September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
FITCH, James (1649-1727) land speculator and magistrate whose father founded the town of Norwich in Connecticut in 1660. In 1680 and 1684 Owaneco, chief of the Mohegans, granted Fitch title to a large tract of land, the Quinebaug lands, in northeastern Connecticut. To his enemies he was "Black James" or the "Great land pirate," but he led a faction devoted to charter government and native right that helped mark the transition from Puritan commonwealth to provincial Yankee society. Manuscript Land Deed Signed "James Fitch Justice Quorum" 1p. large folio, Norwich, September 24, 1688, and reads in part: "…All Christian people unto whome these presents come John Geager of Norwich in the County of New London in his Majts Territories of New England send Greeting Know ye that the Sd John Gager for and in the consideration of the Good will and natural affection unto my loving son Samuel Gager of Norwich…give, grant fully freely & absolutely…pass over all my whole eight interest in & unto my house, barn, home, lot…" Additional signed by Stephon Gifford, Alice Fitch, and John Gayer. About VG. John Gager was a participant in the war with the Pequots, and for this he was awarded a land grant from the town of New London, of 200 acres east of the river. It was near the straits which is now part of Ledyard. John Gager moved there about the year 1650, and his first six children were born there. John Gager and his family later joined in the settlement of Norwich, Connecticut. His house lot in the new town bears the date of the oldest surveys November 1659. In the year 1674 and 1688, he was a constable in Norwich.
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