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:

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