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the aforesaid passage and path down along to the Sea. And the aforesaid Land bounded on the South with the Sea; and on the North the Moehakes Country; with all the Islands, Trees, pastures, meadinge, water, water courses, Rights, members, and Appurtenances whatsoever, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, and quietly and peaceably injoy, all the aforesaid lands, &c. * * * unto the aforesaid Richard Web, &c. * * and to their heyers forever. And the aforesaid Runckinheage and Piamikin, and Magise, and Townetom, Winnepucke, Magushetowes, Conkuskenow, Wampasum, Sasseakun, Runckenunnutt, Pekessake, Shoakecum, Soanamatum, Prodax, Matumpun, Cockenoe-deLonge-Island, Do by these presents, acknowledge to have received the aforesaid Thirtie fathum of Wampum, &c. * * in full satisfaction. In witness whereof the above said parties have for themselves, and every of them, sett to their hands the day and year above written to this present Indenture. Signed and delivered in the presence of

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BY THE HONORABLE

THOMAS FITCH,

Governor of His Majesty's English Colony of Connecticut, in New England. A PROCLAMATION

FOR A DAY OF PUBLIC FASTING AND PRAYER.

CONSIDERING the scorching Drought the Summer past: The early frost in Autumn, whereby the latter Harvest, in various parts, was cut short: The close, severe and expensive, Winter following, whereby our substance hath been still more diminished: and other corrective Dispensations of Divine Providence, wherein it hath pleased Almighty God, to testify his Righteous Displeasure against a sinful and unthankful People: That Carelessness and indifference about the important concerns of Religion: That Profaneness, Uncharitableness, Uncleanness, disregard of the Lord's Day, and the special duties of it, and other vices and Immoralities visible among us which are so highly provoking to a Holy God; and which have a threatening aspect on the land: Considering also our Dependence on Him, whose open hand satisfieth the desire of every living thing; for deliverance from evils, and for the Bestowment and Continuation of all the favors we need; whereby we are admonished, and called upon, to humble ourselves before God, and to turn unto Him, with all our hearts; and by Fasting and Prayer, to wait upon Him for the Blessings of His Goodness:

I have thought fit, by and with the Advice of the Council, to appoint, and do hereby appoint that Wednesday the Seventeenth day of April next, be observed throughout this Colony, as a Day of public Fasting and Prayer; exhorting both Ministers and People, of every Denomination, with becoming Seriousness, Devotion, and Solemnity, to unite in keeping said FAST; abasing themselves before the Most High, under an affecting sense of the Rebukes and Chastisements of Heaven, wherein it hath pleased the Lord in Righteousness to visit his People; And with full purpose of Heart to turn unto him by Repentance and Amendment of Life.

Likewise to offer up devout and fervent prayers to Almighty God, for our Sovereign Lord King GEORGE the Third, for our Gracious Queen CHARLOTTE, their Royal Highnesses GEORGE Prince of Wales, the Princess DOWAGER of Wales, and all the Royal Family: That God would be pleased, from Time to Time, to direct the King's Councils; succeed his Negociations; grant his Favours and Blessings to the British Dominions in America; smile on this Colony; give us Favour at the Court of Great Britain, and bless our Agency there; in much Mercy continue to us our most valuable privileges and Immunities, both Civil and Religious, intire; dispose his People to a thankful Improvement of them; bless our civil Adminis trations; abundantly succeed the Means of Grace and Education; pour out the efficatious Influences of the Divine Spirit more plentifully upon us; avert those Evils our Sins have deserved; grant us a Spirit of Repentance and Reforma. tion; favour us with Health in our Habitations; advance the Springing of the Year; cause the Earth to yield its Increase; save from Blasts, Droughts, and other desolating Judgments; order the Seasons in Mercy; reserve for us the appointed Weeks of Harvest; bless us in the Labour of

our Hands, and in all our Interests, and crown the Year with Goodness; grant that the Knowledge of the true God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, may be more extensively promulgated through this Land, and be received in the Purity thereof; and that the Lord our God would incline and enable us to improve the various Dispensations of his Providence, to his own Honour and Glory.

AND ALL SERVILE LABOUR IS FORBID ON SAID DAY.

GIVEN under my Hand in Norwalk, the Eleventh Day
of March, in the Fifth Year of the Reign of Our
Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third of Great
Britain, France, and Ireland, King Defender of the
Faith, &c., Annoque Domini 1765.

THO'S FITCH.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

NEW LONDON: Printed by Timothy Green, Printer to the Colony of Connecticut, 1765.

Sir Thomas Fitch, of Eltham, in Kent County, England, was created a Baronet by the King of England, by Patent No. 905. He was a Judge of much distinction, and was mentioned as such by Sir William Blackstone.

William Fitch, a descendant of Baron Fitch, was for a long time a member of Parliament.

Thomas Fitch, lineal descendant of Baron Fitch, died in Braintree, Essex County, England, leaving a widow and several sons, who came to this country between the years 1634 and 1638, having sold the family estate, which was situated

at Birch, Essex County. They arrived in this country as follows: Jeremiah Fitch, 1634; John Fitch and James Fitch, in the ship "Defiance," and landed at Boston, Mass., 1635; Richard Fitch, 1635; Joseph Fitch, 1635; Samuel Fitch and Zechery Fitch, 1635; Thomas Fitch, 1639.

Thomas Fitch and his brother Joseph Fitch, settled in Norwalk, Conn. Were planters, and with their neighbors, purchased a tract of land of Runckingheage and other Indian chiefs, by deed dated February 15, 1651. In 1665, Thomas Fitch was the wealthiest citizen of Norwalk. From him, in a line of three generations, each bearing the same surname, descended Thomas Fitch, who held many positions of trust, and was Judge, Chief-Justice, Lieut-Governor and Governor 46 years, being Governor of the Colony from 1754 to 1766. He graduated at Yale College in 1721. Was an eloquent speaker, an accomplished scholar, able Jurist, an elegant, accomplished, as well as a Christian gentleman. Was appointed by the General Assembly to revise and remodel the laws of Connecticut, which were considered by English jurists as the best code of Colonial laws that had ever been published.

He held the pen of a ready writer. His proclamations are considered fine specimens of State papers, the purity of language of which our modern Governors would do well to imitate. His correspondence with the Governor of the State of New York, as will be seen by reference to the Documentary and Colonial History, was ably conducted, and like other Colonial Governors, affixed, as a seal to most of his correspondence and State papers, the coat of arms of his family.

He left a large family of children. Colonel Thomas Fitch, who commanded the four New England Regiments of whom Yankee Doodle was composed and sung, being the eldest; one of his daughters, Mary Fitch, married Moses Rogers, one of their descendants being the elegant and accomplished Mrs. Col. Wm. P. Van Rensellaer, of the City of New York.

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