Robert Woodson "Wood" Hite was an outlaw and cousin of Frank

Frank James

Alexander Franklin "Frank" James was a famous American outlaw. He was the older brother of outlaw Jesse James.-Childhood:...

 and Jesse James

Jesse James

Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...

. He was born around 1850 in Logan, Kentucky to Major George Burns and Nancy Gardner Hite (nee

Married and maiden names

A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....

 James). His mother was the sister of Robert Sallee James, the father of Frank and Jesse James of the James-Younger Gang

James-Younger gang

The James-Younger Gang was a notable 19th-century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James.The gang was centered in the state of Missouri. Membership fluctuated from robbery to robbery, as the outlaws' raids were usually separated by many months...

, making Wood a first cousin to the James brothers. Wood and his brother Clarence later rode with Frank and Jesse, the only relatives to do so.

Hite was described as being between 5'8" and 5'10" with dark sandy hair, light complexion, a prominent Roman nose, and stooped shoulders that made him appear slouched.