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

GENEALOGY. 29
lished his residence. His house, however, and part
of his farm, was south of the boundary of Coven-
try, as first established, and was alleged to be with-
in the tract reserved by Joshua for his sons, and
was conveyed by Abimeleck, the last surviving
son, to Major John Clark and Rev. Thomas Buck-
ingham, of Saybrook. In May, 1721, Major Clark
brought an action in the Superior Court of Hart-
ford County to recover possession. The case was
obstinately contested on both sides, and in March,
1722, judgment was given for plaintiff, and execu-
tion granted for costs, amounting to £14 13s.
Capt. Fitch was obstinate—it was returned unsatis-
fied, and he was committed to Hartford Prison.
His neighbors at Hop River, "the Mile and a Quar-
ter," Lebanon and Coventry, were indignant, and
similar action was threatened against some of
themselves—there was, indeed, scarcely a farm in
that region over which there was not two or three
conflicting titles. They resolved on a demonstra-
tion. On Monday afternoon, October 22, 1722, a
party from Hop River, and some from (East)
Windsor, about fifty in all, crossed the Hartford
ferry and marched to the jail to demand the im-
mediate release of Capt. Fitch. The jailor refused
compliance—but a battering-ram was soon found