CAPT. HENRY FITZGERALD,
A grandson of Hugh and Mary Fitzgerald, of Ireland, and a son of
Henry Fitzgerald, who died in 1871, aged sixty-seven, was born in
Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America in childhood. He was educated
in Baltimore county, Maryland, then went to Baltimore city and
there learned the pattern-making trade. In 1853, he came to Richmond,
Virginia, and in a few months removed to Manchester, where he
was engaged with Robert Baird as a millwright about one year, then
was in the employ of the Danville R. R. Company until the opening of
the war. On May 9, 1861, he entered Confederate service as first lieutenant
of Company I, 6th Virginia Infantry, with which company he
was one year in service. In the Spring of 1863, he was commissioned
captain of Company D, 1st Battalion Virginia Infantry, and detailed
to take charge of the stocking department of the Confederate States
Carbine Works, at Richmond. In the Spring of 1864, by order of the
Confederate government, he removed the works to Tallahassee, Alabama,
where he remained in charge of the works until the close of the
war. He walked to Montgomery, and surrendered to Gen. "Baldy"
Smith, who was in charge of that city, on May 25, 1865. Returning to
Manchester he worked in the shops of the Danville R. R. one month,
then for two years conducted business for himself, as carpenter, from
that time until 1874 was in the employ of Robert Baird's heirs, was in
1874 elected sergeant of the city of Manchester, and by subsequent
elections has filled the office ever since, serving his sixth term at the
present time.
The first wife of Mr. Fitzgerald was named Catherine, and their
children were four, namely: Catherine, Alexander H., Francis H. and
Amelia W., the latter now deceased. His second wife, whom he married
at Manchester, was Eliza J. Anderson, born in Chesterfield county, Virginia.
They have three children living, Mary J., Ruth C. and Russell
E., and have buried one, the second daughter, Gracie Eva.
