William D. Fitch (ca. 1792–1848) was the son of William Daniel Fitch, a woodworker and wheelwright with whom TJ first transacted business in 1771. The younger Fitch worked as a tobacco inspector, leased space in TJ’s Milton warehouses as early as 1808, and was active in the local Masonic lodge. He ran a tavern in Milton before relocating by 1831 to Charlottesville, where he operated various taverns and public houses. Fitch died at the University of Virginia (MB description begins James A. Bear Jr. and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , esp. 1:261, 2:1135, 1259; TJ’s Account with Craven Peyton for Rents and Profits from Henderson Lands, 1801–7 Jan. 1811, enclosed in TJ to Peyton, 28 Oct. 1812; Woods, Albemarle description begins Edgar Woods, Albemarle County in Virginia, 1901, repr. 1991 description ends , 58, 194–5, 400, 403; Richmond Enquirer, 19 Feb. 1814; Proceedings of a Grand Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Virginia [Richmond, 1817]; Richmond Enquirer, 18 July 1823, 22 July 1831; Lay, Architecture description begins K. Edward Lay, The Architecture of Jefferson Country: Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia, 2000 description ends , 87, 148; Richmond Whig and Public Advertiser, 10 Oct. 1848).

In undated notes on his account with mr fitz, TJ recalled that “Mr Fitz’s lease for firewood was dated June 1. 1812. 11.D. a year. in my acct with him which I gave mr Bacon are 2. paimts for wood I gave Th: J. Randolph an order for the wood rents one year I do not remember the year exactly, but it was about 1815” (MS in MHi; on verso of a reused address cover to TJ; entirely in TJ’s hand).

A missing letter of 20 Feb. 1816 from craven peyton to TJ is recorded in SJL as received the same day from Monteagle. The regular lease for firewood was probably similar to the agreement with James Marr printed above at 6 Feb. 1813.