Jeremiah Fitch, Half of his Cemetery Stone

Trying to find a certain cemetery stone in this small cemetery could be a hassle, if you didn't know where to look. This past Saturday, I was very lucky for the following three reasons. First, the leaves hadn't emerged, thus there were very few shadows. Although, I've been here many times, this was my first visit in early Spring. Second, this is a very popular tourist spot, many school groups, scout troops and regular tourists go through here to see where Paul Revere was buried, and other well-known people. Third, if you don't know where to look, it could be a problem, there is nobody to help you. However, I knew exactly where to look, thanks to a map I recently located online. I did a post, so you can find if your family member is buried in Boston.
SEE: How Do You Find Your Ancestors in the Boston Cemeteries?

The Boston Athenaeum is on the left. The backs to the above buildings are not entrances.

Jeremiah Fitch

Born:  5 May 1621, England

Died:  3 May 1692, Boston, Massachusetts

Relationship: He is my 7th great-granduncle.

The sun was facing me, so my photos were rather dark. I lightened them quite a bit. You can see Jeremiah's stone from a distance, below. Tremont Street is in front.

Another day, lots of leaves and people.

How Do You Find Your Ancestors in the Boston Cemeteries?

The Granary Burying Ground, Boston, MA

How does somebody go about trying to find a person in this cemetery? The Granary Burying Ground is one of the oldest in the United States, and perhaps the most historic. What about in the other cemeteries in Boston? Recently I discovered my 7th great granduncle was buried here. This cemetery is well known to me, as I recently wrote a post about Louisa May Alcott's father being this cemetery, and I took the above photo for the post. http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2016/07/what-did-louisa-may-alcotts-father.html

How was I ever going to find my Jeremiah Fitch? Not by walking around all day, that's for sure But it did take me much of the morning to find the PERFECT site to help you discover if your family members are buried in Boston. And, I am happy I won't have to waste time among the tourists! A special map for the tourists is shown at the bottom of this post.

The instructions are very simple, so I hope my example and additional words make it easy for you. The first link is https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/historic-burying-grounds-initiative It brings you to Search Historic Headstones, a very long page.

The above is almost impossible to read, so go to the link to read about the two options. I used option 1, shown below. https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/search-historic-headstones

To see if your surname is in this database, use the drop-down feature for Last Name, and choose the cemetery, but if you don't know which one, all individuals with that surname will show up in any cemetery. Nice feature. Since I knew the cemetery name, in figure 2, I have several choices.

OPTION 1

https://www.cityofboston.gov/Parks/HBGI/search.asp

 FIGURE 1 (find surname in drop-down box, and choose cemetery)

FIGURE 2, with results

Once you find the name and correct cemetery, write down the location number. In my example, the G stands for the Granary Cemetery, so I only needed to remember  B713 for Jeremiah Fitch. Below is a listing of the cemeteries, to get the map, you need to scroll below to the Site Maps section. This is a very long page, so I had to break it into several screen shots.

The Site Maps section shows two choices for the Granary Burying Ground, a right and a left. I chose Right, and got a rather large image of part of the cemetery. Once enlarged, you can see all cemetery numbers, and the layout including the street, and where the Boston Athenaeum is located. See at the bottom for map.

https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/Granary%20Right_tcm3-27896.pdf

The first image is at 25% , and the 2nd at 67%

 The B section I am interested in, can be seen clearly below.

The initial website I found was at https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/historic-burying-grounds-initiative
From this, I found the other links. Additional information is available, such as HOURS.

Top Ten, Now Seven Brick Walls

Old brick walls coming down in Lowell, ma.

iF ANYBODY CAN SOLVE ANY OF THESE SEVEN (7) BRICK WALLS, I WILL PAY YOU $100. One person has already been paid.

PLEASE WRITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.


Adams, John (Parents needed)

Born abt 1757of Wintonbury (now Bloomfield), CT - Lexington, MA - Hamilton, NY - Elba, NY

In Lexington, MA during Revolutionary War

Died September 25, 1830, Elba, Genesee Co., New York

Married to Hannah Smith, dau. of Joseph Smith and Eunice Drake of  Windsor, CT

Farmer, Alexander “Alex” (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born March 05, 1814 in New York or Canada

Died January 27, 1864, Calhoun Co., Michigan

Married Huldah Lay abt 1833 in prob. Niagara Co., New York

Children 5 born bet. Niagara, NY and Leroy, Michigan

HAWLEY, BENJAMIN (Parents needed, no other information.) Solved by me, December 2017.

Born 1753,  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died 1831, Tompkins, Delaware Co., New York

Married February 05, 1778 to THEODOSIA FITCH at Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut  (Had 8 children)

HULL, NANCY (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born 1790, Woodbridge, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Married 1807 to JESSE WRIGHT, son of ASHER WRIGHT Prob. Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut

She and her husband both died February 07, 1878, one in New Haven, and the other in Killingworth

JAQUAYS, William (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born bet. 1784 – 1790, poss. CT or VT (No other information.)

Married Lucy Cross of Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut

Lucy died January 14, 1878 at Cowansville, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Children were: Louisa Jane / Elizabeth Jaquays, Thankful, Sarah, William Cross, and Harriet C. (all of Addison, Vermont and Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

JOHNSON ELIZABETH / BETSEY  (Father was William, need more information and her mother.) SOLVED, BY A RESEARCHER, AND I PAID HIM.

Born November 07, 1751, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Died March 19, 1799, Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire

Married October 21, 1773, DAVID MEAD / MEED at Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

(Two children born Lynn, one in New Ipswich, New Hampshire)

JOHNSON, LYDIA (Parents needed, no other information.)

Born Abt. 1822, Vermont

Died March 22, 1858, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Married WILLIAM CROSS JAQUAYS October 24, 1839 at Franklin Co., Vermont

MUNSON, ANNA (Maiden unknown.)

Born Abt. 1731, Died April 18, 1772, Plainview, Hartford Co., Connecticut

Married WAITSTILL MUNSON (They had 2 children, Esther and Anna.)

Richardson, Almira “Mira”  (Parents needed, no other information.) SOLVED BY USING THRULINES, by me, 3/4/19.

Born abt. 1798 of Orange, New Haven Co., Connecticut

She was adopted by John Byran.

Died April 22, 1861, New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Was married to Aaron Kilborn of Hamden Co., Connecticut

Wyckoff, Gerritje (No further information known.)

Died Abt 1725

Married JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS (his 1st wife of 4 years)

Had son, JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS born 1722 Readington, Somerset Co., New Jersey

Follow Friday -- Follow the Right Book and a Genea-Blogger Friend

When I posted my Surname Saturday on the Fitch Family in March, I was having some problems with the documentation taken from the book, Descendants of the Rev. James Fitch 1622-1702, Vol. 1, by John T. Fitch, published in 1997. I originally got the book from the New England Historic Genealogical Library (NEHGS) in Boston and was just now entering data obtained about seven years ago. But of course, I needed to see the book again, and that is when the problem came to light. There now was a Revised Volume I, in place of the original Volume 1 that I used!


Seems, the author decided, eight years after his first book, he needed a revised Volume 1.  I am not sure when NEHGS purchased the revised edition, but it has thrown my genealogy sourced page numbers out of whack. Is a reader going to notice that I used the original book or the revision, and if they do, and want to look at the book, are they going to be able to find it? When the author wrote in his Preface to the Second Edition that alert readers had, "pointed out numerous corrections in the original text." I thought, that doesn't sit well with me. He also wrote he"would not wait until this genealogy was perfected--that when I came to the conclusion that the manuscript was in reasonable and useful condition, I would commit it to print."


My Fitch records are now sourced with the original 1997 edition, and  I can't locate the "old" book I used anywhere near Massachusetts. But, it is at the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I need to compare the old with the new to get an idea of how some pages match up. My original source for Theodosia Fitch was on page 199 and now she is on page 221 in the revised 2003 book. Unfortunately, redoing page numbers for the entire Fitch line, consisting of over 100 names, will be a project for another time. Anybody trying to locate my noted pages had better be using version I, if they can find it.


Some of the additional sources the author used for page 218 were: "[6] IGI-5.0, Barbour Collection. [7] IGI-5.0, submitted record. [8] IGI-5.0, extracted marriage record. [9] LDS Pedigree Resource File, CD No. 36." What a disappointment, he did a revision to add these sources, what are they, where are they?


I knew Carol Bowen Stevens of Reflections from the Fence was at the Allen County Library and I "used" her services.  She pulled out the old version from the stacks, answered several questions as well as saying it had 548 pages. To compare, the new book at NEHGS has 667 pages. Big difference to a researcher.   If you ever get to "work" with Carol, you are in for a treat, as she is so funny.  Even during the heat of August, she managed to make me forget how miserable I was with this problem and the heat. Thank you Carol, and when are you going back?

Surname Saturday -- FITCH (two generations)

I chose the Fitch name (with Connecticut roots) today because I know another blogger shares the same surname, and I hope others do to. Two generations of my Fitch family are shown below, and those in green are my direct lines. I have this surname for five generations.

Two of my Fitch descendants are buried at Old Cemetery, Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.  James and Nathaniel tombstones may be seen on Find-A-Grave.

For additional information, please view page 328 of the google book, Connecticut historical collections: containing a general collection of ... By John Warner Barber

Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

1. THOMAS FITCH was born 1590, and died ABT JAN 1632/33. He married ANNE REEVE 8 AUG 1611 in Bocking, England. She was born 29 NOV 1590, and died 20 JAN 1684/85 in Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Children of THOMAS FITCH and ANNE REEVE were:

2 i. Thomas FITCH was born BEF 14 OCT 1612 in St. Mary's, Bocking, England, and died 1704 in Norwalk, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married Anna Stacia \ STACEY 1 NOV 1632 in St. Mary's, Bocking, England. He married Susannah (__) w\o Thomas FITCH ABT 1650. She died 8 JUL 1673 in Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
3 ii. John FITCH was born 10 JUN 1613 in Bocking, County Essex, England, and died 1666 in Braintree, County Essex, England.
+ 4 iii. JAMES FITCH was born 24 DEC 1622 in Bocking, County Essex, England, and died 18 NOV 1702 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut.
5 iv. Sarah FITCH was born 24 JUL 1631 in Bocking, County Essex, England. She married John BURR ABT 1673 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

4. JAMES FITCH (THOMAS FITCH1) was born 24 DEC 1622 in Bocking, County Essex, England, and died 18 NOV 1702 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Trumbull Cemetery (Ancient Grave Yard), Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Abigail WHITFIELD OCT 1648 in Norwich / Saybrook, Connecticut, daughter of Henry WHITFIELD and Dorothy SHEAFFE. She was born 1 SEP 1622 in Ockley, Surrey, England, and died 9 SEP 1659 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut. He married PRISCILLA MASON OCT 1664 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, daughter of JOHN MASON and ANN PECK. She was born OCT 1641 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 1711.

Children of JAMES FITCH and Abigail WHITFIELD were:

+ 6 i. James FITCH was born 2 AUG 1649 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 10 NOV 1727 in Canterbury, Windham Co., Connecticut.
7 ii. Abigail FITCH was born 6 AUG 1650 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 5 JUN 1687 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married John MASON ABT 1670 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, son of JOHN MASON and ANN PECK. He was born AUG 1646 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 18 SEP 1676 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut. She married John BUTTOLPH 27 JUN 1682, son of Thomas BUTTOLPH and Ann HARDING. He was born 28 FEB 1639/40 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, and died 14 JAN 1691/92 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
8 iii. Elizabeth FITCH was born 2 JAN 1650/51 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 7 JUL 1689 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. She married Edward TAYLOR 5 NOV 1674 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts.
9 iv. Hannah FITCH was born 17 SEP 1653 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 1697 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut. She married Thomas MIX 30 JUN 1677 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, son of Thomas MIX and Rebecca TURNER. He was born 30 AUG 1655 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 30 JUL 1706 in Stonington, New London Co., Connecticut.
10 v. Samuel FITCH was born MAR 1654/55 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 18 FEB 1724/25 in Prob. Preston, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Mary BREWSTER 28 NOV 1678 in New London / Norwich, Connecticut. She was born 10 DEC 1660 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 25 AUG 1751.
11 vi. Dorothy FITCH was born APR 1658 in Saybrook, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 28 JUN 1691 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Nathaniel BISSELL 4 JUL 1683 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

Children of JAMES FITCH and PRISCILLA MASON were:

12 i. Daniel FITCH was born 16 AUG 1665 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 3 JUN 1712. He married Mary SHERWOOD\SHERROD 7 MAR 1697/98 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut. She was born 1672 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, and died 16 SEP 1752 in Montville, New London Co., Connecticut.
13 ii. John FITCH was born JAN 1666/67 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 24 MAY 1743 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth WATERMAN 10 JUL 1695 in Norwich / Windham, Connecticut, daughter of Thomas WATERMAN and Miriam TRACY. She was born 6 AUG 1675 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, and died 24 JUN 1751 in Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut.
14 iii. Jeremiah FITCH was born SEP 1670 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 22 MAY 1736 in Coventry, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Ruth GIFFORD 4 JUN 1698. She was born 30 DEC 1676 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 1736 in Coventry, Tolland Co., Connecticut.
15 iv. Jabez FITCH was born APR 1672 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 22 NOV 1746 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. He married Elizabeth APPLETON 26 JUL 1704 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was born 23 APR 1682, and died 18 OCT 1765 in Portsmouth, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire.
16 v. Anne FITCH was born APR 1675 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 17 OCT 1715 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. She married Joseph BRADFORD 5 OCT 1698 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He was born 18 APR 1675 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts, and died 16 JAN 1746/47 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut.
+ 17 vi. NATHANIEL FITCH was born OCT 1679 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 14 MAY 1759 in Lebanon, New London, Connecticut.
+ 18 vii. Joseph FITCH was born NOV 1681 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 9 MAY 1741 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut.
19 viii. Eleazer FITCH was born 14 MAY 1683, and died 4 JUN 1748 in Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Martha BROWN, daughter of John BROWN and Anne MASON. She was born 20 NOV 1681 in Swansea, Massachusetts.