Biographical Sketch of James “Captain Fitz” Fitzpatrick (1893); Chester Co., PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>.

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania,
comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited 
byWinfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, 
page 586.

"JAMES FITZPATRICK, commonly known as Captain Fitz, the daring robber chief 
of Chester county, was of Irish lineage.  He was a blacksmith by trade, and led 
an honest life until the Revolutionary war.  He then enlisted in a militia 
company from which he soon deserted and returned home.  He was apprehended and 
secured immunity from punishment by returning to the Continental army, from 
which he again deserted.  Returning home a second time he was again captured, 
but succeeded in escaping, and then commenced his wonderful career of robbing 
and plundering the whigs of Chester county.  Fitzpatrick aided the British in 
their march through the county, and during their occupation of Philadelphia 
captured several whigs and a large number of horses, which he took to the 
'Quaker City'.  After the British left Philadelphia Fitzpatrick resolved to 
carry on the war on his own account, and made Chester county the field of his 
depredations.  He had various hiding places, among which were Hand's Pass and 
the high hill near Marshall's Station.  Assisted by one Mordecai Dougherty, whom 
he styled his lieutenant, he became the terror of the whigs.  By a series of the 
most daring robberies and hair-breadth escapes he became noted throughout the 
State and Nation.  His law-less career ended on August 22, 1778, when he 
attempted to rob William McAffee or McFee, of Delaware county, who by strategy 
and the assistance of Rachel Walker, grasped him in an unguarded moment and 
succeeded in binding him.  After trial he was executed at West Chester on the 
15th of September, 1778, and the county was relieved from his terrorism, as 
Dougherty fled and all others who had aided him remained quiet.  James 
Fitzpatrick had red hair and a florid complexion, and was an uncommonly fine 
looking man, being very strong, athletic and swift of foot.  'He possessed 
abilities which, had he pursued an honorable career, might have won for him a 
distinguished name in the annals of his country.'"