Background
He was the son of Governor Thomas Fitch, IV and Hannah Hall Fitch.
He was the son of Governor Thomas Fitch, IV and Hannah Hall Fitch.
He served as an officer in the French and Indian War, primarily in upstate New York, near Fort Crailo. Although he and his troops are widely believed to be the inspiration for the song, contemporary scholars now believe that its origins are at least twelve years earlier. During the French and Indian War, Fitch was the commander of four New England Regiments.
Tradition states that in 1755, Captain Fitch received the song as a joke from a British surgeon, Doctor Richard Shuckburgh, making Fitch the original "".
Fitch"s grave marker states that he is the inspiration for the song "" The marker claims that Captain Fitch had assembled his company of recruits at the Fitch homestead in Norwalk at the beginning of the French and Indian War. Concerned about the recruits" appearance and lack of uniforms, Fitch"s sister Elizabeth presented each man with a chicken feather for their hats that would present the image of uniformity.
When entering West Albany with feathers in their hats and unpolished clothing, their appearance caused Doctor Shuckburgh, a British surgeon, to write verses mocking Fitch and his men as "s and Macaronies". However, after the successful campaigns at Ticonderoga and Crown Point in 1759, the sentiment had changed to become more favorable.
By the time Fitch had left the service three years later, he had the rank of Senior Colonel, and was in command of sixteen regiments.
After that conflict, Thomas, V returned to Norwalk. He was a prominent resident during and after the American Revolution. He served as a town councilman.
He was, along with Thaddeus Betts, in the first delegation from Norwalk to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1776.
He helped with the reconstruction efforts after the burning of Norwalk in 1779. He died on January 16, 1795 and was buried in the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery.
Norwalk historian, Gloria Stewart claims that eighteenth century documents available from the Connecticut state archives dispute the identity. One document is a bill for work copying and sending letters for the Connecticut General Assembly.
The other is a 1775 document written by Fitch stating that he resigned his commission because of rheumatism that he had for twenty years.