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). |
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