Genealogy of the Fitch family in North America - citizen hylbom blog

APPENDICES. 115
ticut, from 1754-61), appended to a document of the date of
1757. Its heraldic description is as follows : Yert
a chevron
between three leopard's heads, or, crest a leopard's head ca-
bassed, or in the mouth a sword proper hilt gules. "These
are given by Burke, as those of Fitch of Headall and Woodham,
Walter Co., Essex and Eltham, and Mount Mascul Co., Kent.
Morant states that the Fitch family bought several estates in
the Co. Essex, about the middle of the 16th century. One
branch settled at Brazen Head, in Lindrell ; the other and
principal branch, at little Canfield, a few miles distant. (Hist.
Essex. 11. 446. 463.) A branch of the Fitch family was set-
tled at Bocking, as early at least, as 1569, when John Fitch,
gentleman, held the manor of Boones an messuage of Lyons
in that Parish. (Morant, 11. 387. (Heraldic Journal XIII. ,4(5-47.)
The Mason arms, here given, are taken by permission of
Mr. Theo. W. Mason, of Brooklyn, N. Y., from a copy of an
ancient painting on parchment, in the possession of Mr.
William Fitch, of Norwich Town, Conn. They are described
by Burke, as "Yert two lions combatant, or, Crest a mermaid
proper."
The seal of Major Mason given on this page, is copied from
an impression found on some of his letters, now preserved in
the Massachusetts, and also Connecticut Archives, and the
arms there depicted arc probably those of his second wife
Peck. (See Heraldic Journal, xiii., 41-12, 1866.)