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Thomas Fitch
Posted on June 7, 2010 by markeminer
Thomas FITCH (1590 – 1633) was Alex’s 11th Great Grandfather, one of 4,096 in this generation of the Shaw line. He was also Alex’s 10th great grandfather, one of 2,048 in this generation of the Miner line.


Thomas Fitch - Coat of Arms

Thomas Fitch was born on 13 June 1590 in “Brazen Head”, Bocking, near Braintree, Essex, England. His parents were George FITCH and Joan THURGOOD. He married Anna REEVE on 6 Aug 1611 in St. Mary’s Bocking, Essex, England. Thomas died on 18 Jan 1632/3 in Bocking, Essex, England and was buried in Sawbridgeworth, Co Hertfordshire, England.


St Marys Bocking, Essex Exterior


St Mary's Bocking Essex Interior

Anna Reeve was born about 1590 in Garret Manor, Bocking, Essex, England. Her parents were John REEVE and Mary BROCK. Other info shows her birth in 1593 in Gosfield, Essex, England. Son James and maybe John too must have approached their mother, and his brothers about settling in America, and in about 1650, Anna Fitch and her sons Thomas, Samuel and Joseph sailed from England, to join James. Anna died on 20 Jan 1667/68 in Norwalk, CT

Children of Thomas and Anna:

Name Born Married Departed
1. Capt. Thomas Fitch 14 Oct 1612 Bocking, England Anne Stacie
16 Nov 1632
Bocking, England
.
Ruth Clark
1662 in Milford, New Haven, CT 14 Apr 1704 Norwalk, Fairfield, CT
2. Elizabeth Fitch 3 Apr 1614 Bocking, England 11 Nov 1615 Bocking, England
3. Capt. John FITCH 16 Jul 1615 Bocking, England. Ann Hillier
England

Mary SUTTON
ca. 1645
Probably Rehoboth,
Mass. 21 Jan 1697/98 Rehoboth, Mass.
4. Anna Fitch ca. 1616 Bef. 1630
5. Zachary Fitch ca. 1617 Bocking, England Mary [_?_]
1638
Bocking, Essex, England 9 Jun 1662
Reading, Mass
6. Rev. James FITCH 24 Dec 1622 Bocking, England Abigail Whitfield
18 Oct 1648 Guilford, New Haven, CT

Priscilla MASON
2 Oct 1664 Windham, CT 18 Nov 1702 Lebanon, New London, CT
7. Nathaniel Fitch 26 Dec 1623 Bocking, England 8 Mar 1649 Prittlewell, Essex, England
8. Jeremy Fitch 5 Aug 1625 Bocking, England 28 Dec 1651 Bocking, England
9. Samuel Fitch 9 Nov 1626 Bocking, England Susanna Goodrich (widow of William Whiting)
2 Jan 1651 Hartford, CT 1659
Hartford, CT
10. Capt. Joseph Fitch 24 Dec 1627 Bocking, England Mary Stone
1660
Hartford, CT 26 Jun 1727
Windsor, Hartford, CT.
11. Mary Fitch Mar 1629 Bocking, England. Thomas Sherwood
1641 in Stamford, CT
.
John Banks 6 Jan 1694 in Rye, Westchester, NY
12. Ann Fitch 6 Aug 1630 Bocking, England. 17 Apr 1704 Hartford, CT
13. Sarah Fitch 24 Jul 1631 in Bocking, England. Thomas Crosby
1662
Eastham, Mass
.
Jehu Burr
1672 Jun 1719
Fairfield, CT
Thomas Fitch was a cloth manufacturer in Bocking, Essex, England. He was mentioned in his father’s will in 1605 as “my eldest son.” He inherited an estate near Braintree, Essex, England. He was involved in a number of land transactions. His will was dated Dec. 11, 1632, proved Feb. 12, 1632/33.

The Fitch family traces its first settlement in England to the era of the Norman Conquest A.D. 1066. Morant’s “History of County Essex, England,” says that ‘Robert Gernon or de Gernon came from France along with William the Conqueror and that he was a relative of the Conqueror and of the House of Bologne. One of his sons took the name of de Montfitchet, or de Montifiquet – the name is written these three ways in the Doomsday Book.


Thomas Fitch Bio


Thomas Fitch Bio 2

Ancestry

Thomas’ grandparents were Roger FITCH & Margery [__?__] Roger, will 12 Jan. 1558/59; d. Panfield, Essex; will proved Consistory Court, London 22 Feb. 1558/59; m. Margery[__?__]. Admitted tenant of Hartshede, his mother’s lands in Lindsell, 25 Sep 153

Thomas’ great grandparents were Thomas FITCH & Agnes ALGER Thomas Fitch was born about 1465 at Fitche Castle?, Essex, England, because he was said to be three years old at the time his father’s death was reported at the manor court of Widdington on 9 April 1468. He was admitted to his inheritance at Widdington court 9 Nov 1487, i.e., when he was about 21 years old. Thomas married Agnes Algore before 22 Dec1490 when they received land from her parents, Robert and Margaret Algore. Agnes was the only child and heiress of her father. She brought Brazen Head Farm in Lindsell, Essex, to the marriage. In the same year, Agnes received more land when her mother, Margaret Algore, died. In 1497, Thomas received an additional grant of land at the manor court of Lindsell Hall, and in Nov 1505, he took possession of land, which his father John had left in custody of his widowed mother, Juliana.


Thomas and Agnes Fitch are commemorated in a stained glass window at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Lindsell, Essex, England (Don't tell anyone this might be Thomas' son William)

Thomas died, 21 April 1514, as commemorated on a brass in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Lindsell. Agnes died before 3 May 1527. Beneath them on the brass are images of eleven children ~ six sons and five daughters.


Thomas & Agnes Fytch

On the floor before the chancel arch is a well engraved and perfectly preserved brass of the Fytch family inscribed:

“Here lie Thomas ffytch and Agnes his wife which same Thomas died the 21st day of April in the year of our Lord 1514. On whose souls may God have mercy.”

A good description of the brass is provided by Christy:

“The male figure (16 1/2 inches in height) has a half-turn to the left; is bare-headed, his long hair falling upon his shoulders; and his upraised hands, instead of being placed together as usual, are held apart. He is attired in the long gown of a civilian, beneath which his broad round-toed shoes are just apparent. It is open and turned back at the neck and down the front, showing the lining of the fur, which is also apparent at the wrists, where the extremely wide, open sleeves are turned back into cuffs. The female figure (16 1/2 inches in height) has a half-turn to the right, and the hands are placed together. Her long gown, cut low at the neck, fur-trimmed at the bottom, and having tight sleeves, turned back at the wrists into broad cuffs, which are fur covered, is loosely confined at the waist by a girdle, of which the ornamentally embroidered end falls nearly to the ground. She wears the pedimental head-dress.

The six sons (about 4 3/4 inches in height) are placed beneath their father,


Fytch Sons

while the five daughters (about 4 1/2 inches in height) are placed beneath their mother.


Fytch Daughters

The former have a half-turn to the left: the latter, to the right. Both wear costumes almost exactly similar to those of their parents, except that the gowns of the sons lack fur trimming, while the costumes of the daughters lack both fur trimming and the ceinture, and their head-dresses, having no backs, allow their long hair to fall down their backs to far below the level of the waist.” The inscription (on a plate 17 by 2 1/2 inches) immediately below the principal figure reads: Translated: Here lies Thomas Fytche and Agnes his wife, which same Thomas died the twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord 1514; on whose souls may God have mercy.”

Thomas and Agnes are also commemorated in a stained glass window in the same church. This window, and a second showing their son William and his first wife, Elizabeth, were probably paid for by William, who had the advowson of the church (the right to be the patron of the church and to recommend its clergyman) from King Henry VIII.

Except for Thomas’ and Agnes’ second son, William, who prospered and had three knighted descendants, the other children were somewhat less prosperous. According to Wagner, By the early seventeenth century they had included apothecaries, clothiers and cloth makers [like our Thomas], staplers and leather sellers, several clergymen and a naval surgeon.


Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Lindsell, Essex

Thomas’ great-great grandparents were John FYCHE and Juliana [__?__]. John FYCH, FYCCHE, FYTCHE (William) was born no later than 1437, because in 1467 he was said to be “aged 30 years and more” First mentioned on a Court Plea in 1458, which said he was “of Wykyn.”[2] On 14 May 1467, he was again acknowledged as son and next heir and admitted to his father’s estate; and, on the same day, he received additional grants of land. He married Juliana ______. John’s death was reported at the court session of 9 April 1468, at which time it was stated that “Thomas is his son and next heir and aged three years.” Custody of the land was given to Juliana, who later married Richard Westley. She probably died about 1475, because a 1505 court record indicates that at that time she had been dead for 30 years.

Thomas’ 3rd Great Grandfather was William FECCHE, FICCHE, FYCCHE, FICHE, FYCHE, FYTCHE, FITCHE* of Wicken Bonhunt, Essex Co., England. First mentioned on the Plea Rolls of 1428. Received grants of land at the manor court of Widdington in 1440/1 and in 1458/9. Death reported at Widdington court on 24 April 1466.[2] Wife’s name unknown. The court post mortem inquisition stated that “John Fytche is son and next heir of the same William.”

Anna’s great grandparents were John BROCK & Agnes WISEMAN
Anna’s grandparents were William BROCK & Margery BEDELL

Children

1. Thomas Fitch

Thomas’ first wife Anne Stacie was born 1611 in Essex, England. Her parents were William Stacie and Anne Garrold. Anne died 20 Jan 1686 in Fairfield, Fairfield, CT.

Thomas’ second wife Ruth Clark was born 20 Feb 1641 in Milford, New Haven, CT. Her parents were George Clark and Sarah Northrup Ruth died 1709 in Woodbury, Litchfield, CT.

Thomas Jr. served in the Parlimentary Wars in England [1642-1646 and 1648] attaining the rank of Captain. He immigrated about 1649 to Connecticut with his mother and two of his brothers.

He was one of the founders of Norwalk, Connecticut in 1650 and was well known, very wealthy and intellegent man.
He resided 1654 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Ct. He was counted in a census in 1673 in Norwalk, Fairfield, CT.
Thomas was the wealthiest citizen in Norwalk, CT in 1663 .
He was confirmed by the court as Recorder of Laws in 1659 and became King’s Commissioner in 1669, an office which he held for twenty-five years.
Thomas was also Deputy to the General Court as well as Deputy Governor of Connecticut.
From a line of 3 generations, each bearing the same surname, descended Thomas Fitch, Gov. of the Colony., 1754-60.
Children of Thomas and Anna:

i. Captain Thomas Fitch III, b: 1633 in Bocking, England; d. 1684 in Norwalk, CT; m. 1662 to Ruth Clark

Thomas had a home lot in Norwalk, CT in 1656 and was made freeman in May 1657. He married Ruth shortly thereafter. Thomas served as an ensign in 1670, and Captain in King Philip’s War. Thomas had four children in a list of “children in the town” of Norwalk in Feb 1672. (Find extra child) He is referred to as “Thomas Fitch II” in town records during this time. Thomas was on the committee to oversee the work to build a meeting house in 1678, as was his father.

ii. John Fitch , Sr. b: 1635 in Bocking, England; m. 3 Dec 1674 to Rebecca Lindall b: ABT 1640

iii. Ann Fitch b: 1638 in Bocking, England; m1. Stephen Hart , Jr. b: ABT 1633; m2. John Thompson b: ABT 1633

iv. Mary Fitch b: 1644 in Hartford, CT; d. 25 DEC 1730 in Fairfield, CT; m. ca. 1673 to Matthew Sherwood , Sr., Captain b: 1644 in Stratford, Conn.

v. Sarah Fitch b: 1647; m. 1659 to John Burr b: 1633 in Roxbury, Mass.

3. Capt. John FITCH (See his page)

6. Rev. James FITCH (See his page)

9. Samuel Fitch

Samuel’s wife Susanna Goodrich was born 1630 in Bocking, Essex, England. Her parents were William Goodrich and Sarah Martin. She first married William Whiting. Susannah died 8 Jun 1673 in Middletown, Middlesex, CT.

Samuel immigrated about 1649 to Connecticut. He was employed as school teacher

Children of Samuel and Susannah

i. Thomas Fitch , Sr. b: ABT 1652 in Wethersfield, CT.

ii. Samuel Fitch , Jr. b: ABT 1654

10. Joseph Fitch

Joseph’s wife Mary Stone was born about 1633 in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England. Her parents were Samuel Stone and Hope Fletcher. Mary died 1663 Windsor, Hartford, CT.

Joseph immigrated about 1649 to Connecticut. He bought land in 1662 in Hartford, Hartford, CT. He moved before 1672 to Windsor, Hartford, CT.

Children of Joseph and Mary

i. Nathaniel Fitch b: 17 MAR 1668/69 in Hartford, CT; m1. Abigail Buttolph b: 3 APR 1683 in Wethersfield, CT; m2. 1718 to Susannah Hill b: ABT 1680

11. Mary Fitch

Mary’s first husband Thomas Sherwood was born 1586 in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, England. He first married 21 Oct 1604 in England to Alice Seabrook (b. 23 Apr 1587 in Wingrave, Buckinghamshire, England – d. 1640 in Fairfield, Fairfield, CT). Thomas died 21 Jul 1655 in Stratford, Fairfield, CT.

Mary’s second husband John Banks was born 1620 in England. John died 12 DEC 1684 in Rye, Westchester, New York.

Sources:

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/skylark3/page64.html

http://www.theharmons.us/harmon_t/names32.htm#FITCH

http://vesterfamily.org/pafg09.htm

http://dgmweb.net/FGS/F/FitchThomas-AnnaReeve.shtml

http://treetreetree.org.uk/Fitch.htm#James1

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=15170739&st=1

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mhmills/html-woodward/grpf1226.html

http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-01/fitch-1.html

http://stepneyrobarts.blogspot.com/2010/10/lindsell-essex.html

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This entry was posted in 13th Generation, Artistic Representation, Double Ancestors, Historical Church, Immigrant - England, Line - Shaw and tagged Immigrant Widow, Lindsell Church Family Brasses, Norwalk CT. Bookmark the permalink.
? John SuttonThomas Brown II ?
21 Responses to Thomas Fitch
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Joseph Dillon Ford says:
October 22, 2011 at 6:09 am
Greetings from Gainesville, Florida! We evidently share numerous common ancestors with Alex. I descend from Thomas Fitch, Sr. of Bocking, who was my 9th great grandfather.

In reverse chronological order, starting with me:

Joseph Dillon Ford
Julia (Dillon) Ford
Julia (King) Dillon
Frederick Wells King
Roswell (“Rossie”) King III
Roswell King II
Roswell King I
Sarah (Fitch) King
Joseph Fitch III
Joseph Fitch, Jr.
Joseph Fitch I
Thomas Fitch, Sr. of Bocking

Best regards,

JDF
Reply
Joseph Dillon Ford says:
June 15, 2012 at 11:02 am
Interestingly enough, Thomas Fitch, Sr.’s great-great grandson–the brother of Sarah Fitch King (see above)–was John Fitch, inventor of the steamboat. He is commemorated in a fresco at the U. S. Capitol:

http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/brumidi/fitch.cfm

There is now a museum dedicated to John Fitch in Warminster, Pennsylvania:

http://www.craven-hall.org/online-tour/john-fitch-museum/
Reply
Bill Fikes Jr says:
January 15, 2012 at 3:16 am
Gibica DE BURGUNDY born about 310 Burgundy, Marne, France
Godomar DE BURGUNDY
Giolahaire Bebicca DE BURGUNDY
Gundicaire DE BURGUNDY
Gunderic DE BURGUNDY
Chilperic II King of Burgundy DE BURGOYNE
St. Clothilde DE BURGOYNE
Clovis I “The Great” MEROVINGIAN KING OF THE SALIAN FRANKS
Clotaire I, MEROVINGIAN KING OF SOISSONS, ORLEANS, THE FRANKS
Charibert I KING OF PARIS
Saint Bertha, Queen Berthe (Bertha) (Aldeberge) OF KENT
Eadbald of Kent
King Eadbald OF KENT
Ermifred/Eormenred KENT
Æthelberht of Kent
Billung VON WENDEN
Dobiogera VON WENDEN
Wernikind/Warnechin VON WETTIN
Lord Bruno I
Count Bruno II VON WETTIN SAXON ERGEN
Bruno III VON WETTIN Duke of Saxony
Ludolph HERZOG VON SACHSEN The Great
Otto THE ILLUSTRIOUS
Heinrich (Henry) I Emperor HENRY THE FOWLER, KING OF GERMANY
Adelaide HENRY THE FOWLER, KING OF GERMANY
Otto I THE GREAT Holy Roman Emperor
Gerberga QUEEN OF FRANCE
Alberade DE LORRAINE
Hugh I DE GOURNAY
HUGH DE GOURNAY
Raimond Renaud Roucy DE GOURNAY
Duke Robert III de Normandie, Duke of NormnadieHugh DE GOURNAY
Sir. William de Montfitchet Hugh DE GOURNAY
Baron Robert (Geron) DE MONTFITCHET
Sir William DE MONTFITCHET Lord of Stanstead Mountfitchet
Sir Gilbert DE MONTFITCHET Lord of Rise; Withernick
Sir Richard DE MONTFITCHET Lord of Stanstead Mountfitchet
Richard DE MONTFITCHET
Roger DE MONTFITCHET
John DE MONTFITCHET (John Fitche)
William FITCH
Thomas FITCH Sr.
William FITCH
John FITCH – 1435 Fitche Castle, Widdington, Essex, England
Thomas FITCH
Roger FITCH – ROGER FYTCHE
Roger, the youngest son and the ancestor of the American
Fitch/Fikes family, was born about 1500 at Lindsell, Essex.
George FITCH
Thomas FITCH
Thomas FITCH born 14 Oct 1612 Bocking, Essex, England
died 1704 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut at age 92
John FITCH 10 Jun 1642 Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut
John FITCH/FIKE 29 Sep 1677 Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut
John Thomas FITCH/FIKE about 1711 Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut
Tyre FIKE
George Fike
George Fikes
Martin Luther Fikes
William Henderson (Uncle Billy) Fikes
Calvin Henderson Fikes
Marion Monroe Fikes
Billy LaVoyce Fikes
Billy LaVoyce Fikes Jr.
Reply
Stacey Sherwood-Chapley says:
January 18, 2015 at 1:37 pm
I am also a descendent of the Fitch Family. Mary Fitch married Thomas Sherwood in 1635. I am trying to piece together dates of the de Montifitchet. Your list is inspiring and any info on birth/death records to help put it all together would be wonderful.
Reply
LaLee says:
June 11, 2012 at 9:15 am
I am amazed at learning about my heritage i am an ancestor through

LADY AGNES ALGER ALGORE (1470 – 1533)
is your 13th great grandmother
Roger Fitch (1500 – 1558)
Son of LADY AGNES
George Fitch (1537 – 1605)
Son of Roger
Thomas Fitch (1590 – 1633)
Son of George
Rev. James Fitch (1622 – 1702)
Son of Thomas
Captain Daniel Fitch (1665 – 1711)
Son of Rev. James
Daniel Fitch (1685 – )
Son of Captain Daniel
Samuel Fitch (1719 – 1800)
Son of Daniel
John Fitch (1760 – 1840)
Son of Samuel
George Fitch (1809 – 1880)
Son of John
Rebecca J. Fitch (1844 – 1892)
Daughter of George
Erie “Eric Earie” Stone (1871 – 1933)
Son of Rebecca J.
Goldie Golda Stone (1908 – 1940)
Daughter of Erie “Eric Earie”
John W Lee (1928 – 2007)
Son of Goldie whom is my Grandfather
Reply
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tom wright says:
July 20, 2013 at 1:22 pm
related to most early Essex families
been there and tour many sites
great tree et al – thank you
what a wonderful area

you do know of Fitch, the Staemboat Inventor?????????????
Reply
markeminer says:
July 27, 2013 at 10:44 am
Must be part of this family as he came from Windsor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fitch_(inventor)

John Fitch (January 21, 1743 – July 2, 1798) was an American inventor, clockmaker, entrepreneur and engineer. He was most famous for constructing the first steamboat in the United States.

Fitch was born to Joseph Fitch and Sarah Shaler in Windsor, Connecticut on January 21, 1743, on a farm that is part of present-day South Windsor, Connecticut. He received little formal schooling and eventually apprenticed himself to a clockmaker, during time Fitch was not allowed to learn or even observe watchmaking (he later taught himself how to repair clocks and watches). He married Lucy Roberts December 29, 1767.
Reply
Joseph Dillon Ford says:
July 27, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Re: John Fitch

http://books.google.com/books?id=Qg0WAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA618&dq=%22Joseph+Fitch%22+%2B+%22Sarah+Shaler%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=b4L0UYmtNJTa9QSCpoD4DA&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Joseph%20Fitch%22%20%2B%20%22Sarah%20Shaler%22&f=false
Joseph Dillon Ford says:
July 27, 2013 at 7:07 pm
John Fitch is my sixth great uncle. I’m a descendant of his sister, Sarah, and her husband, Timothy King, my fifth great grandparents, with whom he was particularly close. Just now I’m in process of completing a new symphonic work based on his autobiography and other writings. My period-style overture in his honor was just premiered in Seattle (Maple Park Church, Saturday, July 27, 2013). A recent book in which his contribution as the inventor of the world’s first commercial steamboat is documented is Andrea Sutcliffe’s *Steam: The Untold Story of America’s First Great Invention* (New York and Hampshire, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004).

The Fitch line has been particularly well researched and can be traced with reasonable confidence back to the fifteenth century. John Fitch himself discusses what he knew about his pedigree early in his autobiography (out of print, but available through interlibrary loan). :-) His nephew, Roswell King, Sr. (son of Timothy and Sarah), also born in Connecticut, founded the city of Roswell, Georgia, and was a significant but controversial figure in the antebellum history of that state.

A conceptual fresco of John Fitch can be seen in the United States Capitol, Brumidi Corridor (included in the video at the first link and shown at the second link below):

http://www.uschs.org/online-tour/01.htm

John Fitch
Reply
Bethany (Fitch) Canada says:
September 18, 2014 at 8:37 pm
Thank you SOOOOO much for this information… I am finally getting around to doing a family tree for our “Fitch” line of the family (Fitch being my maiden name) and am so excited for what I am finding… My grandfather Alger Morton Fitch Jr. just passed away this last June, and with my Father being the last of our Fitch line (because he had for girls :0) ) I want to find out as much as I can about our heritage and share it with him :0) … If my research is correct then this Thomas FItch is my 10th Great Grandfather :0)
Reply
markeminer says:
September 19, 2014 at 11:24 am
Bethany,

You are welcome and sorry for your loss,

Mark
Reply
David Fitch says:
January 8, 2015 at 9:40 pm
I have read many places that there used to be a castle in Britain that belonged to the Fitch family. This was somewhere around the time when the American side of the Fitch family left Britain. With this supposed information there was a very large sum of money that was supposed to be owed to the Fitch family (the sum was in the millions of pounds back then, which today would be an almost astronomically value). Yet no one has been able to prove lineage back to our ancestors. It has always been a goal of mine to find a way to prove this. If this is true would be a great feat. It seems that many of our ancestors were men of power. I made this goal when I was about 14 yrs old to my father. Even if our family were not entitled to money I feel that our family has been significant to American history, British history and the worlds history. With this information the contributions our family has made to human race is astounding and should never be forgotten.
Reply
Joseph Ford says:
January 9, 2015 at 8:31 am
Hello, David Fitch:

I’m keenly interested in the Fitch family. Sarah Fitch (1737–1785) was my fifth great grandmother and the wife of Timothy King, my fifth great grandfather. The Fitch family has been reliably traced back to William Fytche, who lived during the early fifteenth century. Her brother, John Fitch, was a brilliant inventor who pioneered steamboat technology in America, and he was particularly close to Sarah and Timothy (1727–1812). His autobiography gives details about the family’s history as he understood it, and though out of print, can be acquired through interlibrary loan. It also reveals how John Fitch himself was terribly mistreated, not only by certain members of his own family but by some of America’s “Founding Fathers,” including Jefferson and Franklin, whom he met in person in connection with his steamboat projects. Fitch’s steamboat was the very first commercial vehicle of its kind, but was so far ahead of its time that Robert Fulton only later capitalized on some of “Uncle John’s” ideas, garnering most of the glory.

In addition to John, Sarah Fitch had two other brothers: Joseph and Augustus. Are you descended from any of these?

Best,

Joe

Joseph Dillon Ford
Gainesville, FL
Reply
Bill Fikes Jr says:
January 16, 2015 at 6:13 pm
The story as I have it is the name comes from Montfichet family from Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex, who occupied the tower in the 12th century. The tower is now just a small pile of stones but there is a Theme park where it once stood, I have informed them that the Fikes’ are rallying to come across the pond and reclaim our ancestral home.
Montfitch – Mount Fitch – Montfitchet – Fitch – Fytche- Fycche – Fikes (there were sons named Fitch and Fikes in the same family in America.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stansted_Mountfitchet_Castle

http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fytche-16
Joseph Ford says:
January 18, 2015 at 12:12 pm
Hello, Bill.

I haven’t confirmed any connection between “Fitch” and its variants and “Montfichet,” which is French in origin. According to the John Fitch, my sixth great uncle, the “Fitch” line can be traced to Saxony (Northern Germany).and [later] to Essex, England. Below are links to several pages from his autobiography that discuss the Fitch line:







“Brantree,” to which he refers on p. 20, is actually “Braintree.”

My Fitch line, through my fifth great grandmother, Sarah Fitch King, is shown below without dates, since I’ve noticed some inconsistencies and don’t want to spread inaccurate information. Suffice it to say William Fytche was born around 1400 and Sarah died in 1785.

William Fytche (b. ca. 1400)

John Fytche

Thomas Fitche

Roger Fitche

George Fitch

Thomas Fitch, Sr.

Joseph Fitch, I

Joseph Fitch, II

Joseph Fitch, III

Sarah Ann Fitch King (d. 1785), sister of John Fitch (links to several pages of his autobiography above)

A useful link for information about the first few names on my list above:

http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-01/fitch-1.html

The web site geni dot com takes the line back to “Montfichet,” but I tend to be skeptical absent stronger documentation. I think the line back to William Fytche, however, is pretty well established.

As time permits, I’ll continue to refine the data I have on hand, because, as mentioned, there are some significant inconsistencies in the dates I have. I’ll try to post relevant updates here, at geni dot com and at ancestry dot com.

Cordially,

Joe
Lyla Hartley says:
February 22, 2015 at 8:05 am
Good morning :) Would it at all be possible to share with us the link to the geni dot com site? If so, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you much! :)

Grand-daughter of Hattie Belle Fitch > William Erret Fitch > Osceola Bradley Fitch > William Fitch > Josiah Fitch > Johnathon Fitch > Samuel Fitch Sr. > Thomas Fitch IV > Thomas Fitch III > Thomas Fitch Jr. > Thomas Fitch Sr. > George Fitch Sr. > Roger Fitch > Thomas Fitch > John Fitch > William Fitch > John Fitch
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http://minerdescent.com/2010/06/07/thomas-fitch/

Family/Spouse: Reeve, Anne. Anne (daughter of Reeve, John and Brock, Mary) was born on 29 Nov 1590 in Garret Manor, Bocking, Essex, England; was christened on 29 Nov 1590 in Saint Catherine's Church, Gosfield, Essex, England; died on 20 Jan 1686 in Norwalk, , Fairfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Stacie, Anne on 1 Nov 1632. Anne was born in gegen 1611 in , Bocking, Essex, England, UK; was christened about 1680; died on 20 Jan 1686 in , Fairfield, Fairfield. Connecticut; was buried . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/p/o/p/Sandra-Popiel/BOOK-0001/0291-0002.html
3. PRISCILLA2 MASON (JOHN1) was born 1641 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, and died Abt. 1710. She married JAMES FITCH 02 Oct 1664, son of THOMAS FITCH and ANNA REEVE. He was born 24 Dec 1622 in Bocking, Essex, England, and died 18 Nov 1702.

Notes for JAMES FITCH:
--came to New England in 1638; was of Saybrook, Norwich and Lebanon, Conn.
--born 1620?
--son of Thomas Fitch and Anne (Reeve)?

Children of PRISCILLA MASON and JAMES FITCH are:
10. i. DANIEL3 FITCH, b. 16 Aug 1665, Norwich; d. 03 Jun 1711.
11. ii. JOHN FITCH, b. Jan 1667; d. 24 May 1743.
12. iii. JEREMIAH FITCH, b. Sep 1670; d. 22 May 1736.
13. iv. JABEZ FITCH, b. Apr 1672; d. 22 Nov 1746.
14. v. ANNA FITCH, b. Apr 1675; d. 17 Oct 1715.
15. vi. NATHANIEL FITCH, b. Oct 1679; d. 04 May 1759.
16. vii. JOSEPH FITCH, b. Nov 1681; d. 09 May 1741.
17. viii. ELEAZER FITCH, b. 14 May 1683, Norwich; d. Abt. 1747, Lebanon.
==================================================

DEATH: Also shown as Died Connecticut.

!BAPTISM: Also shown as Baptized 11 Feb 1930

!ENDOWMENT: Also shown as Endowed 21 Feb 1996, BOUNT.

James married Mason, Priscilla on 2 Oct 1664 in of Norwich, New London, Connecticut. Priscilla (daughter of Mason, Captain John and Peck, Ann, daughter of Mason, Major John and Peck, Ann Rosamond) was born in Oct 1641 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut; was christened in in , Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut; died in 1714 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States; was buried in 1714. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Whitfield, Abigail in Jan 1676/1677 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut. Abigail was born about 1655 in of Norwich, New London, Connecticut; died in in , of New London Co, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: M8KB-438
• Death: 1658/1659, of, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut

Notes:

Susannah/Mary was previously married to William Whiting-they lived in Hartford, CT and had several children before his death. Susannah and Samuel married in Hartford where Samuel taught school 1650-1653. "Parents were required to provide 'either a little load of wood or three shillings toward procuring it". He was also a representative to the General Court in 1654 and 1655.
After Samuel's death after only nine years of marriage, Susannah married again, to Alexander Bryan and lived in Milford, CT. She died at the home of a daughter.

There was a Samuel Fitch who was in Milford, CT in 1644, but he supposidly moved to Norwalk, CT. The Samuel, son of Thomas of Bocking, was born in 1626- far too young to be married to Susanna.

1. James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. USGenNet. scanned and edited. (July 1994) (: Nov. 2000).
2. Ibid., vol 4: wm whitin.
Quality: 3.
3. Document, Court records.
Quality: 0.
June 1662: "Mr. Allexander Briant and Mrs. Susannah ffitch" signed an agreement transferring to the children of her first husband William Whiting, certain property that had been in her possession as his widow..."
[from "Various Ancestral Lines of James Goodwin and Lucy (Morgan)" p. 292]
4. James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. USGenNet. scanned and edited. (July 1994) (: Nov. 2000), d. bef. him [her third husband], at the ho. of her d. Collins, and was bur. at Middletown, 8 July 1673.
Quality: 0.
5. Document, letter written by John Winthrop Jr. on July 15, 1673.
Quality: 3.
"Old Mrs. Bryan, Mr. Whitings mother, died at Middleton Sabath day was seven night, where she was buried the Tuesday following; had not beene sick above a weeke"
[as quoted from "Various Ancestral Lines of James Goodwin and Lucy (Morgan)" p. 192]
6. Historical Catalogue of the First Church in Hartford 1633-1885 (Published by the Church 1885, 274 pages), p. 236.
Quality: 3.
1650/1651 "Mr. Samuel Fitch maryed Mrs. Mary Whiting"
7. James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. USGenNet. scanned and edited. (July 1994) (: Nov. 2000).
8. Vital Records, RECORDS OF WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT; R. R. Hinman.
Quality: 0.
Mr. Thomas FITCH d. 17 Oct 1704
[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/ct/wethsfld_a-f.htm]

Samuel married Mygatt, Susannah on 2 Jan 1650 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States. Susannah (daughter of Mygatt) was born in 1609 in England; died on 8 Jul 1673 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States; was buried on 8 Jul 1673 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Stone, Mary about 1657 in , Hartford, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Stone, Samuel and Fletcher, Hope) was born about 1629 in Hertford, Herts, England; was christened on 1 Oct 1621 in Great Bromley, Essex, England; died in in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as Anna

DEATH: Also shown as Died Deceased

Thomas married Clark, Ruth in <1655> in Of Norwalk, Bocking, Connecticut, England. Ruth was born on 20 Feb 1641/1642 in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; was christened on 20 Feb 1641/1642 in Milford, New Haven, Cn; died in 1709 in Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Death: 7 Oct 1715, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States

Notes:

GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as Anne

!ENDOWMENT: Also shown as Endowed 22 Apr 1924

!SEALING_PARENTS: Also shown as SealPar 29 Apr 2014, SLAKE.

Notes:

DEATH: Also shown as Died Deceased

DEATH: Also shown as Died 7 May 1741

DEATH: Also shown as Died Deceased

Joseph married Mason, Sarah before 1702. Sarah was born about 1680 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut; died in Feb 1720; was buried in Old Cemetery, Lebanon, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Whiting, Ann about 1700 in Connecticut, United States. Ann (daughter of Whiting, Samuel and Adams, Elizabeth) was born on 2 Jan 1698 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States; was christened in 1698 in Massachusetts, United States; died on 18 Sep 1778 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut; was buried in Sep 1778. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Whiting, Ann. Ann (daughter of Whiting, Samuel and Adams, Elizabeth) was born on 2 Jan 1698 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States; was christened in 1698 in Massachusetts, United States; died on 18 Sep 1778 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut; was buried in Sep 1778. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On the 7th of January 1767, a petition was presented to the lieutenant govenor of New York by Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, David Baldwin, Andrew Myers, Samuel Whiting, Robert Aiton, Amos Hitchcock and Nathan Haines Whiting, cover http://www.usgennet.org/usa/vt/county/windham/whitingham_hist.html
===========================================

Samuel married Griswold, Mary about 1680 in Hartford, Connecticut. Mary was born about 1700 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut; died on 2 Dec 1750 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut; was buried in North Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas lived in Wethersfield, CT. He was a constable in Dec 1679 before his marriage to Abigail. After Abigail's death in 1684, daughter Abigail went to live with her maternal grandparents. Thomas married Sarah Bordman and had several more children; they resided on the east side of Broad St. between ch. and Fletcher's Lane. Thomas was a schoolteacher in 1699 and a leather-sealer in 1702.

Footnotes:
James Savage, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England. USGenNet. scanned and edited. (July 1994) (http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/newengland/savage: Nov. 2000).
Vital Records, RECORDS OF WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT; R. R. Hinman.
Quality: 0.
Mr. Thomas FITCH d. 17 Oct 1704

[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/ct/wethsfld_a-f.htm]

Manwaring, Charles W., A Digest of the Early CT Probate Records ((Hartford, CT, R.S.Peck & CO, 1904-1906)), Vol. 2, p. 62.
Quality: 0.
Page 125-6. Fitch, Thomas, Wethersfield. Died 18 October, 1704.
Invt. £111-03- oo. Taken 13 November, 1704, by John Curtis, Sen., John Goodrich, and Daniel Boardman.
The children: Samuel Fitch, Abigail the wife of Abraham Kimberly, Sibbell the wife of Joseph Hurlbut, and Martha Fitch.
Court Record, Page 68 — 26 April, 1705 : Sarah Fitch, widow, relict of Thomas Fitch, late of Wethersfield, decd., exhibits invt. Adms. granted to Mrs. Sarah Fitch, widow.
Page 156 (Vol. VIII) 7 September, 1713: Samuel Fitch, a minor son of Thomas Fitch, late of Wethersfield decd., made choice of William Whiting to be his guardian.
Page 216 — 4 October, 1714: Sarah Fitch of Wethersfield, Adms. on the estate of Mr. Thomas Fitch, late decd., exhibits now in this Court an account of her Adms. Paid in debts, subsistence of the family, and illness of the daughter for some years, £90-06-3%. And received of debts due to the estate, £28-11-06. Which account this Court allow and order to be kept on file. Dist. File: 9 April, 1717: To Sarah Fitch, widow; to Samuel; to Abigail, wife of Abraham Kimberly ; to Sibbel, the wife of Joseph Hurlbut; Joseph Kimberly of Newtown, Joseph Hurlbut his attorney, all sealed. Inventory and Will in Vol. VIII, Page 5.

Sherman Adams, The history of ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut : comprising the present towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington : and of Glastonbury prior to its incorporation in 1693, from date of earliest settlement until the present time (New York: Grafton Press, 1904), vol. 2: p. 373.
Quality: 3.
Vital Records, RECORDS OF WETHERSFIELD, CONNECTICUT; R. R. Hinman.
Quality: 0.
Mrs. Abigail FITCH d. 8 Nov 1684

[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jdevlin/ct/wethsfld_a-f.htm]

Manwaring, Charles W., A Digest of the Early CT Probate Records ((Hartford, CT, R.S.Peck & CO, 1904-1906)), vol. 1, p. 203.
Quality: 0.
Page 175. Goodrich, Ensign William. Invt. £915-01-06. Taken 14 November, 1676, by John Belden, Samuel Wright, John Robbins. The children: John, age 23, William 17, Ephraim, 14, David 10. The daughters are married.

Court Record, Page 158-9 — 6 December, 1676: Adms. to the widow. Order to Dist. to the widow £100, Personal, forever; and 1-3 of Realty for life. To John, Eldest son, £230; to William, £150; to Ephraim, £140; to David, £130; to Mrs. Hollister £100 already paid ; to Mrs. Welles, wife of Robert Welles, £100 ; to Mrs. Fitch, wife of Thomas Fitch, £90 ; to Mrs. Butler, wife of Joseph Butler, £80. Samuel Talcott, Overseer.

[Probate records of William Goodrich]

http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~shopefamily/Tree/famf870.html

================================

Thomas married Goodrich, Abigail on 15 Sep 1680. Abigail (daughter of Goodrich, William and Marvin, Sarah) was born on 5 Jun 1662 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, Bristish America; died on 7 Nov 1684 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, Bristish America; was buried on 10 Nov 1684 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, Bristish America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Boardman, Sarah. Sarah was born on 4 Mar 1655 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died on 18 Oct 1704 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States; was buried in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LC52-XJK

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LH8W-9WT

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States.

BURIAL: Also shown as Buried Goshen Cemetery, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LC52-X6S

Notes:

GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as (Capt) Azel

BIRTH RITE: Also shown as Christening United States.

Azel married How, Silence in 1752 in Of. Silence was born in 1732 in Of, , United States; was christened in 1732; died on 5 Aug 1760; was buried in 1766. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: 273D-14J

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Stonington, New London, Conn..

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LCJH-VG5

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Stonington, New London, Connecticut, United States.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: 273D-BZ7

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States.

DEATH: Also shown as Died , England.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LZ27-SGH
• Graduate: Yale College

Notes:

On the 7th of January 1767, a petition was presented to the lieutenant govenor of New York by Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, David Baldwin, Andrew Myers, Samuel Whiting, Robert Aiton, Amos Hitchcock and Nathan Haines Whiting, cover
==========================================
On the 7th of January 1767, a petition was presented to the lieutenant govenor of New York by Nathan Whiting, Samuel Fitch, Eleazer Fitch, James Smedley, David Baldwin, Andrew Myers, Samuel Whiting, Robert Aiton, Amos Hitchcock and Nathan Haines Whiting, cover
=====================================
DOCUMENTATION

!BIRTH: V.R. of Lebanon, Conn.,
!MARRIAGE: Genealogies of Conn., Families (NEHGR) Vol. II, page 521 & 522.
DEATH:

Colonel Eleazer Fitch was a graduate of Yale (1743), and was a lawyer.
He married 4 April 1746, Amy Bowen of Providence. They settled at Lebanon,
Conn. later removed to Windham, where he was a Colonel of militia and Sheriff
of the county. He refused to take a part against the British government, in
the war of the Revolution, and at the close of the war went to St. Johns,
L.C. (?) where he died. Source - Genealogies of Connecticut, Vol II, page
521-522.

GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as " Col ." Eleagier

PREFIX: Also shown as Col.

Eleazer married Bowen, Amey on 4 Apr 1746. Amey (daughter of Bowen, Hezekiah and Landon, Elizabeth) was born on 18 Jun 1728 in Swansea, Bristol, Massachusetts; died in DECEASED. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: 9H4M-414

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: KCXS-6KJ

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born New London, Connecticut, United States.

DEATH: Also shown as Died New London, Connecticut, United States.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LCJH-XVZ

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LH23-SXV

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States.

DEATH: Also shown as Died Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States.

BURIAL: Also shown as Buried Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LH8W-SCY

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch Id: LC52-XXC

Notes:

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Lebanon, Ct..

DEATH: Also shown as Died 1746

Notes:

DEATH: Also shown as Died Deceased

DEATH: Also shown as Died 7 May 1741

DEATH: Also shown as Died Deceased

Joseph married Mason, Sarah before 1702. Sarah was born about 1680 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut; died in Feb 1720; was buried in Old Cemetery, Lebanon, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Whiting, Ann about 1700 in Connecticut, United States. Ann (daughter of Whiting, Samuel and Adams, Elizabeth) was born on 2 Jan 1698 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut, United States; was christened in 1698 in Massachusetts, United States; died on 18 Sep 1778 in Windham, Windham County, Connecticut; was buried in Sep 1778. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married Hannah on 7 Nov 1765 in Guilford, New Haven, Connecticut. Hannah was born about 1731 in of Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut; died in 1809 in Norwalk, , Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Abigail married Kimberly, Abraham about 1693 in of Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut. Abraham (son of Kimberley, Abraham and Preston, Hanna) was born on 4 Mar 1674 in Chowan, Albemarle, North Carolina, United States; died on 17 May 1742 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

GIVEN NAMES: Also shown as Sibyl

BIRTH: Also shown as Born Connecticut.

BIRTH: Also shown as Born 1673

Sibell married Hurlbut, Joseph on 27 Apr 1704 in Newington, Hartford, Connecticut. Joseph was born on 10 Jul 1683 in Newington, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 24 Jun 1752 in Newington, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in Jun 1752 in Newington Cemetery, Newington, Hartford, Connecticut, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

William Whiting of Hartford appointed his guardian 7 Sept 1713

Other Events:

• Education: 1721 Graduate of Yale College

Notes:

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Drawing of State Library BuildingConnecticut State Library Home
Thomas Fitch
Governor of the Colony of Connecticut, 1754-1766
Born: 1696, Norwalk, Connecticut
College: Graduated from Yale in 1721
Political Party: No declared political party
Offices: Norwalk Justice of Peace, 1727-1733, 1736-1737
Deputy, Connecticut General Assembly, 1726-1728, 1729-1731, 1772-1773
Assistant, Connecticut General Assembly, 1734-1736; 1740-1750
Deputy Governor, 1750-1754
Chief Justice, Connecticut Superior Court, 1750-1754
Governor, Colony of Connecticut, 1754-1766
Died: July 18, 1774, Norwalk, Connecticut

Governor Thomas Fitch guided the Colony of Connecticut through the turbulent economic and political times before the Revolutionary War but never lived to see the colonies become an independent nation.

Born in Norwalk, Connecticut about 16961, Thomas Fitch was the oldest son and the first child of Thomas Fitch and his first wife, Sarah (Boardman) Fitch. He was the fourth-generation "Thomas" in Connecticut, and is sometimes called "Thomas IV". The Fitches were a wealthy and noble family of Bocking, Essex, England, from which Thomas IV's great-grandfather, Thomas I, emigrated to Connecticut with his mother and two brothers in the 1600's; Thomas I and his brother Joseph were among the founders of Norwalk.

After early schooling in Norwalk, Thomas IV went to Yale to study law. He was there during a period when some Yale professors left the Congregational Church (the established church) for the Episcopalian Church, shocking the Congregational-based society of Connecticut. Even Thomas admitted to sympathizing with some Episcopalian teachings. After graduation he went on to obtain a Master's degree.

In 1724, Thomas Fitch married Hannah Hall, born January 31, 1702 at New Haven, a daughter of Richard Hall and Hannah Miles. Thomas and Hannah Fitch had six boys and four girls, with two children dying young. The first child, a son born in 1725, was also named Thomas.

In 1726, during a period of "difficulties arising in the town about ye Reverend Mr. Buckingham," the minister of the Norwalk Congregational Church, Thomas Fitch was among those who occasionally substituted until a new minister could be found. He was paid thirty shillings a Sunday for his preaching. Fitch's experience in "supplying the pulpit" (acting as a substitute preacher) of his home church demonstrated that in spite of some earlier Episcopalian leanings, his views were now acceptable to the established Congregational faith. In addition, the experience provided a forum for his considerable oratorical skills.

Thomas Fitch's political career began shortly thereafter, in May of 1726, with his election as a Deputy (representative) from Norwalk to the General Assembly; he was re-elected for the Assembly sessions through 1728 and in 1729-1731. He served as an Assistant from 1734-1736 and from 1740-1750. From 1727-1733 and 1736-1737 he also served as a Justice of the Peace.

Several projects during the late 1730's and in the 1740's earned Fitch the increased regard of his colleagues. He was part of a group that tried to set up a much-needed steel factory in Connecticut. He represented Connecticut in various crucial legal cases, arguing for Connecticut in 1738 in the long-running (1671-1771) Mohegan land case, a dispute between the Mohegans, the heirs of John Mason, and the Connecticut colony. His impressive legal skills prompted Timothy Dwight, an early president of Yale, to call him "probably the most learned lawyer who had ever been an inhabitant of the Colony." He was on military committees and other committees of importance, such as that petitioning the British Crown to reimburse Connecticut troops in the victory of Louisburg (Nova Scotia, 1745), and the committee to represent Connecticut in the Massachusetts-Connecticut border controversy (1750).

Fitch's greatest accomplishment before becoming governor was his 1749 revision of the laws of Connecticut. Revisions had been done in 1702 and in 1715, but by 1742 there were many new laws, and another update was badly needed. Fitch was on a committee that started the task in 1742, but that group did not accomplish much. In 1744, Fitch was given sole responsibility for the work. He did much of the revising himself but also called on three others to help him -- Ebenezer Silliman, Andrew Burr, and Captain Robert Walker. The General Assembly accepted the completed revision in May, 1749.

The new compilation, 256 pages long, was in great demand. An initial printing of about 150 copies fell far short of the thousand copies needed. Such a large printing was a huge undertaking at a time when paper was handmade, sheet-by-sheet. Connecticut did not yet have a paper mill, and the nearest one was in New York. Hand-turned presses required that each page be typeset by hand and printed one sheet at a time. It was four years later, in late 1753, before the full number of copies was printed.

The law revision behind him, Thomas Fitch's political star began to rise in 1750. In November, Governor Jonathan Law died and the General Assembly elected Roger Wolcott, the Deputy Governor under Law, as Governor and Fitch as Deputy Governor, both to serve until the regular election of May 1751. The pair was re-elected at that time, and Fitch, in accordance with the custom of the time, was also appointed Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut.

It was unfortunate for Roger Wolcott that one of the first major scandals to shake the government of the Colony of Connecticut began in November of 1752, when a damaged Spanish ship limped into New London harbor with its valuable cargo of gold doubloons and indigo. The cargo was off-loaded and placed in local secured storage, but portions of it still disappeared before the reconstructed ship finally left in January of 1755. Many felt that Governor Wolcott was too lax in prosecuting the thefts and in not providing sufficient protection to the cargo. His perceived poor handling of the situation caused him to lose votes in the 1754 elections, and Thomas Fitch was elected Governor of Connecticut.

The French and Indian War marked the first years of Fitch's administration. This struggle between Britain and France for American lands lasted until the French and their Native Americn allies surrendered to the British in 1760. Connecticut gave large amounts of money, manpower, and supplies to the conflict, sometimes beyond what it could afford. Tradition states that in 1755 Col. Thomas Fitch V, the governor's son, received the present of a song as a joke from a British surgeon, Dr. Richard Shuckburgh. Using a popular old marching tune, Shuckburgh is said to have written lyrics making fun of Col. Fitch's troops: "Yankee Doodle went to town, a-riding on a pony...." According to tradition, Col. Fitch is the original "Yankee Doodle". Years later, during the Revolutionary War, colonial troops turned the tables by adopting it as one of their favorite marching songs and playing it in front of the English troops after Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga.

The conclusion of the war ended the money and manpower drain on Connecticut but found the state greatly in debt, and a depression arose that lasted for several years. King George III came to the throne in 1760, and, with timing that was very bad for the American colonies, decided to recoup the costs of the French and Indian War by increasing taxes. The Sugar Act of 1764 was the first step and was very unpopular in the colonies in general. This act required colonists to buy sugar only from British Caribbean sugar producers, excluding French planters. This allowed British planters to raise their prices, with the Crown getting a share of the increased profits.

Connecticut and the other colonies protested, but the Crown held firm, assuming the complaints would pass. They did not, and the announcement of the Stamp Act in March 1765 only made things worse. It required that anyone buying any type of legal paper, or even paper for printing newspapers and books, had to also buy a certifying stamp from the British, with the money going to the Crown. Since the Crown had limited the number of paper mills that could be built in the colonies, paper was sometimes difficult to get, and people often had to import it from England. The act raised the price of paper and made it even harder to obtain.

News of the forthcoming Stamp Act set off violent protests throughout New England and widened existing political divisions in Connecticut. Western Connecticut had more people and more money, traded easily with New York, and also had more representatives in the General Assembly. It favored the "Old Lights" in the religious controversy of the Great Awakening. It did not favor the Stamp Act but felt that it was best to comply with it for the time being, and Governor Fitch, a Norwalk resident, agreed.

Eastern Connecticut, on the other hand, had fewer people, was underdeveloped, and favored the "New Lights". It resented the continuing efforts of wealthier western Connecticut merchants to keep major trade away from eastern merchants. The compliant attitude of western Connecticut towards the Stamp Act was the last straw for eastern towns. Eliphalet Dyer and Jonathan Trumbull led a militant group of men from the Norwich area, the "Sons of Liberty", in discrediting advocates of the Stamp Act and working to place eastern Connecticut men in power. They staged protests and attacked supporters of the Stamp Act, including Governor Fitch, in the newspapers; they hung effigies of key politicians in trees and then burned the effigies.

In their determination to prevent the Stamp Act from becoming law, the Sons of Liberty continued their agitation by leading a mob of over 400 men and capturing Jared Ingersoll, the Royal Stamp Distributor, as he was on his way to Hartford to speak to the General Assembly about resigning. The Sons of Liberty forced him to sign a resignation then and there, took him to Hartford, and made him read the resignation to the General Assembly. At that point, Governor Fitch placed Ingersoll under his personal protection and issued a general proclamation against "turbulent" behavior. The Sons of Liberty responded by visiting Fitch at his home and declaring that he would either let them in to seize and burn the stamped paper there or his house would be burned down.

The Stamp Act was to become law on November 1, 1765. As that day approached, Great Britain took extra measures to ensure compliance, requiring all colonial governors to take an oath to enforce the act or pay a fine of five thousand pounds and be dismissed from office. Governor Fitch delayed taking the oath until two days before the deadline, in a vain hope that the act would be recalled. It was not, and in the presence of witnesses, he signed the Stamp Act on behalf of Connecticut. Jonathan Trumbull, William Pitkin, and a few others were so upset at this that they left the room in disgust just before the act was signed.

The unpopular Stamp Act lasted only a few months, as King George II officially withdrew it on March 19, 1766. An unintended benefit of the act was that eastern Connecticut did something about the paper situation. By December 1766, Christopher Leffingwell of Norwich had started the first paper mill in Connecticut and the Connecticut Gazette (New Haven) was being printed on paper from that mill. Eastern Connecticut had control of one Connecticut industry, at least. Then, on the one-year anniversary of the repeal, the feisty Sons of Liberty celebrated by putting up a special "Liberty Pole" and placing a commemorative announcement in the Connecticut Courant (Hartford), asking the blessings of heaven on His Royal Majesty for that repeal.

The times were changing, and Fitch was on the wrong side of the emerging political scene. Just before the election of 1766, he published an anonymous pamphlet defending his signing of the Stamp Act, but it was too late. William Pitkin was elected Governor in 1766, with Jonathan Trumbull as Deputy Governor. Trumbull, sympathetic to the views of the Sons of Liberty, assumed the governorship in 1769 and remained in office throughout the Revolutionary War.

Following his 1766 defeat, Thomas Fitch served in the General Assembly. His supporters attempted to have him re-elected as governor in the 1770's but were unsuccessful. In 1769, he served on a committee, and in 1772, was the Deputy from Norwalk to the General Assembly. He retired after that and spent much time reading under an elm tree he had planted in 1749. The tree, which came to be called "King Elm", lasted until about 1900 when it was destroyed by beetles.

Governor Thomas Fitch died on July 18, 1774 and was buried in East Norwalk Historical Cemetery, now the oldest cemetery in Norwalk. The Fitch house was partially burned in the July 11 and 12, 1779 British invasion of Norwalk, so only one wing remained. Fitch's wife, Hannah, having been evacuated from Norwalk at the time of the British raid, probably returned to Norwalk before she died in August 17792, at the age of 78. Fitch descendants lived in the reconstructed house until 1945. In 1956, the structure lay in the path of the Connecticut Turnpike (Interstate 95). Through community efforts the small wing that had survived the British raid was saved and moved out of the path of the road. It is today part of the Mill Hill Historic Park in Norwalk.

Thomas Fitch's family received some of the "Firelands" in the Connecticut Western Reserve in Ohio, lands reserved especially for those who had been burned out by the British in the Revolutionary War. The town of Fitchville, in Huron County, Ohio, was partly built on land that was given to the family of Governor Fitch and so was named for him. Mill Hill Historic Park, Wall Street and East Avenue, Norwalk, (phone 1-203-846-0525) includes the Governor Fitch law office (set on rocks from the original Fitch home's foundation), the earliest Norwalk cemetery, a schoolhouse, and the Townhouse Museum.

Portrait

There is no known portrait of Thomas Fitch.

Footnotes

1 Various sources give different birthdates, ranging from 1696 to 1700. The epitaph on Fitch's headstone ends with the sentence: "Having served his generation by the will of God, [he] fell asleep July 18, Anno Domini 1774, in the 78th year of his age."

2 Connecticut Journal and New-Haven Post-Boy, August 18, 1769.

Bibliography

Caulkins, Frances Manwaring. History of Norwich, Connecticut, pp. 365-367. Hartford: Press of Case, Lockwood & Brainard, 1873 [CSL Call number F 104 .N93 C3 1874].

Dexter, Franklin Bowditch. Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College...October, 1701-May 1745. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1885 [CSL call number HistRef LD 6323 .D5].

Encyclopedia of Connecticut. New York: Somerset Publishers, Inc., 1994 [CSL Call Number GIS Ref F 92 .E53 1994].

The Fitch Papers, 2 Vols., in Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, VII (1918) and XVIII (1920) [CSL Call Number F 91.C7].

Fedor, Ferenz. The Birth of Yankee Doodle. New York: Vantage Press, 1976 [CSL call number 974.62 N83f].

Fitch, John T. Descendants of the Reverend James Fitch, 1622-1902. Rockport, ME: Picton Press, 1996- [CSL call number CS 71 .F545 1996].

_______________. A Fitch Family History: English Ancestors of the Fitches of Colonial Connecticut. Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1990 [CSL call number CS 439 .F512 1990].

Fitch, Roscoe Conkling. History of the Fitch Family, A.D. 1400-1930. N.p.: The Fitch Family, 1930 [CSL call number CS 71 .F 545 1930].

Highways & Byways of Connecticut. Hartford: G. Fox & Co., [1947] [CSL call number F 94 .H54 1947].

National Cyclopedia of American Biography. New York: James White & Company, 1900, s.v. "Fitch, Thomas", vol. X, p. 327 [CSL call number E 176 .N27].

Norton, Frederick Calvin. The Governors of Connecticut. Hartford: Connecticut Magazine Co., 1905 [CSL call number HistRef F 93 .N 88 1905].

Raimo, John W. Biographical Directory of American Colonial and Revolutionary Governors 1607-1789. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1980 [CSL call number E 187.5 .R34].

Originally prepared by David O. White, Museum of Connecticut History, Connecticut State Library. Edited and revised by CSL Staff , October 2002. Copyright © 2002.

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Gov married Hall, Hannah on 4 Sep 1724 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut. Hannah was born on 31 Jan 1702 in New Haven, Connecticut, United States; died on 7 Aug 1769 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States; was buried in 1769 in Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States of America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Abigail married Kimberly, Abraham on 11 Feb 1696 in Wethersfield Twp, Hartford, Connecticut. Abraham (son of Kimberley, Abraham and Preston, Hanna) was born on 4 Mar 1674 in Chowan, Albemarle, North Carolina, United States; died on 17 May 1742 in Newtown, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]