Abijah Fitch

1799 - 1883

• Born	06 Jan 1799	Otsego, Otsego, New York, USA
  Gender	Male
  Died	25 Jan 1883	Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA   [1]
  Notes	Fort Hill Cemetery????? 19 Fort Street Auburn, New York 13021 These records were obtained directly from the Fort Hill Cemetery Association in a digital format in February 1998. Fitch, Abijah died 01 30 1883 nativity Auburn,N.Y. section plot Mount Vernon 27 place of death Auburn,N.Y. ******************** Autobiography of James S. Lawson http://www.lib.noaa.gov/edocs/jlawson.html The Autobiography of James Lawson recounts the experiences of James S. Lawson, an Assistant in the Coast Survey, who proceeded to the West Coast with the famous George Davidson in 1850. This work is unique, describing Lawson's experiences on the Pacific coast of the United States when it was still a rough and wild pioneer coast. It also is an invaluable record of his life and work in the United States Coast Survey for a thirty-year period beginning in 1848. This version of Lawson's autobiography, presented by the NOAA Central Library, has received minor editing to make it more understandable for the modern reader but remains true to the original. As the Autobiography of James Lawson was written as one continuous document, headings and sub-headings have been added in order to separate the work into manageable segments for presentation on the Internet. 1869. In the early part of this season I returned to Port Discovery, but soon received orders to have some repairs made to the Fauntleroy, which was taken to Seattle for this purpose. The loss of time to field work was not of great consequence on account of the smoke coming unusually early this year (June). Fortunately, however, about the time the vessel was again in commission, rains appeared (Aug. 22), and cleared the atmosphere. During the time the Fauntleroy was undergoing repair, Hon. Wm. H. Seward came North, en route for Alaska. At Victoria he was met by Hon. Alvan Flanders, Governor of Wash. Terr., Capt. Marshall Blinn, and others of Olympia, by whom Gov. Seward was induced to make a visit to Puget Sound, while the steamer Active (formerly in the Coast Survey service) on which he was going to Alaska, would be detained by coaling at Nanaimo, Vancouver ld. The steamboat Wilson G. Hunt was chartered for this special duty. The trip up and down the Sound was a complete ovation--at every port crowds gathered on the deck to do honor to the venerable Statesman. At Olympia he was the guest of Gov. Flanders, and was entertained at my house where a reception was held, but the space being limited a more public one was given at Olympic Hall. Gov. Seward was accompanied on his trip to Alaska by his son Fred Seward and wife, Abijah Fitch, Esq. of Auburn, N.Y., Judge Hastings, of San Francisco, and Dr. Franklin, R.N. The federal officials resident at Olympia were invited to meet Gov. S. at luncheon. While this was going on Mrs. Seward invited my wife to accompany them to Alaska. Mrs. S. was the only lady in the party, and insisted on Mrs. L. going. It required some persuasion to make her consent, not because she did not want to go, but for the reason she could not get ready, she had about forty minutes to pack up, and get to the steamer! This objection was overcome, a trunk was packed in the "quickest time on record" for such a journey, and in due time all were on board. My step-son Fred accompanied us at the request of his mother. A large party escorted Gov. Seward and his suite to Nanaimo, where the latter were transferred to the Active, where we were all elegantly entertained at dinner, Gov. Seward presiding. That P.M. we said our Goodbyes, and we returned to the Sound via Victoria. Gov. S. had a pleasant trip; the steamer called at all places of interest. At Sitka, the party was joined by Gen. Jeff. C. David, U.S.A., then in command of the forces stationed there, and other officers. Among other places visited was the Chilkaht River, where Prof. George Davidson, Assist. U.S. Coast Survey, was engaged observing the total eclipse of August 7th. All enjoyed, and were in raptures with, a sight so rarely witnessed under such favorable circumstances and surroundings. Gov. Seward and his party returned about end of August to Victoria where I met them, being at work at that time in that vicinity. After the Seward party had left, and while yet the repairs of the Fauntleroy were going on, the U.S.S. Pensacola,flagship of the North Pacific Squadron, Rear-Admiral Thos. Turner, U.S.N., paid a visit to Puget Sound. I made my first call on board at Olympia, and among the officers I met my old friend Capt. Phil. C. Johnson, Chief of Staff. Our meeting was a complete surprise to both, and a most pleasant one. By especial invitation I took up my quarters on the Pensacola, and assisted in piloting her from Steilacoom to Port Townsend. Between Olympia and Steilacoom, Gov. Flanders and myself had made an overland trip with the Admiral, having some partridge shooting on the way, trout-fishing at McAllister's Creek (Nisqually Bottom), and an impromptu picnic there with some ladies from Olympia. The repairs to the Fauntleroy having been completed, she had gone to Port Townsend, a day or two before, and there awaited my arrival. I was then under instructions to connect a secondary astronomical station at Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, occupied by Assist. Davidson while en route to Alaska in the U.S. Quartermaster's steamer Newbern, with the triangulation of Straits of Fuca; and when the Pensacola started for Esquimalt, Capt. Geo. H. Preble, U.S.N. kindly took the Fauntleroy in tow. Thus it happened that I was near Victoria, as previously stated, when Gov. Seward and his party returned. Assist. Davidson, also returned on the Active at the same time. After completing the work above referred to, the topography of Port Discovery was resumed, and two sheets were completed. As usual during the winter the vessel was laid up at Olympia, and the usual office work was done during the winter. 1870.
  Person ID	I889	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	11 Jun 2012

  
  

  Father	Stephen Fitch,   b. 25 Oct 1757, Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA ,   d. 26 Jul 1829, Cooperstown, Otsego, New York, USA
  Relationship	Natural
  Mother	Marie Gaboreau,   b. Abt 1760, Canada
  Relationship	Natural
  Family ID	F570	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Lanah Nelson,   b. Aft 1802, New York, USA ,   d. 17 Jul 1866
  Married	1820	Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA
  Children	1. Henry Fitch,   b. 1821,   d. 1822   2. Sarah S. Fitch,   b. 1823,   d. 1876   3. Nelson Fitch,   b. 1824, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 1897   4. Helen E. Fitch,   b. 1826,   d. 1827   5. Helen Eliza Fitch,   b. 20 Dec 1827, Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 04 Dec 1874, Amherst, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA   6. Charles P. Fitch,   b. 1830, Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 1881   7. Henry Bates Fitch,   b. 1832, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 1881   8. Frances Fitch,   b. 16 Jan 1834, Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 1900   9. Edward M. Fitch,   b. 1836, Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. Jun 1879, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA   10. Cornelia Fitch,   b. 1838, Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 1893   11. Horace B. Fitch,   b. 1839, Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 1887   12. Emma Fitch,   b. 1842, Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA ,   d. 1879
  Family ID	F383	Group Sheet

  
  

• Sources

  [S100] letter from C.M. Selleck of Norwalk, Conn. addressed to Mrs. Mary Fitch Ross of Springfield, OH March 12, 1896, Selleck, C.M..