Thomas Fitch IV | |
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![]() The table tomb of Thomas Fitch in East Norwalk Cemetery
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29th colonial governor of Connecticut | |
In office 1754–1766 |
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Preceded by | Roger Wolcott |
Succeeded by | William Pitkin |
Member of the House of Representatives of the Connecticut Colony representing Norwalk |
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In office May 1726 – October 1726 Serving with James Lockwood |
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Preceded by |
Joseph Platt, |
Succeeded by |
Joseph Platt, |
In office May 1727 – October 1727 Serving with James Lockwood |
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Preceded by |
Joseph Platt, |
Succeeded by |
Joseph Platt, |
In office May 1729 – October 1729 Serving with James Lockwood |
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Preceded by |
Joseph Platt, |
Succeeded by |
Joseph Platt, |
In office May 1730 – October 1730 Serving with Joseph Birchard |
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Preceded by |
Joseph Platt, |
Succeeded by |
Joseph Platt, |
Member of the Connecticut General Assembly Council of Assistants | |
In office 1734–1746 |
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Personal details | |
Born | c. 1699 Norwalk, Connecticut Colony |
Died | July 18, 1774 Norwalk, Connecticut Colony |
Resting place | East Norwalk Historical Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut |
Alma mater | Yale College |
Profession | lawyer |
Thomas Fitch IV (c. 1699 – July 18, 1774) was governor of the Connecticut Colony from 1754 to 1766.
Fitch was born, probably at Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of Thomas Fitch III (1675–1731), an investor in the Equivalent Lands and his first wife, Sarah Boardman Fitch. He graduated from Yale in 1721 then went on to obtain a master's degree. Fitch married Hannah Hall in 1724. The couple had several children, the first Thomas Fitch, V, was born in 1725. Thomas Fitch IV served as Norwalk Justice of the Peace, Deputy and Assistant to the Connecticut General Assembly, Deputy Governor, Chief Justice (to the Connecticut Superior Court), and finally Governor of the Colony of Connecticut.
Fitch died July 18, 1774. He is buried in the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery.
The Fitch house was partially burned during the "burning of Norwalk" raid carried out by William Tryon and British troops in July 1779 and only one wing of the house was left standing. Fitch descendants lived in the rebuilt house until 1945. In 1956 the Fitch house was relocated to make way for the construction of the Connecticut Turnpike. It stands today as part of the Mill Hill Historic Park in Norwalk next to the Green.