History of Fitchburg Part 18 Rufus Torrey 1865


It is the general report that the town was named in honor of
John Fitch, who was the first man on the committee appointed
to procure the act of incorporation, and was the same
individual taken captive by the Indians in 1747.  Some
people think that the town was named in honor of a
Col. Timothy Fitch, a wealthy merchant of Boston, who owned
extensive tracts of land in the town, and was considered, in
those dahys, as a man of "note and distinction."  It is true
that John Fitch, at this time was an extensive landholder,
and perhaps a man of some influence -- and he may have taken
an active part in getting the town incorporated.  Yet there
were many in the town who were held in highter estimation
than he.  Previous to this period, he seems to have been
elected to only three offices by the good people of
Lunenburg.  In 1738 he was chosen one of the "Hogge rieves;"
afterwards he was chose "to take care of Deer," and again
"to take care of fire and burn the woods."  These certainly
were not distinguished stations.  But whether the town was
named in honor of this individual, or of the above named
Col.  Fitch, is a point which will probably remain forever
in obscurity.  This is a circumstance not a little
surprising, when it is considered how recently the town
received its name, and that there are people now living who
remember the event perfectly well.

The act of incorporation, which the committee was so prompt
in procuring is as follows: --
     "Anno regni Regis Georgii tertii Quarto.

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of
Representatives, the inhabitants, with their lands, in the
westerly part of Lunenburg -- beginning, " &c. (Here follows
the boundaries of the town by "stakes and stones," which it
is not necessary to repeat) "be and hereby are set off and
erected into a separate town, by the name of Fitchburgh; and
that said town be invested with all the powers, privileges,
and immunities that other towns in this Province do, or may,
by law, enjoy; -- that of sending a Representative to the
General Assembly only excepted; -- and that the inhabitants
of said town shall have full power and right, from time to
time, to join with the said town of Lunenburg in the choice
of a Representative or Representatives and be subject to pay
their proportionable part of the charges, who may be chosen
either in the town of Lunenburg, or in the town of
Fitchburgh, in which choice they shall enjoy all the
privileges which by law they would have been entitled to if
this act had not been made; and the Selectmen of the town of
Lunenburg shall issue their warrant to one or more of the
constables of Fitchburgh, requiring them to notify the
inhabitants of the town of Fitchburgh of the time and place
of meeting for such choice; Provided, nevertheless, and be
it further enacted that the said town of Fitchburgh shall
pay their proportion of all town, county, and Province
taxes, already set on, or granted to be raised by, said town
of Lunenburg, as if this act had not been made;--

And be it further enacted -- That Edward Hartwell, Esq., be
and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant directed to
some principal inhabitant of said town of Fitchburg,
requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said
town qualified by law to vote in town affirs, to meet at
such time and place as shall therin be set forth, to choose
all such officers as shall be necessary to manage the
affairs of said town."

This bill passed the House Feb. 2d, 1764, and the Council on
the followihng day -- when it also received the assent of
the Governor.

(to be continued) -- the next section has a list of 44
entries similar to this -- "Ephraim Kimball lived where the
Storeys now live".  So get out your maps.  Available either
from:  or from
The City and the River by Doris Kirkpatrick available at
the:
 Fitchburg Historical Society
 50 Grove Street
 Fitchburg, Mass. 01240
(508) 345-1157

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