From the will of her father 146
Item. I give to my daughter, Elizabeth Meriwether the use of young negro woman named Rachel & her increase during her natural life & at her death to be equally divided between her children. I also give her one fifth part of my said stocks in Goochland and a sixth part of my Household furniture.”

The Lynchburg Press (Lynchburg, VA), 27 April 1815

Merriwether, Mrs. Elizabeth died around Feb. 5, 1815. She was about 80 years of age and of Richmond.

New England Palladium & Commercial Advertiser, 12 May 1815

Died In Virginia, Jan. 30, 1815, Mrs. Mellicent, wife of Col. E. Pendleton, 70, Feb. 5, Mrs. Sarah, relict of Hon. Judge Pendleton, 90— Same day, Mrs. Anne Taylor, 80. In March, Mrs. Elizabeth Merriwether, 80.

All sisters, and daughters of the late Mr. Joseph and Priscilla Pollard, each of whom lived to be 90.

James Meriwether
© The Meriwether Society, Inc.

James Meriwether was born in Hanover County, Virginia on 21 June 1729, seventh child of David Meriwether and Anne Holmes. His early life and educational experiences are not known, and by 1753 he has removed to Louisa County.

From Looking Back: “James held several positions in both colonial and Revolutionary era America. In November 1761, he was a Captain in the Louisa County militia. At this time he also acted as surveyor of the Doctor's Road in the same county. He served as a gentleman Justice in colonial Louisa, from 1763 to 8 July 1776, after which time he continued service as a Justice of the commonwealth for Louisa County until 1785. In 1785, he held the position of First Justice.”

During the post war era James became First Justice of Louisa County and also served as sheriff of the county, retiring in 1790.

James married twice, first to Judith Hardenia Burnley in 1753; they were the parents of three sons, David, James and William. After the death of Judith, he married Elizabeth Pollard, a ½ first cousin, in 1762 (as recorded in the Douglas Register); they were the parents of five children: Anne, Joseph, Thomas, John and Robert.

James died in Louisa County in Jun 1801, shortly after updating his Will. His burial location is not known.

Military Service, American Revolution
In November 1761 James was a Captain in the Louisa County militia.

From the book “Looking Back”:
“James Meriwether received a commission as Lieutenant Colonel of the Louisa Militia on 1 November 1772. He rendered material aid to the cause of Independence, and was probably the Colonel Meriwether who served as Clerk of the Virginia Revolutionary Council. Records also indicate that James might have been at Valley Forge. Further, the Revolutionary pension applications for soldiers Benjamin Alsop and John “Alcey” Apperson show that both men served in a Virginia regiment commanded by Colonel James Meriwether and a Major Hardiman. This regiment was attached to General Lafayette’s army, which maneuvered from Spotsylvania to Raccoon Ford in Orange County, Virginia in 1781 and met up with General Anthony Wayne.”

It is believed he was with Lafayette at the siege and fall of York, Oct 1781.

Although he is an acknowledged DAR Patriot (A077634) the supporting service description only mentions that he was a Justice of the Peace in 1776.

Will of James Meriwether 144

James Meriwether left a Will dated 10 Oct 1800 with a Codicil added 4 Jun 1801 shortly before his death. The Will was proved in a Louisa County court on 13 Jul 1801.

Wife: Elizabeth
Sons: David, James, William, Thomas, John, Robert.
Daughter: Ann
Granddaughter: Salley (dau of Thomas)
Others:
Trustees: Launcelot Minor, Harwood Goodwin, David Bullock
Executors: James Winston, Captn John Poindexter
Witnesses: John Garth, Thomas Jackson, Major Ryan, Charles Minor, William Thomkins, Gerard Banks, Lancelot Minor

Not named:
Son: Joseph (died as child? Father. of Richard Dorsey Meriwether and died about 1799?)
Children of sons David, James and William
Granddaughter: Ann b. Jun 1800, dau of Robert.
All other grandchildren born after date will signed.

BIRTH: Robert Lewis Baader claims to have the Bible of James as handed down from generation to generation. It has the birth date as 21 June 1729.

DEATH WP 14 Jul 1801? (not likely if he died Sep 1801...)

Patriot: JAMES MERIWETHER (A077634)

James Meriwether was one of four brothers in the Continental service. He rose to the rank of lieutenant and served throughout the war.

The DAR description of his service only mentions him serving as a Justice of the Peace in 1776. No mention of his military service:

MERIWETHER, JAMES

Ancestor #: A077634
Service:  VIRGINIA    Rank(s): CIVIL SERVICE
Birth:  6-1-1729    VIRGINIA
Death:  ANTE 7-13-1801     LOUISA CO VIRGINIA
Service Source:  HARRIS, A HISTORY OF LOUISA CO VA, P 21
Service Description:
1) JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, 7-8-1776


Patriot: JAMES MERIWETHER (A077634)

James Meriwether lived through the period of colonial government by Great Britain, and the Revolutionary period of our history and well into the foundation of the United States of America. All of his descendants are entitled by his service, both to Colonial America and the United States, to membership in the various patriotic societies. James Meriwether was one of the many grandchildren left bequests in the will of his grandfather Nicholas Meriwether (1667-1744). (NHM)

James Meriwether 145

James Meriwether was born in Hanover County, Virginia on 21 June 1729. The Meriwethers and Their Connections states he died in 1792. Yet, Our Burnley Ancestors and Allied Families, says he died in 1801. The 1801 date is correct. James Meriwether’s will and a codicil dated 4 June 1801 bear his signature. Since the will was proved on 13 July 1801, it seems probable that James died in Louisa about June 1801.

He married in 1753 in Louisa County, Virginia, as his first wife, Judith Hardenia Burnley. She was born between 1731 and 1735 in Hanover County and died in 1760 in Louisa County. Judith was the daughter of Captain Hardin Burnley, Sr., whose wife may have been Ann Terrell.

James Meriwether held several positions in both colonial and Revolution era America. In November 1761 he was a Captain in the Louisa County militia. At this time he also acted as surveyor of the Doctor’s Road in the same county. He served as a gentleman Justice in colonial Louisa, from 1763 to 8 July 1776, after which time he continued service as a Justice of the Commonwealth for Louisa County until 1785. In 1785 he held the position of First Justice. Louisa County historian, Malcolm Harris, also suggests that Meriwether was a member of the Louisa County committee of safety in 1775, stating clearly that the Meriwethers were “for the change” in government.

James Meriwether received a commission as Lieutenant Colonel of the Louisa Militia on 1 November 1772. He rendered material aid to the cause of Independence, and was probably the Colonel Meriwether who served as Clerk of the Virginia Revolutionary Council. Records also indicate that James might have been at Valley Forge. Further, the Revolutionary pension applications for soldiers Benjamin Alsop and John “Alcey” Apperson show that both men served in a Virginia regiment commanded by Colonel James Meriwether and a Major Hardiman. This regiment was attached to General Lafayette’s army, which maneuvered from Spotsylvania to Raccoon Ford in Orange County, Virginia in 1781 and met up with General Anthony Wayne. During the post war era James became First Justice of Louisa County, as mentioned above, and also served as sheriff of the county, retiring in 1790.

Lieutenant Colonel James Meriwether and his first wife, Judith Hardenia Burnley, were the parents of three children, including: General David, General James, and Major William.

Joseph and William Meriwether signed a marriage bond for £50 on 6 September 1762 in Louisa County. The subsequent marriage was conducted on 10 September by Rev. William Douglass, as recorded in the Douglas Register: “Merriwether, James & Eliz: Pollard, in this Parish 1762 Sep: 10”.

• Elizabeth Pollard is the Half 1st Cousin of James Meriwether

Common Ancestor: George Hoomes (person: 83369)
• Grandfather of James Meriwether
• Grandfather of Elizabeth Pollard

MARRIAGE: Bond—LOUISA COUNTY COURT RECORDS. MARRIAGE BOND OF JAMES MERIWETHER. Know all men by these present, That we James Meriwether of the County of Louisa and William Meriwether of Goochland County are held and firmly bound, unto our Sovereign Lord King George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britian France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c., in the sum of Fifty Pounds current money of Virginia, which payment to be made to our said Sovereign Lord the King, his Heirs and successors. We bind ourselves, and every of us, every of Our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, Jointly and severally by these Presents.

Witness our Hands and Seals this vith day of September Annique Domini,MDCCLXII. (6 Sep 1762)

The Condition of the above obligation is such, That if there be not any Lawful Cause, to Obstruct a Marriage Intended to be had and Solemnized between the above bound James Merriwether and Elizabeth Pollard, Daughter of Joseph Pollard, Then the above Obligation to be void Else in Force.

James Meriwether
William Meriwether

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Wm. Colvard.
A Copy, Teste, P. G. Miller, Deputy Clerk
Goochland County Ct.

Source Information:
Dodd, Jordan. Virginia Marriages to 1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997. Original data: Electronic transcription of marriage records held by the individual counties in Virginia.

James Meriwether (1729-1792), son of Col. David Meriwether and Anne Holmes, married after the death of his first
wife (Judith Hardenia Burnley). His second wife was Elizabeth Pollard. By this marriage there were four children:

John Meriwether who married Molly Bell; Thomas Meriwether who married Mary Anderson; Robert Meriwether who died unmarried; and Anne Meriwether who married Horatio Gates Winston. These children will be listed in the record as (4), (5), (6), and (7) so they will appear in genealogical sequence. It is from this second marriage that furnished the Meriwether family with a distinction not previously noted in the family annals: A prize winning beauty—Lee Ann Meriwether—who was “Miss America” of 1955. Besides attaining this honor she has caused a great deal of interest to be evidenced among many members of the family to inquire into their ancestral lines which has helped to secure better records for this volume.