1824 - 1874 (50 years)
Generation: 1
Generation: 2
Generation: 3
Generation: 4
Generation: 5
Generation: 6
Generation: 7
66. | Simon Couch was born in 1633 in Devonshire, England (son of Unknown Father of Simon Couch and Unknown Mother of Simon); died on 15 Mar 1688 in Greens Farms, Fairfield Co, CT; was buried in Couch Burial Hill, Greens Farms, 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]
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67. | Mary Frances Andrews was born about 1645 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT (daughter of Francis ANDREWS and Anna SMITH); died in 1691 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. 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)
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Generation: 8
128. | Samuel COLEY was born in 1620 in England (son of John COLEY); died on 3 Oct 1689 in Milford, New Haven, CT. Samuel married Ann PRODDEN on 14 Feb 1640 in Milford, New Haven, CT. Ann was born in 1617/18 in Kings, Walden, England; and died. [Group Sheet]
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129. | Ann PRODDEN was born in 1617/18 in Kings, Walden, England; and died. Children:
- 64. Peter COLEY, Sr. was born in 1641; died in 1690 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT.
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131. | Ann died in 1643. Children:
- 65. Sarah HIDE was born about 1641; and died.
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134. | Francis ANDREWS was born about 1620 in Essex, England; died on 5 Mar 1662 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. 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
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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]
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135. | Anna SMITH was born in 1625 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT (daughter of Giles SMITH and Mary WHEELER); died on 5 Mar 1661/62 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. 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.
Children:
- Hannah Andrews
- Elizabeth Andrews
- Ruth Andrews
- Jeremiah Andrews died est 1713.
- Hester Andrews
- Rebecca Andrews was born est 1660.
- 67. Mary Frances Andrews was born about 1645 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT; died in 1691 in Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT.
- John Andrews, I was born in in Essex, England; was christened on 27 Sep 1646 in Hartford, Hartford Co, CT.
- Thomas Andrews, I was born on 2 Jan 1648 in Hartford, Hartford Co, CT; was christened on 2 Jan 1648 in Hartford, Hartford Co, CT; died in 1718 in Milford, Hartford Co, CT.
- Abraham Andrews was born est 1652; died in 1729 in Waterbury, New Haven Co, CT.
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