Robert Fitts, of Fittsford & Ipswich

Robert Fitts and his brother Richard emigrated to previous to 1639. Richard settled in Newbury, near Salisbury, and both were called planters in the records. Both Richard and Robert Fitts were men of high position and education. Their father Walter was a contemporary of Sir Francis Drake.

Source: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of ..., Volume 1 edited by William Richard Cutter page 465 Full text of "Genealogy of the Fitts Or Fitz Family in America" See other formats This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world's books discoverable online.

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The Family in the United States.

FIRST GENERATION.

The American ancestor of the family of Fitts or, Fitz, was Robert. who, with his wife, Grace D., was among the original settlers of Sal- isbury, Mass.

" At a Generall Court held at Boston, the 6th day of the 7th month, 1638, Mr. Bradstreet and associates are alowed (vpon their petition) to begin a plantation at Merrimack." In 1639, Winthrop says that another plantation was begun upon the north side of Merrimack, called Salisbury.

The record of land granted Robert Fitts is on page 21 of the early town records. "The first or original list of y* townsmen of Salisbury in y® booke of Records.

Rob. ffitU. [68 in all.]

This is a true copie as they were first listed in y® booke of Records. As attests ; Tho. Bradbury, rec'r."

The name " Robert Fitt, Planter,*' as he signed it, occurs in the Salisbury and the old Norfolk county records at subsequent dates as fol- lows : 1640, October; 1642, March 5; 1649. February 3 and April 27; 1650, December 25; 1652, July 18; 1657, April 7 and April 14; 1662, July 2.

About this time he removed with his family to Ipswich, where we find him Jan. 5, 1663, and again Dec. 22, 1664. He died at Ipswich, May 9, 1665, leaving, says Savage, •' a wife Grace and a son Abra- ham.. [t3.]"

His Will, dated at Ipswich, Jan. 5, 1663, was admitted to Probate, June 26, 1665. An inventory of his estate was returned Sept. 26, 1665, amounting to 230 £. Os. 4d. It has been said that four hun- dred pounds was about the value of the largest estates in New Eng- land in 1661.

His widow was at Ipswich, June 17, and Oct. 9. 1667, and where she died April 25, 1684. She was probably a second wife, since Abra- ham calls her ** mother-in-law." There are some indications that her maiden name was Towusend, since she *' appoints her loving brother, Robert Tounsend of Ipswich, her attorney in a suit against Edward Gove." One of the wives of Robert Fitts may have been a Barnes, since his Will mentions ** my brother, William Barnes."

Tradition says that previous to his going to Salisbury, Robert Fitts settled in Ipswich, to which plantation he came in 1635 from Fitz-ford,

2 The Family in the United States.

Tavistock, Devoa county, England. He was a man of education, of high social position, and of Puritan integrity.

" Sccufido die Septembris, 1635.

" Theis vnder uritten names are to be transported to St. Christopher's;

imbarqued in the William and John, — Rowland Langram, Mr.

have been examined by the Minister of Grauese^d, and tooke the oaths of Alleg. and Suprem : die et A^ p .

Robert Fitt, 18, [and others]."

Had he been in Virginia still earlier ?

Petition, June, 1628.

" Robert Fitt, Anne his wife, and Alice Harris, a poor widow, to the Privy Council. Have been 14 years planters in Virginia, and lately brought over 16 hogsheads of tobacco, for which they have not the means to pay custom. Pray for a warrant for the free discharge of the tobacco, to enable them and their families to return to their planta- tions."

State Papers, Colonial Series,

I. 2. " Richard Frrrs and Sara Ordwat was marryed Octobar 6th, 1654."

He was a kinsman of Robert, and settled first in Ipswich, and afler- ward in Newbury. She is supjiosed to have been a sister of James Oidway. who was born in Wales about 1620, taxed in Dover in 1649, and about that time moved to Newbury.

" Att the Gen*rall Court holden att New Towne, May 6th, 1635, Wes- sacumcon is allowed by the court to be a plantacon =^ # # here- after to be called Newberry." The name of Richard Fitts is in the list of 91 graaieeson the Proprietor's Book of Records. It also is found in town and connty records, 1642, Dec. 7 ; 1655, June 30 and Sept. 24 ; 1859, Mar. 25; 1661, May 16.

Richard Fitts, called *' planter," left no children. A son, however, of Samuel Symonds, Esq., town clerk, deputy governor, k^,, who is supposed by some to have had for his first wife the daughter of Gov. Winthrop, was named after him, Richard Fitts Symonds.

"Richard Fitts dyed Deoembar the 24, 1672. # # # Sarah, y* wife of Richard Fitts, dyed April 24, 1667." His Will, dated Dec. 2, 1672, was presented for Probate, Mar. 25, 1673. Inventory returned Mar. 25, 1673 — 164 £. 18 s. 6 d. He appointed his well bek>ved kinsman, Abvaham Fitt," executor, and gave him all his lands and bis personal estate.