Colonial Meriwether Families Tree - Person Sheet
Colonial Meriwether Families Tree - Person Sheet
Birth5 Oct 1716, Hanover County, Virginia7
Death23 Aug 1772, At sea, aboard the "York" Age: 55
Burialabt 23 Aug 1772, At sea, Atlantic117
Will Probate23 Dec 1772, Canterbury, Kent, UK118 Age: 56
Anst File#GJ1C-FF
OccupationSailor and ship’s captain in the British merchant service.
Findagrave•https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72497101
FatherDavid Meriwether , M (~1690-1744)
MotherAnne Holmes , F (1695-1736)
Spouses
1Mary Weaver 
30, F
30, FBirth10 Apr 1722, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England119
Deathabt 7 Oct 1767, Gloucestershire, England
MemoOr at sea returning there.
FatherJames Weaver , M
MotherElizabeth Nickols , F
ChildrenJames (Died as Infant), M (~1744-~1747)
Jenny , F (ca1746-)
Elizabeth Mariah , F (~1749-1801)
Thomas , M (1752-1803)
James , M (1755-1817)
David , M (~1759-~1829)
William , M (~1762-1818)
Biography notes for David Meriwether
David Meriwether, Mariner
© The Meriwether Society, Inc.
David Meriwether was born 5 Oct 1716 in Hanover County, the second son and child of David Meriwether and Anne Holmes. On 5 December 1734 Nicholas Meriwether II signed a deed granting land to his grandsons Thomas and David. This is the only known direct evidence that David was a descendant of Nicholas Meriwether.
David became a seaman, eventually commanding a number of merchant vessels sailing between Virginia and England. Apprenticeship records in Virginia and England have not been located, but by 1741 David was an acknowledged sailing master. In 1742 and 1743 he commanded the “Tiger” or “Tiger Galley”. In 1745 he assumed command of the “Lillie” and from the late 1760s to his death he commanded the “York”.
David married Mary Weaver on 20 Jun 1743 in Yazor Parish, Herefordshire, England, and they lived a number of years in Bristol, where the first few of their children were born. In the early 1750s they moved back to Virginia where the remainder of his children are believed to have been born, although his wife and several children returned to Bristol before her death in 1767.
David died 23 Aug 1772 on board his ship “York” sailing from Yorktowne, Virginia, to Bristol, England, and was buried at sea.
© The Meriwether Society, Inc.
David Meriwether was born 5 Oct 1716 in Hanover County, the second son and child of David Meriwether and Anne Holmes. On 5 December 1734 Nicholas Meriwether II signed a deed granting land to his grandsons Thomas and David. This is the only known direct evidence that David was a descendant of Nicholas Meriwether.
David became a seaman, eventually commanding a number of merchant vessels sailing between Virginia and England. Apprenticeship records in Virginia and England have not been located, but by 1741 David was an acknowledged sailing master. In 1742 and 1743 he commanded the “Tiger” or “Tiger Galley”. In 1745 he assumed command of the “Lillie” and from the late 1760s to his death he commanded the “York”.
David married Mary Weaver on 20 Jun 1743 in Yazor Parish, Herefordshire, England, and they lived a number of years in Bristol, where the first few of their children were born. In the early 1750s they moved back to Virginia where the remainder of his children are believed to have been born, although his wife and several children returned to Bristol before her death in 1767.
David died 23 Aug 1772 on board his ship “York” sailing from Yorktowne, Virginia, to Bristol, England, and was buried at sea.
Notes for David Meriwether
Birth
According to the “mutilated register” copied by Griffith, David was born 5 Oct 1726. However, this conflicts with indirect evidence that David was much older. His 20 Jun 1743 marriage certificate states he was 26, indicating a birthdate of late 1716, early 1717. It appears that the birth years of David and brother Francis may have been reversed in early Meriwether genealogies.
According to the “mutilated register” copied by Griffith, David was born 5 Oct 1726. However, this conflicts with indirect evidence that David was much older. His 20 Jun 1743 marriage certificate states he was 26, indicating a birthdate of late 1716, early 1717. It appears that the birth years of David and brother Francis may have been reversed in early Meriwether genealogies.
Notes for David Meriwether
Death
David died at sea seven days out of York Town enroute to Bristol, England.
David died at sea seven days out of York Town enroute to Bristol, England.
Newspaper Item notes for David Meriwether
The Boston Gazette (Boston, Massachusetts), 2 July 1759
Capt. Meriwether Arrives in Boston
Capt. Meriweather who arrived here last Friday, in 8 weeks and 2 days from Bristol, we have an English Print of the 28th of April, from which we have extracted the following…
Capt. Meriwether Arrives in Boston
Capt. Meriweather who arrived here last Friday, in 8 weeks and 2 days from Bristol, we have an English Print of the 28th of April, from which we have extracted the following…
Newspaper Item notes for David Meriwether
The Pennsylvania Gazette, 26 May 1768
Capt. Merriweather & The York Sail from Bristol
Bristol, March 5, Sailed, The York, Merriweather, for Virginia.
Capt. Merriweather & The York Sail from Bristol
Bristol, March 5, Sailed, The York, Merriweather, for Virginia.
Newspaper Item notes for David Meriwether
Boston News-Letter and New England Chronicle, 13 October 1768
Capt. Merriweather’s York Disabled
A letter from Capt. Brown, who is arrived at North Carolina from this place, mentions that on his passage thither, the 19th of August, in Lat. 38. 30. Long. 69. 46 he met with the ship York, Capt. Merriweather, bound from Virginia to Bristol, who in the morning of that day left his main and mizen mast, in a violent gale of wind, or rather, hurricane, and then lay as a wreck upon the water.
Capt. Merriweather’s York Disabled
A letter from Capt. Brown, who is arrived at North Carolina from this place, mentions that on his passage thither, the 19th of August, in Lat. 38. 30. Long. 69. 46 he met with the ship York, Capt. Merriweather, bound from Virginia to Bristol, who in the morning of that day left his main and mizen mast, in a violent gale of wind, or rather, hurricane, and then lay as a wreck upon the water.
Deed notes for David Meriwether
Deeds Linking David to Nicholas Meriwether II
Referred to in most Meriwether genealogies as "Sailor David", though it is doubtful if he himself went by this name. Some have suggested referring to him as Captain David, as he did in fact own and captain a ship.
On 5 December 1734 Nicholas Meriwether II signed a deed granting land to his grandsons Thomas and David. This is the only known direct evidence that “Sailor” David was a direct descendant of Nicholas Meriwether.
A 1752 Louisa Co. deed which describes him as David Meriwether, Mariner, of Bristol, England.124
In 1753 and 1757 he was in Virginia, and in 1758 he gave a Power of Attorney saying he was returning to Great Britain.
In 1777, Thomas Meriwether made a deed as heir of David Meriwether, deceased.
He is known to have captained two ships, the Lilly and the York.
Referred to in most Meriwether genealogies as "Sailor David", though it is doubtful if he himself went by this name. Some have suggested referring to him as Captain David, as he did in fact own and captain a ship.
On 5 December 1734 Nicholas Meriwether II signed a deed granting land to his grandsons Thomas and David. This is the only known direct evidence that “Sailor” David was a direct descendant of Nicholas Meriwether.
A 1752 Louisa Co. deed which describes him as David Meriwether, Mariner, of Bristol, England.124
In 1753 and 1757 he was in Virginia, and in 1758 he gave a Power of Attorney saying he was returning to Great Britain.
In 1777, Thomas Meriwether made a deed as heir of David Meriwether, deceased.
He is known to have captained two ships, the Lilly and the York.
Marriage/Wedding notes for David & Mary (Family)
Marriage of David Meriwether and Mary Weaver 116
David and Mary were married on 20 June 1743 in the Yazor parish church in Herefordshier. Their license had been issued in the Hereford Diocese office in the town of Hereford, more than 50 miles from Bristol.
David and Mary were married on 20 June 1743 in the Yazor parish church in Herefordshier. Their license had been issued in the Hereford Diocese office in the town of Hereford, more than 50 miles from Bristol.