Thomas Fitzwilliam, a native of County Wexford, Ireland arrived in Philadelphia in 1850 and made his way to New Orleans in 1853.  His parents and siblings left for New Orleans in late 1850, but his father James died at sea and his mother Bridget died of typhus in Charity Hospital soon after her arrival in early 1851.  Thomas worked as an accountant for B. M. Normand and Henry Stetson before borrowing $4,000 from Thomas O'Donnell in 1860 to open T. Fitzwilliam & Co., Blank Book Manufacturer and Stationer at 76 Camp St.  By the early 1880s, the company was publishing color lithographs for Mardi Gras krewes on behalf of the Times-Democrat and the Daily Picayune newspapers.  It was also noted for its lithography of the Cotton Centennial poster of 1884.  In 1910, the businessmen of Camp St. honored Thomas with a laurel wreath and celebration of his being in business for fifty years.  Thomas married Mary Louisa Kimball, daughter of a noted riverboat captain, at St. Alphonsus church in 1864 and they had six children.  The only son, Thomas William, inherited the business in 1917 and managed it until it merged with Garcia Stationery Co. in 1929.  One of their daughters, Mary Elizabeth, became the Superior at both Sacred Heart schools in Grand Coteau and in New Orleans.  

– Michael K. Fitzwilliam

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more