Colonial Meriwether Families Tree - Person Sheet
Colonial Meriwether Families Tree - Person Sheet
NameRichard Meriwether 
293, G Grandson, M
293, G Grandson, MBirthabt 1719, Virginia
Deathbef 14 Oct 1766, Ireland
BurialMeriwether Burial Ground, Albemarle County, Virginia294
MemoEast bank of Rivanna River, near present day Charlottesville. Actual site has been lost.
Military ServiceBritish Army; Ensign, 45th Nottinghamshire Regiment; may have served in Ireland.
Findagrave•https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76429838
FatherWilliam Meriwether , M (~1688-1751)
MotherElizabeth Bushrod , F (~1690-)
Biography notes for Richard Meriwether
Richard Meriwether
© The Meriwether Society, Inc. (Maury Kendall, TMSI Distinguished Member)
The first identified reference to Richard is found in the will of his grandfather, Nicholas II, which was signed 12 Dec 1743. He is also named by Elizabeth (Crawford) Meriwether as a grandson, son of William Meriwether, in her will dated 2 Mar 1753. He was to share an equal division of the remains of Elizabeth’s estate with aunt Ann Cosby and uncle Col. Robert Lewis.
At some point Richard joined the British Army. On 15 Nov 1759 he is listed as one of eight Virginian prisoners of war released by the French, indicating his participation in the French and Indian War. He was perhaps captured during the defeat of General Braddock, in which several other Meriwethers participated. In 1760 and 1762, he is listed as a subaltern, a commissioned officer junior to a Captain, in service under Col. William Byrd III in service against the Cherokee.
Through the support of Col. Byrd, Richard was able to purchase a commission as Ensign in the British Army. On 27 September 1762 he received the commission and was assigned to the 45th Nottinghamshire Regiment, known as the Sherwood Forresters. The Regiment was then serving at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, and after receiving his commission, Richard traveled from Boston to Louisbourg to join the Regiment. Louisbourg had been an important French garrison captured by the British in 1758.
On 10 July 1765 the Regiment landed in Ireland and Ensign Meriwether is still listed as a British officer. Richard died sometime after the Irish landing, as identified in two sources. The 1766 Army List notes that Richard is dead, and a Virginia deed on 14 October 1766 mentions land “late the property of Richard Meriwether, decd.”
Richard died in Ireland, but one source states that he was buried beside his grandfather, Nicholas II, on the east bank of the Rivanna River. David, son of Nicholas II, is also known to be buried there. Nicholas and David died in late 1744, so the burial ground was used for at least 20 years and probably contained other family members.
Endorsement by two of Virginia’s most important leaders and acceptance by the most powerful man in Colonial America strongly suggests that Richard Meriwether (M1214) was a gentleman of good character, professionally competent and physically fit, and was wealthy enough to buy a commission. Overlaying all that is the evident high regard the Meriwether family was held. One senses that the same attributes and qualities that caused neighbor and President Thomas Jefferson to select Meriwether Lewis (M12218,3) as his personal secretary were also present here.
© The Meriwether Society, Inc. (Maury Kendall, TMSI Distinguished Member)
The first identified reference to Richard is found in the will of his grandfather, Nicholas II, which was signed 12 Dec 1743. He is also named by Elizabeth (Crawford) Meriwether as a grandson, son of William Meriwether, in her will dated 2 Mar 1753. He was to share an equal division of the remains of Elizabeth’s estate with aunt Ann Cosby and uncle Col. Robert Lewis.
At some point Richard joined the British Army. On 15 Nov 1759 he is listed as one of eight Virginian prisoners of war released by the French, indicating his participation in the French and Indian War. He was perhaps captured during the defeat of General Braddock, in which several other Meriwethers participated. In 1760 and 1762, he is listed as a subaltern, a commissioned officer junior to a Captain, in service under Col. William Byrd III in service against the Cherokee.
Through the support of Col. Byrd, Richard was able to purchase a commission as Ensign in the British Army. On 27 September 1762 he received the commission and was assigned to the 45th Nottinghamshire Regiment, known as the Sherwood Forresters. The Regiment was then serving at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, and after receiving his commission, Richard traveled from Boston to Louisbourg to join the Regiment. Louisbourg had been an important French garrison captured by the British in 1758.
On 10 July 1765 the Regiment landed in Ireland and Ensign Meriwether is still listed as a British officer. Richard died sometime after the Irish landing, as identified in two sources. The 1766 Army List notes that Richard is dead, and a Virginia deed on 14 October 1766 mentions land “late the property of Richard Meriwether, decd.”
Richard died in Ireland, but one source states that he was buried beside his grandfather, Nicholas II, on the east bank of the Rivanna River. David, son of Nicholas II, is also known to be buried there. Nicholas and David died in late 1744, so the burial ground was used for at least 20 years and probably contained other family members.
Endorsement by two of Virginia’s most important leaders and acceptance by the most powerful man in Colonial America strongly suggests that Richard Meriwether (M1214) was a gentleman of good character, professionally competent and physically fit, and was wealthy enough to buy a commission. Overlaying all that is the evident high regard the Meriwether family was held. One senses that the same attributes and qualities that caused neighbor and President Thomas Jefferson to select Meriwether Lewis (M12218,3) as his personal secretary were also present here.
Notes for Richard Meriwether
Marriage
WRG claims that “Richard died without issue & his widow married John Lewis of the Byrd.”
Others claim that John Lewis of the Byrd married Jane (Lewis) Meriwether (M1282), widow of Thomas Meriwether, Richard’s brother. It can be shown that Jane (Lewis) Meriwether, wife of Thomas Meriwether, could not have survived Thomas and married John Lewis. It is possible that John Lewis married the widow of Richard Meriwether, however. The only problem is there is no evidence that Richard was married.
Prentice Price & George Kink claim she was Mildred Lewis, Jane’s sister.
WRG claims that “Richard died without issue & his widow married John Lewis of the Byrd.”
Others claim that John Lewis of the Byrd married Jane (Lewis) Meriwether (M1282), widow of Thomas Meriwether, Richard’s brother. It can be shown that Jane (Lewis) Meriwether, wife of Thomas Meriwether, could not have survived Thomas and married John Lewis. It is possible that John Lewis married the widow of Richard Meriwether, however. The only problem is there is no evidence that Richard was married.
Prentice Price & George Kink claim she was Mildred Lewis, Jane’s sister.
Notes for Richard Meriwether
In the will of Elizabeth (Crawford) Meriwether, Richard’s grandmother, he was designated to obtain a portion of her estate:
Item. I do give & bequeath all the rest of my Estate to be Equally Divided between my Daughter Ann Cosby… & my grandson Richard Meriwether son of my son William to them & their heirs forever. 295
Item. I do give & bequeath all the rest of my Estate to be Equally Divided between my Daughter Ann Cosby… & my grandson Richard Meriwether son of my son William to them & their heirs forever. 295
Deed notes for Richard Meriwether
Bequests from will of grandfather Nicholas II:
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Richard Meriwether son of my son William Meriwether Seven hundred acres of Land in the County of Goochland it being part of eight hundred and nineteen acres bought of Thomas Graves to him and his Heirs forEver.
Item. I do give and bequeath unto my Grand son Richard Meriwether son to my son William Meriwether my Quarter and Land where Negro Jamy lives that I bought of Edward Nix, with some more land added to it in all about Three hundred acres to him and his Heirs for Ever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Richard Meriwether son of my son William Meriwether Seven hundred acres of Land in the County of Goochland it being part of eight hundred and nineteen acres bought of Thomas Graves to him and his Heirs forEver.
Item. I do give and bequeath unto my Grand son Richard Meriwether son to my son William Meriwether my Quarter and Land where Negro Jamy lives that I bought of Edward Nix, with some more land added to it in all about Three hundred acres to him and his Heirs for Ever.