John Finch (1767 - 1849)

Born 6 May 1767 in Goshen, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Green) Finch — married 17 Aug 1787 in New York

Husband of Jemima Bruton (Overton) Finch — married 12 Oct 1797 in New York

Husband of Mahetable (Brown) Finch — married 25 Apr 1806 in New york

Descendants

Died 28 Sep 1849 at age 82 in Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana, United States

Biography

He was a blacksmith, scholar, and built a horse-powered mill in Hamilton Co., IN He had 3 wives and 17 children.

Judge John Finch, Orange County, New York

John Finch was born May 6, 1767 in Goshen, Orange County, New York. He was 11 years old during the Battle Of Wyoming Valley, PA. In adulthood, John was described as being six feet tall, 170 pounds, with fair skin and black eyes.

Married:

• 1st wife, Elizabeth Green in August 17, 1787. Elizabeth (Green) Finch died bef. Oct. 1797.
• 2nd wife, Jemima Overton October 12, 1797. Jemima (Overton) Finch was was born

December 25, 1775, and died sometime prior to April 1806.

• 3rd wife, Mehitable Brown Chapman on April 25, 1806. Mehitable was born May 12, 1776, Orange County, New York. She was previously married to Nathan Chapman on Feb. 13, 1800. Nathan Chapman died July 18, 1804, while Mehitable was pregnant with

their 3rd child.

John Finch fathered 17 children, (from the time he was 23 up until his 51st year) 1800 census indicated that John Finch was a resident of Seneca County, New York. In 1810, per census records, John Finch was a resident of Caldonia, Genesee County, New York.

Was a blacksmith in the War of 1812. 1813, Lived in North Bend, Ohio, where he purchased land adjacent to that of William J. Harrison.

Known to have lived in Muncie, IN., Anderson, IN., Connersville, Indiana (abt. 1816-1819) and Noblesville, Hamilton County Indiana, where he moved his family in August of 1819. John settled on Horseshoe Prairie, six months following his brother, Solomon's arrival there.

• John Finch was one of the (2) first Associate Judges in Hamilton County, Indiana (the

other being William Blackmore). He was Associate Judge 1823-1829 Probate & Common Pleas.

• Built the first mill in Hamilton County, which was run by horse-power, and known as "Finch's Horse-mill".
• Started first Blacksmith shop in Hamilton County. Said to have been a "fine mechanic and good blacksmith".

First sermon preached to white settlers, took place in the home of John Finch in 1820. Baptist services were held there until 1832, when John moved to Wayne Township, [Noblesville, IN.]. The congregation met at his new home as well as other private residences, until John Conner donated a lot on the corner of Ninth and Cherry Street.

John Finch died September 28, 1849 (age 82) in Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana. Mehitable Brown (Chapman) Finch died November 18-24, 1846 in Noblesville, Hamilton Co., IN. Originally interred on his family farm, John Finch was later moved to Riverside Cemetery Noblesville, Hamilton County, Indiana along with his wife Mehitable Brown Chapman. (Sect.G, Row 20 Marker #4).

Will dated January 26, 1841; probated January 12, 1850, Hamilton County, Indiana; "I give to my wife Mehitable household furniture, etc... To each of my children, Elizabeth Davidson, Sarah Palmer, Margaret Thompson, Rebecca Hall, Fabius M. Finch, Angeline Williams, ---- to my children, Jubal, John, Cyrus, Laura, and Hiram, H.G. and Fabius M. Executors."

Note: John owned "Old Finch Farm" in Hamilton County, Indiana which was located South of Route 38, west of Boden Road and north of 166th street - about 2 miles east of Noblesville, Indiana. Finch Cemetery was located on that property and later, when the property sold to Alfred J. Sohl, several graves from that Finch cemetery were moved to Riverside cemetery in Noblesville.

See: "History of The Formation, Settlement & Development Of Hamilton County" by Augustus Finch Shirts copyright 1901 Hamilton County History & Genealogy History Of Durbin Elementary School Riverside Cemetery Records

Sources

• http://finchroots.com/
• John Finch on Find A Grave: Memorial #13382048, Maintained by: Barbara, Originally Created by: SunCacher, Added: 18 Feb 2006, Find A Grave Memorial 13382048

• 1810 census Caledonia, Genesee, NY
• Associate Judge 1823-1829 Probate & Common Pleas, Hamiliton Co., IN