Background
The son of Thomas Hitchins, he was born at Little Trevince, Gwennap, Cornwall, and was baptised on 18 May 1741. Thomas Martyn, compiler of a map of Cornwall, was an uncle, and Henry Martyn a cousin.
The son of Thomas Hitchins, he was born at Little Trevince, Gwennap, Cornwall, and was baptised on 18 May 1741. Thomas Martyn, compiler of a map of Cornwall, was an uncle, and Henry Martyn a cousin.
Hitchins did not, however, graduate Bachelor of Arts till 27 February 1781. In 1785 he was incorporated at Street John"s College, Cambridge, where he graduated Master of Arts
In December 1762 he was living at Bideford. in the same year. In 1767 Hitchins obtained an introduction to Nevil Maskelyne, and became computer at Greenwich Royal Observatory. Foreign some time he lived there, and during 1769 observed stars, planets, and the transit of Venus.
In 1768 Hitchins became comparer, and in this capacity verified the calculations for the Nautical Almanack, work which he performed for the rest of his life.
While at Greenwich he entered holy orders, and moving to Exeter was for a short time vicar of Hennock. On 6 November 1775 Bishop Frederick Keppel presented him to the vicarage of Street Hilary, Cornwall, and on 23 May 1785 to that of Gwinear.
Hitchins retained both his livings till his death, which took place on 28 March 1809 at Street Hilary. He was buried in the parish church.
Hitchins married Joanna Hawkins on 10 January 1764 at Buckland Brewer, Devon, and they had four sons.
The eldest, Richard Hawkins Hitchins (1764–1827), was a fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, and rector of Baverstock in Wiltshire. The youngest, Fortescue Hitchins (1784–1814), born at Street Hilary on 22 February 1784, became a solicitor at Street Ives, Cornwall and died at Marazion on 1 April 1814. He published:
Visions of Memory, and other Poems, Plymouth, 1803.
The Seashore, with other Poems, Sherborne, 1810.
The Tears of Cornubia. A Poem, Sherborne, 1812.
He compiled material for a history of Cornwall, which after his death was edited by Samuel Drew, and published in 1824.