Eliz. MacCarty (step-d. of James Adair) m.1761 Couch
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In reply to:
Two Sarahs, daus of two James ?
Shirley Walsh 7/21/02
re: The widow Ann "Maccarty" had two children bapt. at Westport in 1742; and it was doubtless she who m. at Fairfield Church, 18 Oct. 1744, James Adair.
Children, bapt. Westport:
John (Maccarty ?), bapt. 8 Aug. 1742.
Elizabeth (Maccarty ?), bapt. 8 Aug. 1742;
m. at Greenfield, 27 July 1761, Lt. Ebenezer Couch, of Redding.
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According to “The History and Genealogy of The Families of Old Fairfield, Conn.”, the Couch line is
(1) Simon Couch, b abt 1633 mar Mary ____? Had 7 children
(2) Samuel mar Edrea Hurlbut daughter of Thomas 2nd and widow of Benjamin Gilbert. Samuel & Edrea had 11 children
(3) Ebenezer I bapt Apr 1709 d 23 Mar 1797 age 88; mar (1) Ann Crane, dau of Jonathan mar (2) Eunice ____ ?
(4) **Ebenezer COUCH II ** b 20 Jan 1733 dc.Oct 1800 Milton, Saratoga Co. NY,
.....m.1stly 27 July 1761 Elizabeth McCARTY at Greenfield– 6 children.;
.....m.2ndly 4 Nov 1777 at New Preston, Sarah (Kinney) Bostwick widow of Joel Bostwick and dau of Jacob Kinney – 6 Children.
(5) Levi bapt 22 June 1783 mar Cynthia Higgins
Following is a sketch distributed at the Mapes-Higgins Reunion by Sharon Ford Adrian,1994: "A Family Of Ebenezers".-Thankyou Sharon.
"The December 1993 Newsletter regarding Ebenezer Couch, Jr., prompts me to write this article regarding the first and second Ebenezers Couch (who my family refers to as ‘our Ebenezers’).
"Ebenezer I was a delegate to Hartford as part of the delegation for the Second Continental Congress. While he was there, the delegation received a copy of a New York newspaper containing a letter from the "Redding Loyalist Association". This letter contained 4 resolutions and the following preamble:
'...In the present critical situation of publick affairs, we, the subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Redding and the adjoining parts of the County of Fairfield, and Colony of Connecticut, think it necessary to assure the publick that we are open enemies of any change in the present happy Constitution, and highly disapprove of all measures in the any degree calculated to promote confusion and disorder; for which purpose and in order to avoid the general censure, incurred by a great part of this colony from the mode of conduct here adopted for the purpose of opposing the British Government, we have entered into the following resolves and agreements, viz...' In other words, they wanted things to stay the way they were.
The effect of this document on the patriots of Redding was like a red flag on a bull. They at once set to work to discover its signers and presently made public in a circular the entire list so far as they belonged in Redding.
It was given out by the Committee of Observation, of which Ebenezer I was Chairman. (Was James Adair on this Committee ?)
The preamble to this goes: 'Whereas, There was a certain number of resolves published--and whereas said Resolves are injurious to the rights of this Colony, and breathe a spirit of enmity and opposition to the rights and liberties of all America and are in direct opposition to the Association of the Continental Congress; and notwithstanding said resolutions were come into with a (seeming) view to secure the said signers some extraordinary privileges and immunities, yet either through negligence in the printer or upon design of the subscribers, said signed names are not made publick--and not if there be any advantage in adopting those principles we are willing they should be entitled there to;.....'
The result, of course, was that the Whigs and Federalist ran the Tories out of town. This is one of the reasons that the DAR has deemed Ebenezer I a "PATRIOT". There is another reason.
Ebenezer COUCH II (m. step-dau of James Adair) was a Lieutenant in the Redding militia when General Washington put out the call for a Continental Army.
Ebenezer Couch II marshaled the troops and they joined as a unit. Ebenezer I, being one of the most influential and wealthy men in Redding, paid for their new uniforms and took care of their families the first winter of the war. This is the other reason the DAR calls Ebenezer Couch I a "PATRIOT"
Ebenezer II served in the Continental Army throughout the war. By tracing the different regiments that he was part of, we've been able to determine that he was involved in the battles of New York, Trenton, and Saratoga and was probably with Washington when he crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey for the Battle of Trenton (with any Adairs ?).
Because of Ebenezer's efforts in the Saratoga campaign, he was given a land grant where he eventually moved his family and where he is buried.
Another interesting fact about this Revolutionary War family is that Ebenezer III enlisted in 1780 (aged 12) as his father's waiter. He served 3 months. He re-enlisted in 1781 and served 6 months. He suffered a flesh wound in the side from a bayonet. When stabbed, he fell and broke his kneecap and was unable to return to battle."
More Replies:
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James Adair, 1744 Fairfield, CT & Alex Adair 1734 LI, NY
Shirley Walsh 6/20/08
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Jennette Adair b.1807 Scotch Bush, Florida, Montgomery Co NY
Shirley Walsh 9/06/05