Fitzhugh Family
FITZHUGH
Peter’s Colony of Texas, by Seymour Conner
Gabriel Fitzhugh came to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1845, and settled on a company survey in present Collin County. He was issued Fannin Third Class Certificate No. 771 for 640 acres, which he patented in Collin County. He is listed on the 1850 census (Collin County, family No. 112) as a 48-year-old farmer, born in Kentucky.
Gabriel H. Fitzhugh migrated to the colony as a single man prior to July 1, 1844. He was issued Robertson Third Class Certificate No. 1241 for 320 acres, which he sold unlocated. It was later patented in Dallas County. He is listed on the 1850 census (Collin County, family No. 200) as a 29-year-old farmer, born in Kentucky.
George Fitzhugh migrated to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1848. He was issued a land certificate by Thomas William Ward in 1850 and patented 640 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class No. 1093). He is listed on the census of 1850 (Collin County, family No. 200) as a 59-year-old farmer, born in Virginia, with four children, and apparently he migrated to Texas from Kentucky.
John Fitzhugh migrated to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1845. He was issued a land certificate by Thomas William Ward in 1850 and patented 353 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class No. 946). The remaining portion of the certificate was patented in Grayson County (Fannin Third Class No. 908). He is listed on the census of 1850 (Collin County, family No. 73) as a 58-year-old farmer, born in Virginia, with four children, and apparently he migrated to Texas from Missouri.
Robert Fitzhugh (Fitchew) migrated to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1844, and settled on a company survey on the East Fork of the Trinity River in old Fannin County. He was issued Fannin Third Class Certificate No. 966 for 640 acres, which he patented in Collin County. He is listed on the 1850 census (Collin County, family No. 105) as 33 years old, born in Kentucky, with two children, and apparently he came to Texas from Missouri.
Solomon Fitzhugh (Fitchew) migrated to the colony as a single man prior to July 1, 1844, but died before 1850. John Fitzhugh, his father, the administrator of his estate, received a certificate from Thomas William Ward, and Solomon’s heirs patented 320 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class No. 1685). According to the colony agent’s report for 1844, Fitzhugh’s home was located on the East Fork of the Trinity River in old Fannin County.
William Fitzhugh was awarded a certificate for 320 acres by Thomas William Ward in 1850 as a single colonist, having come to the colony before July 1, 1848. Subsequently, however, Fitzhugh patented 640 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class Certificate No. 900). His is listed on the 1850 census as a 31-year-old farmer, born in Kentucky, with one child (Collin County, family No. 72.)
Peter’s Colony of Texas, by Seymour Conner
Gabriel Fitzhugh came to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1845, and settled on a company survey in present Collin County. He was issued Fannin Third Class Certificate No. 771 for 640 acres, which he patented in Collin County. He is listed on the 1850 census (Collin County, family No. 112) as a 48-year-old farmer, born in Kentucky.
Gabriel H. Fitzhugh migrated to the colony as a single man prior to July 1, 1844. He was issued Robertson Third Class Certificate No. 1241 for 320 acres, which he sold unlocated. It was later patented in Dallas County. He is listed on the 1850 census (Collin County, family No. 200) as a 29-year-old farmer, born in Kentucky.
George Fitzhugh migrated to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1848. He was issued a land certificate by Thomas William Ward in 1850 and patented 640 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class No. 1093). He is listed on the census of 1850 (Collin County, family No. 200) as a 59-year-old farmer, born in Virginia, with four children, and apparently he migrated to Texas from Kentucky.
John Fitzhugh migrated to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1845. He was issued a land certificate by Thomas William Ward in 1850 and patented 353 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class No. 946). The remaining portion of the certificate was patented in Grayson County (Fannin Third Class No. 908). He is listed on the census of 1850 (Collin County, family No. 73) as a 58-year-old farmer, born in Virginia, with four children, and apparently he migrated to Texas from Missouri.
Robert Fitzhugh (Fitchew) migrated to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1844, and settled on a company survey on the East Fork of the Trinity River in old Fannin County. He was issued Fannin Third Class Certificate No. 966 for 640 acres, which he patented in Collin County. He is listed on the 1850 census (Collin County, family No. 105) as 33 years old, born in Kentucky, with two children, and apparently he came to Texas from Missouri.
Solomon Fitzhugh (Fitchew) migrated to the colony as a single man prior to July 1, 1844, but died before 1850. John Fitzhugh, his father, the administrator of his estate, received a certificate from Thomas William Ward, and Solomon’s heirs patented 320 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class No. 1685). According to the colony agent’s report for 1844, Fitzhugh’s home was located on the East Fork of the Trinity River in old Fannin County.
William Fitzhugh was awarded a certificate for 320 acres by Thomas William Ward in 1850 as a single colonist, having come to the colony before July 1, 1848. Subsequently, however, Fitzhugh patented 640 acres in Collin County (Fannin Third Class Certificate No. 900). His is listed on the 1850 census as a 31-year-old farmer, born in Kentucky, with one child (Collin County, family No. 72.)
THE FITZHUGH FAMILY OF COLLIN COUNTY
Biography.
In 1854 the three Fitzhugh brothers, George, Gabriel, and Solomon, arrived in the Forest Grove area and settled on large tracts of land. The family had arrived in Texas as early as 1844. Besides farming the East Fork of the Trinity River afforded them a perfect place to erect a grist mill that was used by all the settlers of the area. Before the mill was built the families had to make the long road to Bonham on horse-back to have their grain ground into meal.
Solomon Fitzhugh lived out his life in Forest Grove. All of the children of these early settlers married other children of early settlers, so that most of the first settlers are related by marriage. Of the twelve children, Robert married Katherine Warden, Missouri married George Cameron, Laura married Edward Newsome, Mary Frances married Lee Braswell.
William Fitzhugh was one of the most active men on the frontier, serving as a Texas Ranger in Collin County, and before coming here he was an Indian fighter in Florida and at one time helped quall the Mormon uprising in Missouri. In 1846 William Fitzhugh organized a ranger company to protect the frontier in Collin County from Indian attack. The company also engaged in campaigns along Red River against the Indians who were giving the settlers a hard time.
In 1861 Jefferson Davis commissioned William Fitzhugh to organize a regiment of soldiers in Collin County to serve with the Confederacy of the South. He held meetings in his home and recruited men from all of Collin County, later moving his headquarters to McKinney. He served as a colonel during the four years of fighting. Others of the Fitzhugh family serving with the Confederacy were John, George, G. H. and Solomon. Col. William Fitzhugh had a daughter named Sarah Elizabeth who married Henry C. Herndon in 1871. Col. Fitzhugh invited numerous Indians to the wedding, a first on the frontier. A full account of this wedding may be read on the microfilmed early newspapers at the McKinney Library under date of August 23, 1923.
Early McKinney newspapers have stories of the Fitzhugh family. On microfilm at the McKinney Library one may read about William Fitzhugh in the McKinney Democrat of July 4, 1904.
Solomon Fitzhugh obituary may be found in the McKinney Democrat of July 1, 1916.
The Fitzhugh family history may be read in the McKinney Democrat of July 7, 1938.
Biography.
In 1854 the three Fitzhugh brothers, George, Gabriel, and Solomon, arrived in the Forest Grove area and settled on large tracts of land. The family had arrived in Texas as early as 1844. Besides farming the East Fork of the Trinity River afforded them a perfect place to erect a grist mill that was used by all the settlers of the area. Before the mill was built the families had to make the long road to Bonham on horse-back to have their grain ground into meal.
Solomon Fitzhugh lived out his life in Forest Grove. All of the children of these early settlers married other children of early settlers, so that most of the first settlers are related by marriage. Of the twelve children, Robert married Katherine Warden, Missouri married George Cameron, Laura married Edward Newsome, Mary Frances married Lee Braswell.
William Fitzhugh was one of the most active men on the frontier, serving as a Texas Ranger in Collin County, and before coming here he was an Indian fighter in Florida and at one time helped quall the Mormon uprising in Missouri. In 1846 William Fitzhugh organized a ranger company to protect the frontier in Collin County from Indian attack. The company also engaged in campaigns along Red River against the Indians who were giving the settlers a hard time.
In 1861 Jefferson Davis commissioned William Fitzhugh to organize a regiment of soldiers in Collin County to serve with the Confederacy of the South. He held meetings in his home and recruited men from all of Collin County, later moving his headquarters to McKinney. He served as a colonel during the four years of fighting. Others of the Fitzhugh family serving with the Confederacy were John, George, G. H. and Solomon. Col. William Fitzhugh had a daughter named Sarah Elizabeth who married Henry C. Herndon in 1871. Col. Fitzhugh invited numerous Indians to the wedding, a first on the frontier. A full account of this wedding may be read on the microfilmed early newspapers at the McKinney Library under date of August 23, 1923.
Early McKinney newspapers have stories of the Fitzhugh family. On microfilm at the McKinney Library one may read about William Fitzhugh in the McKinney Democrat of July 4, 1904.
Solomon Fitzhugh obituary may be found in the McKinney Democrat of July 1, 1916.
The Fitzhugh family history may be read in the McKinney Democrat of July 7, 1938.
