Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Couche, William
COUCHE, WILLIAM (1732–1753), scholastic of the Society of Jesus, eldest son of William Couche of Tolfrey, near Fowey, Cornwall, by Anne, daughter of Peter Hoskins of Ibberton, Dorsetshire, was born at Tolfrey on 5 Feb. 1732 (Boase and Courtney, Bibl. Cornubiensis, i. 95). He made his humanity studies at St. Omer, and entered the Society of Jesus in 1749, but was prematurely cut off by small-pox at Liège on 23 Feb. 1753 (Oliver, Jesuit Collections, 77; Foley, Records, vi. 696, vii. 177). He was a promising member of the jesuit order, and died in the odour of sanctity. His life was written by his cousin, Father Ralph Hoskins, under the title of ‘De vita, virtutibus et morte Gulielmi Couche,’ and is preserved in manuscript at Stonyhurst College (Oliver, Catholic Religion in Cornwall, 277; Notes and Queries, 4th ser. vi. 112, 145; Hist. MSS. Comm. 3rd Rep. 340). Its principal contents have been printed by Brother Foley.
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