Thomas Fitch, the English progenitor, was born in England about 1590, died in 1645. He inherited an estate near Braintree, Essex county, England. He married, August 8, 1611, Annie Pew. After his death the widow and three sons came to New England, where two sons had already located. Children, mentioned in will: 1. Thomas, came to America in 1638, settled in Norwalk; in 1663 was one of the wealthiest citizens, from whom in three generations each bearing the name of Thomas Fitch, descended Governor Thomas Fitch, who was at the head of the colony of Connecticut from 1754 to 1760. 2. John, of Windsor; left no issue. 3. James, mentioned below. 4. Nathaniel. 5. Jeremy. 6. Samuel, of Hartford. 7. Joseph, settled in Norwalk in 1652; in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1655; of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1660; married Mary, daughter of Rev. Samuel Stone, a founder of Hartford; removed to Windsor. 8. Mary. 9. Anna. 10. Sara. The will of Thomas Fitch, of Bocking, Essex county, England, is dated 11 December, 1632, proved 12 February, 1632 (O.S.).
(II) Rev. James Fitch, immigrant ancestor, son of Thomas Fitch, was born at Bocking, county Essex, England, December 24, 1622. He came to America when only sixteen years old, in a company of thirteen young men, and he was placed under the instruction of Messrs. Hooker and Stone at Hartford, where he remained seven years. He married (first) October 18, 1648, Abigail, daughter of Rev. Henry and Dorothy (Sheafe) Whitfield, the former of whom was minister at Guilford, Connecticut, and the latter a daughter of Dr. Edmond and Joanna Sheaffe, of Crawbrook, Kent, England. She died September 9, 1659, and he married (second) October 1664. Priscilla, daughter of Major John Mason. In 1646 he was ordained pastor of a church formed at Saybrook, and in 1660, after the death of his first wife, he and a part of his church moved to Norwich. He learned the language of the Indians and went among them, teaching them and winning their friendship, even though the Mohegan sachems refused to come to his belief. Large tracts of land were conveyed to them either in trust or as absolute grants; a tract five miles in length and one in breadth, located in the present town of Lebanon, was conveyed by Owaneco to Mr. Fitch, and on this land some of his children settled. He died among them in 1702, aged eighty. He preached the election sermon in 1674, and it is the oldest election sermon of the Connecticut ministry which has been saved, and perhaps was the first one preached. In addition to this clerical labors, he educated several young men for the ministry; among those who received at least a part of their ministerial training from him being the Rev. Samuel Whiting, of Windsor; Rev. Taylor, of Westfield; Rev. Adams, of New London. Children by first wife: 1. James born August 2, 1649, settled in Canterbury. 2. Abigail, August 1650. 3. Elizabeth, January 1652. 4. Hannah, September 1653. 5. Samuel, April, 1655, mentioned below. 6. Dorothy, April 1658. Children by second wife: 7. Daniel, August 16, 1665, made his home in the North Parish of New London. 8. John, January, 1667, settled in Windham. 9. Jeremiah, September 1670. 10. Jabez, April 1672, was a minister; lived in Ipswich and Portsmouth. 11. Ann, April 1675. 12. Nathaniel, 1679. 13. Joseph, 1681. 14. Eleazer, May 14, 1683.
Holbrook, Jay. Connecticut 1670 Census, Oxford, MA: Holbrook Research Institute, nd.
The Connecticut 1670 census is a reconstructed listing of 1,544 household heads and 824 freeman. Data for the census was found in household, estate, tax, landowner, church, and freeman lists between the years 1660 and 1673. The Colony had 23 towns in 1670.
From this census, the estimated population of Connecticut in 1670 was 8,492. Evidence of political participation can be inferred by the number of freeman in the colony since they were the only eligible voters. By the Royal Charter of 1662, a freeman must "have 20 pounds estate, besides their person, in the List of estate."
The accompanying data contains five items of information. First, all names are listed alphabetically by surname. The second item of information is the date of the census record expressed as year, month and day. The town or location of each individual at the time of the census is the third piece of data. The fourth item is biographical information that describes the event and the purpose of the census. Fifth is the source reference code.
- Fitch, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size, WYLL24
- Fitch, James, 1672-5-1, Norwich, land owner, NORW72
- Fitch, James Mr., 1669, Norwich, freeman, TRUM52
- Fitch, Josep Mr., 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Fitch, Samuell, 1672-5-1, Norwich, land owner, NORW72
- Fitch, Tho. Jr., 1669, Norwalk, freeman, TRUM52
- Fitch, Tho. Jr., 1673, Nowalk, estate valuation £150, HALL65
- Fitch, Tho. Mr., Sr., 1673, Norwalk, estate valuation £314, HALL65
- Fitch, Tho. Sr., 1669, Norwalk, freeman, TRUM52
- Grant, John, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Grant, John, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 2, WYLL24
- Grant, Matthew, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Grant, Matthew, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 1, WYLL24
- Grant, Samuel, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Grant, Samuel, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 6, WYLL24
- Grant, Tahan, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 6, WYLL24
- Judd, Ben, 1672, Farmington, estate valuation £63, PORT41
- Judd, Benjamin, 1669, Farmington, freeman, TRUM52
- Judd, John, 1669, Farmington, freeman, TRUM52
- Judd, John, 1672, Farmington, estate valuation £69, PORT41
- Judd, Phillip, 1672, Farmington, estate valuation £33, PORT41
- Judd, Thomas, 1669, Farmington, freeman, TRUM52
- Judd, Thomas Jr., 1672, Farmington, estate valuation £99, PORT41
- Judd, Thomas, Sr., 1669, Farmington, freeman, TRUM52
- Judd, Thomas Sr., 1672, Farmington, estate valuation £81, PORT41
- Judd, William, 1669, Farmington, freeman, TRUM52
- Judd, William, 1672, Farmington, estate valuation £140, PORT41
- Leffingwell, Thomas Jr., Norwich, land owner, NORW72
- Leffingwell, Thomas, 1669, Norwich, freeman, TRUM52
- Loomis, John, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 10, WYLL24
- Loomis, Joseph, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 8, WYLL24
- Loomis, Nath, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 9, WYLL24
- Loomis, Samull, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 7, WYLL24
- Loomis, Tho, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 7, WYLL24
- Loomys, John, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Loomys, Joseph, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Loomys, Nathanell, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Loomys, Samuell, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Loomys, Thomas, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Lothrop, Samuell, 1668-10-6, New London, minister's rate £19, NEWL68
- Lothrup, Samll Jr., 1672-5-1, Norwich, land owner, NORW72
- Mason, John Lt., 1672-5-1, Norwich, land owner, NORW72
- Mason, John Maj., 1669, Norwich, freeman, TRUM52
- Norton, Thomas, 1669, Saybrook, freeman, TRUM52
- Norton, Thomas, 1667-12-30, Saybrook, land grant, SAYB67
- Rockwel, Samuell, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 4, WYLL24
- Rockwell, John, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Rockwell, John, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 6, WYLL24
- Rockwell, Josiah, 1672-5-1, Norwich, land owner, NORW72
- Rockwell, Samuel, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Skiner, John, 1669, Hartford, freeman, TRUM52
- Skinner, John, 1670-3-9, Hartford, household size 5, WYLL24
- Skinner, Joseph, 1669, Windsor, freeman, TRUM52
- Skinner, Joseph, 1670-3-7, Windsor, household size 4, WYLL24
- Talcott, Jno. Capt. 1669, Hartford, freeman, TRUM52
- Talcott, Samuell, Mr., 1669, Wethersfield, freeman, TRUM52
HALL65 - Hall, E. 1865, Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, CT, Norwalk
NEWL68 - New London, 1668, Land Records 1648-1707, Vol. 1A, Connecticut State Library
NORW72 - Norwich, 1672, Town Votes 1670-1695, Vol. 2, Norwich, CT, Town Hall
PORT41 - Porter, Noah Jr. 1841, History of Farmington, CT, Hartford
SAYB67 - Saybrook, 1667, Town Acts 1667-1727, Vol. 1, Deep River, CT, Town Hall
TRUM52 - Trumbull, J.H., 1852, Public Records of Connecticut, 1665-1678, Hartford
WYLL24 - Wyllys Papers, Vol. 21 of the Connecticut Historical Society Collections
Jacobus, Donald. Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol. III, Rome, NY: Clarence Smith, 1926.
List of officials 1636-1665:Gallop, John (d. 1675). Served in the Pequot War. Deputy (Stonington) to Conn. Leg., Oct., 1665. Conn. Col. II. 24.
Judd, Thomas (d. 1688). Deputy (Farmington) to Conn. Leg., May, 1647, May, 1648, May, 1649, Sept., 1650, Nov., 1650, Sept., 1651, Feb., 1657, Oct., 1658., Oct. 1659., May, 1661, Oct., 1661, May, 1662, Oct., 1662, May, 1663, Oct. 1663. Conn. Col. I. 149, 163, 185, 211, 213, 224, 288, 323, 340, 365, 372, 379, 384, 399, 410.
Lathrop, Samuel. (d. 1700). Judge (New London town), May 1649. Conn. Col. I. 186.
Leffingwell, Thomas (d. 1714). Deputy (Norwich) to Conn. Leg., Oct., 1662, Oct., 1663, Oct. 1665. Conn. Col. I. 384, 410, II. 24.
Marvin, Matthew (d. 1680). Deputy (Norwalk) to Conn. Leg., May, 1654. Conn. Col. I. 256.
Mason, John (d. 1672). Capt. in the Pequot War; first called Major, June, 1654; war committee for Saybrook, May, 1653, Oct., 1654; Major, Conn. Col. Troop, Mar., 1658. Deputy (Windsor) to Conn. Leg., Nov., 1637, Mar., 1638, Apr., 1638,, Sept., 1639, Feb., 1641, Apr., 1641, Sept., 1641; Assistant, Conn. Col., Apr. 1642, Apr., 1643, Apr., 1644, Apr., 1645, Apr., 1646, May, 1647, May, 1648, May, 1649, May, 1650, May, 1651, May, 1652, May, 1653, May, 1654, May, 1655, May, 1656, May, 1657, May, 1658, May, 1659; Dep. Governor, Conn. Col., May, 1660, May, 1661, May, 1662, Oct., 1662, May, 1663, May, 1664, May, 1665; Patentee, Royal Charter, 1662; Commissioner to United Colonies, June, 1654, May, 1655, May, 1656, May, 1657, May, 1660, May, 1661; Commissioner to treat with N.H. Col., Mar., 1663, Aug., 1663; Commissioner for Mass. and R.I. Boundaries, Oct., 1664. Conn. Col. I. 9, 11, 13, 17, 34, 58, 64, 67, 71, 84, 103, 124, 137, 149, 163, 185, 207, 218, 230, 241, 243, 256, 259, 264, 274, 280, 281, 297, 299, 309, 314, 334, 347, 348, 364, 365, 378, 384, 396, 398, 407, 425, 435. II. 4, 13.
Steele, John (d. 1665). Commissioner appointed by Mass. to govern Conn., Mar., 1636; Assistant, Conn. Col., Apr., 1636, Sept., 1636, Mar., 1637, May, 1637; Deputy (Hartford) to Conn. Leg., Mar., 1638, Apr., 1638, Apr., 1639, Sept., 1639., Jan., 1640, Apr., 1640, Feb., 1641, Apr., 1641, Sept., 1641, Nov., 1641, Apr., 1642, Aug., 1642, Mar., 1643, Apr., 1643, Sept., 1643, Apr., 1644, Sept., 1644, Apr., 1645, Sept., 1645, Dec., 1645; Deputy (Farmington), Apr., 1646, Oct., 1646, May, 1647, Sept., 1647, Sept., 1648, Jan., 1649, May, 1649, Sept., 1652, May, 1653, Sept., 1653, May, 1654, Sept., 1654, May, 1655, Oct., 1655, May, 1656, Oct., 1656, Feb., 1657, May, 1657, Oct., 1657, May, 1658, Oct., 1658; war committee for Farmington, May, 1653, Oct., 1654. Hazard's State Papers I. 321. Conn. Col. I. 1, 3, 8, 9, 13, 17, 27, 34, 41, 46, 58, 64, 67, 69, 71, 73, 82, 84, 93, 103, 111, 124, 130, 133, 138, 145, 149, 157, 166, 174, 185, 195, 207, 211, 212, 218, 231, 235, 240, 243, 246, 256, 263, 264, 278, 280, 282, 288, 297, 306, 315, 323.
Steele, John Jr. (d. 1653). Ensign, Farmington Train Band, Oct., 1651. Conn. Col. I. 227.
Stoughton, Thomas (d. 1661). Lieut. Windsor Train Band (promoted from Ensign), Apr., 1640; Deputy (Windsor) to Conn. Leg., Apr., 1639, Aug., 1639, Jan., 1640, Apr., 1640, Apr., 1643, Sept., 1643, Dec., 1645, Oct., 1646, May, 1647, Sept., 1647, May, 1648. Conn. Col. I, 27, 29, 41, 46, 48, 84, 93, 133, 145, 149, 157, 163.
Talcott, John (d. 1660). Deputy (Hartford) to Conn. Leg., May, 1637, Mar., 1638, Apr., 1638, Aug. 1639, Sept., 1639, Jan., 1640, Apr., 1640, Feb., 1641, Sept., 1641, Nov., 1641, Nov., 1641, Apr., 1642, Aug., 1642, Mar., 1643, Apr., 1643, Sept., 1643, Apr., 1644, Sept., 1644, Apr., 1645, Sept., 1645, Dec., 1645, Apr., 1646, Oct., 1646, May, 1647, Sept., 1647, May, 1648, Sept., 1648, May, 1649, Sept., 1649, May, 1650, May, 1653, Sept., 1653; Treasurer, Conn. Col., May, 1652, May, 1654, May, 1655, May, 1656, May, 1659; Assistant, Conn. Col., May, 1654, May, 1655, May, 1656, May, 1657, May, 1658; Commissioner to United Colonies, May, 1656, May, 1657, May, 1658. Conn. Col. I. 9, 13, 17, 29, 34, 41, 46, 58, 64, 67, 69, 71, 73, 82, 84, 93, 103, 111, 124, 130, 133, 138, 145, 149, 157, 163, 166, 185, 195, 207, 211, 218, 224, 231, 235, 240, 246, 256, 274, 280, 281, 297, 299, 314, 315, 334.
Talcott, John Jr. (d. 1688). Ensign, Hartford Train Band, June, 1650; first called Capt., Oct. 1660. Deputy (Hartford) to Conn. Leg., May, 1660, Oct., 1660, June, 1661, Oct., 1661; Assistant, Conn. Col. May, 1662, Oct., 1662, May, 1663, May, 1664, May, 1665; Treasurer, Conn. Col., May, 1660, May, 1661, May, 1662, Oct., 1662, May, 1663, May, 1664, May, 1665; Patentee, Royal Charter, 1662; Commissioner to United Colonies, May, 1663; Commissioner to treat with N.H. Col. Mar., 1663; Commissioner on N.Y. Boundary, Oct., 1663; Commissioner on Mass. and R.I. Boundaries, Oct., 1664.
Jacobus, Donald. Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol. V, Rome, NY: Clarence Smith, 1926.
Lathrop. Variant Lothrop. Rev. John & Hannah (House) had Samuel of Norwich who m Elizabeth Scudder & had several children, of whom the following settled in W: John; Elizabeth, b. Mar 1648 Norwich V; m (1) 15 Dec 1669 Isaac Royce; m (2) Joseph Thompson; Sarah, b. Oct 1655; m 21 Apr 1681 WV - Nathaniel Royce; Martha, b Jan 1657; m 12 Dec 1676 WV - John Moss.
Lawson, Stephen M. Images of Historical Hartford, website, 2000
Plimpton, Elizebeth, ed. The Vital Records of Saybrook Colony, 1635-1860, Saybrook, CT: Saybrook Anniversary Committee, 1985.
Founders of Saybrook Colony 1635-1660
- Thomas Adgate
- Francis Bushnell, Jr.
- Richard Bushnell
- William Bushnell
- James Fitch
- John Gallop, Jr.
- Margaret Lake
- Thomas Leffingwell
- John Mason - fought in Pequot War
Includes the Town Plat
Extracts from Saybrook Land Records, volume and page
- 1:16 the children of tho. adgate, elizabeth born the 10th of October Anno 1651; hanna born the 6th of October Anno [16]53
- 5:41 Thomas Adgate chosen Deacon 1646. He resigned 1660
- 5:41 Thomas Adgate died ae 87 in 1707
- 1:12 James fitch his children born in Seabrook; James fitch born the second of Agust [16]49; Abigail fitch born the fifth of Agust [16]50; elisiboth fitch born the second of [January] [16]54; hanna fitch born the 17 desember [16]53; Samuell fitch born the beginning of March [16]55; Dorathy fitch born in aprill [16]58; Abygall the wife of james fitch was deceased at Seabrook the 9th of September 1659
- 1:79 Rev. James Fitch was 3d minister and first ordained pastor of 1st Church Saybrook 1646-1660
- 2:542 James Fitch Pastor at the Church of Christ at "Moheggan" 29 April 1661
- 1:25 The children of Tho Leffingwoll: Rachell was born the 17th of march ano domini 1648; thomas was born the 27 of agust in the year 1649; Jonathan was born the 6 of december in the year 1650; Joseph was born the 24 of desember in the year 1652; mary was born the 10 of December in the year 1654; nathanill was born the 11 of desember in the year 1656
Vital Records Volume IA
- 1A:65 John C. Gallup of Brooklyn Conn. & Susan M. Ingham of Saybrook were united in marriage Sept. 9th [9] 1834 by Fred Wm. Hotchkiss. Also [vol. 5:111 1st Ch. Rec.]
Prindle, Paul. "Corrections to Published Early Records of the Fitch Family," Connecticut Ancestry, Vol. 26, No. 4, May 1984, Stamford, CT: The Stamford Genealogical Society, May 1984.
A number of generally accepted source references contain errors involving early American generations of the Fitch family. Eight such references, with quotations from each, are listed below. Comments and corrections to each are given following the listing.
5. Miner Family (1928):101, 193-6 by L.L. Selleck and Donald Lines Jacobus.
Thomas Fitch of Bocking, Essex, clothier, married 8 Aug. 1611 Anna Reeve, supposed to be the daughter of Thomas and Katherine (Billings) Reeve. Their son Samuel d. about 1656; m. Susannah, widow of William Whiting.
Correction: Anna Reeve, who on 8 Aug. 1611 married Thomas Fitch of Bocking, co. Essex, England, was not, as Mr. Jacobus tentatively ventured, "supposed to be the daughter of Thomas and Katherine (Billings) Reeve." Anna, as noted below, was a daughter of John Reeve of Gosfield, co. Essex, and his wife, Mary Brock.
6. History of the Fitch Family, A.D. 1400-1930 (1930), by Roscoe Conkling Fitch. Vol. I:35.
The ten children of Thomas and Anne (Reeve) Fitch were:
1. Thomas, b. 14 Oct. 1612, m. 1 Nov. 1632 Anne Stacie, dau. of William Stacie of Bocking. Thomas was a founder of Norwalk, Conn.2. John, rem. in England3. Rev. James, to Conn. in 1638, was of Saybrook, Norwich and Lebanon.4. Nathaniel, rem. in England.5. Jeremy, b. 5 Aug. 1625.6. Samuel, b. 9 Nov. 1626, was in 1650 engaged to keep the school at Hartford, Conn.7. Joseph, a founder of Norwalk in 1650, rem. to Northampton, Mass., then to Hartford & finally settled in Windsor in 1672.8. Mary, b. in March 1629.9. Anne b. 6 Aug. 1630.10. Sara, b. 25 July 1631.
Correction: The record of births of the children of Thomas and Anna (Reeve) Fitch as given in Vol. I:35 of this book is open to question. No references for the dates are given. English church registers do not record dates of birth, but of baptism or christening. These dates are not of baptisms, however, for Mr. Jacobus notes, "The baptisms in the register of St. Mary's Church, Bocking, are lacking from 1605 to 1655" (Miner Family: 99). Surley, if these dates had been taken from an ancient family Bible, Mr. Fitch would have mentioned that fact.
At this point it seems advisable to caution the reader that the American records presented by R.C. Fitch in his book are arranged in a hodgepode order and contain many errors.
7. The American Genealogist (1938), 14:88. In an article entitled "Captain Joseph Fitch," by Homer W. Brainard it is stated:
Thomas Fitch, a clothier, descended from a family of ancient lineage . . . He was probably son of that Thomas Fitch who was buried at Bocking July 4, 1595 and had brothers Richard and John. He married, Aug. 8, 1611, Anne Reeve of Bocking, who survived him.
Correction: Mr. Brainard presumably was not aware of Mr. Butler's record of the Fitch family in England as recorded in R.C. Fitch's book. Thomas Fitch, the husband of Anne Reeve, was not a son of Thomas Fitch who was buried 4 July 1595, but was a son of George and Joan (Thurgood) Fitch.
Fitch Ancestry in England
The second edition (1972) of English Genealogy by Sir Anthony Richard Wagner, Garter King of Arms, has an article on the Fitch family on pp. 227-30. The article closes with the statement, "My friend, Mr. Marc Fitch (b. 1908, son of Hugh) has for many years combined with his ancestral trade an ardent attachment to genealogy. His researches have been remarkably extensive, covering all traceable families of his name." Since differing lines of the ancestry of the four Fitch brothers who emigrated to America have been published, I compiled a chart of three of them and sent it to Sir Anthony (who, incidentally, is a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists), asking him to forward it to Dr. Marc Fitch. His comprehensible collection of Fitchiana is housed in the library of the Marc Fitch Fund, 9 Park Street, Woodstock, Oxford, I later learned.
In a letter dated 27 Apr. 1978 Dr. Fitch responded to my request for a comparative evaluation of the three lines on the chart, including that of Mr. Butler. He wrote:
A.T. Butler was a distinguished and most reliable genealogist who would have been better known had he not had the misfortune to die young.
His work with regard to the Fitch family and which was undertaken for R.C. Fitch has in nor respect been faulted either by Sir Anthony or by me.
Accordingly, Mr. Butler's version of the known English line is considered by me to be authentic. It is presented below in skeleton form. Those desiring more details are referred to the R.C. Fitch book.
William Fitch (or Fytche, Fiche, etc.) of Widdington, co. Essex, was b. ca. 1400. His death was reported 24 Apr. 1466 at the Widdington Manor Court.
John Fitch, b. ca. 1436, m. Juliana. His death was reported 9 Apr. 1468 at the Widdington Manor Court.
Thomas Fitch, b. ca. 1465, m. ca. 1490 Agnes Algore, heiress and only child of Sir Robert Algore of Castle Brazenhead in Lindsell, Essex, and his wife Margaret; granddaughter of William Alogre, who died before 3 Mar. 1648; great granddaughter of William Algore, living in 1418, and great great granddaughter of John Algore, mentioned in the 1409 Lindsell Manor Court Rolls. By this marriage Brazenhead came into possession of the Fitch family. The death of Thomas Fitch was reported at the Lindsell Manor Court on 23 Dec. 1514.
Roger Fitch of Panfield and Bocking, co. Essex, mentioned 6 May 1546 in the Widdington Manor Court Rolls; wife named Margery.
George Fitch of Braintree, co. Essex, and of Sudbury and Edwardstone, co. Suffolk. On 13 Sep. 1574 he married, by Bishop's license, at Little Canfield, co. Essex, Joan Thurgood of Elsenham.
The 12 May 1605 will of George "Fytch" of Edwardston, c. Suffolk, Mercer," proved 18 June 1605 at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, mentioned his wife, Joane, sons Thomas (eldest), George (second son), Joseph and Arthur, and daughter Frances, all of whom seem to have been children of Joan Thurgood, his first wife.
A manuscript at the College of Arms states that, after the birth of his children, George Fitch married, second, Bridget, widow first of John Goss of Edwardstone and second, of John French, also of that place, whose will was drawn in 1600/1. George Fitch married, third, the widow Joane Taylor. These relationships are supported by and perhaps partly based upon, the following provisions of the will:
that father Frank shall have his annuity or yearly rent of £6 per annum paid to him according to his son's will . . . I give . . . to John French a silver spoon; to Robert French a silver spoon; I will that the said John French and Robert French have their tipped pots given to them in their father's will; I will that Bridget Gosse & Susan Gosse each have a ring according to the last will of French; I give to maria Burgis my grandchild £21 at age of 21 & a brass pot to be delivered to her father to her use; to Sara Taylor, my wife's daughter, 30 s.
This unpublished will of George Fitch contains one bequest so unusual that it is reproduced here:
To Thomas Fytch . . . my eldest son . . . my messuage or tenement in Edwarstone aforesaid & all the wainscott and glass now standing and being upon any windowes of the of the same with all my lands pastures meadows feedings and hereditments whatsoever to him and heirs of his body lawfully begotten . . .
Apparently glass was in short supply in England during the 1605 period!
Thomas Fitch, eldest son of George and Joan (Thurgood) Fitch, was born 1590 at Bocking and married there on 8 Aug. 1611, Anne Reeve, daughter of John reeve of Gosfield, co. Essex, whose will dated 23 Sep. 1620 was proved 9 Jan. 1621. On 24 Oct. 1588 John Reeve had married at Gosfield, Mary Brock, daughter of William Brock of Boxted and Colchester, co. Essex, and his wife, Margery Bedell, daughter of John Bedell of Notley, co. Essex. The 7 July 1598 will of "William Brock, gentleman," was probated 13 June 1599. Among other provisions of the will was a bequest "To John Reeve my son-in-law and his wife, my daughter, £10." William Brock was son of John Brock of Little Leighs, co. Essex, and his wife Agnes Wiseman.
Thomas Fitch and his wife, Anne Reeve, had four sons who emigrated to the Connecticut Colony and became distinguished citizens (R.C. Fitch, idem).
1. Thomas Fitch. He married Anne Stacie in Nov. 1632 at St. Mary's Bocking, co. Essex. Thomas became Deputy Governor and one of the richest citizens of the Colony in his time.
2. James Fitch in 1646 became the first minister of Saybrook, Connecticut Colony. In Oct. 1648 he married Abigail, daughter of the Rev. M. Whitfield of Guilford. In 1659-60 the Rev. James Fitch and part of his congregation founded Norwich. His influence with the Indians was the salvation of the Connecticut Colony during King Phillip's War, for he persuaded the Mohegan Indians to join with the forces of the colonists. During the war he served as chaplain to the troops.
3. Samuel Fitch, one of the first settlers of Hartford, served as school teacher there during the early 1650's.
4. Joseph Fitch, probably the youngest of the four Fitch immigrants, lived to the ripe old age of 97, dying in East (now South) Windsor in 1727.
Roberts, Gary. Genealogical Thoughts: The Connecticut Core in Print and at NEHGS, Part 1, website, 1999
Roberts, Gary, ed. Genealogies of Connecticut Families from The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. I Adams - Gates, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.
Mr. Fitch.North Hadley 1 mo. 27th 1848.Respected Friend, the Editor of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
From the "Register," Vol. I, page 315, I copy the following; viz.:
"In the year 1660, the Rev. James Fitch, the first pastor of the church of Saybrook, with the greater part of his church, moved from Saybrook to Norwich. Said Mr. Fitch continued to be pastor of said church at Norwich, until by reason of his age and infirmity he resigned his said office about the year 1696, and in 1702 removed to the town of Lebanon, and soon after died in a good old age."
To add to the information respecting this James Fitch, I will copy an extract from my friend the late John Fitch of Mansfield, Ct., who was many years a judge in that state.
"The Venerable Mr. Fitch of whom you speak is my ancestor, being the fifth generation from him in the line of his 4th son, John, who settled in Windham. He had nine sons and five daughters. One or more of his sons settled in Lebanon, where he retired after the infirmities of age rendered him unable to pursue his public labors, where he died. The old burying-ground in Lebanon received his remains, and contains a monument to his memory.
"The inscription [on said monument] is as follows: - 'In hoc Sepulchro depositae sunt Reliquiae, viri vere Reverendi domini JACOBI FITCH; natus fuit apud Bocking in Comitatu Essiae in Anglia, Anno Domini 1622, Decembris 24. Qui postquam linguis et literis optime instiutus fuisset, in Nov-Anglia venit, aetatis 16, et deinde vitam degit Harfordiae, per septennium sub institutione virorum celeberrimorum domini Hooker et domini Stone. Postea munera pastorali functus est apud Saybrook, per annos 14. Illine, cum ecclesiae, majori parte Norvicem migravit et ibi eateros vitae annos transegit in opere evangelico. In senectute, vero prae corporis infirmitate necessario cessabat ab opere publico; tandemque recessit liberis apud Lebanon, ubi, semi-anno fere exacto obdormivit in Jesu, anno 1702, Novembris 18, aetatis suae 80; vir ingenii acumine, pondere judicii, prudentia, charitate sancta, laboribus, et omnemodo vitae sanctitate, peritia quoque, et vi concionandi nulli secundus.'
"Those of the name in the vicinity of Windham, Lebanon, Canterbury, Preston, Norwich, and Montville are his descendants. Those in the western part of the state (Connecticut) descended from his brother Thomas, who settled in Norwalk ----."
Thy Friend,D.M. Leonard.
More Yankee Than Puritan: James Fitch of Connecticut by James M. Poteet
The Winthrop brothers dubbed him "Black James" and described him as a leader of "rude fellows of desperate fortune" as well as the author of "open and scandalous villanies." Two of his fellow magistrates labeled him "a great land pirate," worse than Wat Tyler or Robin Hood, and asked the General Assembly to "seriously consider how pernicious" he was to "the rising generation in this colony." Sir Henry Ashurst damned him as "the Cananite . . . in your land." The object of this obloquy from the genteel was James Fitch, politician, land speculator, and disturber of the established order in colonial Connecticut. Far more Yankee than Puritan, Fitch is a clear example of that tortuous transition that historians have sought to describe and locate in time. A model of economic individualism and political competitiveness, a contrast to the traditional virtues of social unity and harmony, Fitch manifests the confusion and disorder that often accompanied the secularization of New England. Beyond this symbolic importance, Fitch was also a significant figure in Connecticut history. Though he ended his life bested by his enemies, for a brief moment he was a bold challenger for power in the colony. His bid for supremacy was so nearly successful, in fact, that it left a folk memory that troubled Connecticut's gentry leaders a half century afterwards.
There was little in Fitch's heritage to point to his future course or suggest his ultimate notoriety. Born in Saybrook, Connecticut, on 2 August 1649, he was the son of the Reverend James Fitch. While the clerical father was one of that "second class" of divines described by Cotton Mather as those "whose education for their designed ministry not being finished, yet came over from England . . . and had their education perfected in this country," an ecclesiastical pedigree carried with it a certain standing in orthodox Connecticut. In 1660 Pastor Fitch led a portion of his Saybrook congregation into the wilderness to settle the town of Norwich; in that frontier community, the Reverend Fitch unknowingly prepared his legacy for his son.
Even in the wilderness, Fitch maintained the Puritan clergy's reputation for scholarship and presumably tutored his son who, while never able to master the most elementary rules of punctuation, later demonstrated a talent for invective prose and even crude poetry. The reputation of the senior Fitch did not rest on his theological writing, however, but on his vigorous missionary work among the Indians of Connecticut, particularly the Mohegans. Having mastered the Indian language, Fitch worked diligently to convert the famous chieftain Uncas and his son Owaneco. For a time the work among "those poor heathen" was so promising that the General Assembly of Connecticut acknowledged a readiness to "encourage Mr. Fitch in the work," and he received funds from the United Commissioners. During King Philip's War, Fitch was particularly useful to the colony, maintaining the loyalty of the Mohegans and accompanying the colony's forces into battle.
The younger Fitch could only profit from this upbringing. Raised on the frontier and in close contact with the Indians, he gained an intimate knowledge of the unsettled lands of eastern Connecticut and learned to manipulate the natives who claimed them. His marriage to Elizabeth Mason, daughter of the family most closely connected with Connecticut's Indians, promised further opportunities . Given both inherited advantages and his own surging ambitions, Fitch rose rapidly in the public affairs of his locality and colony. The legislature itself acknowledged his promise by appointing him a magistrate for the town and treasurer of New London County. For the next few years, Fitch was extremely busy in the public affairs of eastern Connecticut, but this did not mean he was neglecting his private interests; it was, in fact, during these years that he laid the foundation for his future conflicts. All Connecticut men were preoccupied with land, but Fitch's ambitions would eventually outstrip and dwarf the aspirations of his contemporaries.
Roberts, Gary, ed. Genealogies of Connecticut Families from The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. II Geer-Owen, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.
The Descendants of Thomas Norton of Guilford, Conn.
Compiled by Hon. R.D. Smith and communicated by Dr. Bernard C. Steiner.
Thomas Norton came to Guilford with Rev. Mr. Whitfield in 1639, was a signer of the Plantation Covenant, and served the town as its miller until his death in 1648. He is stated to have been a church warden of Mr. Whitfield's parish at Ockley in Surrey, England, and has been thought to have been connected with the Mortons of Sharpenhow, Bedfordshire. (Register, vol. xiii, p. 225.) Dea. L.M. Norton of Goshen identified him with Thomas, son of William Norton and his second wife Dennis Chelmsby, and put the date of his birth as about 1582. His home lot in Guilford contained two acres and was on the west side of Crooked Lane (now State Street). This lot fell to his son John, on Thomas Norton's death, and afterwards was occupied by Lieut. William Seward, his son-in-law. Thomas Norton also owned seventeen and one-half acres of "upland in the plaine" and a parcel of one and one-half acres of marsh land by the seaside. His wife was named Grace and her maiden name is supposed to have been Wells. [Note. In the Register for April, 1897, vol. li., p. 221, is a note by Elliot Stone, calling attention to the fact that Thomas Norton and Grace Wells were married in Shelton Parish, Bedfordshire, on May 5, 1631, and that their daughter Grace was baptized Jan. 13, 1632, in the neighboring parish of Deans. A son, John, was baptized Feb. 15, 1634. (See Blaydes' "Genealogica Bedfordiensis.") Mr. Smyth gave the birth of his children as follows: 1, Anne, about 1625; 2, Grace, about 1627, and 3, John, in 1640. Also that Thomas Norton of Ockley, Surrey, married Judith Howell in 1637. No explanation of his tangle can as yet be given. - B.C.S.]
The children of Thomas and Grace Norton were:
i. Anne, m. John Warner of Saybrook and Hartford, 1649
ii. Grace m. William Seward of Guilford, April 2, 1651
iii. Mary b. about 1635; m. Dea. Samuel Rockwell of Windsor, April 9, 1658.
iv. John, d. March 5, 1704
v. Abigail, b. about 1642; m. Ananias Tryon of Killingworth, Aug. 6, 1667
vi. Thomas, d. about 1713
Roberts, Gary, ed. Genealogies of Connecticut Families from The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. III Painter-Wyllys, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.
Perkins Family of Connecticut
By Fred B. Perkins, of Hartford, Conn.
This article is of course very imperfect. It does not attempt to proceed further than the fourth generation, except in a few cases; and doubtless contains errors among the few facts actually given. Such is peculiarly the peril of genealogical labors. It is nothing but a beginning; and will accomplish quite as much as it deserves, if it assists the writer in gathering information as to all descendants, whether of the name or blood, and indeed of any of the kin or ancestry, of John Perkins, senior, of Ipswich, grandfather of Joseph and Jabez, the first settlers of the name in Connecticut. Any such information will be thankfully received by the writer.
1. Dea. Joseph Perkins, b. Ipswich, Mass., 21 (or 22) June, 1674; d. at Norwich, Conn., 4 (or 6) Sept. 1726. He and his brothers, Jabez (No. 2, below) and Matthew, coming from Ipswich, Mass., bought of John Fitch, (deed dated 28 Sept. 1695), 1200 acres of land, (another account says 800 acres, for £70), lying in the forks of the Quinebaug and Shetucket rivers, in the town of Norwich. This was in that part of Norwich afterwards the town of Lisbon, in the southern portion of it, known as Newent Society, (supposed named from Newent, Gloucestershire, England, from the neighborhood of which their grandfather, John, senior, apparently came), and in the locality afterwards known as "Perkins's Crotch," from its situation and owners. This property remained in the family until the period from 1804 to 1820, during which it was alienated. Matthew Perkins soon returned to Ipswich, and remained there. Joseph and Jabez were for a long time influential men and leading church members in that portion of the town.
2. Jabez Perkins was accepted an inhabitant of Norwich, 1701; he died 15 Jan. 1741-2. He m. 1st 30 June, 1698, Hannah Lathrop of Norwich, who d. 1721. Their children were: Jabez b. 3 June 1699, d. 27 April 1739; Hannah b. 1701, d. 1745 m. Joshua Huntington; Elizabeth b. 1703; Mary; Jacob b. 1705; Lucy (Miss Caulkins says "Luke"), b. 1709; Judith b. 1714. He m. 2d, 1722, Charity Leonard.
I subjoin the Will and Inventory of John Perkins, senior, of Ipswich, copies of which have kindly been furnished me by H.N. Perkins, Esq., of Boston.
Will of John Perkins, senior of Ipswich
28th of ye first mo, called March, 1654. I John Perkins the elder of Ipswich being at this tyme sick and weake in body yet through the mercy and goodness of the Lord retaining my understanding and memory: doe thus dispose of and bequeath my temporall estate as Followeth.
First. I do give and bequeath unto my eldest sonn John Perkins a foale of my young mare being now with foale if it please the Lord she foale it well also I give and bequeath to my sonn John's two sonnes John and Abraham to each of them one of my yearling heyfers: also I give and bequeath to his son Thomas Perkins one cow and one heyfer also I give and bequeath to his son John Perkins one ewe & to be delivered for his use at the next shearing time also, I doe give and bequeath to my duaghter Elizabeth Sargeant one cow and an heyefer to be to her and her children after her decease as it may please ye Lord they may increase, the profits or increase to be equally divided amongst the sayde children: also I do give to my daughter Mary Bradbury one cow and heyfer or a young steere to remain to her and to her children in theyr increase or proffits as it shall please the Lord to bless them and to be equaly devided to ye children: also I doe give and bequeath to my daughter Lidia Bennett one cow and one heyfer or steere to be equaly divided to her children in theyr increase or proffits after decease: I doe also give unto my grandchilde Thomas Bradbury one ewe to be sett apart for his use at ye next shearing tyme; also I doe give and bequeathe unto my sonn Jacob Perkins my dwelling house together with all the outhowseing and all my landes of one kinde and other together with all improvements thereupon to be his in full possession according to a former conveant after the decease of my wife and n ott before and so to remaine to him, and to his heires forever; all the rest of myestate of one kinde and other I do wholy leave to my deare wife Judith Perkins apointing and ordaining my sade wyfe the sole executrix of this my last will and testament desiring my sayde wife to dispose of the cattell above mentioned according to her discresion as they shall prove steeres or heyfers, as also to dispose of some of the increase of the sheep to ye children of my son Thomas and of my three daughters at the discresion of my sayde wife and this I doe ordaine as my last will and testament subscribed with mine own hand this twenty eighth day of ye first month 1654.
John Perkins
Signed in presence of William Bartholomew, Thomas Harris
Proved in court held at Ipswich 26 (7) 1654 by the oath of William Bartholmew and Thomas Harris per me Robert Lord, cleric.
An Inventory of the Estate of John Perkins, senior, deceased.
The dwelling House & Barn with out housing £40.00
Land about house about eight acres .12.00
More Land unbroken up, about 14 acres .21.00
Parcel of Marsh about 6 acres at 40s per acre .12.00
Parcel of upland & Marsh being much broken about 20 acres at 20s per acre .20.00
12 acres improved land at 40s per acre .24.00
One mare with a foal at .25.00
Six Milk cows .30.00
Four yearling heifers and a steer .11.10
Six ewes at 35s .10.10
5 ewe lambs at .5.00
1 yearling wether and 2 wether lambs 2.00
1 young calf .00.15
1 cow at the pasture, a sow & 3 pigs all .3.00
1 feather bed & bed stead & furniture .4.00
1 Coverled with other small things .2.10
Left in money at his decease .10.00
A Cart, ploughs, harrow, with several goods of lumber, as cask tubs, chains, axes, hoes, etc. valuable . 5.00
Several kettles pots & dishes in kitchen .2.00
His wearing apparel .5.00
Total £250.05
Witnesses & appraisers William Bartholmew, John Annable
received in the Court held at Ipswich the 26 of the (7) 1654. Per me Robert Lord, cleric.
Some Early Records & Documents of and Relating to the Town of Windsor Connecticut, 1639-1703, Hartford, CT: Connecticut Historical Society, 1930.
Rockwell, Loomis, Moore, Fitch, Skinner, Talcott, Steele, Stoughton families
Yale Law School. The Avalon Project: Government of New Haven Colony, website, 2008
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