Colonial Meriwether Families - Person Sheet
Colonial Meriwether Families - Person Sheet
NameFrancis Meriwether 
105, Brother, GSK5-1CP, M
105, Brother, GSK5-1CP, MBirthbef 29 Sep 1642, Stratton Saint Michael with Saint Peter Parish, Norfolk, England
Deathabt May 1676, Surry County, Virginia
BurialSurry County, Virginia282
FlagsVolume 1
FatherRector John Merywether , G3V5-DTJ, M (~1599-<1660)
MotherJoane Browne , GSKR-8QN, F (<1609->1677)
Never married
Biography notes for Francis Meriwether
Francis Meriwether
© The Meriwether Society, Inc.283
Church Records for Norfolk, England, show that Francis Meriwether was baptized 29 Sep 1642 in Norfolk, England, son of John Meriwether and his wife Joane. Sometime before 1669 Francis joined his brother Nicholas in Virginia, as he is found in the 1669 Surry Count tithables list: “Mr. Meriwether & Bro & 4 Sarvts—6 [tithables]”.
Some evidence exists that Francis worked as a legal clerk for William May and Nicholas Meriwether.
In 1674 Francis was called to task by the Governor’s General Court for circulating a “scandalous” petition against Lt. Col. George Jordon and was compelled to beg the Governor’s pardon.
The last known record of Francis while he lived is the 1675 Surry County tithable list, where he appears as the only person in his own household.
He probably died in late May or early June 1676, as on 14 Jun 1676 Nicholas was appointed the administrator of Francis’ estate:
“Commission of Administration granted unto Ni: Meriwether on Estate of his dec’d Bro. Fra. Meriwether signed at James Citty by the governor June 14th, 1676.”
There is no evidence that Francis ever married.
For more information, see the section on Francis in the book “The Meriwether Family in America, Volume I: The Colonists.”
© The Meriwether Society, Inc.283
Church Records for Norfolk, England, show that Francis Meriwether was baptized 29 Sep 1642 in Norfolk, England, son of John Meriwether and his wife Joane. Sometime before 1669 Francis joined his brother Nicholas in Virginia, as he is found in the 1669 Surry Count tithables list: “Mr. Meriwether & Bro & 4 Sarvts—6 [tithables]”.
Some evidence exists that Francis worked as a legal clerk for William May and Nicholas Meriwether.
In 1674 Francis was called to task by the Governor’s General Court for circulating a “scandalous” petition against Lt. Col. George Jordon and was compelled to beg the Governor’s pardon.
The last known record of Francis while he lived is the 1675 Surry County tithable list, where he appears as the only person in his own household.
He probably died in late May or early June 1676, as on 14 Jun 1676 Nicholas was appointed the administrator of Francis’ estate:
“Commission of Administration granted unto Ni: Meriwether on Estate of his dec’d Bro. Fra. Meriwether signed at James Citty by the governor June 14th, 1676.”
There is no evidence that Francis ever married.
For more information, see the section on Francis in the book “The Meriwether Family in America, Volume I: The Colonists.”
Research notes for Francis Meriwether
Joan (Remington) Meriwether
One researcher claims that Francis married Joan Remington/Rymington, daughter of Ranaldi Rymington de Bolton, but declined to provide any references.
There exists a Christening record, dated 30 Sep 1632, for Joan Rymington, daughter of Reynold Rymington, in church records for Melling, Lancaster, Lancashire. No further information on Reynold or Joan in England or Virginia has been found.
This Joan’s birth date of before 30 Sep 1632 (Christening date) makes it unlikely she was the wife of Francis since we now know he was born in 1642. 284
Possible Wife
On 3 Sep 1677, a Joan Meriwether witnessed a document making Nicholas Meriwether the attorney for Bartholomew Owens. It is not known who this Joan is. As Francis, younger brother of Nicholas, died the previous year, it is possible she was the widow of Francis and living with Nicholas and his family. No other record of Joan has been found and there is no evidence that Francis was married when he died. Nicholas and Francis did have a sister named Joane, but she died in England in 1656.
Francis is alone in his own household on the 1675 Surry County tithables list, recorded on 10 June, so if Joan is his wife, they married sometime between then and his death in early/mid 1676.
There is no indication of a wife when Nicholas was appointed administrator of Francis’ estate in 1676. There are many reasons why a wife might not have been granted Administratrix of his estate, so that provides no useful clue.
Update:
Based on the discovery that the mother of Nicholas and Francis was Joane (Browne) Meriwether, it is possible that the Joan who signed this document is in fact their mother. This would imply that she came to Virginia, possible along with Francis, and was living with Nicholas and Francis at “Indian Springs”.
One researcher claims that Francis married Joan Remington/Rymington, daughter of Ranaldi Rymington de Bolton, but declined to provide any references.
There exists a Christening record, dated 30 Sep 1632, for Joan Rymington, daughter of Reynold Rymington, in church records for Melling, Lancaster, Lancashire. No further information on Reynold or Joan in England or Virginia has been found.
This Joan’s birth date of before 30 Sep 1632 (Christening date) makes it unlikely she was the wife of Francis since we now know he was born in 1642. 284
Possible Wife
On 3 Sep 1677, a Joan Meriwether witnessed a document making Nicholas Meriwether the attorney for Bartholomew Owens. It is not known who this Joan is. As Francis, younger brother of Nicholas, died the previous year, it is possible she was the widow of Francis and living with Nicholas and his family. No other record of Joan has been found and there is no evidence that Francis was married when he died. Nicholas and Francis did have a sister named Joane, but she died in England in 1656.
Francis is alone in his own household on the 1675 Surry County tithables list, recorded on 10 June, so if Joan is his wife, they married sometime between then and his death in early/mid 1676.
There is no indication of a wife when Nicholas was appointed administrator of Francis’ estate in 1676. There are many reasons why a wife might not have been granted Administratrix of his estate, so that provides no useful clue.
Update:
Based on the discovery that the mother of Nicholas and Francis was Joane (Browne) Meriwether, it is possible that the Joan who signed this document is in fact their mother. This would imply that she came to Virginia, possible along with Francis, and was living with Nicholas and Francis at “Indian Springs”.