The Finches are an old New England family, and figure quite prominently in the early annals of Connecticut and New York states. Finchville, in Orange county, is named in honor of John Finch, the first emigrant in that section, who came from Horse Neck, Connecticut, and settled at Goshen, New York, the tradition being that he was the first adult buried in the graveyard of Goshen church. His son, James Finch, settled in the town of Walkill, his farm now being the site of the village of Middletown. When marching to the ill-fated field of Minisink during the revolution. Colonels Phillips and Wisner with their troops were entertained at his house, and arrangements made for him to feed the soldiers on their return next day. But alas! there were but few of his friends and neighbors who returned. He also served in the army. His son, James (2) Finch, was justice of the peace and county judge. His son, Coe Finch, was justice of the peace, supervisor twelve years in succession, and a member of the New York house of assembly thirteen sessions between 1802 and 1832. A branch of the family headed by Ebenezer Finch, born in Stamford, Connecticut, settled in Greene county, New York, in the town of Greenville. Ebenezer married Hannah Newman, and had two sons, Seth and Ezra. The branch herein recorded settled in Dutchess county, but soon removed to Rensselaer county, New York.
The first of the name in America was Daniel Finch, who came in Governor Winthrop's fleet and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he was made a freeman, May 18, 1631; removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he was constable in 1636; removed to Stamford, Connecticut, where he was one of the original proprietors, and in 1653 to Fairfield, Connecticut, where he made a contract marriage, December 25, 1657, with Elizabeth, widow of John Thompson, and died March, 1667. His will names son Nathaniel. Daniel Finch had a brother Abraham, who was killed in open Indian warfare. Others of the name settled in Massachusetts.
(I) The founder of this branch of the family was Jonas Finch, who lived in Rhode Island, a descendant of the Connecticut family. He settled in Nine Partners, Dutchess county, New York. He married, and among his children was a son Obadiah, who may have preceded his father to New York staħe, but the supposition is they came together.
(II) Obadiah, son of Jonas Finch, was born in Rhode Island, and when a young man came to New York state, settling at Nine Partners, Dutchess county. Later he removed to Rensselaer county, where he owned and operated a farm in the town of Nassau. Here he resided for many years. After the death of his wife he went with a married daughter, Susan, to Grand Ledge, Michigan, where he died at the age of seventy years. He married ———— Wilbur, born in Rensselaer county, New York, where she died. Children:
- George W., of further mention.
- Lynis, born in Rensselaer county, New York, removed to Grand Ledge, Michigan; enlisted from that state and served with honor during the civil war; he followed the occupation of a farmer all his life; married (first) ———— Turk; children: Alfred, Alice, Ada and George; married (second) a wife of whom no record is obtainable.
- Susan, married James Wincham; they removed to Grand Ledge, Michigan, where both died, leaving a son and daughter.
(III) George W., born in Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, February, 1821, died at Ancram, Columbia county, New York, September, 1882. He was a natural mechanic, expert as a machinist and millwright, following these trades all his life. He was well known and highly respected. He affiliated with the Republican party, but did not aspire to public office. He married, in East Nassau, Rensselaer county, February 10, 1849, Olive Hayes, born in Nassau county, April 12, 1832, died in Ancram, in 1894 (see Hayes VI). Children of George W. and Olive (Hayes) Finch:
- Obed, born in Columbia county, New York, February 18, 1852; educated in Sand Lake Academy, Scharm Collegiate College, and Lowell, Massachusetts, Business College. He engaged in mercantile life until 1890, when he purchased a farm in Ancram, to which he has since devoted his energies. He is a Republican in politics and served as supervisor during the years 1888-89-90. He married Hannah L. Thompson, born in Stanford, Dutchess county, New York, March, 1855, daughter of William S. and Catharine (Lewis) Thompson, of Dutchess, later Columbia county, where both died. Children:
- Susan T., born July, 1884, graduate of Albany Normal College, class of 1904, now a teacher in the public schools of New York city;
- W. Thompson, born April 13, 1887, educated in the public schools, now his father's assistant at the farm; unmarried.
- Hugh, born 1857, died 1861.
- Lebus B., born March 6, 1860; educated at Sand Lake Academy, now a farmer of Galvin, Columbia county, unmarried.
- George H., of further mention.
- Mary, born 1868; married Frederick B. Keller, now of Somerville, Massachusetts. He is employed in the United States railway mail service. Children:
- ———— ————, born August 7, 1891, and
- Helen F., September 3, 1898.
- Augusta V., born February 20, 1872; married Jay Woodward, a farmer of Ancram.
(IV) George H., son of George W. and Olive (Hayes) Finch, was born at Ancram, New York, May 29, 1863. He was educated in the public schools, and began his business life as a merchant in association with his brother Obed. He was elected superintendent of the Columbia county farm and hospital at Ghent, an office to which he was re-elected in 1909. He has proved a most capable official and is highly commended by his townsmen for his business-like administration and for his considerate, humane and sympathetic treatment of the unfortunates who are committed to his care. He is an active worker in the Republican party and deeply interested in its success. He has served the town of Taghkanick, as supervisor, holding office continually from 1896 to 1901. He is a member of Hudson Lodge, No. 7, Free and Accented Masons; Hudson Lodge, No. 787, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Modern Woodmen; Patrons of Husbandry; Claverack Grange, and the Order of Dutch Arms, of Claverack. He married, in 1886, Bertha Bashford, born in the town of Taghkanick, Columbia county, New York, February 25, 1866, daughter of Henry and Caroline (Sheldon) Bashford, both deceased, leaving children:
- Bertha, married George H. Finch, no issue.
- Amy, married (first) Reuben Sheldon, and had son
- John, who married Bertha Miller and has a daughter
- Myra; she married (second) Edgar Sickles; children: Calvin and Harriet.
- John, who married Bertha Miller and has a daughter
(The Hayes Line)
George Hayes, pioneer ancestor, was of Windsor, Connecticut, coming from Scotland as early as 1680, being then about twenty-eight years of age. He settled in Windsor, Connecticut. In 1798 he removed to the hamlet of Salmon Brook, in that part of Simsbury now town of Granby. He married (first) Sarah ————, who died at Windsor, March 27, 1683, leaving a son George, born March 26, died April 3, 1683. He married (second) August 29, 1683, Abigail Dibble (also written Dibol, Dible, Deble and Deeble). George Hayes died at Simsbury, Connecticut, September 2, 1725, his second wife, their five sons and six daughters surviving him.
(II) William, third son of George and Abigail (Dibble) Hayes, was born at Windsor, Connecticut, June 13, 1697. Married (first) September 4, 1723, Joanna Lee, who died December 27, 1748; married (second) a wife, name unknown; by first marriage he had four sons and five daughters.
(III) William (2), son of William (1) and Joanna (Lee) Hayes, was born April 5, 1725. Married (first) Elizabeth Holcombe; (second) January 15, 1761, Rachel Lewis. He is on the church covenant at Salmon Brook among the earliest members as William Hayes, Jr., and served in the revolutionary war in a Connecticut regiment. He had nine children.
(IV) William (3), son of William (2) and Elizabeth (Holcombe) Hayes, was born at Simsbury, Connecticut, 1750, died at East Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, 1800. He removed to New York about 1785. Married, before 1776, Eleanor Boughton, and had nine children.
(V) Harry, seventh child of William (3) and Eleanor (Boughton) Hayes, was born in East Nassau, Rensselaer county, New York, October, 1792, died October, 1840. He was a farmer of Nassau, where he married, in 1811, Eunice, born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county, died at East Nassau, April, 1872, daughter of Silas and Olive (Swetland) Bailey; seven children.
(VI) Olive, youngest child of Harry and Eunice (Bailey) Hayes, married, February 10, 1849, George W. Finch, of Ancram, New York (see Finch III).