Jabez G. Fitch | |
|---|---|
| United States Marshal for the District of Vermont | |
| In office June 9, 1794 – March 10, 1801 | |
| Preceded by | Lewis R. Morris |
| Succeeded by | John Willard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 20, 1764 Norwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | July 31, 1824 (aged 60) Warsaw, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Warsaw Cemetery, Warsaw, New York |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Speedy Goodrich (d. 1806) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Ebenezer Fitch (brother) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Jabez G. Fitch (March 20, 1764 - July 31, 1824) was a businessman and political figure from Vermont. Among the offices in which he served was United States Marshal for Vermont, a position he held from 1794 to 1801.
Jabez Gale Fitch was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on March 20, 1764, a son of Dr. Jabez Fitch (1729-1806) and Lydia (Huntington) Fitch (1735-1803).[1] Fitch was raised and educated in Norwich, and his numerous brothers and sisters included Ebenezer Fitch, the first president of Williams College.[2] During the American Revolution, Fitch went into the naval service while still a boy and he served on the Patriot side until the end of the war.[3] He served in the militia in Vermont, and attained the rank of colonel, the title by which he was commonly addressed.[2][4][5]
When his parents and several siblings moved to Vermont in the late 1780s, Fitch joined them in relocating to the area around Vergennes.[4] He was active in the local Masonic lodge,[5][6] served in local offices including town lister,[7] and was involved in civic projects including construction of a courthouse in Vergennes.[8]
Fitch became a merchant and trader.[4] His enterprises included speculating in land, mills, an iron works, and producing lumber and potash for transport to markets in Quebec via Lake Champlain.[4] In 1801, he purchased title to the town of Coventry from Ira Allen, then sold lots at moderate prices to encourage settlement in the area.[9]
An early adherent of the Federalist Party, Fitch served in appointed offices including deputy U.S. Marshal.[10] In 1794, Vermont's first U.S. Marshal, Lewis R. Morris, resigned.[11][10] Fitch was appointed to succeed Morris, and served until 1801.[11][10] His tenure was most notable for his imprisonment of Democratic-Republican Party politician Matthew Lyon during Lyon's arrest and trial for violating the Alien and Sedition Acts.[10] Lyon's constituents reelected him to Congress while he was in jail; after the law against sedition expired in 1801, Thomas Jefferson, the first Democratic-Republican president, replaced Fitch as U.S. Marshal with John Willard, a supporter of the Democratic-Republican Party.[10]
In the early 1820s, Fitch became overextended and his holdings were seized to satisfy creditors.[4] He subsequently moved to Western New York to live with relatives.[12]
Fitch died in Warsaw, New York,[13] on July 31, 1824.[14] He was buried at Warsaw Cemetery (also known as Warsaw Pioneer Cemetery).[14]
Fitch was married to Speedy Goodrich (d. 1806).[11] They were the parents of two sons and three daughters.[11]