page_title: James Fitch (minister)
section_title: Settlement at Norwich
hierarchical_section_title: James Fitch (minister) / Settlement at Norwich
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the first house lots in Norwich. Shows location of the founder's homes - Major John Mason and Reverend James Fitch
context_page_description: Rev. James Fitch was instrumental in the founding of Norwich and Lebanon, Connecticut. He was the first minister ordained in Saybrook, Connecticut and played a key role in negotiations with the Mohegans during King Philip's War.
context_section_description: In May of 1659, the congregation at Saybrook applied to the General Court at Hartford for permission to make a new settlement at Norwich and received permission. In June the settlers approached the three sachems of Mohegan - Uncas, Owaneco and Attawanhood - who sold them a nine square mile tract of land. Fitch accompanied the congregation as their leader along with Major John Mason.
  Shortly after his arrival at Norwich, the Hartford church extended to him a call to be their pastor. This offered him a wider field and greater influence, but he declined and replied, "With whom then, shall I leave these few poor sheep in the wilderness?" He was devoted to his people, and they retained to the last a deep affection for him.
caption: The first lots of Norwich, Connecticut, ca. 1660.
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