Samuel COWLES

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Name:
He removed from Meriden to Cheshire, thence to Torrington, Conn., before 1753, as his daughter Abigail was baptized there Jan. 17, 1753; and from there to Norfolk, Conn., prior to Apr. 12, 1772. He and his wife Martha were received into the church at Norfolk, April 12, 1772.

In his will, dated Norfolk, Conn., Apr. 19, 1781, probated Feb. 11, 1799, he mentions wife Elizabeth, sons Samuel, Amasa and Adna; daughters Mindwell, Martha, Eunice, Jerusha, Abigail; and son-in-law Thomas Coe. Inventory of estate $951.25. In the Court record he is referred to as late of New Hartford, and the inventory is dated New Hartford, Conn., Feb. 14, 1799. Perhaps he went there to live after his second marriage and die there.

Samuel married Martha BROOKS on 25 Sep 1734. Martha was born on 21 Feb 1714; died on 27 Sep 1778. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Abigail COWLES was born on 6 May 1753; was christened on 17 Jun 1753 in Torrington, Connecticut; died in 12 or 14 Nov 1833 in Norfolk, Connecticut.

Samuel married Elizabeth MARSH on 7 Apr 1779. Elizabeth died on 25 Apr 1799. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Joseph Cole

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The graves of Joseph Cowles and his wife, Mindwell, are marked by stones in the Old Meeting House hIll Cemetery, Meriden. upon a monument in the Cemetery are the following inscriptions: "Erected by the Town of Meriden, 1857, in memory of the first settlers of the Town of Meriden who were buried within and near the enclosure, ad whose names are inscribed on this monument. The Meeting House in which they worshipped, and the first erected in the town, stood about fifty rods west of this monument." Among others the following names appear: Joseph Cowles, Nov. 30, 1760, aged 83; Mindwell Cowles, April 17, 1770, aged 89.

The following extract if taken from "A Century of Meriden, : published in 1906:

"The first of the Cowles family to live in Meriden was Joseph who came from Farmington and married Abigail, daughter of Samuel Royce on July 13, 1699. His father-in-law gave him a farm just south of Archer's corner in South Farms district, and in the year 1701, 107 acres up the hill on the old highway down which we fancy the good parson (Hall) descending after stopping, perhaps, to chat with some of the Cowles family, who were always prominent in church matters. It is difficult to believe that on the summit of this hill, called Ox Hill, there was once a colony of Cowleses and also Rices, for as far as the writer can discover, there is not the least remnant of the depression of a cellar to mark the site of a house anywhere in the vicinity, but there is no doubt that here they lived for several generations."

Mr Cowles was a weaver by trade, one of the leading citizens of the ton, and a deacon of the church.

Joseph married Abigail ROYCE on 13 Jul 1699 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Abigail (daughter of Ensign Samuel ROYCE, Sr. and Hannah CHURCHILL) was born on 24 Nov 1677 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died on 24 May 1714 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of John and Hannah Cowles of Hartford, Conn.

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He was one of the eighty-four proprietors of Farmington in 1672; inherited his father's estate there and became one of the leading citizens. He was a man of energy, enterprise and possessed what passed for wealth at that time. Joined the church with his wife in 1690; was the progenitor of the Connecticut branch of the Cowles family as his brother John was of the Massachusetts branch.

Samuel married Abigail STANLEY on 14 Jan 1660/1. Abigail (daughter of Timothy STANLEY and Elizabeth ?) was born in Hartford, Connecticut; died in 1736 in Farmington, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Dau. of Timothy and Elizabeth Stanley of Hartford, Conn.

Samuel married Hannah CHURCHILL between 09 Jan 1666 and 1667 in New London, New London, Connecticut, USA. Hannah (daughter of Josiah CHURCHILL and Elizabeth FOOTE) was born on 01 Nov 1644 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died about 1689 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records for New London states Hannah's last name as CHURCHWOOD.