Henry D. Fitch

Henry Delano Fitch (1799 – 1849), later known by his Spanish name Don Enrique Domingo Fitch, was a Californian trader, ranchero, and politician. Born in Massachusetts, Fitch became a merchant sailor in South America in 1815, before eventually emigrating to Alta California (then a part of Mexico). In California, he became a Mexican citizen and married into the prominent Carrillo family of California, giving Fitch the opportunities to acquire rancho grants and to serve in public office as Alcalde of San Diego (mayor). Early life Henry Fitch was born in 1799 in Nantucket or New Bedford, Massachusetts. His parents were Beriah Fitch and Sarah Delano. Beriah Fitch was a sea captain. In 1815, Fitch made his first ship journey, visiting ports in South America, buying and selling cargoes for a Danish merchant. Career and family life in California Fitch first came to California while serving as a sea captain, from 1826 until 1830, of the María Ester, a Mexican brig that called ports throughout California. It was during his journey on the María Ester that he met Josefa Carrillo in San Diego. She was fifteen years old. Fitch expressed romantic interest in Carrillo, and during his return visits to San Diego he would court the girl. In 1827, Fitch asked Carrillo's parents for her hand in marriage. On April 14, 1829, he was baptized in San Diego, California under the name Enrique Domingo Fitch. The next day, Fitch was to marry Carrillo. Prior to the wedding, Domingo Carrillo, Carrillo's uncle, stopped the wedding on behalf of then governor Jose Maria Echeandia. Later in her life, Carrillo claimed that the Echeandia intended to stop the wedding because he was in love with her, however, historians believe Echeandia stopped the wedding because of his general dislike of Fitch.