1778.] iirsTOKV of Delaware county. 8-27 



Captain Fitz frequently fell in with armed men, but before 

 making liiniself known, he would seize an opportunity to disarm 

 them. Having placed his pursuers in his jjower, he would tie 

 them to trees and Hog them. On one occasion, about fifty men 

 were in pursuit of him, who incautiously parted with their arms 

 while taking refreshment in a tavern. Fitz discovering their 

 position boldly came in upon them, commanded them to keep their 

 places, which command they dared not disobey, lie then called 

 for a glass of liijuor, drank it, backed off with his rifle pointed 

 towards the men, till he arrived at a safe distance to run. 



On one occasion, a meeting was held for the purpose of adopt- 

 ing measures for his arrest, which he attended in disguise. After 

 dark, a militia captain volunteered, with much boasting, to cap- 

 ture Fitz, which being overheard by the bandit, he at once tlecided 

 to put the bravery of the boaster to the test. Taking a candle- 

 stick from the mantel, he invited the young man aside, remark- 

 ing that he would show him how he might secure Fitz. When at 

 some distance from the company, he demanded the watch of his 

 victim, at the same time snapping the candlestick, and assuring 

 him that he was Fitz. Obtaining possession of the watch, he 

 tied the captain's hands behind him, and sent him back to the 

 company. 



Fitz was at length captured by Capt. Robert McAffee, of 

 Edgmont, assisted by a young woman named Rachel Walker. 

 Having entered the dwelling of Mr. McAffee, Rachel, who was 

 up stairs, was made acquainted with his presence by the screams 

 of a boy who said, '' Capt. Fitz was there. " Upon coming down 

 stairs, Fitz asked her how she did, and expressed his sorrow at 

 the disturbance he had made. She went up stairs to secrete 

 some valuables, when Fitz drove the balance of the family, con- 

 sisting of Capt. McAffee, his father and mother, and the above 

 mentioned boy, up stairs also. He then proceeded to plunder 

 the house. The manner of his capture is thus given by Rachel 

 before the Council: •' Fitz told McAffee to jtreparc for a niar<-/i ; 

 laid down his sword and pistol, and raising his foot to the bed- 

 stead, in order to put up at the heels a pair of pumps taken from 

 Capt. ^IcAffee; she winked at McAffee to seize Fitz; he seemed 

 to decline; she winked again, and on seeing McAffee's motion 

 as if to seize Fitz, she also sprang forward and seized him." 

 Fitz in the struggle, this heroine says, seized a pistol, "which 

 she griped in his hand and prevented him from firing it; that she 

 afterwards took the j)istol and stood sentry at the door." A 

 reward of §1000 had been offered for the arrest of Fitzpatrick 

 by the Executive (.'ouncil, which was equally divided between 

 Rachel and Capt. McAflfee. 



Fitz was captured in the latter part of August, and was con- 



