Pittman, Newsom Jones

9 Aug. 1818–14 May 1893

Newsom Jones Pittman, physician, surgeon, and gynecologist, was born in Halifax County, the son of John and Catherine Jones Pittman. He was graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania in 1839 and in 1849–52 studied in medical clinics in Europe, primarily in London, Berlin, and Paris. While in Paris he was president of the American Medical Society of Paris. Pittman practiced in Falls of Tar River (Rocky Mount) until he left for Europe and afterwards until his death in Tarboro. Active in the North Carolina Medical Society, he served as vice-president (1852–54) and president (1860–61).

In medical annals Pittman was noted for successful operations in five cases of lithotomy and one of lithotrity. In 1861 he was appointed surgeon in Lawrence O'B. Branch's brigade and served until he was captured with the Confederate forces that surrendered at New Bern the following year. In 1866 he was elected chairman of the State Medical Board of Examiners, a post he filled for six years. His professional publications appeared in the Transactions of the North Carolina State Medical Society. In 1877 Pittman was first vice-president of the American Medical Association (AMA), and in 1881 he was a delegate to the International Medical Congress in London from the AMA. Also in 1881 he was a delegate to the British Medical Association. He was a member of the Society of Science, Letters, and Art in London.

Pittman was also engaged in agriculture and livestock raising and developed large herds of Shropshire sheep and Devon and Jersey cattle. He was a Master Mason and an Episcopalian. His first wife, whom he married in 1858, was Mary Ann Streeter. They were the parents of two daughters, Kate (1859–73) and Minerva (1860–1940). Mrs. Pittman died in 1861, and in 1867 he married Mrs. Mary Eliza Battle Dancy. They were the parents of Eliza (1868–89) and Cornelia (1874–1954), who married John W. B. Battle. Pittman was buried in Calvary Episcopal churchyard, Tarboro.