This is one of the many surnames derived from Hugh, anciently one of the most common of given names. It is Hewitt, Hewett, Huet, and Hughett, according to the whim of its owner, members of the same family spelling it differently. The name is an old and honored one in the United States, dating back far into Pilgrim and Colonial days. Probably the best known of the name to the present generation is Abram S. Hewitt, noted philanthropist, manufacturer, statesman, and mayor of New York City. It is probably from the Connecticut stock that the Montgomery county, New York, family descend, but no records seem to show the connection.
(I) Ozias Hewett was born about 1760, in Saratoga county, New York. He was accidentally killed by the falling of a tree, not long after his marriage to Mehitable Kneeland, of a well-known Saratoga county family. She survived her husband many years, dying in Charleston, Montgomery county, New York, at the home of her son, at the age of eighty. Children of Ozias and Mehitable Hewett:
- John (see forward).
- Chauncey B., born in Saratoga county, 1796, died in Charleston, at an advanced age; married Eliza Doty, daughter of Samuel; they left four sons and two daughters, including Simeon, of Schenectady, and Joseph, of Gloversville, both living.
(II) John K., son of Ozias and Mehitable (Kneeland) Hewett, was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1798, and died January 23, 1871. He was five years old at the time of his father's death. A few years later his mother, elder brother Chauncey, and John, packed their belongings and on horseback rode to Charleston, Montgomery county, where they made settlement on comparatively a new tract or farm. Chauncey and the mother remained and lived on the farm; John after a time learned the trade of shoemaker and followed that occupation the remainder of his days. He was of honest, upright, manly character, universally respected. He married (first) Nancy Vunk, who bore him two children — Milton and Nancy. Milton married Anna Schuyler, and had John S. and Marian, the latter the wife of Silas W. Wells, merchant and postmaster of Burtonville, New York. Nancy married David Vunk, a kinsman, and had Eugene, Chestina and Lovisa Vunk. John K. Hewett married (second), in Charleston, Catherine Hughes, born in 1807, died June 7, 1873, daughter of John and Lydia (Jamison) Hughes. The Hughes family originally came from Wales, while the Jamisons were of Irish stock. The latte came to Montgomery county from New Jersey, making the journey with ox teams. They date back to a very early day in New Jersey history. John and Lydia (Jamison) Hughes had other children:
- Eliza, wife of Chester M. Patterson;
- Hiram;
- Archer, who went to Nebraska, where he died;
- David, who lost his eyesight when a young man;
- Timothy, settled in Camden, New Jersey; and
- Jay, who remained on the old Hughes homestead in Charleston, and married Sarah Davis.
Mr. Hewett, by his second wife, Catherine Hughes, had children:
- Chauncey and
- Chestina, twins, the former of whom died in 1854, a young man; the latter married Morris Disbrow, and had Myron C., Evelyn and George.
- Daniel F., see forward.
- Eliza, married Richard Pettis, a farmer of Carlyle, and has Orrin and Edwin Pettis.
- William, died at age of twenty-four.
- Sarah, married Daniel Vunk, of Sloanesville.
- Marcia, lives in Esperance, New York.
- Lucy, married George H. Steadwell, a farmer, of Charleston, and has John H. and Elmer E. Steadwell.
- Harriet, married Jonas Wands, a farmer, of Esperance.
(III) Daniel F., third child of John K. and Catherine (Hughes) Hewett, was born January 8, 1836. As a boy he thirsted for knowledge and made the best possible use of the opportunities offered him to obtain an education. He used every effort and every means at his disposal, and succeeded in acquiring a good education. He qualified for an educator, and for thirteen years taught in the public schools with gratifying success. He afterward engaged in farming, removing to the village of Minaville, where he is rounding out a well-spent life in peaceful enjoyment of family, kindred and friends. He is of even, kindly temperament and a good citizen. He is a Republican in politics. He married, in the town of Glen, Montgomery county, March 3, 1859, Catherine Abel, born in Glen, February, 1834, and died at the Minaville home, February 22, 1894; daughter of Philip and Catherine (Conover) Abel, natives of New York state, born of Dutch ancestors, and died in Glen, leaving a large family. Mr. and Mrs. Hewett were prominently identified with the Reformed Church for many years before her death. She was a most devout Christian and a lovable woman. Their only child,
- Howard Abel, born September 30, 1863, married Jane L. Tweedy, and has a son, Herbert T., born May, 1889, a graduate of the Amsterdam high school, class of 1909. Howard lives at home and operates the farm.