The Reverend James Fitch came to America in 1638. He settled in the central part of Connecticut, being one of the founding fathers of Norwich. He was a minister in Saybrook, working to christianize the indians.
Elisha Paine lived in Eastham until about 1688, when he went to Barnstable. In 1689 he and ten citizens of that town were granted a number of acres of land at Goodspeed’s River, and the benefit of the stream forever, on condition of “setting up a fulling mill on that river,” and maintaining "the same twenty years, and full and dress the town's cloth on reasonable terms." His residence in Barnstable was not long, for he was back in Eastham in 1693. About the year 1699 his attention was turned to new lands being settled within the boundaries of the Colony of Connecticut. The “Quinebaug Country” was the name given to the region on both sides of the Quinebaug River in the County of Windham, where the famous Major James Fitch settled in 1697, erecting the first permanent habitation in what is now Canterbury. The Indian name of the place was Peaqscomswek. Major Fitch had bought vast tracts in this region from the Indians, and was famous for his land operations. He named his plantation “Kent.” Here came Elisha Paine and his family about the spring of 1700 he having purchased two thousand acres from Major Fitch. The Adamses, Clevelands and Johnsons were other early settlers, all of them families after wards related in marriage with the Paines. Here Mr. Paine established himself as a planter, becoming a man of affluence and prominence in the Colony. Agitation immediately began for the creation of a separate town for the inhabitants on the west side of the Quinebaug, where Paine and Fitch were living. An agreement was drawn to that effect with those living on the east side of the river, dated Dec. 24, 1702, and pursuant thereto a committee consisting of Elisha Paine and five others petitioned the General Assembly of Connecticut on May 13, 1703, for the erection of a separate town. In October of the same year, the legislature created the town and bestowed the name Canterbury upon it.
512. James Fitch21, born December 24, 1622 in Bocking, Essex Co. England; died November 18,
1702 in Lebanon, Ct.. He was the son of 1024. Thomas Fitch and 1025. Anne Reeve. He married
513. Priscilla Mason October 02, 1664 in Norwich, Ct..
513. Priscilla Mason, born October 1641. She was the daughter of 1026. John Mason and
1027. Ann Peck.
More About James Fitch:
Fact 1: 1638, Came to America
Fact 2: 1646, Ordained Pastor of a church at Saybrook, Ct.
Fact 3: 1660, Moved part of the church to Norwich, Ct.22
Children of James Fitch and Abigail Whitfield are:
i.
James Fitch, born August 02, 1649 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Ct.; died
November 10, 1727 in Cantebury, Windham, Ct.; married (1) Elizabeth
Mason January 1675/76 in Norwich, Ct.; married (2) Alice Bradford
Adams 168723.
ii.
Abigail Fitch, born August 05, 1650; died July 05, 1687 in Wethersfield,
Connecticut; married John Mason 1668.
iii.
Elizabeth Fitch, born January 02, 1651/52.
iv.
Hannah Fitch, born Abt. September 17, 1653; married Thomas Mix June
30, 1677 in Norwich, Ct..
v.
Samuel Fitch, born April 16, 1655 in Saybrook, Middlesex, Ct.24; died
October 19, 1725 in Preston, Connecticut25; married Mary Anne
Brewster November 28, 1678.
vi.
Dorothy Fitch, born April 16, 1658.
Children of James Fitch and Priscilla Mason are:
i.
Daniel Fitch, born August 16, 1665 in Norwich, Ct.26; died June 03,
1711 in Montville, Ct.; married Mary Sherwood March 1697/98 in
Fairfield, Ct.27.
ii.
John Fitch, born January 01, 1666/67.
256
iii.
Jeremiah Fitch, born September 10, 1670 in New London, Norwich,
Connecticut; died May 22, 1736 in Coventry, Tolland, Connecticut;
married Ruth Clara Gifford June 06, 1698 in New London, Lebanon
Township, Connecticut.
iv.
Jabez Fitch, born April 1672.
v.
Anne Fitch, born Abt. April 16, 1675.
vi.
Nathaniel Fitch, born October 1679.
vii.
Joseph Fitch, born November 1681; died May 09, 1741 in Lebanon, Ct.;
married Sarah Mason November 02, 1703.
viii.
Eleazer Fitch, born May 14, 1683 in Norwich, Ct.; died June 04, 1748;
married Martha Brown.