COUCH

From: Kathryn Hopkins 

English Origins of New England Families
>From the New England Historical and Genealogical Register
Second Series in Three Volumes
Volume I
Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.
Baltimore, 1985

Page 601

	An Early Boston Physician.  --  The following is the title of a book
of interest to Boston medical men: "Praxis Catholica, or the
Countryman's Universal Remedy, wherein is laid down the Nature,
Matter, Manner, Place and Cure of most Diseaases, Incident to the
Body of man, written by Robert Couch, sometime Practitioner in
Physick and Chyrurgyry, at Boston in New England," published with
Additions by Chr. Pack.  1680.  16mo., size of print 5x8-1/2, pp.
46+165+3.

	6 Apr. 1663.  John Tottey of Ratcliff in the Parish of Stepney,
county of Middlesex, England, gave a power of attorney to his trusty
and well beloved friend Robert Couch of Shadwell in the parish of
Stepney, chirurgeon (now bound forth and intended for a voyage to New
England).  This is recorded in Suffolk Deeds, Lib. iv.f.310.  Phillip
Naylor a witness acknowledged his signature before John Leverett, 14
June and the document was recorded 9 Aug. 1665.

	In the Boston records of births, deaths and marriages we find:
	2 Nov.  1663 Robert of Mr. Robert and Elizabeth Couch born.
	20 Oct. 1665 Elizabeth of Mr. Robert and Elizabeth Couch born.
	24 Dec. 1667 Mary of Robert and Elizabeth Couch born.
	22 Mch 1671 Edward of Robert and Elizabeth Couch born.

	Savage in his Genealogical Dictionary gives Robert couch of New
Hampshire, 1656-1669.  This is the same individual but he was not
there during that period, only from 1667 to 1669, when he was at
Portsmouth and that neighborhood, and was interested in the case of
Mrs. Jane Walford charged with witchcraft, to such an extent that his
opinions on her condition led to her complaint against him for
slander 22 March, 1669, when she received a verdict of fine pounds
and costs in lieu of the one thousand pounds damages asked for in her
complaint.  (See REGISER, Vol. xliv., pp. 182-183).
	This case in our law courts was not the only similar experience of
Robert Couch while in New England; in the following year he brought a
suit against one George Willoughby, who lately from Barbadoes, had
there contracted a disease of an ulcerous nature, and after placing
himself under the care of Dr. William Hawkins (d. 1685) and Dr. Henry
Tayler, was treated by Couch at an expense of L5 5s. 6d., which
Willoughby thought excessive.
	Couch tarried in New England as late as 1677 and soon after that
date went to Virgina, where he died previous to 1680, and the
manuscript of the book mentioned above fell into the hands of Col.
Francis Willis of Ware River, Gloucester County, Va., whose will is
given, REGISTER, Vol. xii., pp. 257.
	Col. Willis sent the manuscript to England, where it was printed by
Christopher Pack, chemist, whose laboratory was at the "Sign of the
Globe and Chymical Furnaces in the Postern near Moorgate."
	The dedication of the work by Pack is to Col. Francis Willis.
	Sabjn's Americana makes no mention of this title given above.
	William of David and Mary Couch was born 25 Jan. 1685 in Boston.
	A marriage license was granted 14 Nov. 1573 to William Couche of
Stepney, gent, and Johanna Hemmynge, widow, of St. Botolph,
Aldersgate, London.
	Robert Couch of St. Anne Black friars, London, bachelor, age 23, and
Anne Frencham, of Westminster, spinster, age 23, her parents dead,
were granted a marriage license 20 July 1665.
						Walter K. Watkins.