Colonial Meriwether Families - Person Sheet
Colonial Meriwether Families - Person Sheet
NameElizabeth (possible first wife) 
6, G35W-5G8, F
6, G35W-5G8, FBirthca 1635, England
Deathabt 1663, Virginia
BurialUnknown, Virginia831
FlagsVolume 1
FatherMr. [Unknown] , M (-?)
Biography notes for Elizabeth (possible first wife)
Elizabeth (?) Meriwether, First Wife
© The Meriwether Society, Inc. (jmo)
In 1660, “N. Merriwether” and “E. Merriwether” witnessed a document signed by Thomas Woodhouse. 8 It is believed that these individuals are Nicholas and his wife, establishing that he was married by 1660 and lending some support to the claims that her given name was Elizabeth. Her maiden name is not known but many genealogies claim it was Woodhouse.
It is believed that this Elizabeth was the first wife of Nicholas and the mother of his daughter, also named Elizabeth, who married John Clough and Francis Clements.
Elizabeth probably died about 1663 in Jamestown.
For more information on the first wife of Nicholas, see “The Meriwether Family in America, Volume I: The Colonists”, published in 2017 by The Meriwether Society, Inc.
© The Meriwether Society, Inc. (jmo)
In 1660, “N. Merriwether” and “E. Merriwether” witnessed a document signed by Thomas Woodhouse. 8 It is believed that these individuals are Nicholas and his wife, establishing that he was married by 1660 and lending some support to the claims that her given name was Elizabeth. Her maiden name is not known but many genealogies claim it was Woodhouse.
It is believed that this Elizabeth was the first wife of Nicholas and the mother of his daughter, also named Elizabeth, who married John Clough and Francis Clements.
Elizabeth probably died about 1663 in Jamestown.
For more information on the first wife of Nicholas, see “The Meriwether Family in America, Volume I: The Colonists”, published in 2017 by The Meriwether Society, Inc.
Notes for Elizabeth (possible first wife)
Maiden Name?
While not known for certain, Meriwether historian William R. Griffith in 1899 recorded that family tradition claimed her surname was Woodhouse. 24
If we assume that her name was Elizabeth Woodhouse, who were her parents? Certainly not Henry Woodhouse of England and Virginia, as is commonly shown. He did in fact have a daughter named Elizabeth, born about 1635, but she is known to have married Giles Collins before 1655 and was living with him and having his children at the same time as Nicholas’ children were being born.
From the will of Henry Woodhouse, dated 16 July 1655:
“I doe bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Collins…”
Giles died about 1671, so Nicholas could not have married Elizabeth Woodhouse before then.
Another possibility is that she was the daughter of Thomas Woodhouse, a tavern owner in Jamestown for whom Nicholas Meriwether acted as an attorney for his estate. This possible relationship is supported by the 1660 document signed by Thomas and witnessed by “N. Merriwether” and “E. Merriwether”. However, there is no evidence that Thomas ever married, much less had children.
A third possibility suggested by the independent researcher is that she is the daughter of Bartholomew Woodhouse of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The Society has found records that show Elizabeth Woodhouse, daughter of Bartholomew, was christened 25 May 1635 at St. Mary Church, Lancaster Parish, Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The researcher further claims that Nicholas was apprenticed to Bartholomew Woodhouse and married his daughter. The Society has been unable to find evidence in support of this claim.
It should be noted that ALL other claims about Nicholas Meriwether made by the researcher have been proven FALSE. So we must, reluctantly, conclude this claim is equally suspect. New evidence indicates Nicholas was never apprenticed to someone in Lancaster.
While not known for certain, Meriwether historian William R. Griffith in 1899 recorded that family tradition claimed her surname was Woodhouse. 24
If we assume that her name was Elizabeth Woodhouse, who were her parents? Certainly not Henry Woodhouse of England and Virginia, as is commonly shown. He did in fact have a daughter named Elizabeth, born about 1635, but she is known to have married Giles Collins before 1655 and was living with him and having his children at the same time as Nicholas’ children were being born.
From the will of Henry Woodhouse, dated 16 July 1655:
“I doe bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Collins…”
Giles died about 1671, so Nicholas could not have married Elizabeth Woodhouse before then.
Another possibility is that she was the daughter of Thomas Woodhouse, a tavern owner in Jamestown for whom Nicholas Meriwether acted as an attorney for his estate. This possible relationship is supported by the 1660 document signed by Thomas and witnessed by “N. Merriwether” and “E. Merriwether”. However, there is no evidence that Thomas ever married, much less had children.
A third possibility suggested by the independent researcher is that she is the daughter of Bartholomew Woodhouse of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The Society has found records that show Elizabeth Woodhouse, daughter of Bartholomew, was christened 25 May 1635 at St. Mary Church, Lancaster Parish, Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The researcher further claims that Nicholas was apprenticed to Bartholomew Woodhouse and married his daughter. The Society has been unable to find evidence in support of this claim.
It should be noted that ALL other claims about Nicholas Meriwether made by the researcher have been proven FALSE. So we must, reluctantly, conclude this claim is equally suspect. New evidence indicates Nicholas was never apprenticed to someone in Lancaster.
Notes for Elizabeth (Family)
In 1660 an N. Merriwether and E. Meriwether witnessed a document for Thomas Woodhouse. 8 This is the earliest evidence that Nicholas was married.
About 1661, Nicholas bought the 80 acre “Island House” site from Nathaniel Bacon and Elizabeth Kingsmill and built a tobacco barn on the property. A large brick home is known to have been on the property, but was believed destroyed in the great hurricane of 1658. Whether Nicholas built a replacement structure for a home, or continued to live in Jamestown City, is not known.
Nicholas and this first wife probably lived on Jamestown Island until her death about 1663-1664
Their daughter Elizabeth is the only known child, though given the mortality rate of the time it is possible they had additional children who died in infancy.
About 1661, Nicholas bought the 80 acre “Island House” site from Nathaniel Bacon and Elizabeth Kingsmill and built a tobacco barn on the property. A large brick home is known to have been on the property, but was believed destroyed in the great hurricane of 1658. Whether Nicholas built a replacement structure for a home, or continued to live in Jamestown City, is not known.
Nicholas and this first wife probably lived on Jamestown Island until her death about 1663-1664
Their daughter Elizabeth is the only known child, though given the mortality rate of the time it is possible they had additional children who died in infancy.
Children notes for Elizabeth (Family)
The oldest child of Nicholas is believed to be his daughter, Elizabeth, who married John Clough and Francis Clements. She is believed to be the only child of Nicholas and his first wife who survived to maturity.