Continuing with my Merriam branch of my grandmother Cora Barker's side of the family:
My 8x great grandfather Joseph Merriam Jr. appears to have been, like his father Joseph Sr., a wealthy man . This is the entry for him in Charles Henry Pope's Merriam Genealogy in England and America:
Joseph3(Joseph, William'), born in England about 1629; grew up in Concord, Mass., but removed when adult to the neighboring town of Cambridge, the part called “The Farms,” which afterward became the parish and town of Lexington. He was admitted to the church, and was made a freeman (or citizen), May 22, 1650. He married at Concord, July 12, 1653, Sarah, daughter of Dea. Gregory Stone, who made a bequest to her in his will, dated Nov. 22, 1672. He accumulated something of a property for the times, as appears from the inventory of his estate and from the subsequent division. He died 20 April, 1677, “aged 47,” says the record on his gravestone, the oldest now extant in the ancient “Hill Burying Ground” in Concord. The widow died April 5, 1704.
The property remained undivided many years after his death, and was then distributed in a kindly and equitable manner. We quote a portion of the instrument in which all was definitely arranged, giving in full the opening part which relates to the mother.
MIRIAMS SETTLEMENT OF AGREEMENT
Whereas Joseph Miriam belonging to the Towne of Cambridge in the County of Middx in New England Twenty two years Since died Intestt. Who left Sarah his Relict Widow Together with many Small Children, Eight of which are yet Surviveing. And there haveing never yet been a Legall Division of this Estate. Therefore Sarah Miriam his R widow, as also his Children Namely Joseph Miriam Jno Miriam Robert Miriam & Thomas Miriam Together with his Daughters (& with ye Consent of theire husbands) vizt Sarah flecher, Elizabeth Wood, Mary Stearns, & Ruth Stow Do all mutually agree & Determine to make a Division of the Said Estate both Reall and prsonall in Manner & form as followth:
Imprms: They Do all agree that Sarah Miriam the Relict Widow Shall have the free use of the houseing and lands hereafter Expressed, all during the term of her naturall life vizt: The new End of the Dwelling house from top to bottom also the lower room of the oldhouse next to ye new aforesaid, and the use of ye halfe of the Cellar the one halfe of the Barn and halfe of the cowyard and free liberty to cutt halfe her fire wood on ye land of her sonn Jno Miriam and the other halfe to gett it off from the land of her son Robert Miriam That is to say—the West land. And further she is to have about an Acre and an halfe of the Land by the Dore also in ye pound three acres and an halfe. Also in the Comon feild Two acres & an halfe of plow Land. also mowing Land in the Comon feild all that wch She hath had ye actuall Improvement of of late Together with Two acres and three quarters of Land in the Orchard, as also the free use of wt moveable Estate she hath in her possession, to be at her own Disposall and what of that she shall not [have] disposed of at her Death, that to be equally divided amongst all the Children.
And as an Addition to what the sd Eight children have had settled upon them in time past It is as followeth:
Then follow detailed descriptions of the several shares, hardly needful to be copied.
Signed November 29, 1700, by the eight children and Isaac Stearns, Nathaniel Stow, Samuel Fletcher and Isaac Wood.
[Mdx. Probate Records, 10, 507.]
Children:
i. Sarah; b. 2 Aug. 1654; m. 14 June, 1688, Eleazer Ball, who d. 15 Nov. 1698; she m. (2) 7 June, 1699, Samuel Fletcher; she d. 29 April, 1703.
ii. Lydia, b. Aug. 3, 1656; d. 29 Dec. 1690.
12. iii. Joseph, b. May 25, 1658.
iv. Elizabeth, b. May 20, 1660; m. Isaac Wood.
13. v. John, b. Aug. 30, 1662.
vi. Mary, b. June 14, 1664; m. Isaac Stearns.
14. vii. Robert, b. Feb. 17, 1667.
viii. Ruth, b. 1670; m. Dec. 3, 1690, Nathaniel Stow; she d. July 14, 1718.
115. ix. Thomas, b. 1672.
-pp44-46
Merriam Genealogy in England and America, Charles H. Pope, Boston, Ma. 1906
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