Fitch family

Biographical / Historical Notes

Henry Delano Fitch (1799-1849) was a sea captain and merchant who, it is believed, became the first North American to settle in San Diego. Fitch arrived as master of the brig Maria Ester in 1826. In 1827, Fitch applied for Mexican citizenship. He remained involved in coastal trading, including the hide trade, and even opened a store in San Diego.

In 1829, Fitch was converted to Catholicism. After his baptism, he proposed marriage to Maria Antonia Natalia Elijah Josefa Carrillo, daughter of Joaquin Carrillo. Because Fitch was still considered a foreigner, and possibly because Governor Echeandia was also enamored with Carrillo, the marriage was not permitted by the Church. Fitch and Carrillo, with the help of Carrillo’s cousin Pio Pico, eloped aboard the American ship Vulture, and were married in Valparaiso, Chile. Upon returning to California in 1830, the Fitches were arrested and charged with crimes against the church and state. Because of Henry Fitch’s baptism and his request for citizenship, eventually the marriage was declared valid. By the end of the nineteenth century, the story of the romance between Henry and Josefa Fitch had become part of San Diego folklore.

Returning to San Diego after the couple’s elopement, Fitch resumed operating his store. He also served at various times as alcalde (mayor) of San Diego. In 1832, Fitch was granted the Sotoyome Rancho near what is now Healdsburg, California. In 1845, Fitch made the first survey of the lands of San Diego. The resulting map was used in the Pueblo case (1854-1874) to determine the number of acres to be granted to the pueblo of San Diego by the U.S. government. Upon his death in 1849, Josefa Carrillo Fitch took over control of the Fitch store briefly until she moved to the Sotoyome Rancho a short time later, where she lived until her death in 1893. Henry Fitch’s widow had an incredibly difficult time maintaining possession of the Fitch family property after her husband’s death and was involved in numerous legal cases to petition recognition of her inheritance of her late husband’s property. By 1855, Josefa Carrillo Fitch was deeply in debt and faced several lawsuits over defaulted loans.

Henry and Josefa Fitch had 11 children, including Anita and Federico “Fred” Fitch. Most Fitches still residing in the San Diego area are direct descendants of Anita Fitch Grant. Many other direct descendants of Henry and Josefa Carrillo reside in Healdsburg, California where the Sotoyome Rancho was located. Fred followed in his father’s footsteps, working as a seaman and land surveyor for the U.S. government, and participated in a surveying expedition of the Sea of Cortes in the Sonora region of Mexico in 1858.

From the guide to the Fitch Family Papers, 1815-1969, (San Diego History Center Document Collection)