Justin Hitchcock was born in Granville, Massachusetts, and learned the trade of hatter from Moses Church of Springfield, Massachusetts. Hitchcock moved to Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1774 and served as a soldier and fifer in the militia during the American Revolution (1775-1783). He was fond of music and led the meetinghouse choir for many years, playing a bass viol of his own make. In 1779 he married Mercy Hoyt (1756-1834), daughter of David and Silence. Soon after, he built a house on Albany Road, which still stands. His shop for hat making was located east of the Deerfield town common. The Hitchcocks had five children who lived to adulthood. The youngest, Edward, born 1793, became president of Amherst College and state geologist of Massachusetts.