40. Meriwether Family

       

       
           During the Reign of Charles II of England the progenitor of this family came to America.  In the settlement of a large loan to the Crown by his father, Nocholas Meriwether, came to the Dominion of Virginia to oversea his new land.

      NICHOLAS MERIWETHER, born 1631 in Wales, died Dec. 19, 1678, James City Co., VA, married Elizabeth Woodhouse (Wodenhouse), the daughter of Thomas Woodhouse. 
           On record in the Virginia Land Registry office, between 1652 & 1664 are patents to 5,200 acres in Westmoreland Co; 600 acres in Northumber Co. and in 1653, 300 acres in Lancaster Co.  The immigrant was also Clerk of Surrey Co. in 1655.
      Children:
        (5 sons, three of which came to VA in 1667)
        NICHOLAS, born Oct. 26, 1647
        William David Francis
      NICHOLAS MERIWETHER JR., born Oct. 26, 1647 in Wales, died ca. 1744, interred on the East bank of the Rivanna River near Charlottesville, married (2) 1688/9, Elizabeth Crawford (Crafford), the daughter of Capt. David Crawford (1662-1762) Gentleman of "Assasquin" , New Kent Co. , VA
      which seat was inherited by his son-in-law David (below).
      (See Crawford Family Addendum)
            On Jul. 9, 1730, he received from King George II of England a land patent for 17,952 acres in Albemarle Co., for 21 Pounds Sterling and a rent of one Shilling for each 50 acres, paid yearly on Sep. 29, the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, and to cultivate 3 acres in each 50. 
           He was a vestryman of St. Peter's Church 1685-98 and Burgess from New Kent Co. 1702-4 and Hanover Co. 1723.
      Children:
        (4 sons, 5 daughters)
        Ann, married Thomas Johnson (1664-1734)
        DAVID, born 1690
        Jane, died 1765, mar. Robert Lewis (1704-65)
      DAVID MERIWETHER, known as Col. David, born 1690, died Dec. 25, 1744, will probated Jan. 22, 1745, interred next to his father (see above), married ca. 1713, Ann Holmes who died Mar. 11, 1736, the daughter of George Holmes of King & Queen Co., VA.
      Children:
        (6 sons, 2 daughters)
        THOMAS        , born 1714
      THOMAS MERIWETHER, of "Cloverfields", born 1714, died 1756, married Elizabeth Thronton of Fredericksberg who died 1756, the daughter of Col. Francis Thornton and Mary Taliaferro
      (See Thornton Family and Taliaferro Family Addendums).
           The Executors of the will of Thomas Meriwether included such notables as: Col. Joshua Fry of the first Virginia troops in Braddocks War (1755-1763), (Note: George Washington was a Lieutenant Col. in this action);  Peter Jeffer- son, the father of the President;  Dr. Thomas Walker who was commissioned to run the line between VA & NC; and  Col. John Thornton, his brother in-law.
      Children:

        (4 sons, 7 daughters)
        Lucy, born 1752, died 1837, married (1) Lt. William Lewis (1748-1779)
             of "Locust Hill"
             Their son:

          Meriwether Lewis, born Aug. 18, 1774, the noted Explorer.
        Lucy married (2) May 13, 1780 Capt. John Marks.
        JANE, born Apr. 8, 1757
      JANE MERIWETHER, born Apr. 8, 1757, married Samuel Dabney
      (See Dabney Family Addendum)
      Note: Jane was the Aunt of Meriwether Lewis.

      Ref: (1 v l,3,7), (24 b), (55), (65), (79 f).