Title:
'The Genealogie. Pedegree. or Lin'iall Descent. of Richard Fitch ...'
Level: Category
Miscellaneous
Level: Fonds
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS
Scope and Content:
Full title: 'The Genealogie. Pedegree. or Lin'iall Descent. of Richard Fitch. the Sonne and heir of Richard Fitch of Queens Colledge in Cambridge. Batchelor of Deuinitie. Drawne & Colected Oute of wills. Visitations. Ayncient Heralds Books. Churche noates. Records & other Venerable Proofes. Perused Examined. Iustified & Confirmed By Sr William Seger Knight alias Garter Principall Kinge of Arms & William Penson Esquier. alias Lankaster Herald of Armes & Testified By there Handes in Ao 16' [last two figures erased]

Recites descent from 'John Fitch of Fitch Castle in the North, Esquire' who was living in 25 Edward I [1296-7] who is assigned the arms, Vert, a chevron between three leopards' faces or. The original pedigree covers 16 generations each with painted coats of arms including the Essex families of Wroth, Gildesburgh, Alges [Alger], Wiseman, Bentley, Taylor, Greene, Tyrell, Booles [Bowles], Chapman and Allen. Conventional portraits of William Fitch (present at the conquest of the Isle of Man, 1343), John Fitch (fought at Edinburgh, 1297) both in armour, and of Thomas Fitch (fought at Bosworth, 1485), wearing an heraldic surcoat and carrying his standard. Standards with quartered arms of Fitch and Alger. Achievements at foot showing (a) arms of Fitch, with crest, On a mount vert a leopard passant proper, sustaining an escutcheon vert, charged with a leopard's head or; (b) 1 and 4, Fitch, 2, Allen, 3, Alger, with crest as before; (c) Fitch, with crest, A leopard's face or, holding in the mouth a sword chevronwise argent, hilt and pomel of the first.

The pedigree has an addition of six generations, with painted arms, showing the descendants of John Fitch of Steeple Bumpstead (died 1566), attested by Samuel Stebbing, Somerset Herald, 1715. [The descendants of Sir Thomas Fitch (created a baronet 1687), great-grandson of John above-mentioned, bear the arms Vert, on a chevron between three leopards' faces or, as many crosses crosslet fitchée gules.]

With the main pedigree is 'The Pedigree of the Fitch Family. From A.D. 1294 to A.D. 1888', plainly printed in imitation of handwriting but including a coloured achievement of arms. The family of Herbert Jones Fitch (born 1849) has been highlighted by the addition of red stars.
Dates of Creation:
Post 1625, c.1900
Extent:
2 rolls in 1 box
Admin History:
No indication is given of the names of either the compiler or the painter of the main pedigree. The erasure of the last two figures of the date is unfortunate, but the original roll must have been written after 1625 (the latest year recorded on it) and before 1633 when Sir William Segar died.

Richard Fitch, mentioned in the title, was admitted sizar at Queens', Cambridge, on 29 March 1581. He graduated BA, 1584-5, and proceeded to MA, 1588.
Physical Characteristics:
Main pedigree in ink and colour on vellum (5 membranes), with plain wooden rollers at each end; 2960 mm. (with a later addition of 840 mm., bringing the total length to 3800 mm.) x 510 mm.
Second pedigree on prepared linen, 395 x 930 mm.
Modern bespoke wooden box with brass fittings, 95 x 655 x 125 mm.
Existence of Copies:
Digital images of the main pedigree are available, although not online.