Wethersfield, Connecticut - Landowner Thomas Couch

Thomas Couch became a landowner in 1665 when he bought land from neighbor John Styles. He was about 22 yrs old and this was about a year before his marriage to Rebeckah. Based on the source listed below, it also appears that he purchased during that same year, the homestead of Sigismund Ritchell. In 1669 he then obtained, by exchange with John Riley, Sr., the latter's homestead of 33 acres. The record also states that he also sold to Daniel Rose a parcel on 12 March 1665-6. (See posting on "Julian Calendar vs. Gregorian Calendar") Additionally, he drew land in the 1670 allotment.

During our genealogy research trip to Wethersfield, Racel Quish at the Historical Society was very helpful in understanding the way the early settlers farmed the land. She explained that due to the constant threat of Indian attack, each acre of land would be long and narrow. The farmers would be able to rally much quicker if they didn't have a large expanse of land to travel to get to one another.

We also were able to purchase a copy of the 1640 Map of Wethersfield which shows Thomas Couch as a landowner (between Sandy Lane and what is now Garden Street). Ms. Quish noted that this would have been where the Couch family lived and the farmland would have been elsewhere. You can purchase a copy of the 1640 map directly from the Historical Society's website listed below.


Favorite websites for Wethersfield, Connecticut: 

• Wethersfield Historical Society: http://www.wethhist.org

• (Wethersfield) Connecticut Genealogy: http://www.connecticut-genealogy.com/Wethersfield-Genealogy.cfm

Sources:
Adams, Sherman W. The history of ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut: comprising the present towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington: and of Glastonbury prior to its incorporation in 1693, from date of earliest settlement until the present time. New York: Grafton Press, 1904.

Vol I, Chapter VII, Page 262
Early inhabitants of Wethersfield -- with notes on their land holdings

COUCH, THOMAS, m. Rebecca --, 22 Nov., 1966; she d. 1 March, 1671-2. He was Town crier 1665-6; drew ld. in 1670 allot.; bo’t 1665, from John Styles, the ho.-lot which the latter had rec’d from Henry Palmer in 1664; in same yr. bo’t the ho-std. of Sigismund Ritchell, E. side of Broad St., in 1669, obt. by exch. with John Riley, Sen., the latter’s ho-std. of 33 ac. nxt. N. of Benj. Crane’s, on what is now Mud Lane. He sold to Daniel Rose, 12 March, 1665-6, a ho-std. next N. of Emanuel Buck’s, on S. W. side of road to Htfd.

COUCH, THOMAS, (son of preceding?) petit. the town, Dec., 1718, for a piece of ld. 42 rods long and 20 rods wide “near the brook called Two-Stone,” bd. N. by lds. of Mr. Wm. Warner and the other side by the common. The town gr. it; in his petit. said he had “not one rod of ld. of his own to set his foot upon.”