Thomas Couch

Notes:

Christening: 3 MAY 1696 Fairfield, CT
Note:
Aged 40y 9m 22d, from gravestone.

The will reference in this note mentions unnamed slaves.

Will 6 Dec 1735, codicil 2 Feb 1735/6, proved 20 Apr 1736.
Wife Sarah; sons Thomas, Simon; daughters Sarah and Ann Couch; Negros; mentions
brother Simon's homelot. Dower in estate of Thomas Sr., was ordered
distributed, 13 June 1765, to his widow, Sarah Keeler of Ridgefield.

All information from:
"History & Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield"
by Donald Lines Jacobus, Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter DAR, Fairfield, CT, 1930.
Allen Co. Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN. Gc 974.602 F161j

Thomas married Sarah Allen on 7 Dec 1721 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. Sarah (daughter of Dr. Gideon Allen, II and Anna Burr) was born on 1 Apr 1697 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died on 10 Mar 1787 in Ridgefield, Fairfield Co, CT; was buried in Titicus Cemetery, Ridgefield, Fairfield Co, CT. [Group Sheet]

1. Sarah COUCH was born on 1 Dec 1723 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died on 24 Aug 1773.
2. Thomas Couch, II was born on 28 Nov 1725 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died on 14 Dec 1764 in CT; was buried in Colonial Cemetery, Westport, Fairfield Co, CT.
3. Anna COUCH was born about 1729.
4. Deacon Simon Couch was born on 5 Apr 1729 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died on 25 Apr 1809 in Redding, Fairfield Co, CT; was buried in Christ Church Cemetery, Redding, Fairfield Co, CT.

Notes:

All information from:
"History & Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield"
by Donald Lines Jacobus, Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter DAR, Fairfield, CT, 1930.
Allen Co. Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN. Gc 974.602 F161j

Birth:
Although information extant on Simon, son of Simon Couch born 1633, suggests this son Simon was born in 1669, the 1687 will of Simon (born 1633) gives Simon as the second son. Therefore, he is placed here in that birth order without a birthdate given.

Died:
Simon Couch II - Will 2 Mar 1712/13, probated 7 Apr 1712/13. (History of Fairfield, Vol.1, p.365)

Simon married Abigail Sturgis. Abigail (daughter of John STURGIS and Deborah BARLOW) was born in 1673 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died on 14 Sep 1730 in Westport, Fairfield Co, CT; was buried in Colonial Cemetery, Westport, Fairfield Co, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Renewed her Covenant at Fairfield Church, 3 May 1696.

Will of Abigail Andrews, 7 Feb 1729/30, proved 22 Sep 1730; daughters Abigail
edwards, Hannah Osborn, Sarah Couch, Isabel Rumsey, Deborah Couch; sons Thomas
and Simon Couch.

All information from:
"History & Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield"
by Donald Lines Jacobus, Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter DAR, Fairfield, CT, 1930.
Allen Co. Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN. Gc 974.602 F161j


Name:
(also recorded as Abigail Harges, "New England Marriages Prior to 1700")

Buried:
Plot 22

Notes:

Married:
Renewed covenant, May 3, 1696, Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT

Notes:

Simon treated slavery as indentured servitude. He became a free man in 1665 having endentured himself to the Andrews family for his passage over from Plymouth. Plymouth is close to Cornwall, England. By the time of his death, he owned two neighboring "bankside farms," on Long Island sound in CT and had 3 businesses. In his will, his slaves were to be set free and were each given 8 acres of the farm lands.

Unfortunately, when I copied the above statement about Simon Couch's treatment of slaves, I did not record the source. It is important to note that despite any benefit received by indentured people (of all colors including white), indentured people were essentially owned and treated poorly. Some did become free and climb to success, but this was not typical. If they did not in their "owner's" view prove to be loyal, many were sold into slavery. During Simon's lifetime, freeing slaves and giving them land may have been a good thing, and yet it was really only a small thing compared to what slaves endured in slavery. In later years, slave owners were required by law to support slaves they had liberated, and were also required to give them 50 acres each...so Simon's gifts, while perhaps better than many slave owners of his time, were not special and good, but were minimal, and could easily leave his freed slaves to a life even worse than slavery in his care. In fact, it was practices such as his, of freeing slaves and not necessarily assisting them afterward, that prompted the passing of laws to prevent such practices or penalize them to ensure freed people could survive without criminal activities they were often forced to engage in just to stay alive.
— Footnote by Doug Couch, 2020

Buried at Couch Burial Hill, Fairfield Co., CT

Will 22 Dec 1687, proved 15 Mar 1687/8; wife Mary; eldest son Thomas; 2nd son Simon; 3rd son Samuel; brother's son Thomas Couch that lives with me; brother's daughter living at John Grumman's; cousin Susannah Couch living at Milford; eldest daughters, Mary and Martha; daughters Sarah and Hannah. - "History & Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield" by Donald Lines Jacobus, Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter DAR, Fairfield, CT, 1930. Allen Co. Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN. Gc 974.602 F161j

Simon Couch was made a freeman 13 Oct 1664 - "History of Fairfield Vol 1 1889" pg 364 ("50 Puritan Ancestors")

The History of Fairfield Co, CT 1700-1800 Vol.1 gives Simon's will as 22 Dec 1687, proved in 1689. If his death date is 15 Mar 1687/88, the sequence is correct, allowing for transcription errors in how the dates were to be recorded.

Name:

Previously, the parents of Simon were given here with his father as Lewis (as received from someone who visited England and did research there). Upon later reviewing (as the records became available to me as "The Register Baptisms Marriages & Burials-Parish of Hartland Devon {England}), the Lewis who married in Hartland, Devon, England and had a son, Symon, I do not believe this Symon born 1615 is our Simon born 1633. Even though I have unlinked them, you can still view that lineage here.

In further support that our Simon Couch (by any spelling) was not born in Hartland, Devon, England in 1633, I'm providing the pages showing the baptisms for Hartland in 1633. Reviewing other years back several decades also do not show him, except for Symon born in 1615.
View 1633 Baptisms — For now, I am retaining the birth information for Simon as 1633 in Devonshire, England because various sources give this date...and because Devon is a very large area, with Hartland being only a very small town as part of it at the time. Devon West District and the middle of Devon overall is roughly 40 miles from Hartland; which lies further west and north. Simon could have a birth record elsewhere in Devon (Devonshire).

Died:
Simon Couch - Will 22 Dec 1687, probated 1689.

Simon married Mary Frances Andrews in 1664 in Fairfield Co, CT. Mary (daughter of Francis ANDREWS and Anna SMITH) was born about 1645 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died in 1691 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Inventory of Mary Couch, 22 May 1691, exhibited 27 Dec 1691. Adm'n granted to
Simon and Samuel Couch. Order to distribute to the children: Thomas ("if he
never come to this Country again"); Simon; Samuel; widow Mary Grumman; Martha,
Hannah and Sarah Couch.

Mary Couch conveyed 1689 to brother Thomas. Samuel Couch receipt 1694 to
brother Simon for legacy from mother Mary dec'd. Abraham Finch receipted 1697
for legacy from father-in-law Couch. Peter Coley receipted 1703 for legacy of
Hannah Couch, his present wife.

All information from:
"History & Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield"
by Donald Lines Jacobus, Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter DAR, Fairfield, CT, 1930.
Allen Co. Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN. Gc 974.602 F161j


Died:
• He [re will of Simon Coucn I] caused his sons to provide a fixed & ample allowance yearly for their mother.
• His [Simon Couch I's] s. Thomas sailed for England in 1689 ; & made his will of 8. April the same year, in which he gave his mother [Mary Andrews Couch] the use of his lands during her widowhood, & at her death to his brother Simon's eldest son, & if he had no son, to his brother Samuel's eldest son. His [Thomas Couch's] will was probated 2. Dec. 1691.
• Mary the widow of Simon Couch [I] died in 1691, & the use of the land left her by her s. Thomas, fell to the eldest son of her s. Samuel.
——— History of Fairfield, Vol. I, p.364 (re Simon Couch I, commentary on his will and subsequent family history facts related to the widowhood period of wife, Mary's life up until her death)

John married Deborah BARLOW. [Group Sheet]

Unknown married Unknown Mother of Simon. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Found on the list of Origianal Hartford Founders - A list of those settlers who came to Hartford before February, 1640 He is listed as: Francis Andrews

list found online at:
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ct/hartford/towns/hartford/prop001a.txt

"Francis Andrews purchased before 1640 the north part of Richard Buttler's lot on the corner of the present elm and Trinity Streets. Died in Fairfield. Will dated June 6, 1662; proved March 5, 1993." From Families of Early Hartford, CT page 10

Sources:
Abbrev: Families of Early Hartford, CT
Author: Lucius Barnes Barbour
Publication: Baltimore, Genealogical Publications, 1982
Repository:
Name: GenealogyLibrary.com (Family Tree Maker)

Page: 10
Quality: 3
Abbrev: Families of Early Hartford, CT
Author: Lucius Barnes Barbour
Publication: Baltimore, Genealogical Publications, 1982
Repository:
Name: GenealogyLibrary.com (Family Tree Maker)

Page: 10
Quality: 3
Text: d. 1662-3, died in Fairfield

===============================
copy of family group web page data: [bracketed comments added]

First Generation
1. Francis1 Andrus was born in England about 1620. Francis died 1662/1663 in Fairfield, Fairfield, CT, at 43 years of age. He married Anna Smith. Francis Andrews purchased before 1640, the north part of Richard Butler's lot on the corner of the present Elm & Trinity streets. He removed to Fairfield where he was an early member of the 1st Congregational Church. His name appears on the founders monument in Fairfield.

His will is dated 6 June 1662, proved 5 March 1663. Anna, late wife of Francis Andrews dec'd, sold to [!son-in-law] Simon Couch, 14 Mar 1663/4; and on 28 Feb 1673/4 Couch had land entered which he had purchased of Ann Smith, Exec'x of the will of Francis Andrews. Francis may have been the brother of William of Hartford and John of Farmington. It is at least worth to note that John (son of Francis) and Thomas (son of William) m. sisters, daus. of John Kirby of Middletown; while Thomas (son of Francis) and Abraham (son of John) also m. sisters, daus. of Robert Porter of Farmington.

Francis [!Andrews] Andrus and Anna Smith had the following children:

2 i. Hannah2 Andrus. She married John Crampton. John was "of Norwalk".

3 ii. Elizabeth Andrus.

4 iii. Ruth Andrus.

5 iv. Jeremiah Andrus. He removed to Bedford.

6 v. Hester Andrus.

7 vi. Rebecca Andrus. She married Samuel Benedict 7 July 1678. Samuel was "of Norwalk".

8 vii. Mary Andrus [!Mary Frances Andrews]. Mary died 1671. She married Simon Couch. Simon died 1688.

9 viii. John Andrus was born in Hartford, Hartford, CT 1646. John died 1683 in Fairfield, Fairfield, CT, at 37 years of age. He was christened 27 September 1646 in Hartford, Hartford, CT.

10 ix. Thomas Andrus was born in Hartford, Hartford, CT 1647. He was christened 2 January 1648 in Hartford, Hartford, CT.
+ 11 x. Abraham Andrus was born about 1652.

Send email to preparer: vtandrew@erols.com
The Descendants of Francis Andrus: First Generation Page 1 of 1
http://www5.pair.com/vtandrew/andrews/i0009256.htm 5/18/2008

Francis married Anna SMITH in 1641 in Hartford, Hartford Co, CT. Anna (daughter of Giles SMITH and Mary WHEELER) was born in 1625 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died on 5 Mar 1661/62 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

http://www.renderplus.com/hartgen/htm/allyn.htm
possible other spouse:
Col. John Allyn - was born on 11 Nov 1696 in Hartford, Ct.. He is the son of Matthew Allyn and Margaret Wyatt.
Col. John married Anna Smith. Anna was born on 9 Nov 1640 in England. She is the daughter of Henry Smith and Ann Pynchon.

Notes:

LINEAGE WARNING FLAG!!!

Giles Smith's lineage is also in question. Rather than being the son of Thomas Smith and Frances Sanford, he is more likely the son of Henry Smith and Anne Pynchon. Frances Smith then, would be his grandmother, but there is some lack of clarity in this lineage as well. I have no documentation for either lineage.

Records of Tom Forsythe 2008 at...
http://www.rumblefische.com/ancestors/chap0015.html#I882
It is unknown who his [Giles'] parents were. He could not have been the son of Judge Henry Smith and Ann Pynchon as some genealogies show, because that couple did not get married until aft 1637, whereas Giles was born in 1603 according to the "History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Volume 2 ". According to "The Planters of the Commonwealth, 1620-1640 ", Ann immigrated with her parents in 1630 indicating that she was not married and was therefore probably not born before 1610. According to the "National Genalogical Society Quarterly, Volumes 1-85 " Henry did not immigrate until April of 1637 so it stands to reason they married after this date. Also Giles is listed in the "Seventeenth Century Colonial Ancestors, Supplement Number Two" as immigrating in 1634. I have found no Genealogical source that claims Giles is their son.

The above conclusions only hold true if the dates obtained are correct. Below is another view, and yet, neither is substantiated.

Rational Giles as son of Henry Smith and Anne Pynchon:
re Thomas Holcombe of CT at
http://www.holcombegenealogy.com/data/p41.htm
Of the children of Thomas Sr. by his second wife, Isaac is correctly married to Elizabeth Jackson, who is correctly made daughter of John Jackson by Elizabeth Smith, but the said Elizabeth Smith is then called the daughter of Henry and Ann (Pynchon) Smith. Mr. Henry Smith of Springfield, as is well known, returned to England, and is will, made in 1681, refers to his daughter "Elizabeth Smith, not yet disposed of in marriage" [Waters, Gen. Gleanings in England, 1:723]. But John Jackson had children born 1662 to 1677; and the chief evidence for identifying his wife Elizabeth as a Smith is the fact that the will of Giles smith of Fairfield in 1669 names his daughter Elizabeth Jackson, and no other Fairfield Jackson of that period is known to have had a wife Elizabeth!

Giles married Mary WHEELER in 1623 in Hartford, Hartford Co, CT. Mary (daughter of Thomas WHEELER and Ann HALSEY) was born on 20 Oct 1615 in Bourne End, Bedfordshire, England; was christened on 20 Oct 1615 in Bourne End, Bedfordshire, England; died after 1654 in CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary Wheeler listed as Giles Smith's 2nd wife.

Either lineage or date problems exist related to Mary Wheeler's ancestor-parents. For Mary to be the daughter of Thomas Wheeler and Ann Halsey, according to the current dates, Mary would be born when Ann is 10 years old, and Ann would be married when 8 years old.

Mary's husband, Giles Smith's lineage is also in question. Rather than being the son of Thomas Smith and Frances Sanford, he is more likely the son of Henry Smith and Anne Pynchon. Frances Smith then, would be his grandmother, but there is some lack of clarity in this lineage as well. I have no documentation for either lineage.

Henry married Anne PYNCHON in 1638 in Dorchester, Suffolk Co, MA. Anne (daughter of Hon. Col. William PYNCHON and Anne Agnes ANDREW) was born in 1620 in Dorchester, Dorset, England; died in in USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

the children listed with Henry and Anne cannot all be children to that union. Giles is born when his mother would be 14...possible, but the last four children were all born after Henry's death.

a Frances Sanford 1567 is also said to be Henry's wife. There were apparently several Frances Sanfords in that time and place, and I have no documentation of any of these relationships, which would have Giles born when she was 37, much more likely

at least two marriages makes more sense

Thomas married Ann HALSEY on 5 May 1613 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. Ann (daughter of Robert HALSEY and Ellen ALLEY) was born on 30 May 1591 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England; died on 6 Mar 1685/86 in Stonington, New London, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Some sources list Ann as the daughter of Thomas Halsey and his wife Phebe. [Rootsweb WorldConnect Sutton Folk Family Tree]


Birth:
Listed in source as Bedford rather than Bedfordshire.

Notes:

Additional children (Ackley & Bosworth): Alice, Ann, Anna, additional Sarah.

Alice died after all children born, DOB not given.

Ann buried same year as Mary's DOB.

Anna's DOB around the time which could be Hannah.

First Sarah after John, and indicates died (est) at or before 2 years old.

Second Sarah DOB (est) same as first Sarah's (est) death.
===========

Married:
Age at marriage calculated as 11 years old.

married Frances SANFORD. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

William Pynchon (October 11, 1590 - October 29, 1662) was a colonial assistant treasurer and original patentee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He led the 1635 settlement of Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts, which was named after his home village, now a suburb of Chelmsford in Essex, England.

Pynchon was a theologian; he expressed his views in The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption (1650). Officials of the colony ordered this book burned and demanded that he retract its argument, which was contrary to the colony's official Calvinism. Instead of retracting, he returned to England in 1652, where he remained for the rest of his life. Pynchon built a trading post at Enfield Falls, which would become Springfield, Massachusetts from which he exported between 4,000 to 6,000 beaver pelts a year between 1636 and 1652. The profits enabled him to retire to England as a wealthy man.

William married Anne Agnes ANDREW in 1618 in Springfield, Essex, England. Anne (daughter of William Andrew and Bridget Rysley) was born in 1595 in Triwell, Northampton, England; died on 30 Aug 1630 in Roxbury, Norfolk Co, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

very mixed up lineage of descendants given, including at least Anne, Ann, John, Mary, Margaret, Col. John.

unlinked from Anne Pynchon, as Anna is born 15193 and Anne 1590

George married Katherine SAYRE. Katherine was born in 1572 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England; died on 3 May 1653 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England; was buried on 3 May 1653 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Listed as Robert Halsey alias Chambers. Lived in Holtsmere End, Flamstead, Hertfordshie, England.

Robert married Ellen ALLEY on 28 Jul 1577 in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, England. Ellen (daughter of John ALLEY and Isabel) was born about 1558 in Holismerend, England; died in in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Listed as Ellen Alley alias Cooke.

Birth:
alt year 1559

John married Frances BRETT on 3 Oct 1588 in Springfield, Essex, England. Frances (daughter of Thomas BRETT and Jane) was born between 1568 and 1570 in Terling, Essex, England; died in 1675/76. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

children
William
Peter
'Nues
Annes
Frances
Jane
Alice
Isabel
Sussanah

William married Bridget Rysley. Bridget (daughter of John Risley and Elizabeth Scrimshire) was born in 1574 in Oundle, Northampton, England. [Group Sheet]

John married Alice SAYRE. Alice (daughter of William SAYRE and Alice SQUIRE) was born about 1541 in Bedfordshire, England; and died. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Listed as Thomas Halsey alias Chambers.

Thomas married Margaret. Margaret was born about 1523; died on 13 Jan 1600/1 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet]

John married Isabel in 1554. Isabel died about 1579; was buried on 8 Jan 1579. [Group Sheet]