WILLIAM MERRIAM 1564-1635

[Ancestral Link: Marguerite Anderson (Miller), daughter of Hannah Anderson (Anderson), daughter of Mary Margaret Edmiston (Anderson), daughter of Martha Jane Snow (Edmiston), daughter of Gardner Snow, son of Abigail Farr (Snow), daughter of Jonathan Farr, son of Thomas Farr, son of Mary Taylor (Farr), daughter of Mary Merriam (Taylor), daughter of Joseph Merriam, son of William Merriam.]



William MerriamBorn: About 1624 Tudley, Kent, England
FATHER Joseph Merriam
MOTHER Sarah Goldstone
Died: 22 May 1698 Lynn, Essex, England

Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906
"The Testimony of Jeremiah Shepard Aged 42 who Testifyeth and saith that being present with William Meriam Sr. at his last sickness, his last will and mind with reference to the disposall of his outward estate was That his wife Sarah should out of his estate have maintained for her 2 cowes and a beast to ride upon, a bed and furniture. In the Leantoo wherin he then lay, and alsoe a Bras ketle with the use of sd Room during her life; and what he had allready conveyed to his children should be confirmed to ym; his eldest son Joseph to enjoy what lands he had bequeathed to him and his two sons William and John should have the remainder of the Lands equally divided between them."

Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906William, born in England, probably at Tewdley, in the county of Kent, about 1624; came as a boy to Concord, Massachusetts, and entered into the life of the new plantation. Joined the church, and was made a freeman of the colony, May 2, 1649. He was one of the witnesses to the will of Joseph How 24 (2), 1651. The "goodman Merriam," who owned a lot of land in Hampon, New Hampshire, May 2, 1655, may be - we may say must be - this man; but there is no evidence that he resided there. He had already settled at Lynn, where he married first Elizabeth, daughter of Allen Breed. Her father gave them, June 26, 1666, a good portion, 200 acres of farm land, all in Lynn, in the southern part, now called by the ancient name Saugus. He married second, October 11, 1676, Anna Jones, who died July 29, 1677. He married third, Sarah------, who survived him.

He served as a trooper in King Philip's War, enrolled February 29, 1675-6, in Capt. George Curwin's company, and received 4-10's for his services. He died in 1689' was buried 22 May, 1689.

William is mentioned in the will of his grandfather, William Merriam

William Merriam – Christened 11 May 1564 Tudeley, Kent, England
Died 27 November 1635, Hadlowe, Kent, England
FATHER William Merriam
MOTHER Alice Hablett
WIFE Sarah Burges
, Kent, clothier. Dated 8 September 1635; proved 27 November 1635
"In the name of God Amen the eighth daie of September in the yeare of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred thirty and five. I William Mirriam of Hadlowe in the County of Kent Clothier being of sound and good memory And in reasonable good health of body but aged. And thereby as well as by daylie examples and the consideracon of mans mortalitye put in mynde of my last end and departure of this world for the setling of that estate wherewith God hath blessed mee doe ordayne and make this my Testament and last Will in manner followinge. First therefore recommending my soule to the gratious acceptance of Almighie God through Jesus Christ my Saviour And my Bodie to the Earth in decent manner to be buried. I will to the poore of Hadlowe Tenn shillings. Item I will to Susan my daughter already preferred fifty shillings. Item I will to my daughter Margarit likewise preferred alredy the like sume of fifty shillings. Item to my daughter Joane already preferred one shillinge Item I will to Sara my daughter the sume of fortie poundes of lawfull English money to be paid unto her within three monethes next after my decease by mine executor here after named. Item I will to Sara my loveinge wife all the household stuffe of myne which is in my nowe dwelling house scituate at Barnestreete in Hadlowe aforesaid. Item I will to the said Sara my wife The Five poundes p Annum which she is to be paid out of my landes in Goodherst in the County of Kent duringe her naturall life. And allsoe I will unto her Three poundes p Annu of lawfull English money to be paid to her during her naturall life (halfe yearely by equall porcons) out of my tenement and lands in Taldinge in the said County. And for defaulte of payment therof to her accordinglie I will that it shall and may be lawfull to and for my said wife and her assignes to enter and distreyne unpon my said tenement and landes or any parte therof. And the distress and distresses to hold and deteyne untill the said Annutiy of three poundes shall be paid unto her from tyme to tyme according to the purport of this my Will And further I will that my said wife shall freely and quietly have her dwelling and abidinge in my dwellinge house aforesaid after my decease during the whole terme of her naturall life with free howse ingresse egresse and recourse to and from the same. And into and from the gardens and orchards for herbs water and for her Bruinge Bakeing washing dryeinge and the like needful occasions Item I will to my sonne Joseph Mirriam all such household stuffe as I shall have at the time of my decease remayning and being in the howse wherein he now dwelleth scituate in Tewdly or elsewhere where he shall then dwell being in his custody or possession. Item I will to George Mirriam my Sonne five poundes and to his daughter Mary my god-daughter five shillings Item I will to William Howe my grandchild Tenn shillings. And to every childe of his father Thomas Howe which he had by my daughter his late deceased wife I will five shillings. Item I will to William Mirriam my grandchilde sonne of the said Joseph my sonne five shillings. All which Legacyes before by mee bequeathed (not assigned to anie tyme of payment) I will shalbe paid within one whole next after my decease. And if anie Legtatorie before named shalbe then within age I will my executor shall paie it to the parent of such Legatorye and so shalbe discharged therof. And as touchinge my lands and tenements this is alsoe the last Will of mee the said William Mirriam made and declared the daie and yeare first above written. Item I will to Joseph Mirriam my sonne and to his heires and assignes for ever All my Landes and Tenements lying in Yalding in the said Countie of Kent with theire and every of theire appurtennes charged with the before mentioned Annunitie of three poundes willed to my said wife as aforesaid to be paid unto her Item I will to Roger Mirriam my sonne and to his heires and assignes for ever all that Messuage or Tenement wherein I nowe dwell scituate lying and beinge in Hadlowe aforesaid with the Barnes Outhouses Yardes Gardens orchards And all my Landes thereto belonginge And alsoe all other my Landes Tenemts and Hereditaments with theire and every of theire appurtenncs lying and being in Hadlowe aforesaid. To hold to the said Robert his heirs and Assignes for ever He and they sufferine my wife to have her dwelling and the Easements and comodityes aforesaid to the which Robert my sonne I will and give all my Goods and Chattels not formerly bequeathed. To hold to him his executors and Assignes for ever. And I doe ordeyne and make the said Robert the full and sole Executor of this my Testment and last Will sealed with my Seale Dated the daie and yeare first before written - The marke of the said William Mirriam- Sealed subscribed and declared in the presence of Thomas Humphrey - John Hooper norie pbqe The Merriam Coat of arms "Divided into diamond shapes of black and silver; a n ermine upper third" Above the shield and Helmet is the Crest which is " A boar walking, wearing a green collar"There is no motto

The name Merriam is now a distinctly American (North American) name. The name has died out in Kent county and England altogether. Early records show John Meryham stonemason in 1455.In the 16th century in Pembrokeshire a manor called Meriham or Myrryam is found near the town of Tenby.William Merryan is mentioned in the will of James Burgess of Tudeley England in 1590. This may be the same William Merriam the father of our ancestors.The discovery of the spelling of the name Merryham, Meriham and Meryham settles the question of its meaning.Both Merry and Ham are Saxon words. They are in Bosworth's "Dictionary of Anglo Saxon Language," London 1808 as follows;Mirige, myrig, adj. Merry, pleasant: hilaris, jucunis.Ham, a home, house, dwelling; domus.Ham, as a termination, in the name of places, denotes a home. dwelling, village.So the meaning of Merryham is "Happy home".The first ancestor to distinguish himself from other Johns of his village became John of the happy home or John Meryham.The editor has found Merriam spelt as Meriam, Miriam, Merium, Merrum.So the next time someone says "How do you spell that", be proud and make sure they get it right. Where did we come from.The first Merriam that we can prove is our ancestor is William Merriam born about 1400 in Kent England. Merriam's name of Meryham can be traced back to 1295 in England. In 1500 a descendant of William Merriam another "William" had three sons, Joseph, Robert and George who came to the new world ( New England) in 1638 on the ship Castle of London, landing at Port of Charleston. They settled in Lynn Mass. Joseph and his wife Sara Goldstone had children and it is from this couple that all Merriam's in North America are descended. George also had children But the Male line survived only three generations. You can read more about the early Merriams in " Merriam Genealogy in England and America compiled by Charles Henry Pope and John Merriam Kingsbury. It is available at Bullbrier Press

ks_tigger8256added this on 12 Jan 2010
Copied from a word document posted by: highpocketsjtc on Ancestry.com
found on ancestry.com


WILLIAM MERRIAM'S WILLWilliam Merriam WIFE HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/breedelizabeth.htm" Elizabeth Breed
Born: Abt 1624 Tudley, Kent, Eng FATHER HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriamjoseph.htm" Joseph Merriam MOTHER HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/goldstonesarah.htm" Sarah Goldstone

Died: 22/May/1698 Lynn, Essex, England

Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906
" The Testimony of Jeremiah Shepard Aged 42 who Testifyeth and saith that being present with William Meriam Sr. at his last sickness, his last will and mind with reference to the disposall of his outward estate was That his wife Sarah should out of his estate have maintained for her 2 cowes and a beast to ride upon, a bed and furniture. In the Leantoo wherin he then lay, and alsoe a Bras ketle with the use of sd Room during her life; and what he had allready conveyed to his children should be confirmed to ym; his eldest son Joseph to enjoy what lands he had bequeathed to him and his two sons William and John should have the remainder of the Lands equally divided between them."

Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906William, born in England, probably at Tewdley, in the county of Kent, about 1624; came as a boy to Concord, Mass., and entered into the life of the new plantation. Joined the church, and was made a freeman of the colony, May 2, 1649. He was one of the witnesses to the will of Joseph How 24 (2), 1651. The "goodman Merriam," who owned a lot of land in Hampon, New Hampshire, May 2, 1655, may be - we may say must be - this man; but there is no evidence that he resided there. He had already settled at Lynn, where he married first Elizabeth, daughter of Allen Breed. Her father gave them, June 26, 1666, a good portion, 200 acres of farm land, all in Lynn, in the southern part, now called by the ancient name Saugus. He married second, Oct 11, 1676, Anna Jones, who died July 29, 1677. He married third, Sarah------, who survived him.He served as a trooper in King Philip's War, enrolled Feb. 29, 1675-6, in Capt. George Curwin's company, and received 4-10's for his services. He died in 1689' was buried 22 May, 1689.
William is mentioned in the will of his grandfather, HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriamwilliamsr.htm" William Merriam
William Merriam – Christened 11 May 1564 Tudeley, Kent, England
Died 27 November 1635 Hadlowe, Kent, England
FATHER William Merriam MOTHER Alice Hablett
WIFE Sarah Burges
, Kent, clothier. Dated 8 Sept, 1635; proved 27 Nov, 1635
" In the name of God Amen the eighth daie of September in the yeare of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred thirty and five. I William Mirriam of Hadlowe in the County of Kent Clothier being of sound and good memory And in reasonable good health of body but aged. And thereby as well as by daylie examples and the consideracon of mans mortalitye put in mynde of my last end and departure of this world for the setling of that estate wherewith God hath blessed mee doe ordayne and make this my Testament and last Will in manner followinge. First therefore recommending my soule to the gratious acceptance of Almighie God through Jesus Christ my Saviour And my Bodie to the Earth in decent manner to be buried. I will to the poore of Hadlowe Tenn shillings. Item I will to Susan my daughter already preferred fifty shillings. Item I will to my daughter Margarit likewise preferred alredy the like sume of fifty shillings. Item to my daughter Joane already preferred one shillinge Item I will to Sara my daughter the sume of fortie poundes of lawfull English money to be paid unto her within three monethes next after my decease by mine executor here after named. Item I will to Sara my loveinge wife all the household stuffe of myne which is in my nowe dwelling house scituate at Barnestreete in Hadlowe aforesaid. Item I will to the said Sara my wife The Five poundes p Annum which she is to be paid out of my landes in Goodherst in the County of Kent duringe her naturall life. And allsoe I will unto her Three poundes p Annu of lawfull English money to be paid to her during her naturall life (halfe yearely by equall porcons) out of my tenement and lands in Taldinge in the said County. And for defaulte of payment therof to her accordinglie I will that it shall and may be lawfull to and for my said wife and her assignes to enter and distreyne unpon my said tenement and landes or any parte therof. And the distress and distresses to hold and deteyne untill the said Annutiy of three poundes shall be paid unto her from tyme to tyme according to the purport of this my Will And further I will that my said wife shall freely and quietly have her dwelling and abidinge in my dwellinge house aforesaid after my decease during the whole terme of her naturall life with free howse ingresse egresse and recourse to and from the same. And into and from the gardens and orchards for herbs water and for her Bruinge Bakeing washing dryeinge and the like needful occasions Item I will to my sonne Joseph Mirriam all such household stuffe as I shall have at the time of my decease remayning and being in the howse wherein he now dwelleth scituate in Tewdly or elsewhere where he shall then dwell being in his custody or possession. Item I will to George Mirriam my Sonne five poundes and to his daughter HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriammary.htm" Mary my god-daughter five shillings Item I will to William Howe my grandchild Tenn shillings. And to every childe of his father Thomas Howe which he had by my daughter his late deceased wife I will five shillings. Item I will to HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriamwilliam.htm" William Mirriam my grandchilde sonne of the said Joseph my sonne five shillings. All which Legacyes before by mee bequeathed (not assigned to anie tyme of payment) I will shalbe paid within one whole next after my decease. And if anie Legtatorie before named shalbe then within age I will my executor shall paie it to the parent of such Legatorye and so shalbe discharged therof. And as touchinge my lands and tenements this is alsoe the last Will of mee the said William Mirriam made and declared the daie and yeare first above written. Item I will to Joseph Mirriam my sonne and to his heires and assignes for ever All my Landes and Tenements lying in Yalding in the said Countie of Kent with theire and every of theire appurtennes charged with the before mentioned Annunitie of three poundes willed to my said wife as aforesaid to be paid unto her Item I will to Roger Mirriam my sonne and to his heires and assignes for ever all that Messuage or Tenement wherein I nowe dwell scituate lying and beinge in Hadlowe aforesaid with the Barnes Outhouses Yardes Gardens orchards And all my Landes thereto belonginge And alsoe all other my Landes Tenemts and Hereditaments with theire and every of theire appurtenncs lying and being in Hadlowe aforesaid. To hold to the said Robert his heirs and Assignes for ever He and they sufferine my wife to have her dwelling and the Easements and comodityes aforesaid to the which Robert my sonne I will and give all my Goods and Chattels not formerly bequeathed. To hold to him his executors and Assignes for ever. And I doe ordeyne and make the said Robert the full and sole Executor of this my Testment and last Will sealed with my Seale Dated the daie and yeare first before written - The marke of the said William Mirriam- Sealed subscribed and declared in the presence of Thomas Humphrey - John Hooper norie pbqe

INCLUDEPICTUR E "http://www.merriamfamilypapers.com/img71.gif" \* MERGEFORMATINET

The Merriam Coat of arms "Divided into diamond shapes of black and silver; a n ermine upper third" Above the shield and Helmet is the Crest which is " A boar walking, wearing a green collar"There is no motto

The name Merriam is now a distinctly American (North American) name. The name has died out in Kent county and England altogether. Early records show John Meryham stonemason in 1455.In the 16th century in Pembrokeshire a manor called Meriham or Myrryam is found near the town of Tenby.William Merryan is mentioned in the will of James Burgess of Tudeley England in 1590. This may be the same William Merriam the father of our ancestors.The discovery of the spelling of the name Merryham, Meriham and Meryham settles the question of its meaning.Both Merry and Ham are Saxon words. They are in Bosworth's "Dictionary of Anglo Saxon Language," London 1808 as follows;Mirige, myrig, adj. Merry, pleasant: hilaris, jucunis.Ham, a home, house, dwelling; domus.Ham, as a termination, in the name of places, denotes a home. dwelling, village.So the meaning of Merryham is "Happy home".The first ancestor to distinguish himself from other Johns of his village became John of the happy home or John Meryham.The editor has found Merriam spelt as Meriam, Miriam, Merium, Merrum.So the next time someone says "How do you spell that", be proud and make sure they get it right. Where did we come from.The first Merriam that we can prove is our ancestor is William Merriam born about 1400 in Kent England. Merriam's name of Meryham can be traced back to 1295 HYPERLINK "http://www.merriamfamilypapers.com/page151.html" in England. In 1500 a descendant of William Merriam another " HYPERLINK "http://www.merriamfamilypapers.com/page18.html" William" had three sons, Joseph, Robert and George who came to the new world ( New England) in 1638 on the ship Castle of London, landing at Port of Charleston. They settled in Lynn Mass. Joseph and his wife Sara Goldstone had children and it is from this couple that all Merriam's in North America are descended. George also had children But the Male line survived only three generations. You can read more about the early Merriams in " Merriam Genealogy in England and America compiled by Charles Henry Pope and John Merriam Kingsbury. It is available at HYPERLINK "http://www.bullbrier.com" Bullbrier Press
found on ancestry.com
-1635)

William Merriam (1564Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906
"The Testimony of Jeremiah Shepard Aged 42 who Testifyeth and saith that being present with William Meriam Sr. at his last sickness, his last will and mind with reference to the disposall of his outward estate was That his wife Sarah should out of his estate have maintained for her 2 cowes and a beast to ride upon, a bed and furniture. In the Leantoo wherin he then lay, and alsoe a Bras ketle with the use of sd Room during her life; and what he had allready conveyed to his children should be confirmed to ym; his eldest son Joseph to enjoy what lands he had bequeathed to him and his two sons William and John should have the remainder of the Lands equally divided between them."
found on ancestry.com


William Merriam (1564-1635) DeathAccording to our family's written Merriam history:
"William Merriam was buried in Hadlow, Kent, England on September 28, 1635. His will, dated September 8, 1635, and proved on November 3, 1635, (Consistory of Rochester, England) names each of his three sons, five daughters, and wife, Sarah. He was a clothier and wool raiser, as were his sons. Was, at his death, "aged."
found on ancestry.com