This is a first for me - Angelfire



The first issue seems to have been a success. Based on the response I received from several of you. I’ll try to keep this going as long as I have material.

Brady Fitts

(bfitts9776@).

Where did the FITZ / FITTS ancestors come from?

Let's look at John Fitz and his family. In the first article we included some back ground on John Fitz. This information has been taken from two sources. “Fitts Families (Fitts-Fitz-Fittz) A Genealogy” by Sylvia Fitts Getchell and “Genealogy of the Fitts or Fitz Family in America” by James Harris Fitts

It has been established that John was a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn of London. He more than likely died in Tavistock at Fitzford, before 1476.

There is no reference to his wife that has been found so far. The following is a list of his possible children:

John Fitz Junior

Walter Fitz

Roger Fitz

Marion Fitz

Joane Fitz

I list Joane based on others listing as a possible member of this family. "Joane married Robert Charnedon. Under miscellaneous early reference notes she is listed as Joane, daughter of "John Fitz of Benethwood." She might be of an age to be the daughter of John of Tavistock. She is not mentioned in the Fitz lineage for Fitz of Tavistock in Vis. County Devon. However, Neither is Marion who is a proven daughter by her mention in Roger's will

John Fitz Junior: Inherited the estate of John Fitz of Tavistock. Upon his dead he did not have any children to leave the estate with. So Fitzford, was turn inherited by Walter. It should be noted that John junior served as feoffee of the Parish lands in 1469, John senior had also been named to this position. John junior heirs were his two brothers, Walter, Roger and Walter's son John Fytz.

If you have any corrections or additions please let me know.

Next issue we will cover Walter’s family.

John (Tandy) Walker FITTS, Sr.

What do we know about him? Who are the parents of John? Could they be Robert Walker and Elizabeth Stanton of Halifax County, VA? What do we know about John Walker Fitts, Sr. We can assume he was in Halifax County, VA. from 1787 to 1796. This is based on deeds recorded in Halifax County deed books. If the Tandy in the deed listed below is John, it would look like he is getting ready to leave Halifax County base on the items he sold.

“Halifax Co. VA Deed Book 15, 1790-1793, T.L.C. Genealogy, Miami Beach, FL: p.101 5/7/1793 from Tandy Fitts of Halifax to Joseph Glenn of Person Co. NC for 60 pounds which said Fitts owes Simeon Glenn of Halifax and for the further sum of 5 shillings to Fitts in hand paid by sd. Joseph Blenn, Fitts has granted to sd. Joseph Glenn, forever, the tract of land and plantation wereon the sd. Fitts now lives, containing about 400A, being the land which the sd. Fitts purchased of James A. Glenn by Halifax deed. Also 1 wagon, 5 wagon horses belonging thereto and now usually worked therein, 10 cattle marked with a smooth crop on the right ear, 3 beds & furniture, 16 hogs marked same as the cattle.sign Tandy "X" Fitts, recorded 7/22/1793.” Reported by Judy at Stellva@.

a

John (Tandy) Walker, Sr. and Mary Ann (Pass) Fitts Family

Was Woodson Pass Fitts, born 22 Aug 1787, the son of John and Mary Ann? His name also shows up as William Woodson Pass Fitts.

Clarence Winfree on 6 Feb 2001 quoted from Winfree Bible records, the following: “Tabbitha Winfree married William Woodson Pass Fitts 14 Nov 1811. He was born 22 August 1789 Halifax Co., VA. His mother was recorded as being Mary Ann Pass.”

This may be where Woodson’s middle name of Pass came from.

The following may offer a connection to the Woodson Family. Annette Edgeworth-Smith (asmith2931@) reported this.

“Walker Fitts (son of Tandy Fitts) married Anna P. Christian, the g.g.g.grandaughter of Dr. John Woodson who came to Va. in 1619. There may be several intermarriages.”

One thing that is strange, John & Mary Ann apparently gave three of their sons the same first name. Several family researchers have reported this. Most of the time the repeating of a name would mean that a child had died, but not in this case. In my research of Walker, I have yet to find him listed as William Walker. True there is a W.W. Fitts but, this may be William Washington Fitts the son of Cornelius and Sara (Randolph) Fitts.

The following is how some list the brothers:

1. William Woodson Pass Fitts born 1787, died abt. 1850

2. William Walker Fitts born Abt. 1790, died abt 1854

3. William Henry Tolliver Fitts born Between 1790-1800, died abt 1880

In the 1810 census of Virginia the family is listed as:

John Fitts Sr.

Woodson

Mary

John Jr.

Walker

Tandy

Note that the census did not list a William Woodson or a William Walker. Where is William H. Tolliver Fitts who was born between 1796 and 1800? Is this his family?

Mary Ann (Pass) Fitts Notes:

In the book “The Official History of Elbert County 1790-1935” by John McIntosh on pg. 185. There is a list titled Elbert County Revoluntionary Soldiers and Their Widows (Partial List) in which a Mary Fitts is included. Is this our Mary Ann? A Mary Fitts drew lots in the Elbert County drawing of 1821. According to Olivia A. Bernsen “By 1832 she had acquired property in the Cherokee Territory which was later Union County, GA near Blairsville, GA. There is in possession of the researcher copies of two land records dated 11 June 1836 and 15 May 1837.” In my research I find that in the GA Land Lottery, 1838. Lottery No. 26 Seventeenth District, First Section, Cherokee, Mary Fitts a resident of Nellum’s, Elbert County was listed as a widow of a revolutionary soldier and drew lots.

Questions, Questions:

John Henry Fitts

What do we know about John Henry? Who was his parents and where did he come from? We know of him from researchers in Kentucky.

Is William H. Tolliver and Mary M. (Christian) Fitts son John Fitts born Abt. 1825 the above John Henry Fitts???

John Henry Fitts Email Responce:

Brady, My g-g-grandfather John Henry Fitts from Lyon County, KY (Eddyville) was born 1843 or maybe 1845. He died 1928 and is buried in Lyon County Ky. The John you mention as being born 1825 is not the John from Lyon Coutny.I know for a fact he was born 1843-1845. He served in the Union Army enlisted at Princeton, KY in 1863 and mustered out at Bowling Green, KY in DEC. 1864. He was injured and received a pension. I have his army records.

Lela Winfree in Warren Mi. has the Winfree Family Bible and listed is Tabbitha Winfree marrying William Woodson Pass Fitts Nov. 14.1811 and it list all their children’s names and date of birth.Woodson died in Eddyville 1850. Tandy Walker Fitts is his son and he was born Mar. 4.1823 and died 1896/1900. By the way, Lela has printed a book, which I have.

So I am still searching John Henry’s parents. Was his mother one of Woodson daughters or could he be the son Woodson and an Elizabeth Whitley Paty who Woodson married?

Let me know your thoughts.

WNEI105@

Robert Fitts

Is Robert Fitts of Virginia and Robert Fitts of Ipswich, Massachusetts the same person? Did Robert of VA leave a wife, children and plantation to take another wife and move to New England and start over? The question of checking the DNA of both the southern and northern branch of the Fitts to see if they are kin. One problem with this is that the southern branch cannot at this time prove their lineage. It could start with Robert, Thomas or Cary Fitts who where in Virginia in the 1600s. Both Robert and Thomas arrived in the new world in 1623/4 just after the Indian up rising in VA.

Brady, the only thing that I have on Thomas, Alice & Carey Fitts are about what you have from the various sources that you mention in your msg. I do have a question though? In Boddie's ref: "Colonial Surry", pg. 30, "There were thirty-three persons shown in the census of 1623 as living on the Surry side of the river at that time. Including the following, (ref to List of Immigrants to America, Hotten, p 178), Thomas Fitts, Alice Fitts. Was this an inventory of survivors from the Indian attack & massacre that took place in 1622 as it says in a previous paragraph on same page? On pg 40 of Coldham's ref: 1624, In James Island, LIVING (key word) Robert Fitts, Fitts' wife, along with a number of other's. Next paragraph, Over the River,

LIVING: Thomas Fitts and Alice Fitts. This leads to me to believe the possibility that they were there in the Jamestown area before the Indian massacre of 1622.

I do not believe that anyone mention above were living in Virginia at the time of the Indian uprising. I believe that the word LIVING means that these people were living on James Island and across the river in Surry. Does not mean that they had lived through the Indian uprising. Most reference books have Robert and Thomas arrived in Jamestown during 1623. Anna and Alice arrived a year later.

I will give the following as my reference:

“Ship Passenger Lists: The South (1538-1825)” by Carl Boyer pg. 26-43

“Lists of Living & Dead in Virginia, Feb 1623” Colonial Records of Virginia by R. F. Walker pg. 45-46

“Original Lists of Persons of Quality” by John Camden Hotten pg. 178-179

“Census of Inhabitants. Cradle of the Republic: Jamestown and James River” by Lyon Gardiner Tyler pg. 104

“The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607-1660: A Comprehensive Listing" by Peter Wilson Coldham pg. 40

Reference to Carry, Cary and Carey:

“Cavaliers & Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants” by Nell Marion Nugent pg. 178, 355 & 424. Earliest date here was 1648.

It very well could be that Carey was from New England. Getschell makes mention in her book that there may have been a close relationship of some kind between the NE & Southern Fitts'. It also is a very good possibility that Thomas & Robert Fitts were brothers especially if they were on the same ship coming from England. What about the Robert Fitts, 18 years old landing in Barbados in 1635? From my understanding, I have read, Barbados was debarkation point for either Virginia or the Northern colonies. Could this be Robert Fitts that landed in Salisbury, Ma?

Doug Fitts in Mt Ida, Arkansas

EMAIL:

I believe most of you received the following from Doug Fitts but, if not I’m printing it here with my response.

Hi Ya-all,

Great idea Brady, it’s about time someone in this FITTS family took the Bull by the Horns. I commend you.

All is not lost with this DNA thing. More and more families are starting to look into DNA testing to prove their relationships. From my understanding, male descendants carrying that particular surname (FITTS) can be tested to prove the relationship. We FITTS descendants from the South know that we are connected most likely to one of 3 known Fitts/Fitz families that landed in the Jamestown, VA area in the 17th century. Even though we cannot prove our lineage to any one of these FITTS families now, we male FITTS' could have our DNA recorded and if there is a match between any of us, say more than 6; we would be of the same family. The New England FITTS' could do the same thing. Then the two, N.E. & the South DNA's could be checked against each other. That would prove the connection one way or the other.

DNA is checked by comparing our genes on structures called “chromosomes.” These chromosomes usually come in pairs, one inherited from the mother and one from the father. Generally we have 23 pairs, 22 of which are very similar (homologous). It is the 23 pair that is made up 2 very different pair, the “X” and “Y” chromosomes. The “Y” chromosome in every living male, in the family line, will resemble that of his father, grandfather, g-grandfather etc. and cousins of any degree who also have the same male ancestors will have the same marker. This is why more and more famlies are looking into DNA checking.

The problem with this DNA test is that there may be a relationship with N E and the South before in England, not because of the Robert FITTS controversy, Ma. & VA.

This is true. We may not be able to prove anything more than we are cousins.

My take of all this is that we FITTS' from the South are related to the Fitts' from the North, but not necessarily Robert FITTS that was in VA first and then moving onto MA 20 years later. The 2 Robert Fitts' could have been related (cousins). I do not believe that the 2 Robert FITTS' are one in the same.

I agree that we are talking about two different men when we mention Robert of VA and Robert of MA. I do not see Robert of VA leaving Anna with family in VA and a working plantation, to go to New England to start a new. According to what we know of Robert of MA, he arrived about 1638 with his wife Grace and son Abraham. At that time Abraham was about a year old, which I believe indicates we have two different Roberts.

My take on John (Tandy) Walker Fitts; Before 1800 there were very few families that had the middle name, let alone 2 middle names. My ancestry on both sides, there is not one ancestor that has a middle name before 1800. I might be wrong, but I would say that John (Tandy) Walker Fitts is 2 different persons, brothers or father & son. There was a Walker family in New Kent Co, VA in the 17th century and also a Tandy Family, not in New Kent Co though? I see where Tandy & Walker are used often in later generations as given names. Could these have been family names passed on?

It may be that Tandy was a nickname given John. Tandy and Walker are two given names that have been passed down through the family. In emails with several members of the Walker Family I have found that they have as many 12 Tandy Walkers in their line, all over several generations. They didn’t indicate a connection with the Fitts Family.

Annette & I supposedly have a connection with the Johnson family, 17th century, in New Kent Co VA. The Walker surname is involved here. Johnson researchers are now involved in a DNA project to prove relationships with the Johnson name in the New Kent Co area & others in Va.

Have you ever been able to make a conclusive connection between the FITTS' in Halifax Co Va., John, Tandy, & Walker, with my Henry Fitts/Fitz's 1705 & 1734 in Princes George, Dinwiddie, Mecklenburg Counties VA, descendants moving onto Warren Co, NC and onto Ms territory? If you and my DNA's match I would say that the two lines were related.

I am not aware of conclusive connections between the FITTS' in Halifax Co Va., John, Tandy, & Walker, with my Henry Fitts/Fitz's 1705 & 1734 in Princes George County.

In an earlier msg. to you & Annette, I said I had some info about your Tandy & Walker Fitts. I have been trying to put together what I had, but am having trouble finding it again. I am not that well organized with my data & files, spread out all over the place.

I wish I had some old pictures that I could send. I do have a picture of my grandfather; Henry Bird Fitts 1858-1930, MD, commander in the USN, taken aboard ship with fellow officers in Alaska waters 1887. He was born in Petersburg, VA. His brother James Henry Fitts 1861-1893 has a picture in the Fitts genealogy by James Harris Fitts, pg. 158.

You do have a photo to send in, that of Henry.

I will look forward to more of your newsletter. I hope you get some good response.

Doug Fitts in Mt Ida, Arkansas

Don’t forget you are family so if you have photo of yourself or fathers, grandfathers, mothers, grandmothers and so on then you have photos. It would be great to share them but THAT IS UP TO YOU.

FITTS FAMILY PHOTOS

Thanks to JETaylor@worldnet., mark.lewis@ and sfbeck@

It took several tries before we got this photo.

This is George Washington Fitts

and 3rd wife, Paralee Porter.

The next three photos were submitted by

STELL VA@

[pic]

This is George Collins Fitts 1849-1914, son of Oliver Duke Fitts & Harriet Ann Collins.

[pic]

This is my grandfather, Robert Nicholson Fitts, 1881-1971, son of George Collins Fitts. This was taken about 1911

[pic]

This is another of Rev. Robert Nicholson Fitts it was taken when he pastored the Methodist Church on Ocracoke Island, NC about 1928

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