Susanna (?) Meriwether, Second Wife 6
© 2025 The Meriwether Society, Inc.

In his will Thomas Meriwether names his second wife, Susanna, and mentions their daughter “... that now sucks my wife, who as yet is unbaptized…”. There is no existing record of the marriage or any that indicates her maiden or former name.

There are conflicting claims that her father was either a Ralph Shelton/Skelton or a Peter Skelton. There is no evidence that her maiden name was Shelton/Skelton, however. The surname COLSTON is also a strong possibility. See TMFIA Vol 1 for an extensive analysis of her possible surnames and details on her life after the death of Thomas.

A record for when Susanna died has not been found, but she lived a long life. Like her sister-in-law, Mary Bathurst Meriwether Welch Robinson, Susanna showed that she was capable of managing her own affairs. Also, like Mary, she married three Essex County justices, but Susanna did Mary one better in out-living all three of her husbands. And, it appears that she possibly had at least one child by each husband, the last one at an advanced age.

She married Henry Robinson sometime before 1715, when a daughter, Ann, was born. Henry died in 1721 and sometime after 1729 she married Dr. Alexander Parker; he died about 1751. They may have had a son named Richard.

The Meriwether Family in America: Volume i, The Colonists

The Second Wife of Thomas Meriwether.

In his will (appendix 35) Thomas Meriwether mentions his wife named Susanna and their daughter “... that now sucks my wife, who as yet is unbaptized...” This is the first mention that he had taken a second wife. There is no existing record of the marriage or any that indicates her maiden or former name.

William Griffith thought her last name was Skelton based on the mention of a Ralph Skelton in Thomas’s will and the fact that Ralph witnessed the will. Thomas bequeathed 65 acres (item 8, table 10–2) that he received by patent to Ralph Shelton. This led Griffith to believe that Ralph was a brother of Susanna. Although Griffith misspelled the name he was careful to put a question mark after the name to indicate the uncertainty. Heath Meriwether dropped the question mark and wrote “Thomas Meriwether, m. 2nd Susannah Skelton...” Further research has revealed a land certificate granted to Thomas Meriwether and recorded 10 October 1702 which includes a Ralph Sheldon as one of the headrights. Despite the difference in spelling this could be and most likely is the same person. The certificate bolsters the circumstantial case that Thomas married Susanna Shelton, a relative of Ralph Shelton.

There is no direct proof that Susanna’s last name was Shelton (or any of the other spellings) and there are many contrary indicators. Thomas always indicated the relationship of the other devisees when mentioning them in his will but he did not for Ralph, suggesting that he was not related. If Susanna was the daughter or sister of Ralph, then it is likely that she would have been transported with Ralph or at a later time. However, she does not appear on the certificate with Ralph or on any other certificate or land patent as a headright. It is unlikely that Thomas would have overlooked taking credit for her. There were only a few Shelton/Skeltons in Essex County during the early 18th century and none were a prominent family. The biggest problem with Ralph Shelton is that there is no indication that he was a person of means. Thomas Meriwether was ambitious and upwardly mobile. He seemed to be well connected based on his rapid advancement. He would most likely marry into an important family as he did with his first marriage. Ralph, though a witness to the will, did not appear on 10 February 1708 when the will was proven in court. In fact, he disappears from the Essex County record. The disposition of his 65 acres is unknown.

The IGI database at the Family History Library does show a Shelton family that lived in neighboring Middlesex County, including a Ralph Shelton.133 Two records in the vestry book of Christ Church in Middlesex County shows a Ralph Shelton who carried out processioning orders in the parish in 1727 and 1728. The area processioned was in the upper part of the county and parish and probably near the 65 acres that Thomas bequeathed a Ralph Shelton.134 It seems likely that this is the same Ralph Shelton. The parish vestry book also shows a payment in 1733 to “...Her: Rhods for keeping & burying Susanna Shelton 400.” This may be the mother or sister of Ralph Shelton that is mentioned in the IGI database. If so, she was not well taken care of by her family.

There is also a will filed in Middlesex County, Virginia for a Ralph Shelton. It is badly damaged, but is dated 10 Mar__ and proved __Jan 1733. Wife’s name is Mary and sons Thomas, Ralph and Crispin are named. The fact that the oldest son is named Thomas might mean it was in memory of the Thomas that gave him the 65-acre patent 25 years before (if this is the same Ralph Shelton). No Susanna is mentioned, which would be expected if she was a relative, since Thomas Meriwether’s widow was still alive.

If Shelton was not Susanna’s last name, then, what are the other possibilities? Browsing through the records of Essex, Middlesex or other counties or England reveals many women of marriageable age with the name Susanna (or variant). Thomas Meriwether even transported a Susannah Dickinson according to a 1704 land certificate.137 It was a very popular name and it seems most families had a Susanna. For example, it is mentioned in section “Lancelot’s Family,” chapter 13, page 369 that Mary Bathurst (M13a) had a sister named Susanna Bathurst who married Drury Stith. Consideration has also been made as to whether Susanna’s previous name was Hill or Robinson, but no connection could be made. The most likely candidate found was Colston.

As mentioned in section “Genealogical Summary” chapter 9, page 266, Mary (M132), daughter of Francis Meriwether (M13) married William Colston (M132a) of Richmond County by 1712. William’s father was also named William. In the father’s will dated 27 October 1701 and probated 3 December 1701, the father gives “...to daughter Susanna...£150 current money, and her mother’s clothing in full of all claime part share and portion.” He also mentions son, William, not yet 21; son, Charles; son-in-law, Thomas Beale; and deceased wife, Ann (daughter of Capt. Thomas Beale). Charles got 640 acres and William got the rest of the land. Susanna, his daughter, did not receive any land.139 The North Farnham Parish Register shows that Susanna was born 8 December 1686. Susanna was parentless after 1701 and certainly not rich since her brothers got all of the land. There is no further mention of her, even in her brother William’s 1721 will. Her oldest brother Charles died in 1726 without a will. However, Charles’s estate does mention daughter, Susannah. Perhaps his sister, Susanna, who was only 15 when her father died, went to live with her brother, Charles. Thomas Meriwether could have remarried any time between 1700 and 1707, so the daughter of William Colston Sr., Susanna, was the right age.

While Susanna Colston was not wealthy, her family must have been “suitable” since Thomas’s niece, Mary, married into the Colstons and Susanna’s father was a burgess representing Rappahannock County in 1692 and Richmond County in 1692/93 and 1693. Unfortunately, there is no direct proof that Thomas married Susanna Colston, but she is as good of a guess as any other candidate.

However, the possibility that Susanna, Thomas's widow, may have given birth in her third marriage to Richard Parker about 1730 (see the next section), when Susanna Colston would be about 44 years old, casts serious doubt that she could be the unknown Susanna.
Susanna (née ———) (M15b), the Mother.

While the origins of Thomas Meriwether’s second wife are not known, what happened to her after Thomas Meriwether died in 1708/09 can be established. A few years after her husband’s death, her name changed. From a Middlesex County deed, dated 5 June 1714:

Rice Jones of Middlesex County, planter, to Susanna Robinson late widow of Thos. Meriwether of Essex County...

Presumably she had remarried—but to whom? Some say that she married a John Robinson. In section “The Honorable John Robinson, Esquire...,” chapter 9, page 262, the John Robinson who married Mary Bathurst Meriwether Welch and his son, John Robinson were mentioned. The latter did marry a Susanna, but that was Susanna (Sukey) Chriswell in 1759 who was his fourth wife. No “available” John Robinson has been found, but it appears that Henry Robinson of Essex County is a strong possibility.

Henry was an Essex County justice from 1710 until his death in 1721. Henry’s will was written 9 June 1721 and proved 20 February 1721/22, by the oaths of Lewis Latane and Wm. Mountague.146 In the will he names his “...Loving wife Susanna...,” a son Thomas, daughters Ann and Sarah, and his brother Thomas Robinson. He appoints his wife and his friend Charles Barber of Richmond County as executors. Since Thomas was not appointed an executor, that might imply he was not yet 21. Also, the records do not show Susanna had any interest in Thomas and Sarah in the future as she did for her other descendants, implying they were children of an earlier marriage. Twenty-one slaves are apportioned among the four devisees. There is no mention of land but since Thomas was the only son, it would go to him anyway as heir-at-law. Daughter Ann also gets Henry’s “Spaid mare colts,” presumably more than one, while daughter Sarah is not given a horse.

The interesting thing in the will is that his wife, Susanna, gets “...her riding horse and Sadle & furniture.” The estate inventory includes “Japaned chest of drawers and holland sheets.” In Thomas Meriwether’s will he leaves his wife “...the whole sute of Japan, two pairs of sheets & two pairs of pillow cases of Holland,... her [underline added] ridding horse named Sorrell & her new & old side saddle...” These specifics in the two wills ties Susanna Meriwether with the Susanna who was the wife of Henry Robinson. But there is more:

KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that we Susanna Robinson Widow, and John Armistead Gent. are held and firmly bound unto Salvator Muscoe, Robert Brooke Nicholas Smith & Thos. Sthreshly Junr. Gentl Justices of the County of Essex in the sum of one thousand pounds Sterl. this 20th day of May 1729.

THE CONDITION of the above obligation is such that if the above bound Susanna Robinson Guardian of Ann Robinson Spinster her heirs & Admrs. do truly pay unto the sd Orphan all Estates that now are or hereafter shall come to the hands of the sd Susanna Robinson as soon as said Orphan shall attain to lawfull age or when required by the Justices for the County of Essex as also keep harmless the said Justices from all trouble that may arise about the said Estate, that then this obliga- tion to be void else to remain in full power.

Susan Robinson
Jno. Armistead

At a Court held for Essex County on the 20th day of May 1729

Susanna Robinson and John Armistead Gent acknowledged this bond to be their act and deed which is order’d to be record’d.148
And, in an order book entry of the same date:

Ann Robinson spinster chose her mother [underline added] Susanna Robinson widow for her guard- ian and the sd Susanna with her security acknowledged a bond for the same.

The above shows that Susanna Robinson had a daughter who was at least 14 years old in order to name her guardian and less than 21 in order to need one. Ann therefore was born before 20 May 1715. Since Henry Robinson named a daughter Ann in his will, and a wife named Susanna, it is certainly possible that Ann and Susanna in the above documents were the same people that Henry named in his will. It has been shown that Thomas Meriwether’s widow had assumed the name Susanna Robinson before 1715, so she could be the mother of this Ann. The thing that ties the above document to Thomas Meriwether’s widow is the bond co-holder, John Armistead. As shown later (page 297), the unbaptized child of Thomas Meriwether and his wife, married a John Armistead (M152a). The date of their marriage is unknown, but the daughter named Susanna (M152) would have been about twenty when the above guardian document was recorded and therefore old enough to be married. Based on the above discussion, there is a strong circumstantial case that the widow of Thomas Meriwether married the Essex County justice, Henry Robinson, with whom she had at least one child named Ann.

Susanna kept busy after her accepted marriage to Henry Robinson. The 1714 Middlesex County deed mentioned above, transferred ownership of a mill and two and one-half acres of land (item 13, table 10–2), that Thomas Meriwether bartered with Rice Jones, one-third to herself and two- thirds to the daughter of Thomas Meriwether in accordance with Thomas’s will. Even though she was married and her husband was not involved, she was protecting her rights and those of her daughter.

In 1719, Susanna bought from Richard Cawthorne a lot with buildings in the town of Tappahannock near the spring (item 14, table 10–2) paying more than ten times what Cawthorne paid.150 However there is a fly in the ointment here, since the name on the deed and the acknowledgment by her attorney Robert Beverley is Susanna Meriwether, not Robinson. Did she do this to protect the rights of her daughter Susanna (who was eleven at the time), or was it just an error by the clerk?

In her next land transaction, it appears that the clerk did make such an error. In July 1722, John Bryant and wife Frances of St. Stephens, King and Queen County sold to Susanna Robinson widow of South Farnham Parish by deeds of lease and release, 210 acres in South Farnham Parish, being part of a patent to Henry Williamson for 420 acres dated 20 September 1683 (item 15, table 10– 2). The price was £40 sterling. On 17 July 1722 John and Frances Bryant acknowledged the sale to Susanna Robinson. However, the recording in the order book has Susanna Meriwether for the bond acknowledgment (according to the Sparacio abstract). This deed is also interesting since the land was once owned by her first husband’s father-in-law, Henry Williamson.152 Frances Bryant was the daughter of Henry Williamson and the 210 acres was her share of the 420 acres that came to his daughters, Katherine and Frances due to the death of their sister Elizabeth.

A Susanna Robinson also appears from 1722 to 1724 eight times in the Essex County Order Book in a matter of debt involving a Jacob Amrose D’Keyser. Despite a jury judgment that she owed D’Keyser £3 current money, she refused to settle the debt and even to come to court. Perhaps she learned this behavior from her first husband. It is not clear what happened to the case which dragged on for 18 months.153 In 1734 she was also fined 10 shillings by a grand jury for “stopping the road with fences and gates.”

It is not clear where Susanna lived after the death of her second husband, but this last problem could indicate that she was living in the country. In his will. Thomas had given her right to live on his plantation for her natural life (after her decease it was to go to their daughter). Perhaps her marriage to Henry Robinson affected this. Or, perhaps she lived on the 210 acres she bought from John and Frances Bryant in 1722. After the death of her third husband (see below) she lived in Tappahannock, perhaps on the lot she bought from Richard Cawthorne or one of the lots she received from her first husband, Thomas Meriwether.

Susanna, the Mother Marries Dr. Alexander Parker.
Sometime after 1729, Susanna married Dr. Alexander Parker of Essex County, a surgeon formerly from Bristol, England. In October, 1765 Susanna entered into a tripartite indenture in Essex County (appendix 39) as “...Susanna Parker of the Town of Tappahannock in the County of Essex Widow...” This agreement was between herself; Richard Parker (son of Alexander Parker), of the County of Westmoreland, gent. of the second part; and Robinson Daingerfield and John Fauntleroy, an infant son of Moore Fauntleroy late of the County of Richmond, gent., deceased of the third part. Robinson Daingerfield is described as her grandson and John Fauntleroy as her great-grandson. Henry Armistead “...an infant son of William Armistead late of the County of — —— , deced....” is also mentioned as her grandson. Moore Fauntleroy, brother of John, is another great-grandson that is mentioned. Susanna sells to Richard Parker all of her lands, Negroes in Essex County, and all other estate, real and personal, to be held in trust for John Fauntleroy and Robinson Daingerfield, or under certain conditions to Moore Fauntleroy (brother of John) and/or Henry Armistead.

How does this tie Susanna Parker to Susanna Meriwether Robinson? As shown below, the unbaptized daughter of Thomas and Susanna married an Armistead and had a daughter who married Moore Fauntleroy. No proof has been found, but Susanna’s other daughter, Ann Robinson, may have married a Daingerfield. Certainly, the first name of Susanna Parker’s grandson, Robinson Daingerfield, is a clue.

In 1762 Susanna Parker sold the 210 acres that she bought, as Susanna Robinson, widow, from John and Frances Bryant in 1722 (item 15, table 10–2). This conclusively proves that Susanna Parker and Susanna Robinson were the same person. In 1767, William Montague sold some land “...which the sd William Montague purch of Mrs. Susanna Parker & John Armistead gent decd....” This is further circumstantial evidence that Susanna Parker and Susanna Meriwether were the same person. This might also indicate that Susanna was still alive in 1767, as it does not say deceased as it did for Armistead.

Dr. Alexander Parker, a widower, first appears in the Essex County record in 1722 as a witness to a deed to Reuben Welch. He was an Essex County justice by 1729, a sheriff by 1733, a trustee of the town of Tappahannock in 1746, and held the post of “Gunner and Storekeeper of the Battery at Hobbs Hole.” Parker’s will (appendix 40) was dated 2 December 1750 and recorded in the Essex County Court 19 November 1751. In it he gives his wife, Susanna, two named slaves for her natural life and the household goods, slaves and livestock that she possessed before their marriage, per an agreement with John Robinson, Esqr. Nothing is said about her lands. He also mentions sons Alexander, to whom he gave his medical supplies and equipment, William, and Richard, a minor, and grandsons Alexander and William, sons of his son Alexander. Sons Alexander and William were certainly from an earlier marriage.

The fact that Richard Parker was a minor raises the possibility that his mother was Susanna. By his father’s will Richard was to receive, after Susanna’s death, the named slaves that Susanna got from her husband, Alexander Parker, which supports this possibility. In 1764 Richard released his rights to these slaves and (underlining added) the slaves that Susanna had before her marriage to his father. The latter action would not be necessary unless Richard was Susanna’s son. Therefore, this suggests that Richard Parker was the son of Dr. Alexander Parker and Susanna (née ———) Meriwether Robinson Parker.

Susanna lived in Tappahannock with her husband, Alexander Parker, at the time he died. In his will (appendix 40) Dr. Parker transferred his Tappahannock lots and land near the town to a trust for sale, the proceeds going to his son, Richard. But perhaps Susanna also still had possession of Thomas Meriwether’s home plantation, the tract she bought from the Bryants, her own lot in Tappahannock, and maybe other lots from Thomas Meriwether (M15). In the 1765 tripartite agreement (appendix 39), she sold Richard Parker “...all the lands the said Susanna holds in fee in the said county of Essex...” and other property to be held in trust for Robinson Daingerfield and John Fauntleroy. So she still held land after the sale of the Bryant tract. At the time of the agreement, Susanna was living in Tappahannock, probably on her lot and she probably lived there until she died after 1765.

A record for when Susanna died has not been found, but she lived a long life. Like her sister-in-law, Mary Bathurst Meriwether Welch Robinson, Susanna showed that she was capable of managing her own affairs. Also, like Mary, she married three Essex County justices, but Susanna did Mary one better in out-living all three of her husbands. And, it appears that she possibly had at least one child by each husband, the last one at an advanced age.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Thornton Parker <tipparker@lumos.net>
Date: Aug 12, 2023 at 13:40:08
Subject: Re: Susannah (?) Meriwether Robinson Parker
To: Joe Oglesby <meriwethersociety@gmail.com>



Joe,

We have to revise what we wrote about Dr. Alexander and Susanna Parker, partly based on what you provided and partly on some more digging and thinking.

For one thing, I made a strong point to you about his agreement with the John Robinson who later became the lieutenant governor of the colony. But that was wrong. There were two Johns. His agreement was with the older who died in 1749, and it was his son who became the lt. gov. We will try to learn how they were related to the Henry Robinson who was Susanna’s second husband.

Another tidbit is that the court records indicate that Alexander’s rapid rise in stature really began in May, 1733. That was shortly after his marriage to Susanna. Some, but surely not all of his rise was surely helped by her. I like to think of him as a genial cuss that most people liked and trusted.

A final tidbit for now. Alexander’s son, also Alexander was a dentist, who family lore said lived in the “Old Customs House”. The history of the house said that it had been an inn or tavern, but not a private residence. Once when we were in Tappahannock we went to look at it. A woman who was working in the garden asked if she could help us. We explained what we thought we knew and she burst out, “That’s why I keep finding teeth!” So which history does one believe?

I’ll send you our revised writeup.

Tip

On Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 13:04 Thornton Parker <tipparker@lumos.net> wrote:
Hi Joe,

The pages you sent are a big help. They are likely to be right that our Susanna’s maiden name was probably Colston—a name we had not heard before. We have to do more detailed comparing of your pages with what we have but at first glance, there are reinforcements and no inconsistencies. Like your description of Thomas Meriwether, Dr. Alexander Parker was also ambitious, upwardly mobile, and well connected. What he achieved during his no more than thirty years in this country convinced us that his wives must have made major contributions to his advancement. Not everyone could have entered into an agreement with John Robinson, who later became lieutenant governor and perhaps acting governor of the colony. Nor for that matter, would many women other than Susanna have had Robinson as a protector. There was a time when if you wanted to do anything in Tappahannock, Old Doc. Parker was the one you needed to see, but when we were doing our searching down there, no one in the historical society even knew he existed. So flits fame.

Attached is a PDF of what my wife and I put together about ten years ago. Our sources are indicated, but most of our findings are based on the photo copies of hand posted entries at the Essex County courthouse in Tappahannock, and tabulations that were done of them. We wrote our piece for our children and grandchildren not for publication. We were more interested in learning about Alexander’s and Susanna’s lives, what they did, and history of the period than the genealogy aspects.

Your pages indicated a bit of uncertainty about whether Susanna married Henry Robinson. I think our chart of the Indenture Tripartite, based on the document itself, shows that she must have married Henry in order to have Robinson Daingerfield as her grandson. After I organize the various pieces from what you and we have done, I’ll send you a copy.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Tip Parker

TMSI Enquiry:

I am trying to find information about the family of Susanna, the last wife of Thomas Meriwether who died in 1707. They probably married in 1705 or 6 and had one child who was also named Susanna Meriwether. The first Susanna eventually married Alexander Parker who was my 6th great grandfather.

Thomas Meriwether (M15), Gentleman of Essex County, Virginia.
© The Meriwether Society, Inc.

Thomas was born about 1677, probably in Surry County. He first appears in the record when he chose A. Drummond of James City County as his guardian in January of 1695/6. This record was recorded in Surry County probably because Thomas inherited land there from his father but this record also indicates that he was probably living in James City County or perhaps planning to leave the area. There is no tithable record for him in Surry County which may indicate that he left there before the age of 16, perhaps to study.

Thomas appeared in Essex County when he married Elizabeth Williamson, daughter of Henry Williamson, an Essex County justice, about May 1699. Elizabeth died a year later. Thomas was appointed guardian of Elizabeth’s two sisters and administrator of Henry Williamson’s estate and also that of Captain Edward Thomas who had designated Williamson’s three daughters as executors of his will. Thomas was appointed an Essex County Justice by the Virginia Council on April 25, 1700, perhaps to fill the seat vacated by his father-in-law. He continued as a justice until April 25, 1702 when he was appointed High Sheriff of Essex County. He was removed from this post a year later when he refused to present his collection book to the county court. However, Thomas was again either a justice or sheriff from 1703 until his death in January 1708/9. He was also a trustee of the Town of Tappahannock from 1704 until his death.

By 1704 Thomas owned 2,100 acres of land in Essex County and 1,200 acres in Surry County. He later added to this acreage and bought 12 lots in the town of Tappahannock where he maintained a warehouse and conducted a mercantile business. Mentioned in his will and estate inventory is a brigantine in his shipyard which may be the ship later owned by his brother Francis.

Thomas married a second time to Susanna ____ (Shelton or variant has been suggested) before 1708. There was a son who died in 1707. It appears that the son was a young boy and it cannot be determined whether his mother was Elizabeth or Susanna. At the time Thomas died he had a daughter who had not been baptized but who was later also named Susanna. This Susanna married John Armistead of Gloucester County before 1729. Although both John and Susanna died by 1734 they left descendants. Thomas’ widow remarried twice, had at least one child by her second marriage and died after 1765. (Guy Meriwether Benson, The Meriwether Society, Inc.)

Will of Thomas Meriwether

In the name of God amen I Thomas Meriwether of the Parish of South Farnham in the County of Essex within the Colony of Virginia being sick and weak of body, but of sound and perfect memory (praised be God) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following.

First. I recommend my soul to ye disposing of Almighty God my Creator and my body to be decently interred in hopes of a full remission of all my sins and a glorious resurrection and union in ye last day in and by the merits of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The temporal estate which God of his great goodness hath been pleased to bestow upon me I dispose of as followeth.

I give unto my loving brother Nicholas Meriwether of New Kent county one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England.

I give unto my loving brother Francis Meriwether of the County of Essex aforesd one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England.

I give unto my loving sister Jane Browne the wife of Mr. William Browne of Surry County a piece of plate of the value of ten pounds sterling money.

I give my dear and loving wife Susannah my best new bed and furniture and the sett of chairs belonging to it, the whole sute of Japan, the sute of damaske table linen, the largest new table, her ridding horse named Sorrell and her new and old side saddle, and all the rest of my personall estate and negroes after my just debts, funerall charges and the legacies before mentioned are paid and discharged, I give to be divided in manner following between my sd wife Susannah and my young daughter that now sucks my said wife, who as yet is unbaptized, that is to say one third part of the said personal estate and negroes, I give to my sd wife Susannah to her and her heirs forever, and the other two thirds of personall estate and negroes I give unto my aforesaid young daughter and her heirs forever, but in case my said daughter should dye before she attains to the age of one and twenty years or marriage, then I give her part of my sd personal estate and negroes to my aforesd two brothers Nicholas Meriwether and Francis Meriwether and my aforesaid sister Jane Browne and their heirs forever, equally to be divided between them, only fifty pounds sterling out of the said estate personall I give unto my aforesd wife Susannah.

I give unto my nephew William Meriwether son of my aforesd brother Nicholas Meriwether and to his heirs forever all my land on the south side of James lying and being in the County of Surry.

I give unto my said wife Susannah (in lieu of her thirds or dower to all the land I hold) the plantation, houses, land and appurtenances thereunto belonging whereon I now live during her naturall life and after her decease to my aforesd daughter and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever and for want and default of such heirs I give the said plantation, houses, land and appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my three nephews William, David and Nicholas Meriwether the sons of my aforesaid brother Nicholas Meriwether and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them.

I give unto Ralph Shelton and his heirs forever the sixty five acres of land granted to me by Patent joining to the lands of Ricd. Jones, John Schools and the land formerly belonging to Capt.Edward Thomas.

I give likewise unto my aforementioned daughter and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever all the rest of my land that I have in Virginia or elsewhere and for want and in default of such heirs I give my Beitland tract of land which I purchased of Richard Covington (excepting out thereof a small parcel of land that lyes on the other side of the swamp adjacent to my other tract of land that I purchased of William Cole) unto the first male child that my aforesd brother Francis Meriwether shall have and his heirs forever, but if it happen that my aforesd brother Francis should not have any such male child, that then I give the said tract of land unto my aforesd three nephews William, David, and Nicholas Meriwether the sons of my aforesd brother Nicholas Meriwether and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them, and for want and in default of such heirs of my aforesd daughter lawfully to be begotten of her body as aforesd,that then I give all the rest of my land hereby given unto my aforesd daughter unto my aforesd three nephews William, David, and Nicholas the sons of my aforesd brother Nicholas Meriwether and to their heirs forever equally to be divided between them.

I also give unto my aforesd wife Susannah the one third part of my Water mill lying in Middlesex County for and during her natural life and the other two third parts to my aforesd daughter and after my sd wife’s decease, then I give all the sd mill and the land thereunto belonging unto my aforesd unbaptized daughter and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever and for want and in default of such heirs that then I give the said mill and land thereunto belonging unto my aforesd three nephews William, David, and Nicholas the sons of my aforesd brother Nicholas Meriwether and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them. My will and meaning is that what I have hereby given to my aforesd loving wife Susannah is to be in full lieu of her thirds of all my estate, both real and personall due to her by law.

My will and desire is that my Exers. hereafter named dispose and make sale of my brigantine upon the stocks together with the sayles and riging and other appurtenances belonging to her, provided they can meet with a sutable market for them, and likewise that my said Exers. dispose of my negro man named Saundy and that my sd Exers. use their utmost endeavor to get in my Tobacco debts and together with my cropps now by me to ship for England for ye payment of what I owe and am indebted to Messrs. Micajah Perry and compa., merchants in London.

My will and desire is that my aforesd daughter’s part of her negroes and stock be kept upon her lands at her hazard and to her profitt and her part of my estate that is perishable I will that my Exrs. Dispose thereof to my sd daughter’s best advantage and out of the produce thereof to purchase negroes for my sd daughter and to keep them upon her lands for the use and profitt as aforesaid, and my sd daughter is to be maintained and educated out of the profitts of her estate and the remaining part of the profitt as to be laid out in negroes from time to time by my Exrs. and put upon her lands to her use and profitt as aforesd.

It is my will and desire that my estate may not be brought to an appraisement, and lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my aforesd loving brothers Nicholas and Francis Meriwether executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling all other wills by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the seventh day of January Anno Dom. 1708.

Memorandm. -Ye words (my aforesd sister Jane Browne) between the 21 st and 22d lines of ye first side, and the words (upon the stocks) between ye 3d and 4t lines, ye words (lying East) between ye 14th and I5th lines and ye words(aforesd) between ye 16th and 17th lines of ye last side were interlined before signing and sealing. Also ye raizings in the 48th line of first side of ye 49th line of the last side were made before signing and sealing, as also ye raizing in the 49th line and ye words (two thirds) between ye 48 and 49 lines of ye first side.

Signed, sealed, and acknowledged to be my last will and testament in the presence of Ricd. Curtis. Mary Meriwether. Ralph Shelton. Wm. Kilingby. The mark of Ann + Whitehorn.

Provided by ye oaths of Ricd. Curtis, William Killingby and Ann Whitehorn, three of ye witnesses hereto in Essex County Court ye 19th day of Febry. 1708 and was ordered to be recorded, and is recorded.

Teste. Richard Buckner, CI. Cur.

A Copy, Teste, Harrison Southwarth, Clerk, County Court of Essex, Virginia.

Will of Thomas Meriwether of South Farnham Parish, Book O. Deeds &c. 1707 to 1711. P. 185. Probate Feb 10, 1708/9. (1708 OS).


Posted by Jan Shelton Nixon <jan241@apex.net> on Wed, 13 Oct 1999

==============================
Wills from The Bird Papers, 1696-1810
King and Queen County

Continued from The Bird Papers, Volume 2, Number 1, page 9

       The chancery suit of Bird versus Dunn (1800-1809) created an assortment of legal documents that have survived to this day. The wills herein abstracted are a part of this unusual collection of copies of county court papers entered into the records of this chancery court case. The original copies of these papers have not been located (see TVF, V2N1 8 for more complete explanation).


Will of Thomas Meriwether, South Farnham Parish, Essex County
Will written 7 January 1708
Named brother, Nicholas Meriwether of New Kent County with legacy of F100.
Named brother, Francis Meriwether of Essex County with legacy of F100.
Named sister, Jane Browne, wife of William Browne of Surry County with legacy of plate (silver) worth F10.
Named wife, Susanna with legacy of bed and furniture, set of chairs and linens.
Named “young daughter, who now sucks my said wife (as yet unbaptized)”.
Wife to receive plantation “where I now live”.
Named three nephews, William, David, and Nicholas Meriwether, sons of brother, Nicholas.
Named Ralph Shelton (relationship unidentified) to receive 60 acres of land that joined Rice Jones, John Loheed, and formerly belonged to Capt. Edmund Thomas.
Bestland Tract purchased of Richard Covington, except small parcel adjoining land purchased of William Cole (other side of swamp), to first male child of brother, Francis Meriwether.
Mentioned water mill in Middlesex County.
Mentioned Micajah Perry as merchant in London
Nicholas and Francis Meriwether appointed executors of estate.
Witnesses:
Mary Meriwether
Ralph Shelton
Wm. Killingley
Ann Whitehorse (her mark)
(signed) Thomas Meriwether
Will proved in Essex County, 10 February 1708/9

Bird vs. John Dunn Suit Papers, 1800-1809, Transcription of the copies. Accession Number 25817. Archives and Records Division, Virginia State Library and Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Thomas Meriwether died between 7 January, the date of his will and 10 February, date will was probated in 1708/9. The will is recorded in Book O. Deeds 1707 to 1711, page 185.

^PARENT: **Louisa H. A. Minor’s genealogy claims that this Thomas was a son of David Meriwether, a son of Nicholas Meriwether I. NHM does not have a David as one of the sons of Nicholas I. NHM also quotes from the William & Penn Quarterly Historical Magazine, October 1897, indicating that the will of Thomas names his brothers Francis of Essex and Nicholas of New Kent, his sister Jane Meriwether Browne, and others. (NOTE: Unable to find this reference in NHM! jmo 970824)

^WILL: Dated 7 Jan 1708/9 (Surry Co. Deeds). **HDS-108.3 has "Probated, __ Jan 1703, Essex County, Virginia."

Thomas, a younger brother of Nicholas II and Francis II, was born in Surry County about 1677. By the time he was 18 he had left Surry County, but his whereabouts for the next four years is unknown. By 1699 or before, Thomas settled in Essex County where he spent the remainder of his short but energetic and turbulent life. His decision to live in Essex County was undoubtedly influenced by his brother Francis II, the Essex County clerk who moved there seven years before. Besides the support provided by his successful brother, he was probably attracted by the fertile land and the Rappahannock River, which provided a gateway to the world that Thomas would exploit. He would marry at least twice and have two children. He became a justice only a year after his appearance in the Essex County records and only a year after his much older brother Nicholas II became a justice. This entitled Thomas to be called a gentleman. He also served twice as sheriff and was a Trustee of the Town of Tappahannock. He accumulated a number of plantations near the lower end of Essex County near the Middlesex County line and built an ocean-going ship, and a merchandizing business. However, this promising life, like all the male Meriwethers in Essex County, was cut short, denying him his full potential.

On 4 Jan 1695/6, William Drummond was appointed guardian “to Mr. Thomas Meriwether, son of Mr. Nicholas Meriwether, decd.” This indicates 1) that Thomas was not yet 21 years old and 2) his mother, Elizabeth (?) Meriwether Browne, was dead. 242

Upon the death of his father-in-law, Henry Williamson, Thomas was appointed guardian of Katherine and Frances, sisters of his wife.

Date: 8/9/02 9:54 PM
Received: 8/10/02 12:21 AM
From: GUY M BENSON, guybenson@prodigy.net
To: Marcia & Max Boulton, mboulton@brtc.net
CC: Maury Kendall, GenKen@MeriwetherSociety.org
Joe Oglesby, Joe@MeriwetherSociety.org

Marcia, I received your package on the Boulton research this week. We just returned from a long vacation and two of our grandsons are arriving tomorrow so I will be brief. First, please thank the researcher (I couldn't make out the name) and send her//him my comments.

1. The researcher has concluded that the daughter of Thomas Meriwether of Essex County was named Judith. I have been doing considerable work on Essex County and I have seen nothing to indicate this. In fact, an Act of the Assembly dated Feb. 1755 concerning land left by Thomas to his daughter has the following “. . . (referring to Thomas) did make his last will and testament in writing, bearing the date the seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eight, and thereby devised the same (i.e., 1,710 acres plus 8 lots in Tappahannock) to his young daughter, who was not then baptized, but afterwards baptized by the name Susannah . . .” [“Statutes at Large;” W. W. Henning, Richmond, 1819, p. 405/6.] According to this act Susannah married John Armistead of Gloucester County. If the Boulton researcher has any evidence that the daughter’s name was Judith I would be interested in seeing it. In particular it would be helpful to have the reference to the land owned by Thomas Meriwether in Halifax County as shown in Deed Book 1.

2. In the 1st paragraph on page 2 a reference is made to a Thomas Meriwether who was the son of Nicholas Meriwether II. We have no record of such a son. This Nicholas had sons names Nicholas, William and David but no Thomas that we know of. (NHM has this messed up).

3. the researcher casts doubts that Thomas of Essex married Elizabeth Williamson, daughter of Henry Williamson. The argument made is that there is some misinterpretation of the probate order which reads:

“A Probate of ye last Will and Testamt. of HENRY WILLIAMSON deced. granted THO: MERIWETHER in right of his Wife, ELIZABETH, & as Guardian to KATHERINE & FRANCES WILLIAMSON, Executrixes therein named giving security according to Law.” [Essex County Court 9/11/1699 - Sparacio, p. 12.]

I guess that the point being made is that “his wife” could refer to Williamson’s wife. She was certainly dead since she wasn't mentioned in Williamson’s will. Also, in the bond posted when the will was filed there is a reference to “THO: MERIWETHER & ELIZ his Wife” and the acknowledgement of the bond is signed by Elizabeth Meriwether.

In the will of Capt. Edward Thomas, a very close friend of Henry Williamson, a fellow justice and one of the Enoffees-in-trust named in Williamson’s will he leaves his property to Mrs Elizabeth Merryweather, wife of Thomas Merryweather and the “two younger daughters of Henry Williamson.”

I could go on but I don't have time right now but is the researcher has any comments on this (or anyone else) I would be happy to look at them as I need to resolve any doubts.

4. The assumption that Thomas' second wife was Susannah Skelton (or Shelton) is repeated. There is no evidence to support this. It is based solely on the fact that Ralph Shelton is named in Thomas' will and Ralph was a witness. He says nothing about Ralph being a relative as he does other people mentioned.

Out of time. Hope this is useful,

Guy

Some claim she married a John Robinson, but no proof has been found by TMSI. A more likely candidate is Henry Robinson.