I'm looking for information on Morgan L. Fitch who rode with Terry's Texas Rangers (Co. H). He was wounded (by his own pistols) in July 1862 at Murfreesboro and discharged.

One of my great great grandfather's was also Morgan L. Fitch but he fought on the Union side (Benton's Cadets also known as Fremont's Bodyguards). I have recently learned that he was born in Mississippi. I wonder if the Texas Morgan Fitch may be the father of the Ohio Morgan Fitch.

I am in the process of requesting records for both of these soldiers but any other information will be most welcomed. Gail Tener Fishman

Hi. my name is Morgan T. Fitch. I am a female from NY. I wonder if i am related to either of these men. weird, HUH?

Hi Morgan, you could be. This particular Fitch branch was from upstate NY. I think the habit of naming their children Morgan Lewis Fitch came from the popular NY governor Morgan Lewis of the late 1700s. What else do you know about your Fitch ancestors? Gail

Morgan Lewis Fitch was my maternal gggrandfather. My records indicate that he was born about 1805 in Scipio, Cayuga, New York and died in Texas (no date). It appears he was married at least twice: I'm away from my records right now so I don't have the name of his first wife, but he then married my gggrandmother, Helena Boaz (b. 1818). Their children were Collin (or Collins) (b. about 1847) and Azle (b. 1849). Collin(s) married Martha Walker (b. 1849) and they had Morgan L. (b. about 1870) and my grandfather, William Azle (1875-1931), who married Louise Sliger. My mother, Della Oneta, was born of that marriage.

1880 Census indicates Helena as divorced with Collin(s), Morgan, and William in the household.

It's great to see that others are searching this branch. Please let me know if you have any further information.

Mona Stephens

Hi Mona, I'm away from my records too so relying on memory for this. Alonzo Fitch was brother to Morgan. Alonzo is my ggggrandfather. Morgan, a lawyer, was indeed married twice as far as I know. I'm not sure what happened to his first wife but I believe they were living in Tennessee when she might have died. He probated the will of Helen's first husband and I suppose that's how they met. Morgan and Helen moved on to Mississippi in the early 1830s because the Choctaws had been moved out and all that land opened for settlement. Alonzo and his wife (Meky Ann) moved down to Mississippi a few years after Morgan. They had two sons, Morgan L. and Theordore. Alonzo died soon after Theodore was born and Meky Ann took the boys to Indiana to live with yet another Fitch brother. After Meky Ann died, Morgan and Theodore moved to Cincinnati, Ohio and that is where Morgan met Jane Collins (a recent Irish immigrant) and they married on January 15, 1861. Morgan soon joined the Union army (Fremont's Body Guard) but after a real cold winter in St. Louis he became ill probably with pnuemonia. Fremont's unit disbanded I think but Morgan never regained his health and died in 1872. He and Jane had 4 children - two sons died in infancy - Jessied Fremont Fitch (my ggrandmother) and James.

I've corresponded with someone else who is doing extensive research on the Fitches and he believes that your gggrandfather was named after Morgan Lewis - a respected governor of NY state.

I'm glad to know this bit about you Morgan because he was a puzzle to me. If he is the Morgan Fitch in the Texas Ranger unit during the Civil War he must have been the oldest one in it.

So here is a fellow who was born in the north, moved south, became a slave holder and fought for the Confederacy while his nephew, Morgan L, who was born in Mississippi, moved north and fought for the Union.

Collins was another brother to Morgan and Alonzo. Thanks for finding my message! GAil

Gail. Yay!!! I love connections. I know so little about this branch of my family--thanks for the information, which gives me more "meat" for my research. As you learn more, would you please share it with me? I'll do the same.

Mona

you bet.