake Bank for over 40 years, 1835-1879. President of Northern Central Railroad. Offices held included Commissioner of the Loans for the State of Maryland, 1836-1839; Member, City Council of Baltimore; a Director of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1841; Commissioner of Public Works. He was described as disciplined, fixed, severe, prompt and methodical. During the Civil War his sympathies were with the south. At the time of his death he was one of the richest men in the city, tax records showed he was the largest individual tax payer in Baltimore. He was very religious and founded his own church. Much of his wealth was in real estate including the St. James Hotel and other valuable properties throughout the city. He died December 8, 1879 at his residence, 149 St. Paul St., Baltimore, and is buried at Green Mount Cemetery. He had two children, Eleanor Addison, and William Sterett Gittings.^[2][4]

John Sterett Givenings (1848-1926)

John Sterett Gittings was the son of William S. Gittings, and grandson of John Sterett Gittings (1798-1879). He worked with his grandfather at the banking firm of John S. Gittings & Son, for over forty years from 1870 to 1912, including as head of the bank from 1880 onward. It was the second oldest bank in the south. He was paymaster general of the State militia during the terms of two governors, an office he held until 1870. In 1882 Gittings was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates from Baltimore County, and served as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. He was appointed State Treasurer of Maryland from 1885 to 1886, and there served as a member of the State Board of Public Works. He died January 23, 1926, of pneumonia at his home in the Burford Apartments, 3209 North Charles Street, Baltimore. He is buried at Green Mount Cemetery. He owned the farm estate called Ashburton, which he sold to developers that became the neighborhood of Ashburton, Baltimore.^[5][6]

John Sterett Givenings, Jr. (1888-1961)

Born January 16, 1888, in Baltimore, son of John Sterett Gittings (1848-1926). Attended Harvard University graduating in 1910. Was a U. S. Diplomat attached to the United States Foreign Service in Riga among other places overseas. Died June 17, 1961 in Wilmington, DE.^{[5] [7]}

Barbara Gittings (July 31, 1932 – February 18, 2007) was an American activist for LGBT equality. She was born to Elizabeth (née Brooks) Gittings and John Sterett Gittings, Jr. in Vienna, Austria, where her father was serving as a U.S. diplomat.

References