Joseph COWLES

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]

Joseph married Anna PECK on 01 Apr 1715 in Wallingford, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Anna was born in Mar 1686; died on 26 Feb 1716. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Mindwell ? on 29 May 1717 in Wallingford, Connecticut. Mindwell was born about 1681; died on 17 Apr 1770. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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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]

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