James Couch

Notes:

In the Order of Exercises and Corrected Lists, Twelfth Annual Reception tendered by The Calumet Club to the Old Settlers of Chicago, May 15, 1890, James Couch is listed on page 2 of 12, as residing at Tremont House, Chicago (where he had become the proprietor upon the death of his brother, Ira).

Died:
Death Index Errata

Although it has been reasonably documented that James died in 1892, the Illinois Statewide Death Certificates Index, Pre-1916 database shows his death on February 10, 1891. This is a correct transcription of the microfiche that database is based upon and cannot be changed by database maintenance staff unless a death certificate is found and produced giving a corrected date in 1892. 1892 is given here based on the predominance of evidence.

James married Elizabeth C. WELLS on 30 Mar 1847 in Cook Co, IL. Elizabeth was born in in Stratford, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Marriage Index gives 30 Mar 1847 given elsewhere as 25 Mar 1847.

1. Ira COUCH was born on 10 Jan 1848 in Chicago, Cook Co, IL; died on 22 Aug 1922 in Tampa, Hilllsborough Co, FL; was buried on 24 Aug 1922 in Staten Island, Richmond Co, NY.
2. COUCH was born about 1851; died in 1853.

Notes:

Name:
Name also given (on joint gravestone) as Ira House Couch.

Ira married Mehitable MAGEE in 1794 in Fort Edward, Washington Co, NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

COUCH LOT Click Image for Full Boyce Cemetery Listing

Burial: North Milton Cemetery, Saratoga County, NY

Daniel married Sarah Howes on 23 Feb 1863 in New Canaan, Fairfield Co, CT. Sarah was born in 1745; died on 03 Jun 1821; was buried in North Milton Cemetery, Milton, Saratoga Co, NY. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Burial: North Milton Cemetery, Saratoga County, NY

Notes:

Ebenezer Couch, Sr. is a D.A.R. certified veteran of the American Revolutionary War, serving for Connecticut: A026419

Ebenezer (Sr.) was also Chairman of the Observation Committee for Fairfield. In the Revolutionary War, that makes him the head of the Culpepper Spy ring in Fairfield, CT. The British became so angry over the success of spies in Fairfield as you may already know, they came w/Hessians across Long Island Sound in 1779 and burned Fairfield to the ground, house by house. That is why Captain Ebenezer and his younger brother, who was a private migrated together to Milton, NY, where they are buried, side by side. Later Sarah Kinney would be buried next to him. Many of the former residents of Fairfield, Ct migrated together to NY.

Ebenezer Couch was a member of the Safety Committee, his son who had several businesses in Fairfield, Conn., served as a Captain in the Revolutionary war, his son John, played the fife in his company and his son Ebenezer Jr., worked as a waiter for the company. One of their winter encampments in Connecticut is to this day undisturbed and military historians and archaeologists are trying to raise the funds to preserve the 50 plus acre site.

Captain Ebenezer Couch lost everything to include his wife, businesses, home, as a result of his service. The British wanted to teach the colonists a lesson and selected Fairfield, Connecticut as the place to demonstrate their brutality. The town was burned to the ground and innocent women and children were killed. George Washington addressed the sacrifice of the residents of Fairfield, Conn. Joel Bostwick who served under Captain Ebenezer Couch, died, and his wife, Sarah Kinney Bostwick, and Ebenezer would marry after the war. They would move the family to Saratoga, New York, and live on rented lands.

Christened:
History of Fairfield, V2, First Extant Parish Record of Christ's Church, Fairfield, p.479

Ebenezer married Ann CRANE on 18 May 1731 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. Ann was born on 24 May 1711 in Windham, Windham Co, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

"The General Assembly met on the 12th of October, [1710] when Mr. James Rennet and Mr. Samuel Couch represented Fairfield. Mr. Samuel Couch was confirmed captain, Mr. John Osborn lieutenant and Mr. Benjamin Rumsey ensign of Green's Farms train-band." - The History of Fairfield County, Connecticut, 1700-1800, Vol. II

Capt. Samuel Couch, death also given as 1725 but will dated 1739, birth also given as abt.1670 (1666 date from Frost Gen.)

"The History of the Town of Catharine, Schuyler County, New York"
by The Tuttle Publishing Co. Inc., Rutland, Vermont, 1945.

Ensign, west company, Fairfield, June 1709; Lt. Oct 1709; Capt. Oct 1710;
Deputy (Fairfield), Oct 1710; Oct 1712, May and Oct 1720, May 173, Oct 1734;
Justice 1723-39.

Will 12 May 1739, proved 3 Dec 1739; advanced in years; legacies to sons Samuel,
Benjamin, John (at College, to have out of his estate education for four
years), and Ebenezer; daughters Eunice wife of Reuben Taylor and Abigail Couch;
grandson Joseph Jackson; residue equally to children, Samuel, Benjamin,
Ebenezer and Solomon Couch, Mary Couch, Edry Frost, Eunice Taylor, Elizabeth
Todd and Abigail Couch.

Samuel, Benjamin, Ebenezer and Solomon Couch, Joseph Crane and wife Mary, Joseph

Frost and wife Adra, Nathaniel Hibbard and wife Abigail, all of Fairfield,
Reuben Taylor and wife Eunice of Norwalk, and Rev. Jonathan Todd and wife
Elizabeth of Guilford, conveyed 15 June 1741 to brother John Couch of
Fairfield, land in Redding.

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

Samuel married Edrea HURLBUT. Edrea (daughter of Thomas HURLBUT and Mary Brown) was born in 1674 in Woodbury, Litchfield Co, CT; died on 24 Nov 1737 in Westport, Fairfield Co, CT. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

birth also given as abt 1674, age 65 at death > 1737 death minus 65 years gives 1672 birth year from gravestone (1668 birth date from Frost Gen.)

Also given as Edra, and dau name is Edra.

http://www.bjpeters.com/bj/PS01/PS01_126.htm
Name *Edrea HURLBUT95 <../PS_SRC.htm>, 7G Grandmother Birth abt 1668, Jacobus states abt. 1674. Of, Fairfield, CT95 <../PS_SRC.htm> Death 24 Nov 173795 <../PS_SRC.htm> Occupation CLICK NAME FOR NOTES Father *Thomas HURLBUT , II <../PS05/PS05_023.htm>

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)

Notes:

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/bluffs/2473/data/dat51.htm#16
web page gave Wethersfield, CT as birth place.

http://www.bjpeters.com/bj/PS01/PS01_126.htm
Gives as Thomas HURLBUT II

Thomas married Mary Brown. Mary was born on 10 Feb 1655 in Farmington, Hartford Co, CT; died about 1714 in Woodbury, Litchfield Co, CT. [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.

Thomas married Unnamed wife. [Group Sheet]

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.