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
Showing posts with label Merriam family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Merriam family. Show all posts
Friday, December 23, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2016 WEEK 50: JOSEPH MERRIAM SR. OF CONCORD, MA.
So my subject for today is my immigrant ancestor Joseph Merriam St, my 10x great grandfather.He came from a well- to- do merchant family back in Kent England and was wealthy enough to charter a ship, the Castle, along with some of his brothers and colleagues) to come to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Here are some excerpts from Merriam Genealogy in England and America by Charles Henry Pope, Charles Pierce Merriam, C. E. Gildersome- Dickinson, James Sheldon Merriam:
Joseph (William'), eldest of the sons mentioned in the father's will, and the only one through whom the family name has descended, was probably born in the county of Kent, about the year 1600. He married Sara, daughter of John and (probably) Frances (Jefferie) Goldstone, whose brother was a resident of the town of Tonbridge, near by the home of Joseph and that of his father at the period of the emigration...
-p32
Merriam Genealogy in England and America, Charles H. Pope, Boston, Ma. 1906
We know that Joseph had learned and entered on the business which his father had followed, for Robert Goldstone's will gives him the title “clothier,” which is evidence of an unquestionable sort. This business had put him in possession of good means for the venture on a voyage to New England, and gave him a good start here. But it would necessarily give him a great deal of work in the line of collections, settlements, sales, and shipments. With so much property and such excellent business experience, it is not strange that he joined with others in chartering a vessel and taking freight and passengers to help pay the expenses of the voyage. The particulars of his venture are many of them brought out in connection with lawsuits between the partners...
-p32 ibid
Joseph made his home in Concord, having a comfortable homestead for a “planter.” He was soon received to the church, and, in accordance with the method of the time, was admitted to the freemanship or citizenship of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay on the 14th of the first month, March, 1638–9, nine months after his arrival.
His life in the colony was brief. He died on the first day of January (1(11), 1640-1, leaving a will which shows his business-like habits and his kindly thought for the welfare of others.
His oldest son William was not yet of age. The expected child had provision made for his support. Two of the foremost citizens of the little town and his brother Robert were charged with the duty of overseeing the carrying out of his plans for his loved ones....
pp34-35 ibid
The widow Sara married second, Lieut. Joseph Wheeler, of Concord. The three sons, William, Joseph, and John, joined in a quitclaim deed of any rights they might be supposed to have in the estate of Joseph Wheeler, “their fatherin-law'” (or stepfather as we now say), April 17, 1667. Sarah, “wife of Lift. Joseph Wheeler,” died March 12, 1670–1.
Children:
5. i. William; b. in England about 1624.
ii. Sarah, b. in England about 1626.
6. iii. Joseph, b. in England about 1628.
iv. Thomas, b. in England; living in 1637.
v. Elizabeth, b. in England; m. Thomas Henchman (Hinkesman); living in 1681 and a legatee of her uncle Robert Merriam, of Concord.
vi. Hanna, b. in England; living in 1637.
7. vii. John, b. after the death of his father, at Concord, July 9, 1641.
p35 ibid
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)