JOHN COUCH SR. was born about 1750, probably in North Carolina and died about 1830-33 in Perry Co., Kentucky. It was long believed that John Couch was German but DNA testing on his current families has shown that to be incorrect. The Couches are of English descent. DNA testing has shown that our John was a grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth Couch who lived in New Brunswick, North Carolina. He may be the child of their son, William who has been unaccounted for in Couch genealogy.

JP Downard researched the John Couch Family for many years. He wrote "John COUCH was a very large man (Weighed up to 500 Lbs.) and fought in the Revolutionary War. He is supposed to have served as a wagon driver for Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary War. He later went to Ky about 1800 with his son Martin and lived and died in Ky."

That Couch researcher thought that John Couch was married to Mary ‘Polly’ BOONE around 1769 in Orange Co., N.C. Mary Boone was born about 1747 in Pennsylvania and died about 1781 in North Carolina. Most researchers believe that John and Mary are the parents of Mary, Nancy, and Sarah Couch.

Some researchers think that John had a 2nd marriage to a Elizabeth James Campbell after the death of Mary Boone and she was the mother of Martin, Austin, John, and James B.. There is a marriage record for a John Couch and Elizabeth James who married on 12-2-1783 in Orange Co., North Carolina. Elizabeth was the daughter of William James and Lettice Taylor. She was born about 1745 and died before 1830 in Perry Co., Kentucky. Elizabeth was first married to Patrick Campbell. Some researchers believe that she divorced Patrick and then married John Couch. Elizabeth James and Patrick Campbell had the following children: Charles, William, James, John, Mary, Elizabeth and Janett Campbell.

There has been a lot of debating in the past over a will found in Orange Co., North Carolina archives that a John Couch married Mary Patterson. Mary Patterson’s will states “All her estate to be equally divided among the surviving children of (John) Couch and Betsey, his wife deceased. The names of the children now living are Mary Couch, Letitia Couch, July Couch, Eleanor Couch and Elizabeth Couch. All are under 18 years of age. Executors: Worth friends, Robert Campbell, Roger Daniels, and John Couch. Witnesses: Robert Campbell, Roger Daniels. Will proven February 1796 signed Mary Patterson.” As I read this will, this Mary Patterson is not the wife of John Couch. Mary Patterson is leaving her estate to the children of Betsey and John Couch. I do not believe that our John Couch was ever married to a Mary Patterson and the John mentioned in the will is not John who came to Kentucky with his sons.
Children of John Couch were:

Nancy Ann COUCH 1777 m William Campbell
Mary ‘Polly’ COUCH 1772 m John Campbell
Sarah ‘Sally’ COUCH 1773 m James T. Lewis
Martin COUCH 1784 m Sarah Hall
Austin COUCH 1786 m Daphe Eversole
John COUCH Jr. 1791 m Jane Campbell
James Bartlett COUCH 1793

Note: There are many old graves in the cemetery that have no readable names on them, probably over st least 60.. It is possible that his other children are also buried here. Also the stone placed for John was taken by someone shortly after it was placed in the cemetery.