Nicholas (Merywether) Meriwether (1631 - 1678)

Born 6 Aug 1631 in Stratton St Michael, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Meriwether — married 1658 in James City County, Colony of Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Meriwether — married 1664 in Jamestown, James City County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1678 at age 47 in Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: US Southern Colonies Project WikiTree [send private message] and Terri Crowell-Laney [send private message]

Nicholas (Merywether) Meriwether resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

Nicholas (Merywether) Meriwether is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

Nicholas (Merywether) Meriwether^[1]

The biographical sketch of Nicholas currently posted by The Meriwether Society (March 2023) reads:^[2]

Nicholas Meriwether was born in 1631 in Norfolk, England, son of John Merywether and his wife Joane Browne. According to Norfolk church records he had siblings John, Anne, Fayth, Joane and Francis. His father was a Fellow at New College, Oxford (1618-1629), until he became Rector of the Stratton St. Michael Parish from 1629 until 1653. John died sometime between 1653 and 1660 onboard a ship sailing to Virginia, presumably to join his son.

Based on the careers of Nicholas in Virginia, he was obviously well educated. Where he received his education and training has not yet been determined.

Nicholas arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, probably about 1652, though no record of him being transported has been located. The first confirmation of his existence in Virginia was 4 July 1653 when he patented 300 acres of land in Lancaster County. From at least 13 Oct 1653 until 13 Dec 1656, Nicholas served as a clerk of the Quarter Court and Governor’s Council for the Colony in Jamestown. Although many researchers state he was clerk of Surry County, there is no evidence that he was.

Sometime in the early 1660’s, after the English monarchy was reestablished, Nicholas removed to Surry County and seems to have retired from public office to pursue land speculation and tobacco production and shipping. Since his entire government career was during the reign of Cromwell and he ceased upon restoration of the throne, this seems to contradict those who claim Nicholas was one of the “Cavaliers”, supporters of the Crown who came to the Colony to escape persecution.

Recent research has tried, without success, to determine if Nicholas came to Virginia in 1652 as part of the Parliamentary fleet that forced the surrender of Virginia to the Cromwell government. This would certainly explain his appearance in 1653 as a clerk of the Quarter Court and subsequent years working for the colonial government.

For a detailed account of the life of Nicholas Meriwether, see "The Meriwether Family in America: Volume I, The Colonists".

Additional information from earlier Meriwether Society biographies of Nicholas:

In the early 1660s, he bought a home on Jamestown Island called "Island House". Also in the 1660s he bought "Indian Springs" in Surry County.

When Nicholas died, his wife's name was Elizabeth, but we do not know her maiden name. It could have been Woodhouse, however she could not have been the daughter of Henry Woodhouse of Lynnhaven Parish, as that Elizabeth married Giles Collins. The Meriwether Society currently does not recognize "Woodhouse" as her maiden name. It is currently exploring the possibility that her name was May or Williams.

The Society believes that Nicholas was probably married twice, with another Elizabeth being the second wife and mother of the last five children, starting with Nicholas II. It also believes that the oldest child of Nicholas, also named Elizabeth, had a different mother. This is the way the Society constructs the family of Nicholas:

About 1660, Nicholas married a woman named Elizabeth whose surname is unknown, and they had the following child:

1. Elizabeth Clough Clements

About 1665, Nicholas married a second Elizabeth whose surname is unknown, and they had the following children:

1. Nicholas Jr/II

2. Francis

3. Jane

4. Thomas

5. William

Info from previous Wikitree bio, no citation given:

About 1661, he bought the "Island House" plantation on Jamestown Island from Elizabeth Kingsmill & her husband Nathaniel Bacon, an uncle of the Nathaniel Bacon who started "Bacon's Rebellion"; a marker on Jamestown Island identifies the "Island House" location today. Near the "Island House" location Meriwether built a tobacco barn to support his growing tobacco export business.

He was living on his farm in Surry county around the time of his death, and is probably buried there. He also had a plantation in Jamestowne, "Island House", and may have died and been buried there.

Death

Although his place and date death - 19 December 1678 in Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia - is said to come from the bible of Nicholas Meriwether II, the bible has not been found.^[3][4]

Land

1653 Jul 4 - Nicholas Meriwether was granted 300 acres, in Lancaster County, Virginia, on the south east side of Corotoman River, towards the head thereof.^[5] The grant was for transportation of 5 persons into the Colony. See citation for list of names.

1653 Nov 16 - Nicholas Merwether/Meriwether was granted 600 acres, in Northumberland County, Virginia, at Wicocomico River, bounding N. E. by north upon the head of a creek commonly called Dennis' Creek opposite to the land of Mr. Fletcher.^[6] The grant was for transportation of 12 persons into the Colony. See citation for list of names.

1654 Jun 1 - Nicholas Merywether was granted 3,000 acres, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, upon the western branch of Potomack River adjoining Coll. Burbage.^[7] The grant was for transportation of 60 persons into the Colony. See citation for list of names.

1654 Jun 1 - Nicholas Merywether was granted 1,350 acres, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, bounding northerly upon Potomack River easterly upon the land of John Walton.^[7] The grant was for transportation of 27 persons into the Colony. See citation for list of names.

1656 Oct 23 - Nicholas Meriwether and John Leach were granted 200 acres, in James City County, Virginia, on the north east side of Powhatan Main Swamp.^[8] The grant was for transportation of 4 persons into the Colony. See citation for list of names.

1656 Dec 15 - Nicholas Meriwether was granted 297 acres, in James City County, Virginia, on the east side of Chickahominy River, commonly known and called by the name of Hogs land.^[9]The grant was for transportation of 4 persons into the Colony. Their names are not listed.

1661 Nov 6 - Nicholas Meriwether was granted 80 acres, in James City County, Virginia, in James City Island southerly on Kings Mill Creek -- formerly planted and seated by Richard Kingsmill deceased who was an Ancient planter in this Colony and by Nathaniel Bacon Esq. & Elizabeth his wife, the only Daughter and Heir of the said Richard Kingsmill.^[10]

1665 Apr 2 - Nicholas Meriwether sold 200 acres of land "out of a pattent of 1350 acres" in Westmoreland County to James Hare [Hew].^[11] The sale was witnessed by Abraham Moore and John Knight.

1666 Jun 7 - Captain David Parke was granted 700 acres, in Virginia, on the eastermost side of Chickahominy River, commonly called by the name of Warrony Old Town.^[12] The land was formerly granted unto Nicholas Meriwether by patent dated the last day of July one thousand six hundred and fifty six (31 July 1656) and the said Meriwether sold unto Daniel Sommerton and by the said Sommerton sold unto Christopher Harris and by the said Captain Parke purchased of the said Harris.

1667 Apr 25 - Nicholas Meriwether was granted 850 acres, in Surry County, Virginia, on the Blackwater alias Cypress Swamp. Beginning and extending on the eastward side of the said swamp, and adjoining to the land of Anthony Spiltimber.^[13] The grant was for transportation of 17 persons into the Colony. See citation for list of names.

1667 Apr 25 - Nicholas Meriwether was granted 650 acres, in Surry County, Virginia, 175 acres bounding upon the land the said Meriwether bought of William Seward, 240 acres beginning and extending on the west side of the Cypress Swamp, and 236 acres beginning and extending on the east side the main black water swamp.^[14] The grant was for transportation of 14 persons into the Colony. See citation for list of names.

Research Notes

Vital Statistics

Birth
As announced in the January 2020 issue of Meriwether Connections, newsletter of The Meriwether Society, the birthplace for Nicholas Meriwether and his English parents and siblings have been found and verified!

Disputed Relationships

• David Meriwether (1669-1701) is purported to be the brother of this Nicholas (Merywether) Meriwether (1631-1678). David Meriwether is a person of Uncertain Existence.

Sources

1. ↑ Jamestowne Society, Qualifying Ancestors, Meriwether, Nicholas - A5408; born ca. 1631, died ca. 1678-79 Surry Co.; 1661, 1666 (Resident of Jamestowne); 1655 (Clerk of General Court).
2. ↑ RootsWeb.
3. ↑ Nicholas Bible. [broken link]
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #60281781 for Nicholas Meriwether I (1631–1678).
5. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.3, 1652–1655, p87; digital images, Library of Virginia (p87).
6. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.3, 1652–1655, p63; digital images, Library of Virginia (p63).
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.3, 1652–1655, p376; digital images, Library of Virginia (p376).
8. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.4, 1655–1664, pp90-91; digital images, Library of Virginia (p90, p91).
9. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.4, 1655–1664, p107; digital images, Library of Virginia (p107).
10. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.4, 1655–1664, p397; digital images, Library of Virginia (p397).
11. ↑ County Court, Westmoreland County, Virginia, Mixed deeds, wills, court orders, and poll lists, 1653-1859, Deeds and wills, Vol. 1 1653-1671; database with images, FamilySearch (image 100).
12. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.5, 1661-1666 (VOL.1 & VOL.2), p626; digital images, Library of Virginia (p626).
13. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.6 1666-1679 (PartI & PartII), p47; digital images, Library of Virginia (p47).
14. ↑ Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, Patents No.6 1666-1679 (PartI & PartII), p46; digital images, Library of Virginia (p46).

See also:

• Sarah Travers Lewis (Scott) Anderson, Lewises, Meriwethers And Their Kin (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1984), p149; digital images, Archive.org (title page).
• "Some Old Surry Families," The William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine Vol. 16, No. 4 (Apr., 1908), pp221-235; digital images, JSTOR (pp221-235), especially Meriwether, Browne, Clements, Flood and Jordan families.
• "Genealogy of the Lewis and Kindred Families," by Wm. Terrell Lewis, The Courier-Journal Printing Co., KY, 1893; as found at: www.familytreemaker.com, genealogylibrary.com