326 HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. [1778. 



panied the battalions that went to New York, but soon deserted 

 and returned to his native county, where be was arrested, and 

 afterwards confined in Walnut street prison in Philadelphia. 

 Being released on condition of joining the Continental army, he 

 soon deserted again, and once more returned to his native County, 

 and went to work. Here he was arrested by two soldiers sent 

 for the purpose. He obtained permission from the soldiers to 

 visit his mother, but while there, seized his rifle and set them at 

 defiance. He had now become so much offended at the Ameri- 

 cans, that he determined on being revenged, and accordingly, 

 when General Howe landed at the head of Elk, Fitz repaired to 

 him; probably received some appointment, and doubtless, from 

 his knowledge of the country, rendered him essential service. 

 He was present at the battle of Brandywine, and afterwards 

 accompanied the British army to Philadelphia. While the 

 enemy remained in that place, he, in company with one Morde- 

 cai Dougherty, from the neighborhood of Doe Run, and others, 

 employed his time in capturing good Whigs and in stealing 

 horses ; carrying them Avithin the British lines. One Lieut. 

 Joseph Lucky, and Peter Burgandine, were among the number 

 thus captured. It was believed that these desperadoes were 

 secreted and supplied with provisions by certain Tories of 

 Newlin and neighboring inhabitants of Chester County. 



After the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British army, 

 Captain Fitz, as he was generally called, established his head 

 quarters on the Valley Hill, in the neighborhood of the present 

 village of Coatsville, and commenced, on his own responsibility, 

 a depredatory war upon the Whigs of Chester County. After 

 having plundered his victims of their property, it was his custom, 

 and appeared to be his delight, to flog and otherwise abuse them. 

 So numerous and high-handed were the atrocities committed by 

 him, that his presence caused as much alarm in some neighbor- 

 hoods as that of the British army. 



On one occasion, Fitz and Dougherty went into the harvest 

 field of one James Shield, where Archibald Hambleton was reap- 

 ing, and Fitz told Shield that he had borrowed his watch, a pair 

 of silver buckles and shoes. Shield insisted that he should 

 return them ; but Fitz returned for answer that it would depend 

 on his behaviour towards him. Hambleton was then taken pri- 

 soner, and carried to his father's house, where they robbed him 

 of a rifle, powder-horn and shot-pouch; after which, Fitz got 

 the Bible, and forced him to swear " that he would not follow or 

 betray him, or disturb any of his neighbours or friends on his 

 account, and if he did, he would come and burn their house, and 

 likewise the houses of the Rebels in the neighbourhood." They 

 both threatened the lives of several persons in the neighborhood, 

 ■whom they named. 



