James Finch (1725 - aft. 1768)

Born 23 Apr 1725 in Stamford, Fairfield County,Colony of Connecticut, America

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (Seely) Finch — married 18 Aug 1749 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut

Descendants

Died after 1768 after age 42 in Crompond, Westchester, Colony of New York, America

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carl Christensen [send private message]

Biography

Birth and Early Life

James was born on April 23, 1725 at Stamford, Connecticut ^{[1] [2] [3]} (later became Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut), a son of John Finch (abt.1694-1747) and Sarah (Lockwood) Finch (abt.1699-1768). James married Abigail Seeley, daughter of John S. Seely (1693-1756) and Abigail (Bishop) Seely (1696-1757) on August 18, 1749 at Stamford, Connecticut ^{[1] [2] [4]}by Reverend Hoit ^[5].

Timeline

Notes published by Thummel^[1] present us with the following timeline.

1. On April 22, 1750, he with wife Abigail, owned communion in the New Canaan Church.
2. On August 27, 1750, he shared in the distribution of the estate of John Finch, his father.
3. On March 12, 1756, the WILL of John Seeley, late of Stamford, mentions "..daughter Abigail, wife of James Finch."
4. January 11, 1758, John Seeley, Gideon Seeley, Abijah Seeley, James Seeley, Hezekiah Weed and Mary Weed (nee Seeley), his wife, and John Finch and Abigail Finch (nee Seeley), all of Stamford, convey to Elias Leeds, of same, land in Canaan Parish that was set to our brother Stephen Seeley of Stamford, deceased.
5. April 4, 1758, bond of James Finch as guardian of Peter Finch. (written by hand next to this is a note in parenthesis that says simply "Peleg?")
6. May 9, 1761, James Seeley, late of Stamford, estate distributed to brothers and sisters Seeley --- "Abigail, wife of James Finch".
7. June 18, 1761, James and Abigail Finch convey property to David Stevens Jr.
8. before 1763, James and Abigail Finch remove to "Crump Pond, Westchester County, New York" (here presumed to be the hamlet of Crompond in what is still Westchester County, New York).
9. June 15, 1768, "shared in the distribution of estate of Sarah Keeler (mother). (commentary by Carl Christensen, I have copied this exactly as typed by Thummel. Sarah Keeler was apparently formerly Sarah Finch, wife of John Finch, and her maiden name was Sarah Lockwood. While it does not clarify if it was James Finch and wife Abigail, or simply if it was Abigail Finch wife of James only who had a share in this distribution. There is an extended conversation to be made with respect to when James Finch died.)

Thummel goes on to list notes related to James' military service.

1. August 1757, Private in Captain Fitch's Company (Stamford Militia) in service 16 days.
2. March 29, 1758 to November 14, 1758, Private, 4th Company, Captain David Waterbury, 4 Regiment under Colonel David Wooster (Note that numerous other citations mention Colonel David Webster. It is important to note that there were two separate men, one named Colonel David Wooster who died 1777 see Wikipedia Link and the other, Lt Colonel David Webster who served as a Major in the 11th NH Provincial Regiment until September of 1775 when he was made Lt. Colonel of the same Regiment based out of Plymouth, New Hampshire Click link to see the NHHistory website. In 1784 he was promoted to a Colonel of the 14th Regiment - presumably of New Hampshire, but here is where I believe confusion abounds. David Webster lived to age 86^[6] and is by far the better known between the two presented here).

It should also be noted that Paul R. Finch ^[2] presents essentially the same timeline in his work at HERE (see 66.JAMES FINCH), except that he also incorporates the comments reportedly made by research genealogist Donald Lines Jacobus ^[7]

Children

The children of John and Abigail Finch are linked through Connecticut baptismal records. While Huntington ^[4] notes that Millicent, James, Abigail, John and Susanna have records, Thummel apparently misses their first child Millicent as being baptized anywhere (but both Thummel and Huntington seem to agree on her birth date, so perhaps Thummel forgot to note this). The baptisms for Millicent, James Abigail and John are all at Christ Church in New Canaan, CT (despite births in Stamford, CT). Daughers Susanna and Sarah are baptized at the First Congregational Church of Stamford under Abraham Lockwood (a relative?).^{[1] [2] [4]}

Life after Move to New York

There is not a lot of certainty about what happened in this family after the move to Crompond, Westchester County, New York. All researchers seem to agree that the time frame of this move was from about 1761 to 1763. However, only Thummel and the writer of this WikiTree bio^[8] (and perhaps others) seems to believe that Abigail moved with James. Paul R. Finch at least, believes (and I think this is in unison with Jacobus) that Abigail did not join James at Crompond. In Paul R Finch's work he states the following -

On 23 Dec. 1763, James Finch, late of Stamford, now of Crump Pond, Westchester Co., N.Y., conveyed to Titus Finch of Stamford. This I suppose was his homestead, as his wife did not join with him, and in Conn. the wife was not required to join except when the land was her property or in her right. This marks the removal of James Finch to Westchester County between 1761 and 1763. He may have had additional children to those recorded in Stamford.

Unfortunately not a lot of research has been done with respect to the time after 1763, and I believe that at least one more child (perhaps the last) was born unto this family before 1780. But a full discussion of this should be made elsewhere. However, I feel I should address the fact that Paul R. Finch mentions a Seth Finch in 1790 Salem, Westchester Co, NY within the same notes that he leaves with this family (thus, I believe) implying that Seth is a child of James and perhaps a second wife. I believe that this is the same Seth Finch that Thummel identifies as the son of Ebeneezer and Hannah (NEWMAN) FINCH (Thummel Reference No. 311-182). But I believe that any other child born in NY State is likely a son of James and Abigail and is not named Seth (and here is where I can get into a discussion about Selah Finch late of Tioga County, NY whose grave marker says "Seeley Finch" but will save those comments for Selah's wikitree page^[9].).

When assessing James Finch who moved to Crompond, Westchester Co, NY, we should note that there were several John Finch^[10] and James Finch^[11] who moved to New York State, and more reasonably, an area between Albany, NY and New York City (and mostly along the Hudson river perhaps closer to Connecticut, or that portion of Pennsylvania that Connecticut also claimed). I do believe however, that Thummel, Paul R. Finch and others are correct that it is THIS James Finch who appears in the 1790 US Census at North Salem TWP, Westchester County, NY with 1 male over 16 (James himself), and 1 Female (his wife, probably Abigail). I do not find him again in Westchester County, NY.

[End of Preliminary Bio rewrite - the below information is what appeared below the Wikitree Autogenerated bio prior to August 11, 2021. The primary goal of this rewrite is an attempt to present known data with links, and to better present sources of this data. This will take time and numerous revisions.]

Older Data To be revised

Name

James /Finch/

Name: James

Finch ^[12]

Birth

23 Apr 1725

Stamford, Fairfield County, Connecticut^[13][12][14]

Death

Aft 1768 ^[12]

When profiles were merged, another profile had death date of 1749

Marriage

18 Aug 1749

Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut^{[15][12] [14]}

Notes

HI31922(Research):Barber collection:

Susannah Finch b 4 Mar 1760 Stamford, Fairfield, CT (parents James and Abigail)

other children of James and Abigail -- John b Aug 20 1757, Abigail April 5 1755, James Feb 9 1753, Milicent Jun 19 1751

James Finch m Abigail Seely 18 Aug 1749 in Stamford (possibly related to Obidiah Seely came to America in 1630 and early Stamford settler)

Jeams son of John and Sarah b Apr 23 1725 in Stamford

other children John b June 28 1720

Rootsweb -- this Susannah finch married someone else in CT in 1791.

But Rev War pension -- says she was born Mar 4 1760 and has a brother John born 1757.

John Finch

1790 census North Salem, Westchester, NY m 1<16, 1>16; 3 females

1810 Fishkill, Dutchess, NY m 45+, f 45+ and 6 children

-------------------

http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/cofairfield/pages/stamford/settlers_page.htm

John Finch b ~1600 England m Martha came to U.S. in 1630 to MA on Winthrop Fleet from Isle of Wight, England. John was an original settler to Stamford Ct in 1642.

John Finch b ~1620 England m 1652 Huntington, Long Island Hannah Marsh Fuller

John Finch b1657 Westchester, NY m 1693 in NYC Hester Davis

JOHN Finch b ~1694 and Sarah ??? (Sarah Lockwood)

John Finch, born in Greenwich, June 28, 1720

Nathaniel Finch, born in Stamford, Apr. 29, 1722

**James Finch, born Apr. 23, 1725

Sarah Finch, born Apr. 7, 1728

Titus Finch, born Aug. 13, 1730

Mary Finch, born Aug. 12, 1732

John Finch died Nov. 6, 1747.

http://www.winthropsociety.com/ships.php

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Claude B. Thummel's "Descendants of John Finch of Connecticut", 1965
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Paul R. Finch's "Descendants of John Finch"
3. ↑ Familysearch, Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Rev Huntington's Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths of Stamford Families, Compiled Stamford, April 6, 1797 and edited by Barbara Kaye
5. ↑ Familysearch, Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850
6. ↑ Biography presented with an auction of Col David Webster's Scrimshawed Map and Horn at an online auction house and copied here to preserve it once it is removed from that website: " Lt. Col. David Webster was born in 1738 to Stephen and Rachel Webster, his father also a prominent Colonist with a history of Colonial lineage back to the mid 17th c. David married Elizabeth Clough and together, they produced 12 children. David was a col. and served in the French and Indian Wars and later in conspicuous service during the Revolution. Later, he was prominent in town affairs and for many years sheriff of Grafton County. He and his family moved to Plymouth, NH in 1764. During the French and Indian Wars, David Webster was one of the first young men enlisted in the famed Rogers Rangers. He was enlisted in Captain Hayzens company and received the warrant of sergeant at the age of 19. He served in the French and Indian War until its close in 1763 and took part in its final engagement which resulted in the final surrender of all of Canada. He later became involved in the cause of Independence and as a major, in 1775 was promoted to Lt. Col. of the 11th Regiment. He was present at the decisive and strategic battle of Saratoga where General Burgoyne lost one of the most decisive battles of the Revolutionary War and surrendered his entire British Army as prisoners of war in 1777. At that battle, the New Hampshire troops were under the command of Lt. Col. Webster. After that strategic battle, Col Webster succeeded to the command of the regiment and was a member of the Committee of Safety. In 1784, he was made Col. of the 14th Regiment and after a long, fruitful and prominent life, died at the age of 86 in 1824. "
7. ↑ Finch says, "From the papers of Donald Lines Jacobus in the Connecticut Historical Society, Mr. Jacobus gives us the follwing..", but this researcher has been unable to ascertain which of Mr Jacobus' writings Mr Finch is referencing.
8. ↑ Carl Christensen a descendant of Selah Finch (Thummel Reference No. 323-33
9. ↑ Selah Finch (1767-1827)
10. ↑ see

    - John Finch (abt.1715-), Thummel Number 343-3 born "Horseneck CT, died Finchville, Orange Co"

    - John Finch (1720-aft.1768) Thummel Number 311-11, late apparently of "Winthrop Patent, Brookhaven, Suffolk Co, NY"

    - John Finch (abt.1731-aft.1782) Thummel Number 322-31, "Resided Westchester and Dutchess Counties"

    - John Finch Thummel Number 322-44 (though in Thummel's self-typed document, he repeats 322-43 which is also assigned to John's sister Sarah (Finch) Palmer), this John of 1796 Peru, Clinton Co, NY but by 1805 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Co, NY and with children in Jay, Essex Co, NY

    - John Finch Thummel Number 323-15, born Orange Co, NY but died July 1778 at Wyoming, PA

    - John Finch Thummel Number 311-126, born Salem, Westchester Co in 1755, and of 1800 Seneca, Ontario Co, NY

    - John Finch, Thummel Number 311-134 and brother of the subject of this sketch

    - John Finch Thummel Number 322-41(10) of Depayster, St Lawrence Co, NY

    - John Finch Thummel Number 323-115, born 1767 Orange Co, NY, in Genessee Co, NY in about 1790, by 1810 to Ohio

    - John Finch Thummel Number 323-154, born 1767 Orange Co, Ny, 1780 Census at Minisink, Orange Co, NY, 1796 Marriage at Goshen, Orange, NY and

    - John Allison Finch Thummel Number 323-161, born 1765 Goshen, Orange Co, NY, Married 1788 Goshen, 1808 Yates Co, NY, died Michigan

11. ↑ see

    - James Finch, Thummel Number 341-74 "of Dutchess Co, NY"

    - James Finch, Thummel Number 343-31 "born Goshen, Orange Co, and died Finchville, Orange Co" and

    - the son of the subject of this sketch James Finch Thummel Number 311-132, died 1833 Colchester, Delaware Co, NY

12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3} RootsWeb: World Connect listing titled "Stamford, CT Familes (1641-1935)" by Barbara Kaye
13. ↑ Scofield Family Listing Title: Scofield Family Listing Author: Rootsweb, Connecticut, B. Scofield Note: added 2005 Repository: #R188 Paranthetical: Y
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records: Stamford Title: The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records: Stamford Paranthetical: Y
15. ↑ REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS OF STAMFORD FAMILIES Title: REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS OF STAMFORD FAMILIES Note: Compiled by Reverend Elijah B. Huntington CONT Stamford, April 6, 1797 CONT added 2005 Repository: #R187 Paranthetical: Y

• Claude B. Thummel, "Descendants of John Finch of Connecticut" self published 1965. Thummel reference via Henry numbers = 311-13. Claude references: (1) REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS OF STAMFORD FAMILIES, Compiled by Reverend Elijah B. Huntington dated April 6, 1797. AND (2) James was a Private in the Stamford Militia, 4th Company, 4th Regiment, Under Col. David Webster. Lists wife Abigail Seely daughter of John S. Seely and Abigail Bishop and granddaughter of Obidiah Seely and wife Susannah Finch (she Henry #334). Children: Milicent Finch, born June 19, 1751; James Finch, born Feb. 9, 1753; Abigail Finch, born Apr. 5, 1755; John Finch, born Aug. 20, 1757; Susanna Finch, born Mar. 4, 1760; Sarah Finch July 8, 1762. (see records of the First Congregational Church at Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut.

Specifically Claude lists the following:

April 22, 1750 with wife Abigail, owned communion in New Canaan Church.

Aug, 27, 1750 shared in distribution of estate of John Finch, father.

Jan. 11, 1756, John Seeley, Gideon Seeley, Abijah Seeley, James Seeley, Hezekiah Weed, and Mary Weed alias Seeley, his wife; and John Finch and Abigail Finch, alias Seeley, all of Stamford, convey to Elias Leeds, of same, land in Canaan Parish that was to our brother Stephen Seeley of Stamford, deceased.

Mar. 12, 1756, will of John Seeley, late of Stamford, mentions daughter Abigail, wife of James Finch.

April 4, 1758. bond of James Finch as guardian of Peter Finch (someone handwrites: Peleg? in the margin)

August 1757, PVT. Capt. Fitch's Company, (Stamford Militia) in service 16 days.

Mar. 29, 1758, to Nov. 14, PVT. 4th Co. Capt. David Waterbury, 4th RGT Col. David Wooster.

May 9, 1761 James Seeley, late of Stamford, estate distributed to brothers and sisters Seeley; "...Abigail , wife of James Finch"

REMOVED to Crump Pond (Crumpond..SP? New York), Westchester Co, before 1763.

June 15, 1768, shared distribution of estate of Sarah Keeler (mother)

This data source above left by Carl Christensen on 6/13/2019.

• Source: S849 Abbreviation: rootsweb -- Joe Daun Title: "Kendall-Miller family," supplied by Daun, 2006-03-02. Author: compiled by Joe Daun [(E-ADDRESS) FOR PRIVATE USE\,] Date: 14 Jul 2010 Italicized: Y Paranthetical: Y
• Repository: R187 Name: Not Given Address: Not Given Name: Not Given
• Repository: R188 Name: Not Given Address: Not Given Name: Not Given
• Source: S877 Abbreviation: rootsweb -- Darlakay Title: "Donovan/Chuch Family," supplied by Donovan, 2008-07-06. Author: compiled by Darlene K Donovan Date: 14 Jul 2010 Note:  Type any analytical comments about the GEDCOM's reliability, etc. Italicized: Y Paranthetical: Y
• Source: S881 Abbreviation: RootsWeb: World Connect - Tamera & Jerry's Genealogy by Jerry L. Neville Title: RootsWeb: World Connect - Tamera & Jerry's Genealogy by Jerry L. Neville Paranthetical: Y

• Additional reference material added by Eric Andersen-Vie Ancestors of Isaac Seeley Finch Report obtained from Grandfather's Find A Grave: Memorial #115144372

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Finch-705 created through the import of block12132012.ged on Jan 17, 2013 by Rupert Young.
• Finch-2449 was created by Larry Kramm through the import of Larry Kramm-Riedel-Koehler-Piepenbring_2016-08-16_01.ged on Aug 16, 2016.