Simon Couch (~1633-1687)

In my genealogy research of Thomas Couch, the earliest record I personally have found is a land record stating that Thomas bought land in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1665 and that he was a Town Crier in 1664-65. I don't know (yet) where he was before this date; if he was born in England or elsewhere; if England - where exactly; what ship he may have arrived on; etc., etc.

One item that may shed some light on these questions is brother Simon's will. In this will (see images below), Simon names two brothers, Thomas and Samuel as well as leaving a legacy to Thomas' children.

There is quite a lot of information to glean from internet and early record research about Simon Couch. During one search, the Adkins-Horton Genealogy website listed several interesting notes pertaining to Simon. Specifically that he was born in Devonshire, England and that was able to secure passage to America as an indentured servant to the Andrews family. He becomes a freeman in 1664 and marries Mary Frances Andrews and subsequently, becomes a prominent citizen, successful businessman and large landowner in Fairfield, Connecticut.

When time allows, I would very much like to research the Devonshire, England clues and see if there is any documentation of birth, baptism, marriage, church affiliation, ship passage, indenture servitude, etc. Something very exciting to look forward to...

Sources:
Manwaring, C. W. A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. Vol. I. Hartford District, 1635-1700. Hartford, Conn.: R. S. Peck & Co. (1904) Retrieved from: http://www.archive.org/details/digestofearlycon00manw 

Adkins-Horton Genealogy
http://www.adkinshorton.net/gen/getperson.php?personID=I2771&tree=ah

Connecticut State Library: Fairfield, Connecticut - Probate packets - Coley, H. - Curtiss, B., 1648-1880 FHL US/CAN Film #1018744.  Card Catalogue: Couch, Simon, Town: Fairfield, Date: 1686/87, District: Fairfield, No. 1750, 1 Will and 1 Inventory. Retrieved from Connecticut State Library May 2011.

Julian Calendar vs. Gregorian Calendar

Sooner or later, anyone doing in-depth genealogy research will come upon dates with a double year (i.e. 1634/5). During a Couch search in Google, I came upon a website under the heading "Researching the Andrews / Andrus heritage". This researcher did such a wonderful job of explaining the reasoning behind the double date that it bears sending you to his/her site listed below (information near the bottom of the page - starting with "Note, the double year designation is due to the 1742 change in calendar from Julian to Gregorian...").

From this same website, the following entries should be noted - not only because of the Couch name but also for clues in where to search for the Couch family in England:

Francis Andrews (~1600 England-6/6/1662 Fairfield,CT) married Anna Smith (~1620-?) in ~1640 in Hartford,CT -- 10 children

One of the children, Mary, married Simon Couch - possibly a brother to our Thomas?

Mary Andrews (~1645 Hartford, CT/ 5 July 1687 Fairfield, CT) married Simon Couch (1633 Devonshire England/Norwalk, CT) in 1664

Source:
http://haygenealogy.com/hay/sources/gregory/andrews-tree.html

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.”

"Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye"

Early town records show that Thomas was a Town Crier from 1664-65. A town crier was an official position of some importance. Usually people of standing in the community were chosen as criers, for they had to be able to write and read the official proclamations. They were the chief means of news communication and local events. Summoning the townspeople with the ringing of a bell and a "Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye", the Town Crier would commence to "cry" out the news and announcements of the day. Perhaps he would be instructed to read a newly enacted law, news of neighboring towns and villages, Indian uprisings, or even birth, marriage and death notices. This extra occupation, as well as farming his own lands, would have made him a vital part of the town makeup.

Last Will and Testament of Thomas Couch

During our recent genealogy research trip to Massachusetts and Connecticut, we visited the Connecticut State Library where we were trying to locate the Last Will and Testament for Thomas Couch.  Even though no Will was found, we still felt like we hit pay dirt when we found the Inventory to his estate. As you can see from the images below, the Inventory was taken March 24, 1687 and for the late 1600's, it seems quite extensive. More research of his contemporaries will need to be made to determine if the inventory is indeed a sizable one or common for this time and place in history.

Someday perhaps I will tackle the transcription of the Inventory...

In his Digest of Early CT Probate Records, Charles Manwaring lists the following for Thomas Couch:

Sources:
Connecticut State Library (Hartford, Connecticut), Probate packets - Cornish, Joseph-Crampton, 1641-1880; FHL US/CAN Film #1021228. Card Catalogue: Couch, Thomas, Town: Wethersfield, Date: 1686/87, District: Hartford, No. 1440, 1 Inventory. Retrieved from Connecticut State Library May 2011. 

Manwaring, C. W. A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records. Vol. I. Hartford District, 1635-1700. Hartford, Conn.: R. S. Peck & Co. (1904) Retrieved from: http://www.archive.org/details/digestofearlycon00manw

First Family

Our story begins in Wethersfield, Connecticut where Thomas Couch purchased land in 1665 from John Styles. About a year later he marries Rebeckah (maiden name unknown) on November 22, 1666. To this union, three children were born:

• Susannah - dob: October 12, 1667
• Simon - dob: December 11, 1669
• Rebecca - dob: February 15, 1671

Their marriage was in its fourth year when Rebeckah departed this life on March 1, 1671 at the approximate age of 24. We can assume that she died from complications of childbirth since she had given birth to Rebecca only 15 days earlier.

Thomas' children were quite young when their mother died; Susannah 3yrs, Simon 1yr and Rebecca 14days. His children needed a mother and he a wife, and so we find about two years later (the exact date is yet unknown) in 1673 Thomas and Hannah (maiden name unknown) were united in marriage. During the next eleven years, an additional six children were added to his brood - now numbering two sons and seven daughters:

• Hannah - dob: abt 1674
• Thomas - dob: abt 1675
• Mary - dob: abt 1676
• Sarah - dob: abt 1679
• Abigail - dob: abt 1681
• Martha - dob: abt 1684

No records have been found of their exact birth dates but they can be approximated, since their ages were recorded in Thomas' Last Will and Testament. Indexes show the particulars of the Will but the original copy has not been found; we have only been able to locate the inventory of his estate. At the time of his death, the children's ages were: Susannah, aged 20 years, Simon 18, Rebecca 15, Hannah 13, Thomas 12, Mary 11, Sarah 8, Abigail 6 and Martha 3.

On March 24, 1687, Thomas Couch died in Wethersfield at the age of 44.


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. (Volume II, Pgs 251-252)

Hinman, R. R. Catalogue of the first Puritan Settlers of the Colony of Connecticut. No. V. Hartford: Press of Case, Lockwood and Company, 1856. (Pg 737)