John Couch was born about 1745 in Virginia, or North Carolina, to Thomas and Mary Couch. Because the first United States census was not taken until 1790, the exact year of John Couch’s birth cannot be pinpointed. Different family researchers have recorded our John Couch as having been born between 1745 and 1750. I have traced him to the 1840 Tishomingo County, Mississippi, United States census, where he is listed as a male between the age of 90 and 100.
The first appearance of John Couch’s father, Thomas Couch, in North Carolina, was in Orange County in 1754, on a land grant map by A. B. Markham of Durham, North Carolina. Family researchers refer to John Couch’s father as “Ole Thomas.”
John Couch married Susanna “Ann” Meredith in Orange County, North Carolina in 1772. John Couch likely moved to the Old Ninety Six District, South Carolina, when he inherited half his father’s 300 acre land grant in 1776. Thomas Meredith, father of Ann Meredith, was living in Orange County, North Carolina, at the time John Couch and Ann Meredith were married. There is a record showing that Ann Meredith’s brother, Captain Henry Meredith (Revolutionary War Pension Number S9402), moved from Orange County, North Carolina, and purchased 500 acres of land in 1785 from Benjamin and Mary Wooford, and Burwell and Ann Thompson (Spartanburg County, South Carolina Deed Book A, pages 53-55, date: 19 October 1785, deed so recorded.) This land transaction by Captain Henry Meredith, of Revolutionary War fame, was on both sides of the Enoree River, and bordered the land of Ole Thomas Couch’s brother, Matthew (Mathew) Couch. Captain Henry Meredith indicated, in his pension application, that he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and served in the North Carolina Continental Line.
Evidence that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was making preparations to leave Spartanburg County, South Carolina, comes from his sale of land to relatives and others in the Enoree, South Carolina area. On 5 January 1792, he sold the 150 acres bordering the Enoree River that he had inherited from his father, Thomas Couch (b: ca: 1705-1714), to his brother Joseph Couch for 100 pounds. On 4 May 1798, John Couch sold 108 acres on the north side of the Enoree River to his brother, Drury (Drewry) Couch, for 50 pounds. John Couch (b: ca. 1745) had apparently sold all or most of his Spartanburg County, South Carolina, land by the turn of the eighteenth century, and had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina. It is likely that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) felt that the land in Spartanburg District, South Carolina was “farmed out,” and that it was necessary to seek better land to the west. He would move his family to the Greenville District, South Carolina.
On January 14, 1790, John Couch made his first recorded Greenville District, South Carolina, land purchase of 243 acres from the Mayfield family for 60 pounds sterling (Greenville, South Carolina Deed Book G, page 252.) The purchase was witnessed by his son, Thomas Couch, and Isaac Couch. Then on January 18, 1792, John Couch purchased 300 acres of land from John and Ann Ford on both sides of the Saluda River in Greenville District, South Carolina. He paid 150 pounds sterling for this 300-acre tract of land, and the purchase was witnessed by Drury and James Couch (Greenville District, South Carolina Deed Book C, page 163.) John Couch and his wife Ann sold 108 acres of their Enoree River land in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, to John’s brother, Drury Couch. John Couch and Ann were already in Greenville District, South Carolina, by the time they sold this 108 acre tract to Drury Couch. They were living along the banks of the Chickarora River, a branch of the Saluda River, prior to 1798.
Both John Couch (b: ca. 1745), and his son, John Couch, Jr., are on the 1800 Greenville County, South Carolina, census.
John Couch joined the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church 15 February 1800 (From Padgetts Creek Baptist Church Minutes.)
John Couch (b: ca. 1745) sold some of his property in Greenville, South Carolina, on 31 January 1805 (Greenville County, South Carolina, deed books F and G, page 2366, recorded 4 July 1805, book G, page 285). This is the last known record of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) in Greenville, South Carolina. The Justice of the Peace before whom this land sale document was proved was Hugh McVay, a future resident of Madison County, Alabama, and a future governor of Alabama.
In about 1807 or 1808, our Couch family left Greenville County, South Carolina, on their way to Madison County, Mississippi Territory. Such was the spirit of a true pioneer family. By 1809 or earlier, our Couch family can be found in the Mississippi Territory. The 1809 census, taken in Madison County, Mississippi Territory (now Alabama) shows our Couch family. Extracts from the 1809 census show the following Couches and their neighbors: George Blackburn, Benjamin Langford, John Couch, Thomas Couch, John Couch Jr., John Allison, Waller Mathews, Joseph Mathews, Archibald McDaniel, and John Renneau. John Couch is John Couch (b: ca. 1745), husband of Ann Meredith. The Thomas and John Couch, Jr., listed on the 1809 Madison Co, MS Territory census, are sons of John and Ann Meredith Couch. On another section of land nearby another Couch is found as follows: Joseph Gormely; Nicholas Couch; George Baylis. Additionally, John Couch, Sr., John Couch, Jr., and Thomas Couch all can be found on Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815. Also, Jesse Couch and Henry Couch can be found on the Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815.
As John Couch and his wife Ann Meredith and the other Couch families were going about their business farming in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, our young country was still very unstable and was about to go to war with Great Britain again. Had America not stood her own in the War of 1812, there would have been no United States of America. There is a Lieutenant Thomas Couch who fought in the War of 1812, 7th Regiment (Perkins’ Battalion) of the Mississippi Militia (Madison County, Mississippi Territory). This Thomas Couch would have to be the son of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) because there was only one Thomas Couch in Madison County, Mississippi Territory from 1812 to 1814. Thomas Couch was born about 1774 to John Couch and Ann Meredith Couch and would have been about 38 years old when he fought in the War of 1812.
John Couch (b: ca. 1745), his son Henry Couch, and some of John’s children were in Lawrence County, Alabama, just after the 1820 census was taken. Most likely, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was in Lawrence County about 1820 to 1821. Henry married Catherine (Caty) Walters there on 11 August 1821. There is a land recording for him there in 1818, but he is not on the 1820 Lawrence County, Alabama, census. Lawrence County land opened for grants and sale in 1818. The Couch families would have moved again for better, virgin land.
The Enon Baptist Church in Lawrence County, Alabama, was founded in January 1819, the year of the statehood of Alabama, and remains an active church today. The church is located at 3293 County Road 209 near Danville, Alabama, just southeast of Moulton, Alabama, county seat of Lawrence County. Enon Baptist Church is near the Morgan County line and can be reached by proceeding east on State Highway 157 from Moulton, Alabama, turning left on County Highway 36, and then taking another left on County Highway 209. The old Enon Baptist Church was just east of Oakville, Alabama. Thomas Couch and Meredith Couch, sons of Thomas Couch (b: ca. 1774) (one of John Couch and Ann Meredith’s sons) and Elvy Lynch Couch, operated a gristmill just northwest of Oakville.
In his book, One Southern Couch Family, Dr. Robert H. Couch relates the following information about Enon Baptist Church: “Originally, the name was Birdwell Springs Baptist Church after one of the founding families. It was then called Enon Baptist Church of Christ until 1835 when the name was changed to Baptist Church of Enon. The old church had an outside baptistery and an outbuilding called a saddling house. In its early days … everyone went to the nearby grove to read scriptures, sing and pray. Then after a half-hour or so, the men wandered over to the saddling house to discuss the important issues of the day, and the women congregated in the Baptismal font to visit…” Dr. Robert Couch goes on to relate that the early minutes of the Enon Baptist Church indicated that there was much debate concerning foot washing and that the church finally adopted the practice with, “a majority agreeing it should be literally performed.” In the church minutes of early 1828, the church secretary included a list of the 128 members, by number, to include, #21 Thomas Couch, #22 Elvy Couch, # 23 John Couch, Senr, # 24 Nancy Couch, # 25 John Couch, Jun, # 26 William L. Couch, # 27 Thomas J. Couch, # 80 Elizabeth Couch, # 82 Meredith Couch, # 117 Jeremiah Couch, and # 118 Mary Couch. The authors think that #23, John Couch, Senr., was our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) and that in 1824, he would have been about 79 years old. Since the Couch families made up such a large portion of the congregation, the Enon Baptist Church would have been a rather significant part of their lives. The old minutes of the Enon Baptist Church are incomplete. Copies of a few of the pages are included in Note 20 of this Chapter.
We know that John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, died in Lawrence County, Alabama, in 1821, because of information listed in a deed transfer of a slave. Deeds and slave indentures can be found in the old Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi records in Book E, pages 127, 129, 142, 143, and 331. In the indentures dated 21 October 1837 and 9 June 1838, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) says that he lives in Lawrence County, Alabama. The indenture of 21 October 1837 from the Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi, records, Book E, page 142, states: “Indenture made between John Couch of Lawrence County, Alabama and Sarah Couch, daughter of said John Couch, as sell for in consideration of the natural love and affection which he, the said John Couch hath and bestows unto the said Sarah, as also for upwards of sixteen years good service since the death of her mother, and also for the better maintenance, support and livelihood of her the said Sarah, hath given granted and confirmed unto the said Sarah her heirs and assigns the following property – one Negro girl named Violet, about 8 years old, also a Negro boy named Wiley about six years old”.
About 16 years after the death of John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, John moved to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, with his son, Gabriel Couch. He can be found on the 1840 Tishomingo County, Mississippi, census records as being between the ages of 90 and 100.
John Couch was a true pioneer, living in Virginia, North Carolina, the Mississippi Territory, Lawrence County, Alabama, and finally Tishomingo County, Mississippi. He moved south and then west as many pioneers did.
John Couch's ancestry tree is as follows:
1 – Captain THOMAS COUCH &_______ (b: abt. 1660 or earlier in England)(Merchant of London and Master of the ships, Fortune, and Palm Tree)
2 – THOMAS COUCH, Sr. (b: abt. 1685) & ELIZABETH [Lived in (Bristol Parish) Prince George County, Virginia, in the 1720's (record of son, Mathew's birth in Bristol Parish Records)
3 – THOMAS COUCH, Jr. (b: ca 1705-1714, possibly in VA. d: 1776 in Enoree, S.C.)
SPOUSE: MARY (b: ca. 1715-1720 in VA d: 1796 in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
This Thomas is known as Ole Thomas and he left a Will, dated: 12 Feb 1776)
4 – JOHN COUCH (b: ca 1745 in VA or NC d: 30 Mar 1840 in Tishomingo Co, MS)
SPOUSE: SUSANNA [ANN] MEREDITH (b: 7 Mar 1756 in MD d: ca. 1821 in AL)
Children of John Couch and Ann Meredith: Thomas (b: ca 1774); John, Jr. (b: ca 1779); Mary Polly (b: ca 1785); HENRY (b: ca 1786); Nancy (b: ca 1788); Jesse (b: ca 1789); Charity (b: ca 1790); Daughter (bef.-1790); Sarah (b: ca 1790+); Drury (b: ca 1798); Gabriel (b: ca 1800)
The first appearance of John Couch’s father, Thomas Couch, in North Carolina, was in Orange County in 1754, on a land grant map by A. B. Markham of Durham, North Carolina. Family researchers refer to John Couch’s father as “Ole Thomas.”
John Couch married Susanna “Ann” Meredith in Orange County, North Carolina in 1772. John Couch likely moved to the Old Ninety Six District, South Carolina, when he inherited half his father’s 300 acre land grant in 1776. Thomas Meredith, father of Ann Meredith, was living in Orange County, North Carolina, at the time John Couch and Ann Meredith were married. There is a record showing that Ann Meredith’s brother, Captain Henry Meredith (Revolutionary War Pension Number S9402), moved from Orange County, North Carolina, and purchased 500 acres of land in 1785 from Benjamin and Mary Wooford, and Burwell and Ann Thompson (Spartanburg County, South Carolina Deed Book A, pages 53-55, date: 19 October 1785, deed so recorded.) This land transaction by Captain Henry Meredith, of Revolutionary War fame, was on both sides of the Enoree River, and bordered the land of Ole Thomas Couch’s brother, Matthew (Mathew) Couch. Captain Henry Meredith indicated, in his pension application, that he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and served in the North Carolina Continental Line.
Evidence that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was making preparations to leave Spartanburg County, South Carolina, comes from his sale of land to relatives and others in the Enoree, South Carolina area. On 5 January 1792, he sold the 150 acres bordering the Enoree River that he had inherited from his father, Thomas Couch (b: ca: 1705-1714), to his brother Joseph Couch for 100 pounds. On 4 May 1798, John Couch sold 108 acres on the north side of the Enoree River to his brother, Drury (Drewry) Couch, for 50 pounds. John Couch (b: ca. 1745) had apparently sold all or most of his Spartanburg County, South Carolina, land by the turn of the eighteenth century, and had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina. It is likely that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) felt that the land in Spartanburg District, South Carolina was “farmed out,” and that it was necessary to seek better land to the west. He would move his family to the Greenville District, South Carolina.
On January 14, 1790, John Couch made his first recorded Greenville District, South Carolina, land purchase of 243 acres from the Mayfield family for 60 pounds sterling (Greenville, South Carolina Deed Book G, page 252.) The purchase was witnessed by his son, Thomas Couch, and Isaac Couch. Then on January 18, 1792, John Couch purchased 300 acres of land from John and Ann Ford on both sides of the Saluda River in Greenville District, South Carolina. He paid 150 pounds sterling for this 300-acre tract of land, and the purchase was witnessed by Drury and James Couch (Greenville District, South Carolina Deed Book C, page 163.) John Couch and his wife Ann sold 108 acres of their Enoree River land in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, to John’s brother, Drury Couch. John Couch and Ann were already in Greenville District, South Carolina, by the time they sold this 108 acre tract to Drury Couch. They were living along the banks of the Chickarora River, a branch of the Saluda River, prior to 1798.
Both John Couch (b: ca. 1745), and his son, John Couch, Jr., are on the 1800 Greenville County, South Carolina, census.
John Couch joined the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church 15 February 1800 (From Padgetts Creek Baptist Church Minutes.)
John Couch (b: ca. 1745) sold some of his property in Greenville, South Carolina, on 31 January 1805 (Greenville County, South Carolina, deed books F and G, page 2366, recorded 4 July 1805, book G, page 285). This is the last known record of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) in Greenville, South Carolina. The Justice of the Peace before whom this land sale document was proved was Hugh McVay, a future resident of Madison County, Alabama, and a future governor of Alabama.
In about 1807 or 1808, our Couch family left Greenville County, South Carolina, on their way to Madison County, Mississippi Territory. Such was the spirit of a true pioneer family. By 1809 or earlier, our Couch family can be found in the Mississippi Territory. The 1809 census, taken in Madison County, Mississippi Territory (now Alabama) shows our Couch family. Extracts from the 1809 census show the following Couches and their neighbors: George Blackburn, Benjamin Langford, John Couch, Thomas Couch, John Couch Jr., John Allison, Waller Mathews, Joseph Mathews, Archibald McDaniel, and John Renneau. John Couch is John Couch (b: ca. 1745), husband of Ann Meredith. The Thomas and John Couch, Jr., listed on the 1809 Madison Co, MS Territory census, are sons of John and Ann Meredith Couch. On another section of land nearby another Couch is found as follows: Joseph Gormely; Nicholas Couch; George Baylis. Additionally, John Couch, Sr., John Couch, Jr., and Thomas Couch all can be found on Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815. Also, Jesse Couch and Henry Couch can be found on the Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815.
As John Couch and his wife Ann Meredith and the other Couch families were going about their business farming in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, our young country was still very unstable and was about to go to war with Great Britain again. Had America not stood her own in the War of 1812, there would have been no United States of America. There is a Lieutenant Thomas Couch who fought in the War of 1812, 7th Regiment (Perkins’ Battalion) of the Mississippi Militia (Madison County, Mississippi Territory). This Thomas Couch would have to be the son of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) because there was only one Thomas Couch in Madison County, Mississippi Territory from 1812 to 1814. Thomas Couch was born about 1774 to John Couch and Ann Meredith Couch and would have been about 38 years old when he fought in the War of 1812.
John Couch (b: ca. 1745), his son Henry Couch, and some of John’s children were in Lawrence County, Alabama, just after the 1820 census was taken. Most likely, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was in Lawrence County about 1820 to 1821. Henry married Catherine (Caty) Walters there on 11 August 1821. There is a land recording for him there in 1818, but he is not on the 1820 Lawrence County, Alabama, census. Lawrence County land opened for grants and sale in 1818. The Couch families would have moved again for better, virgin land.
The Enon Baptist Church in Lawrence County, Alabama, was founded in January 1819, the year of the statehood of Alabama, and remains an active church today. The church is located at 3293 County Road 209 near Danville, Alabama, just southeast of Moulton, Alabama, county seat of Lawrence County. Enon Baptist Church is near the Morgan County line and can be reached by proceeding east on State Highway 157 from Moulton, Alabama, turning left on County Highway 36, and then taking another left on County Highway 209. The old Enon Baptist Church was just east of Oakville, Alabama. Thomas Couch and Meredith Couch, sons of Thomas Couch (b: ca. 1774) (one of John Couch and Ann Meredith’s sons) and Elvy Lynch Couch, operated a gristmill just northwest of Oakville.
In his book, One Southern Couch Family, Dr. Robert H. Couch relates the following information about Enon Baptist Church: “Originally, the name was Birdwell Springs Baptist Church after one of the founding families. It was then called Enon Baptist Church of Christ until 1835 when the name was changed to Baptist Church of Enon. The old church had an outside baptistery and an outbuilding called a saddling house. In its early days … everyone went to the nearby grove to read scriptures, sing and pray. Then after a half-hour or so, the men wandered over to the saddling house to discuss the important issues of the day, and the women congregated in the Baptismal font to visit…” Dr. Robert Couch goes on to relate that the early minutes of the Enon Baptist Church indicated that there was much debate concerning foot washing and that the church finally adopted the practice with, “a majority agreeing it should be literally performed.” In the church minutes of early 1828, the church secretary included a list of the 128 members, by number, to include, #21 Thomas Couch, #22 Elvy Couch, # 23 John Couch, Senr, # 24 Nancy Couch, # 25 John Couch, Jun, # 26 William L. Couch, # 27 Thomas J. Couch, # 80 Elizabeth Couch, # 82 Meredith Couch, # 117 Jeremiah Couch, and # 118 Mary Couch. The authors think that #23, John Couch, Senr., was our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) and that in 1824, he would have been about 79 years old. Since the Couch families made up such a large portion of the congregation, the Enon Baptist Church would have been a rather significant part of their lives. The old minutes of the Enon Baptist Church are incomplete. Copies of a few of the pages are included in Note 20 of this Chapter.
We know that John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, died in Lawrence County, Alabama, in 1821, because of information listed in a deed transfer of a slave. Deeds and slave indentures can be found in the old Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi records in Book E, pages 127, 129, 142, 143, and 331. In the indentures dated 21 October 1837 and 9 June 1838, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) says that he lives in Lawrence County, Alabama. The indenture of 21 October 1837 from the Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi, records, Book E, page 142, states: “Indenture made between John Couch of Lawrence County, Alabama and Sarah Couch, daughter of said John Couch, as sell for in consideration of the natural love and affection which he, the said John Couch hath and bestows unto the said Sarah, as also for upwards of sixteen years good service since the death of her mother, and also for the better maintenance, support and livelihood of her the said Sarah, hath given granted and confirmed unto the said Sarah her heirs and assigns the following property – one Negro girl named Violet, about 8 years old, also a Negro boy named Wiley about six years old”.
About 16 years after the death of John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, John moved to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, with his son, Gabriel Couch. He can be found on the 1840 Tishomingo County, Mississippi, census records as being between the ages of 90 and 100.
John Couch was a true pioneer, living in Virginia, North Carolina, the Mississippi Territory, Lawrence County, Alabama, and finally Tishomingo County, Mississippi. He moved south and then west as many pioneers did.
John Couch's ancestry tree is as follows:
1 – Captain THOMAS COUCH &_______ (b: abt. 1660 or earlier in England)(Merchant of London and Master of the ships, Fortune, and Palm Tree)
2 – THOMAS COUCH, Sr. (b: abt. 1685) & ELIZABETH [Lived in (Bristol Parish) Prince George County, Virginia, in the 1720's (record of son, Mathew's birth in Bristol Parish Records)
3 – THOMAS COUCH, Jr. (b: ca 1705-1714, possibly in VA. d: 1776 in Enoree, S.C.)
SPOUSE: MARY (b: ca. 1715-1720 in VA d: 1796 in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
This Thomas is known as Ole Thomas and he left a Will, dated: 12 Feb 1776)
4 – JOHN COUCH (b: ca 1745 in VA or NC d: 30 Mar 1840 in Tishomingo Co, MS)
SPOUSE: SUSANNA [ANN] MEREDITH (b: 7 Mar 1756 in MD d: ca. 1821 in AL)
Children of John Couch and Ann Meredith: Thomas (b: ca 1774); John, Jr. (b: ca 1779); Mary Polly (b: ca 1785); HENRY (b: ca 1786); Nancy (b: ca 1788); Jesse (b: ca 1789); Charity (b: ca 1790); Daughter (bef.-1790); Sarah (b: ca 1790+); Drury (b: ca 1798); Gabriel (b: ca 1800)
John Couch was born about 1745 in Virginia, or North Carolina, to Thomas and Mary Couch. Because the first United States census was not taken until 1790, the exact year of John Couch’s birth cannot be pinpointed. Different family researchers have recorded our John Couch as having been born between 1745 and 1750. I have traced him to the 1840 Tishomingo County, Mississippi, United States census, where he is listed as a male between the age of 90 and 100.
The first appearance of John Couch’s father, Thomas Couch, in North Carolina, was in Orange County in 1754, on a land grant map by A. B. Markham of Durham, North Carolina. Family researchers refer to John Couch’s father as “Ole Thomas.”
John Couch married Susanna “Ann” Meredith in Orange County, North Carolina in 1772. John Couch likely moved to the Old Ninety Six District, South Carolina, when he inherited half his father’s 300 acre land grant in 1776. Thomas Meredith, father of Ann Meredith, was living in Orange County, North Carolina, at the time John Couch and Ann Meredith were married. There is a record showing that Ann Meredith’s brother, Captain Henry Meredith (Revolutionary War Pension Number S9402), moved from Orange County, North Carolina, and purchased 500 acres of land in 1785 from Benjamin and Mary Wooford, and Burwell and Ann Thompson (Spartanburg County, South Carolina Deed Book A, pages 53-55, date: 19 October 1785, deed so recorded.) This land transaction by Captain Henry Meredith, of Revolutionary War fame, was on both sides of the Enoree River, and bordered the land of Ole Thomas Couch’s brother, Matthew (Mathew) Couch. Captain Henry Meredith indicated, in his pension application, that he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and served in the North Carolina Continental Line.
Evidence that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was making preparations to leave Spartanburg County, South Carolina, comes from his sale of land to relatives and others in the Enoree, South Carolina area. On 5 January 1792, he sold the 150 acres bordering the Enoree River that he had inherited from his father, Thomas Couch (b: ca: 1705-1714), to his brother Joseph Couch for 100 pounds. On 4 May 1798, John Couch sold 108 acres on the north side of the Enoree River to his brother, Drury (Drewry) Couch, for 50 pounds. John Couch (b: ca. 1745) had apparently sold all or most of his Spartanburg County, South Carolina, land by the turn of the eighteenth century, and had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina. It is likely that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) felt that the land in Spartanburg District, South Carolina was “farmed out,” and that it was necessary to seek better land to the west. He would move his family to the Greenville District, South Carolina.
On January 14, 1790, John Couch made his first recorded Greenville District, South Carolina, land purchase of 243 acres from the Mayfield family for 60 pounds sterling (Greenville, South Carolina Deed Book G, page 252.) The purchase was witnessed by his son, Thomas Couch, and Isaac Couch. Then on January 18, 1792, John Couch purchased 300 acres of land from John and Ann Ford on both sides of the Saluda River in Greenville District, South Carolina. He paid 150 pounds sterling for this 300-acre tract of land, and the purchase was witnessed by Drury and James Couch (Greenville District, South Carolina Deed Book C, page 163.) John Couch and his wife Ann sold 108 acres of their Enoree River land in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, to John’s brother, Drury Couch. John Couch and Ann were already in Greenville District, South Carolina, by the time they sold this 108 acre tract to Drury Couch. They were living along the banks of the Chickarora River, a branch of the Saluda River, prior to 1798.
Both John Couch (b: ca. 1745), and his son, John Couch, Jr., are on the 1800 Greenville County, South Carolina, census.
John Couch joined the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church 15 February 1800 (From Padgetts Creek Baptist Church Minutes.)
John Couch (b: ca. 1745) sold some of his property in Greenville, South Carolina, on 31 January 1805 (Greenville County, South Carolina, deed books F and G, page 2366, recorded 4 July 1805, book G, page 285). This is the last known record of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) in Greenville, South Carolina. The Justice of the Peace before whom this land sale document was proved was Hugh McVay, a future resident of Madison County, Alabama, and a future governor of Alabama.
In about 1807 or 1808, our Couch family left Greenville County, South Carolina, on their way to Madison County, Mississippi Territory. Such was the spirit of a true pioneer family. By 1809 or earlier, our Couch family can be found in the Mississippi Territory. The 1809 census, taken in Madison County, Mississippi Territory (now Alabama) shows our Couch family. Extracts from the 1809 census show the following Couches and their neighbors: George Blackburn, Benjamin Langford, John Couch, Thomas Couch, John Couch Jr., John Allison, Waller Mathews, Joseph Mathews, Archibald McDaniel, and John Renneau. John Couch is John Couch (b: ca. 1745), husband of Ann Meredith. The Thomas and John Couch, Jr., listed on the 1809 Madison Co, MS Territory census, are sons of John and Ann Meredith Couch. On another section of land nearby another Couch is found as follows: Joseph Gormely; Nicholas Couch; George Baylis. Additionally, John Couch, Sr., John Couch, Jr., and Thomas Couch all can be found on Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815. Also, Jesse Couch and Henry Couch can be found on the Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815.
As John Couch and his wife Ann Meredith and the other Couch families were going about their business farming in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, our young country was still very unstable and was about to go to war with Great Britain again. Had America not stood her own in the War of 1812, there would have been no United States of America. There is a Lieutenant Thomas Couch who fought in the War of 1812, 7th Regiment (Perkins’ Battalion) of the Mississippi Militia (Madison County, Mississippi Territory). This Thomas Couch would have to be the son of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) because there was only one Thomas Couch in Madison County, Mississippi Territory from 1812 to 1814. Thomas Couch was born about 1774 to John Couch and Ann Meredith Couch and would have been about 38 years old when he fought in the War of 1812.
John Couch (b: ca. 1745), his son Henry Couch, and some of John’s children were in Lawrence County, Alabama, just after the 1820 census was taken. Most likely, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was in Lawrence County about 1820 to 1821. Henry married Catherine (Caty) Walters there on 11 August 1821. There is a land recording for him there in 1818, but he is not on the 1820 Lawrence County, Alabama, census. Lawrence County land opened for grants and sale in 1818. The Couch families would have moved again for better, virgin land.
The Enon Baptist Church in Lawrence County, Alabama, was founded in January 1819, the year of the statehood of Alabama, and remains an active church today. The church is located at 3293 County Road 209 near Danville, Alabama, just southeast of Moulton, Alabama, county seat of Lawrence County. Enon Baptist Church is near the Morgan County line and can be reached by proceeding east on State Highway 157 from Moulton, Alabama, turning left on County Highway 36, and then taking another left on County Highway 209. The old Enon Baptist Church was just east of Oakville, Alabama. Thomas Couch and Meredith Couch, sons of Thomas Couch (b: ca. 1774) (one of John Couch and Ann Meredith’s sons) and Elvy Lynch Couch, operated a gristmill just northwest of Oakville.
In his book, One Southern Couch Family, Dr. Robert H. Couch relates the following information about Enon Baptist Church: “Originally, the name was Birdwell Springs Baptist Church after one of the founding families. It was then called Enon Baptist Church of Christ until 1835 when the name was changed to Baptist Church of Enon. The old church had an outside baptistery and an outbuilding called a saddling house. In its early days … everyone went to the nearby grove to read scriptures, sing and pray. Then after a half-hour or so, the men wandered over to the saddling house to discuss the important issues of the day, and the women congregated in the Baptismal font to visit…” Dr. Robert Couch goes on to relate that the early minutes of the Enon Baptist Church indicated that there was much debate concerning foot washing and that the church finally adopted the practice with, “a majority agreeing it should be literally performed.” In the church minutes of early 1828, the church secretary included a list of the 128 members, by number, to include, #21 Thomas Couch, #22 Elvy Couch, # 23 John Couch, Senr, # 24 Nancy Couch, # 25 John Couch, Jun, # 26 William L. Couch, # 27 Thomas J. Couch, # 80 Elizabeth Couch, # 82 Meredith Couch, # 117 Jeremiah Couch, and # 118 Mary Couch. The authors think that #23, John Couch, Senr., was our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) and that in 1824, he would have been about 79 years old. Since the Couch families made up such a large portion of the congregation, the Enon Baptist Church would have been a rather significant part of their lives. The old minutes of the Enon Baptist Church are incomplete. Copies of a few of the pages are included in Note 20 of this Chapter.
We know that John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, died in Lawrence County, Alabama, in 1821, because of information listed in a deed transfer of a slave. Deeds and slave indentures can be found in the old Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi records in Book E, pages 127, 129, 142, 143, and 331. In the indentures dated 21 October 1837 and 9 June 1838, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) says that he lives in Lawrence County, Alabama. The indenture of 21 October 1837 from the Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi, records, Book E, page 142, states: “Indenture made between John Couch of Lawrence County, Alabama and Sarah Couch, daughter of said John Couch, as sell for in consideration of the natural love and affection which he, the said John Couch hath and bestows unto the said Sarah, as also for upwards of sixteen years good service since the death of her mother, and also for the better maintenance, support and livelihood of her the said Sarah, hath given granted and confirmed unto the said Sarah her heirs and assigns the following property – one Negro girl named Violet, about 8 years old, also a Negro boy named Wiley about six years old”.
About 16 years after the death of John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, John moved to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, with his son, Gabriel Couch. He can be found on the 1840 Tishomingo County, Mississippi, census records as being between the ages of 90 and 100.
John Couch was a true pioneer, living in Virginia, North Carolina, the Mississippi Territory, Lawrence County, Alabama, and finally Tishomingo County, Mississippi. He moved south and then west as many pioneers did.
John Couch's ancestry tree is as follows:
1 – Captain THOMAS COUCH &_______ (b: abt. 1660 or earlier in England)(Merchant of London and Master of the ships, Fortune, and Palm Tree)
2 – THOMAS COUCH, Sr. (b: abt. 1685) & ELIZABETH [Lived in (Bristol Parish) Prince George County, Virginia, in the 1720's (record of son, Mathew's birth in Bristol Parish Records)
3 – THOMAS COUCH, Jr. (b: ca 1705-1714, possibly in VA. d: 1776 in Enoree, S.C.)
SPOUSE: MARY (b: ca. 1715-1720 in VA d: 1796 in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
This Thomas is known as Ole Thomas and he left a Will, dated: 12 Feb 1776)
4 – JOHN COUCH (b: ca 1745 in VA or NC d: 30 Mar 1840 in Tishomingo Co, MS)
SPOUSE: SUSANNA [ANN] MEREDITH (b: 7 Mar 1756 in MD d: ca. 1821 in AL)
Children of John Couch and Ann Meredith: Thomas (b: ca 1774); John, Jr. (b: ca 1779); Mary Polly (b: ca 1785); HENRY (b: ca 1786); Nancy (b: ca 1788); Jesse (b: ca 1789); Charity (b: ca 1790); Daughter (bef.-1790); Sarah (b: ca 1790+); Drury (b: ca 1798); Gabriel (b: ca 1800)
The first appearance of John Couch’s father, Thomas Couch, in North Carolina, was in Orange County in 1754, on a land grant map by A. B. Markham of Durham, North Carolina. Family researchers refer to John Couch’s father as “Ole Thomas.”
John Couch married Susanna “Ann” Meredith in Orange County, North Carolina in 1772. John Couch likely moved to the Old Ninety Six District, South Carolina, when he inherited half his father’s 300 acre land grant in 1776. Thomas Meredith, father of Ann Meredith, was living in Orange County, North Carolina, at the time John Couch and Ann Meredith were married. There is a record showing that Ann Meredith’s brother, Captain Henry Meredith (Revolutionary War Pension Number S9402), moved from Orange County, North Carolina, and purchased 500 acres of land in 1785 from Benjamin and Mary Wooford, and Burwell and Ann Thompson (Spartanburg County, South Carolina Deed Book A, pages 53-55, date: 19 October 1785, deed so recorded.) This land transaction by Captain Henry Meredith, of Revolutionary War fame, was on both sides of the Enoree River, and bordered the land of Ole Thomas Couch’s brother, Matthew (Mathew) Couch. Captain Henry Meredith indicated, in his pension application, that he was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and served in the North Carolina Continental Line.
Evidence that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was making preparations to leave Spartanburg County, South Carolina, comes from his sale of land to relatives and others in the Enoree, South Carolina area. On 5 January 1792, he sold the 150 acres bordering the Enoree River that he had inherited from his father, Thomas Couch (b: ca: 1705-1714), to his brother Joseph Couch for 100 pounds. On 4 May 1798, John Couch sold 108 acres on the north side of the Enoree River to his brother, Drury (Drewry) Couch, for 50 pounds. John Couch (b: ca. 1745) had apparently sold all or most of his Spartanburg County, South Carolina, land by the turn of the eighteenth century, and had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina. It is likely that our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) felt that the land in Spartanburg District, South Carolina was “farmed out,” and that it was necessary to seek better land to the west. He would move his family to the Greenville District, South Carolina.
On January 14, 1790, John Couch made his first recorded Greenville District, South Carolina, land purchase of 243 acres from the Mayfield family for 60 pounds sterling (Greenville, South Carolina Deed Book G, page 252.) The purchase was witnessed by his son, Thomas Couch, and Isaac Couch. Then on January 18, 1792, John Couch purchased 300 acres of land from John and Ann Ford on both sides of the Saluda River in Greenville District, South Carolina. He paid 150 pounds sterling for this 300-acre tract of land, and the purchase was witnessed by Drury and James Couch (Greenville District, South Carolina Deed Book C, page 163.) John Couch and his wife Ann sold 108 acres of their Enoree River land in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, to John’s brother, Drury Couch. John Couch and Ann were already in Greenville District, South Carolina, by the time they sold this 108 acre tract to Drury Couch. They were living along the banks of the Chickarora River, a branch of the Saluda River, prior to 1798.
Both John Couch (b: ca. 1745), and his son, John Couch, Jr., are on the 1800 Greenville County, South Carolina, census.
John Couch joined the Padgett's Creek Baptist Church 15 February 1800 (From Padgetts Creek Baptist Church Minutes.)
John Couch (b: ca. 1745) sold some of his property in Greenville, South Carolina, on 31 January 1805 (Greenville County, South Carolina, deed books F and G, page 2366, recorded 4 July 1805, book G, page 285). This is the last known record of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) in Greenville, South Carolina. The Justice of the Peace before whom this land sale document was proved was Hugh McVay, a future resident of Madison County, Alabama, and a future governor of Alabama.
In about 1807 or 1808, our Couch family left Greenville County, South Carolina, on their way to Madison County, Mississippi Territory. Such was the spirit of a true pioneer family. By 1809 or earlier, our Couch family can be found in the Mississippi Territory. The 1809 census, taken in Madison County, Mississippi Territory (now Alabama) shows our Couch family. Extracts from the 1809 census show the following Couches and their neighbors: George Blackburn, Benjamin Langford, John Couch, Thomas Couch, John Couch Jr., John Allison, Waller Mathews, Joseph Mathews, Archibald McDaniel, and John Renneau. John Couch is John Couch (b: ca. 1745), husband of Ann Meredith. The Thomas and John Couch, Jr., listed on the 1809 Madison Co, MS Territory census, are sons of John and Ann Meredith Couch. On another section of land nearby another Couch is found as follows: Joseph Gormely; Nicholas Couch; George Baylis. Additionally, John Couch, Sr., John Couch, Jr., and Thomas Couch all can be found on Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815. Also, Jesse Couch and Henry Couch can be found on the Mississippi Territory tax records after 1807 and prior to 1815.
As John Couch and his wife Ann Meredith and the other Couch families were going about their business farming in Madison County, Mississippi Territory, our young country was still very unstable and was about to go to war with Great Britain again. Had America not stood her own in the War of 1812, there would have been no United States of America. There is a Lieutenant Thomas Couch who fought in the War of 1812, 7th Regiment (Perkins’ Battalion) of the Mississippi Militia (Madison County, Mississippi Territory). This Thomas Couch would have to be the son of John Couch (b: ca. 1745) because there was only one Thomas Couch in Madison County, Mississippi Territory from 1812 to 1814. Thomas Couch was born about 1774 to John Couch and Ann Meredith Couch and would have been about 38 years old when he fought in the War of 1812.
John Couch (b: ca. 1745), his son Henry Couch, and some of John’s children were in Lawrence County, Alabama, just after the 1820 census was taken. Most likely, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) was in Lawrence County about 1820 to 1821. Henry married Catherine (Caty) Walters there on 11 August 1821. There is a land recording for him there in 1818, but he is not on the 1820 Lawrence County, Alabama, census. Lawrence County land opened for grants and sale in 1818. The Couch families would have moved again for better, virgin land.
The Enon Baptist Church in Lawrence County, Alabama, was founded in January 1819, the year of the statehood of Alabama, and remains an active church today. The church is located at 3293 County Road 209 near Danville, Alabama, just southeast of Moulton, Alabama, county seat of Lawrence County. Enon Baptist Church is near the Morgan County line and can be reached by proceeding east on State Highway 157 from Moulton, Alabama, turning left on County Highway 36, and then taking another left on County Highway 209. The old Enon Baptist Church was just east of Oakville, Alabama. Thomas Couch and Meredith Couch, sons of Thomas Couch (b: ca. 1774) (one of John Couch and Ann Meredith’s sons) and Elvy Lynch Couch, operated a gristmill just northwest of Oakville.
In his book, One Southern Couch Family, Dr. Robert H. Couch relates the following information about Enon Baptist Church: “Originally, the name was Birdwell Springs Baptist Church after one of the founding families. It was then called Enon Baptist Church of Christ until 1835 when the name was changed to Baptist Church of Enon. The old church had an outside baptistery and an outbuilding called a saddling house. In its early days … everyone went to the nearby grove to read scriptures, sing and pray. Then after a half-hour or so, the men wandered over to the saddling house to discuss the important issues of the day, and the women congregated in the Baptismal font to visit…” Dr. Robert Couch goes on to relate that the early minutes of the Enon Baptist Church indicated that there was much debate concerning foot washing and that the church finally adopted the practice with, “a majority agreeing it should be literally performed.” In the church minutes of early 1828, the church secretary included a list of the 128 members, by number, to include, #21 Thomas Couch, #22 Elvy Couch, # 23 John Couch, Senr, # 24 Nancy Couch, # 25 John Couch, Jun, # 26 William L. Couch, # 27 Thomas J. Couch, # 80 Elizabeth Couch, # 82 Meredith Couch, # 117 Jeremiah Couch, and # 118 Mary Couch. The authors think that #23, John Couch, Senr., was our John Couch (b: ca. 1745) and that in 1824, he would have been about 79 years old. Since the Couch families made up such a large portion of the congregation, the Enon Baptist Church would have been a rather significant part of their lives. The old minutes of the Enon Baptist Church are incomplete. Copies of a few of the pages are included in Note 20 of this Chapter.
We know that John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, died in Lawrence County, Alabama, in 1821, because of information listed in a deed transfer of a slave. Deeds and slave indentures can be found in the old Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi records in Book E, pages 127, 129, 142, 143, and 331. In the indentures dated 21 October 1837 and 9 June 1838, John Couch (b: ca. 1745) says that he lives in Lawrence County, Alabama. The indenture of 21 October 1837 from the Alcom/Tishomingo County, Mississippi, records, Book E, page 142, states: “Indenture made between John Couch of Lawrence County, Alabama and Sarah Couch, daughter of said John Couch, as sell for in consideration of the natural love and affection which he, the said John Couch hath and bestows unto the said Sarah, as also for upwards of sixteen years good service since the death of her mother, and also for the better maintenance, support and livelihood of her the said Sarah, hath given granted and confirmed unto the said Sarah her heirs and assigns the following property – one Negro girl named Violet, about 8 years old, also a Negro boy named Wiley about six years old”.
About 16 years after the death of John Couch’s wife, Ann Meredith, John moved to Tishomingo County, Mississippi, with his son, Gabriel Couch. He can be found on the 1840 Tishomingo County, Mississippi, census records as being between the ages of 90 and 100.
John Couch was a true pioneer, living in Virginia, North Carolina, the Mississippi Territory, Lawrence County, Alabama, and finally Tishomingo County, Mississippi. He moved south and then west as many pioneers did.
John Couch's ancestry tree is as follows:
1 – Captain THOMAS COUCH &_______ (b: abt. 1660 or earlier in England)(Merchant of London and Master of the ships, Fortune, and Palm Tree)
2 – THOMAS COUCH, Sr. (b: abt. 1685) & ELIZABETH [Lived in (Bristol Parish) Prince George County, Virginia, in the 1720's (record of son, Mathew's birth in Bristol Parish Records)
3 – THOMAS COUCH, Jr. (b: ca 1705-1714, possibly in VA. d: 1776 in Enoree, S.C.)
SPOUSE: MARY (b: ca. 1715-1720 in VA d: 1796 in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
This Thomas is known as Ole Thomas and he left a Will, dated: 12 Feb 1776)
4 – JOHN COUCH (b: ca 1745 in VA or NC d: 30 Mar 1840 in Tishomingo Co, MS)
SPOUSE: SUSANNA [ANN] MEREDITH (b: 7 Mar 1756 in MD d: ca. 1821 in AL)
Children of John Couch and Ann Meredith: Thomas (b: ca 1774); John, Jr. (b: ca 1779); Mary Polly (b: ca 1785); HENRY (b: ca 1786); Nancy (b: ca 1788); Jesse (b: ca 1789); Charity (b: ca 1790); Daughter (bef.-1790); Sarah (b: ca 1790+); Drury (b: ca 1798); Gabriel (b: ca 1800)
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