The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-25
Fitch or Fitz Family of Virginia.

The tradition OF this renowned old
English family, Is, that two brothers.
Thomas and James Fytche. came from
Booking, county Essex. England, to New
England. in the ship Defiance, in l7Ss.
Thomas settled in Norwalk CT, and was
the ancestor of Thomas Fitch, the Gov.
OF his native Colony, who made con-
slant use of the Arms we give. The
Rev. James Fitch, distinguished dl-
vines. states in his biography. that his
family was of an old Scotch blood, aud
that his at-great-grandfather, be-
come by decent owners of n
large estate in Essex, England. A COM
pletc pedigree is in the possession of
the descendants OF the above emigrants,
and corroborates fully these statements.
The Arms of the two brothers as brought
pver, are thus described:
s"Arms-Vert, a chevron, between three
lions heads, erased. or.
Crest--A eoparls head cabossed, Or
across the mouth, 4 sword ppr.
hlted, gules.
Mottoes-d) Prompt at Certain. (prompt
and surc>. CO spes Juvat. Chope
assists u.s."
For more complete record. we refer
the reader to Records of Norwalk Ct.,"
by Edwin Hall. Aldens american Epi-
taphs" ~. l59. Thos. Wescott, Life Of
Fitch" 1857 Heraldls Journal III. u.
American Genealogist, 1873. Enclopoedia
Herlldca, 1875.
The first Fitch in Virginia is given
IN Woods Hist. of Altemarle, as, WIN.
Daniel Fitch, who bought land in 1859,
NJ. the east side of the South West
Mountains, near Hammocks' Gap, where
he resided and died in 1911. He had L
n,,l,- tvs, of ,phr
John, who died before his father, and
William D. Fitch who was one of the
tarly and leading men of Milton: in 1929,
he removed TO Charlottesville and kept
the Eagle Tavern: ne died in 1SiS."
Vim. d. Fitch was the son of Daniel
Fitch, WHO is given in the family Bible
ms having died in 1i.o, but does not state
his birth; this Daniel was doubtless the
same Fitch who Up. Meade speaks of
with Austin Brockenbrough and several
others, who We're disaffected with the
American cause"
John Fitch was born f7ls, and died
lSoi. He married Elizabeth Carr, born,
l744. and died and was buried on the
South West Mountain. VIM. D., Jr., the
brother. had ten daughters. but names
rot given. The children of John, were
IL WIN. Fitch, COR F'itz), 2-Gideon;
BNancy; 4--Mary: 5-Mildred 6-susan.
These two brothers, John ana Gideon,
being nearly contemporary with Thomas
Jefferson, and living quite near him,
enjoyed his friendship and confidence.
Mr.. jefferson took q deep interest in the
education of Gideon, selecting books &c.
Tor him. and afterwards appointed him
Surveyor General of the Province of
Miss. which Office he held for many
years.
yViIIio ~ E,if, {ibn pnrne bsint, cb,pga5
about this time), was one of the Escort
of Honor on the occasion of the visit
of Lafayette to Charlottesville and Man-
ticello 1t was MI Jefferson who sug-
gested the change in spelling the name
from Fitch to F'itz. 1t had frequently
7een spelt ENtche, Fitche, Fltso ana
1inaly Fit2 ,AIr. Jefferson. who had
travelled in Europe, said the CH was al
ways pronounced z, and having known
the Fitch family so we'll, his suggestion
was adopted There were several letters
passed between Mr.. JEFFERSON and Gideon
Fitz, held for Il long time In the family.
but resently have been sold, all of them
verifying the above facts.
William Fitz married, in 1904, Mary
Leake. who was horn 1852 She was the
daughter of William Leake, OF Louisa
county, who had served in the Virginia
Continental line, from the county of
Gpochland during the Revolutionary
War.
They had two sons--James Fitz, horn
1906, and John, 1907, at the old home on
top OF the mountain. James married
Isabella burlington, OF Louisa, daughter
OF Rev, Elisha burlington.
John married Ann EIuckstep, daughter
of the Rev. Charles Hnckstep who had
also served in the War of 1872. BY the