Descendants of Robert Fitts

Our knowledge of the Fitts family is based upon the research of Edwin Fitts of New Orleans, Louisana and James Harris Fitts of Tuccaloosa, Alabama as reflected in “Clark Westward Ho” by Everett Clark, 1979: p109-111. They report that the family of Fitts is of great antiquity and was a family of wealth and position. We commence our lineage with the 16^th century family which was located in or near the town of Tavistock, Devonshire. One Robert Fitts was born ca 1550 +/- and died ca 1574 at age of 24 years. The name and ancestry of his wife is not known.

Walter Fitts, the son of Robert Fitts, was born prior to 1574 and died after ca 161x, both at Tavistock, Devonshire. Walter Fitts was married prior to 1600 and had four children all born in Tavistock, i.e., Robert Fitts who was born ca 1600 and died 09 May 1665 in Salisbury, Ma; Richard Fitts who was born ca 161x and died 02 December 1677 in Newbury, Ma.; William Fitts of which there is no knowledge; and and a daughter Rachel of which more later. We must relate first to son Robert Fitts, born ca 1600, to find the answer relative to our Rachel Fitts.

Robert Fitts was twice married. He first married, in England prior to 1629, Ann Barnes of Norfolkshire. She died prior to ca 1632 at which time Robert married, as his 2^nd wife, Grace Lord who was the sister of Robert Lord of Ipswich, Ma. Robert, with his brother Richard Fitts, came to New England, according to tradition, about 1635. Richard married, on 08 October 1654 in Newbury, Ma , Sarah Ordway, sister of James Ordway. Robert Fitts was on the tax rolls in Salisbury, Ma. in 1650 and owned a share in Plum Island in 1664. Robert was a planter and owned property in Salisbury. He removed to Ipswich in 1652. Robert’s will was made 05 January 1663 and proved 26 June 1665. Of significance, is the statement in the will, “I give to my son Abraham the land in Salisbury which he purchased of his brother “William Barnes”. It would seem that Robert Fitts had married Ann Barnes the sister of William Barnes who married Rachel Fittle, the sister of Robert Fitts. Unfortunately, there are no “hard records” to validate this relationship; but the conclusion is that William Barnes wife was Rachel Fitts; Clarence A. Torrey in his “New England Marriages prior to 1700" acknowledges this potential.

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Rachel Fitts, the daughter of Walter Fitts, was born ca 161x at Tavistock, Devonshire and died 09 February 1697 at Amesbury, Ma. She married, in 1639 at Salisbury, Ma., William Barnes who was born ca 1610 in Norfolkshire and died 14 March 1697 at Amesbury, Ma. He was maybe the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Bew Barnes.

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