Silas Murwin COUCH

Male 1811 - 1894  (83 years)


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  • Name Silas Murwin COUCH 
    Born 4 Apr 1811  Washington, Litchfield Co, CT Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 8 Jul 1894  Canandaigua, Ontario, NY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3334  adkinshorton
    Last Modified 2 Jan 2013 

    Father Silas Crane COUCH,   b. 8 Jun 1786, Redding, Fairfield Co, CT Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Mar 1876, Montgomery, Orange Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years) 
    Mother Hannah PEET,   b. 5 Mar 1788, CT Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Aug 1861, Montgomery, Orange Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 11 Nov 1808  Washington, Litchfield Co, CT Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F21705  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Margaret MILLSPAUGH,   b. Abt 1815, Orange Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Sep 1890, Canandaigua, Ontario, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years) 
    Married 29 Nov 1837  Montgomery, Orange Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Mary Anne COUCH,   b. 1838, Montgomery, Orange Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 22 Dec 1877  (Age 39 years)
     2. Daniel Row COUCH,   b. 1841, Orange Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Oct 1908, Canandaigua, Ontario, NY Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     3. Joseph Tuthill COUCH,   b. 1844, Orange Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Nov 1873  (Age 29 years)
     4. Silas Dewit COUCH,   b. Abt 1848, Yates Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Oct 1871  (Age ~ 23 years)
     5. Susan C. COUCH,   b. Abt 1849, Yates Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location
     6. Hannah Elizabeth COUCH,   b. Abt 1851, Jerusalem, Yates Co, NY Find all individuals with events at this location
    Family ID F21787  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • From Jerusalem, Yates County, Ny, 1850 federal census (Pg. 73) ...
      Dwelling 441, Family 456
      Silas M. Couch, age 40, farmer, born Ny
      Margaret, age 55, born Ny
      Mary A, age 11, born Ny
      Daniel, age 9, born Ny
      Joseph, age 6, born Ny
      Silas, age 2, born Ny
      Susan C Couch, age 1, born Ny
      Sussanna Milspaugh, age 65, born Ny
      Elizabeth, age 27, born Ny

      Jerusalem, Yates County, Ny, 1855 state census
      Couch Daniel 2/212
      Couch Dewit S 2/212
      Couch Hannah E 2/212
      Couch Joseph 2/212
      Couch Margrett 2/212
      Couch Mary A 2/212
      Couch Silas M 2/212
      Couch Susan C 2/212

      From Town of Jerusalem, Yates County, Ny, 1860 federal census (Pg. 639) ...
      Dwelling 4, Family 4
      Silas M. Couch, age 49, farmer, born Conn
      Margaret, age 45, Domestic, born Ny
      Mary A, age 18, Domestic, born Ny
      Daniel R, age 19, Farm laborer, born Ny
      Joseph, age 17, Farm laborer, born Ny
      Silas D, age 14, born Ny
      Susan C, age 11, born Ny
      Elizabeth, age 9, born Ny
      Susana Milspaugh, age 76, Domestic, born Ny
      Eliza, age 39, Domestic, born Ny

      Yates County Court Records Indictments 1823-1899
      11-37-1851 People Vs Couch, Silas M, Common nuisance: sowing foul seed on public lands

      Notes provided by Chris Barry:
      In April 1851, a Yates County, New York grand jury indicted Silas M. Couch on a charge of creating a common
      nuisance. The petition alleges he "did maliciously, wickedly, unlawfully & wilfully plant, sow, scutter and
      spread" the seeds of "certain noxious and hurtful plants, weeds and vegetables" on public lands, making the land
      "entirely useless and valueless to the good and honest citizens." District Attorney D.I. Sunderlin is unsparing in
      his description of the alleged offender: "Silas M. Couch, late of the town of Jerusalem in the said County of
      Yates, yeoman, being an evil dispised [sic] person and of a wicked and malicious disposition and unlawfully and
      wilfully contriving how to harass and injure the good citizens..." (From Yates County Court Records, Indictments
      1823-1899, locator 11-37, photocopies courtesy Yates County Historian). The outcome of the case is not clear
      from the record at hand, but it is hoped that Silas' only offense was planting the seeds of legal hyperbole.
      Silas M. Couch, 59, farmer, appears in the 1870 U.S. Census of Tyrone, Schuyler County NY, pg. 6, dwelling
      45, family 48 (enum. 27 July 1870). Listed with him are Margaret, 54, Mary, 31, Daniel, 29, Joseph, 25, Susan,
      20 and Elizabeth, 18. The 1875 NY State Census lists Silas and Margaret, along with children Mary A., Daniel
      R., Susan C. and Elizabeth in Canandaigua, Ontario County (Election District 1, pg. 14, family 119, enum. 8 June
      1875). Silas is not enumerated with his wife and family in the 1880 U.S. Census (see notes for Margaret).
      His will, dated 15 Jan. 1891, says he is of Jerusalem, Yates County, NY. William T. Hurd is named executor.
      Bequests to: "Wilson S. Couch One hundred and fifty dollars."

      "Second...The remainder of my estate I bequeath to the Presbyterian Church for the education of poor children."
      "Before the above legacies are paid my executor shall procure a suitable tombstone and pay all my funeral
      expenses."
      "The amount given by me to my brother Wilson S. Couch is the legacy received by me from my sister Sally M.
      Coon."
      The 1892 NY State Census of Jerusalem, Yates County, lists Silas M. Crouch [sic], 80, after the family of
      Benjamin Egleston. (1st Election District, pg. 11). The family of J. Stephen Raymond follows.
      Petition for proof of will, dated 12 Oct. 1894, says the estate is worth $900 and lists heirs Daniel R. Couch, son,
      Susan Brown, daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Emerson, daughter, all of Canandaigua. (From Yates County Office of
      Public History, will file 129C).


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