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Governor Fitch died July 18, 1774, in the 78th year of his age. Was buried at Norwalk. His residence is still standing, having received some alterations. The inscription on his tombstone is as follows:

"The Honorable Thomas Fitch, Esq. Eminent and dis "tinguished among mortals for great abilities, large acquire "ments, and a virtuous character; a clear, strong, sedate "mind, and an accurate, extensive acquaintance with law "and civil government; a happy talent of presiding, close "application and strict fidelity in the discharge of import. "ant trusts, no less than for his employments by the voice "of the people in the chief offices of State, and at the head "of the Colony. Having served his generation by the will "of God, fell asleep July 18th, Anno Domini, 1774, in the "78th year of his age."

The descendants of the Governor, like those of his broth ers, have to a great extent, adopted the professions of law, medicine and divinity, and have intermarried with most of the prominent families in Connecticut. The Rev. Moses Dickinson, who preached the funeral sermon of the Gov ernor, was from New Jersey, graduated at Yale College in 1717, was installed pastor of the first Church of Christ in Norwalk in 1727. Was a minister 51 years; died May 1, 1778, aged 83.

Among the descendants of Joseph Fitch, of Norwalk, who was one of the great uncles of Governor Fitch, was John Fitch, the inventor of the steamboat, who was born in East Windsor, Conn., January 21, 1743, and was buried at Bards. town, Ky.

PROCLAMATION FOR A FAST IN 1756.

From the "Ilistorical Magazine," Vol. 9, p. 214. WE have been handed by our esteemed friend, HON. JOHN FITCH, of the City of New York, a lineal descendant of the old Norwalk Governor, the following loyal Proclamation to the good people of the Colony of Connecticut. The "original document" is a curiosity, and is, of course, a carefully preserved and much cherished memento in the Records of the State of Connecticut:

"BY THE HONOURABLE

"THOMAS FITCH, Esq.;

"Governor of his Majesty's English Colony of Connecticut, "in New England, in America.

"A PROCLAMATION

"For a day of public Fasting and Prayer.

"CONSIDERING the manifest Tokens of divine Dis"pleasure against our Nation, and Land, in permitting "them to be engaged in a dangerous WAR, with a very "powerful Enemy, the Seat of which is so much in "America; and the distressing calamities attending it; the Advantages the Enemy have been allowed to gain over us, not only by destroying the frontier Towns, and Settle"ments, Killing and Captivating great Numbers of our Soldiery and Inhabitants; but even taking some of our strong Holds and Fortresses, and thereby Strengthening "themselves with much of our Artillery, war like Stores "and Provisions. Considering also that our military Pre"parations and Attempts, for securing the British Interest, "and Safety of this Land, have not hitherto been successful "according to our Hopes against the encroaching and bar"barous Enemy Whereby our Treasure has been greatly "Exhausted, and the Land much weakened. Copsidering

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"likewise the Sickness sent into the Army this present Year; and that under all these Distresses, it hath pleased "a righteous GOD to cut short so much of the former Har"vest; and many other Tokens of divine Displeasure;

whereby we are admonished to humble ourselves before a "holy GOD, from whom all our afflictions come, and on "whom we are constantly dependent for Help and for Sal"vation.

"I have therefore thought fit, by and with the Advice "of the Council, and at the desire of the Representatives "in General Court assembled, to appoint, and do hereby "appoint Thursday, the seventh day of October next, to "be religiously Observed as a Day of public Fasting, and Prayer throughout this Colony, earnestly exhorting both Ministers, and People in their religious Societies, deeply "to humble themselves before a Righteous GOD, and unfeignedly to repent of all those Sins, and Iniquities, whereby the LORD is provoked to Anger against us.

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"And to offer up fervent Prayers and Supplications to "the LORD of Hosts, that he would protect and defend our "Nation; bless the King's Majesty, and all the Royal

Family; direct the King's Councils; go forth with his "Fleets, and Armies: Crown them with Victory and Success; and bring our Enemies to just and reasonable Terms "of Peace; that he would take care of us in this Land, "bless the several Governments in it; protect our Sea"Coasts, and defend our frontier Towns, and Settlements; "that He would be with our Army, preserve them from "Sickness, save them from the Sword of the Enemy, cover "their Heads on the Day of Battle, and Crown them with Victory and Success; And that GOD would restore Peace "to our Borders; save us from those desolating Judgments we have reason to fear; pour out upon us a Spirit of "Prayer, Reformation, and Amendment, and excite us to "suitable Behaviour under all the Dispensations of His "Providence and Grace.

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"And all servile Labour is hereby strictly forbidden on "said day.

"Given under my Hand at the Council Chamber in

แ Hartford, this Eighteenth Day of September, in the
"thirtieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord
"GEORGE the Second, of Great Britain, France and
"Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, &c. Annoque
"Domini, 1756.

"GOD save the KING."

"T. FITCH."

GOVERNOR THOMAS FITCH was the father of COLONEL THOMAS FITCH, who commanded the four New England Regiments in the French and Indian War; and in derision of these four Regiments, the now famous "Yankee Doodle" was composed and sung, at the time they were in camp on the banks of the Hudson River, at Greenbush, opposite Albany.

These Regiments performed their full share in the attack on Fort Ticonderoga, and suffered a greater loss, in proportion to their numbers, than the British Army.

With respects of

John Fitch

Fytch

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