Archive:History of Westminster, Heywood, Merriam 1

From WRG
Jump to navigationJump to search

Archives > Archive:Extracts > Archive:History of Westminster, Massachusetts > History of Westminster, Heywood, Merriam 1

Heywood, William Sweetzer, History of Westminster, Massashusetts (First named Narragansett No. 2), From the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a Biographic-Genealogical Register of its Principal Families, (Vox Populi Press: S.W. Huse & Co., Lowell, Mass.: 1893); New England Historic Genealogical Society Call No. F/74/W72/H6.

MERRIAM
Page 1 of 2

History of Westminster Index - Previous Page - Next Page

[p. 766-772] MERRIAM

The story of three brothers so often told in regard to the immigrant ancestors of N. E. families, and so often purely apocryphal, is well authenticated in the case now to be considered. Robert1, George1, and Joseph Merriam1, sons of William of Hadlow, Kent Co., Eng., came to this country ab. 1638, and settled in Concord. Robert1 was a man of prominence there, holding the office of Town Clerk, and serving as Rep. to the Colonial Legislature. He d. in 1681, without issue. George1 rem. early to Conn., where he had chn., but their descendants have not multiplied to any great extent. One of them, a resident of Dorchester, has been for some yrs. collecting data for a complete genealogy of those bearing the name in America. Joseph1 remained in the Mass. Colony, and of him came, with the advance of the generations, the Merriams of W. His s. Joseph2, m. Sarah Stone, and had Thomas3, b. 1672, who m. Mary Harwood. They were the parents of a second Thomas4, who m. Tabitha Stone of Waltham, and located in Lexington. These had at least 8 chn., 5 of whom became permanent residents of W., while another was temporarily here, though finally locating just beyond our borders, in Hub. One of the 5, a dau. m. Nathan (82) Whitney; a second dau. m. Josiah (1) Cutting, - of both of whom due notice may be found in the proper place. A third dau. m. David Whitney of Waltham, bro. of Nathan, and became the gd.-mother of Rev. Charles Wellington, D. D., long the esteemed minister of the First Chh. and Society of Temp. Sketches of the sons are appended in the order of their advent in the place.
[7.] Merriam, Asa6, bro. of the last [s. Thomas and Sarah (Wilder) Merriam, b. May 8, 1772], m. Lucena (7), dau. of Josiah and Mary (Read) Puffer, and set. on lot No. 85, the Temple place, opposite where Wm. J. Black now lives. He d. Feb. 8, 1836, a. 63. His wid. d. Sept. 11, 1851, a. 80. Chn.:
17. Sally7, b. March 18, 1798; m. George (44) Adams; res. W.; d. Oct. 12, 1883.
18. Asa7, b. July 7, 1799; m. Sally Warren; res.W. and Hub; 10 chn.; d. 1886.
19. Thomas7, b. July 23, 1801; m. Betsey (114) Whitney; res. W.
20. Reed7, b. Oct. 1, 1803; m. twice; res. W. [He m. (1) Susan (18) Raymond; and (2) Rebecca (14) Minott]
21. Mary7, b. Jan. 13, 1807; m. S. H. Stearns; res. W.; 1 chd.; d. Aug. 19, 1851.
22. Lucena7, b. March 13, 1809; m. B. F. Murdock; res. W.; 1 chd.; d. Jan. 2, 1840.
23. Farwell7, b. March 8, 1811; d. unm. Jan. 20, 1836.
24. Betsey7, b. April 24, 1814; m. J. Nelson (15) Minott; res. W.; 1 chd.; d. Feb. 8, 1877.
[8.] Merriam, Jonas7, s. of Jonas and Anna, m. Prudence, b. April 13, 1796 [p. 786], dau. Asa and Bethia (Winship) Miller, June 1, 1819. He lived for a few years in Gr., then returned and settled for life on the Samuel Sawin, now Samuel Bridge, place. He had 9 chn., who had unusual natural talent and taste for music. Jonas Merriam d. Nov. 6, 1857, a. 67. His wid., Prudence, d. Feb. 3, 1873, a. 77. Chn.:
25. Alfred8, b. Jan. 26, 1821; m. Elvira D. Dix; res. W. and Conn.; chn.; dec'd.
26. Martha8, b. Aug. 28, 1823; d. Sept. 30, 1823.
27. George W.8, b. Oct. 23, 1824; m. twice; res. W.
28. Newell A.8, b. Oct. 31, 1826; m. Elizabeth Mason; res. Gr. and West; no chn.
29. Francis A.8, b. Sept. 4, 1828; m. Eliza (185) Whitney; res. W.
30. Catharine H.8, b. Oct. 30, 1830; m. Elmer Baker; res. W.; 2 chn.; d. May 6, 1879.
31. Martha8, b. March 29, 1833; d. March 31, 1833.
32. Aaron W.8, b. Aug. 11, 1834; m. Sarah A. (186) Whitney; res. Gr.
33. T. Wilder8, b. May 23, 1840; res. Gr.; unm.
[19.] Merriam, Thomas7, s. of Asa5 and Lucena, m. Betsey (114), dau. of John and Elizabeth (Stearns) Whitney (pub. April 7, 1829). He purchased and set. upon the original Nathan Howard place in the easterly part of the town, where he spent his days, dying suddenly Sept. 24, 1877, a. 76. His wid. d. July 15, 1888, a. 89. Chn.:
39. Mary E.8, b. June 4, 1830; living W. unm.
40. Sarah M.8, b. June 7, 1835; living W. unm.
41. John F.8, b. Aug. 23, 1838; living W. unm
[29.] Merriam, Francis A.8, m. Eliza (185), dau. of Jos. H. and Betsey (Pratt) Whitney, May 8, 1851. They res. in Phillipston a few years, but have more recently lived here. He was a sawyer and general mechanic by trade. Gave much attention to music and conducted the choir of the First Parish with praiseworthy success. He d. Feb. 16, 1891, a. 62. Chn.:
47. Sarah E.9, b. Feb. 26, 1861; m. F. H. Battles; res. W.; no chn.
[p. 539] [[[Archive:History of Westminster, Tolman, A-G#15|15]].] Frank H., s. of Alfred and Lydia (Kendall) Battles, b. Jan. 25, 1853; m. Sarah E. Merriam; res. W.; no chn.
48. Clara L.9, b. July 27, 1864; d. Aug. 30, 1865.
70. Merriam, Samuel5, the oldest s. of Thomas4 and Tabitha [Stone], but the last to locate here, b. Dec. 21, 1723, was dismissed from the Lex. to the W. chh. in 1772, though he came here some 3 yrs. before. On the 10th of March that year, he bought of Dea. Joseph Miller house lot No. 61, lying upon the east side of Graves' Hill, where he and his s. and gd.s. of the same name, each in his time, resided, gaining an honest but a not luxurious livelihood. The farm buildings are now gone and only an old cellar marks the dwelling place of three generations of the hard-working yeomanry of the town. (See A. H. No. 95). Mr. Merriam m. Anne, dau. of David and Rebecca Whitney of Waltham, June 4, 1752, and had 7 chn. Though b. in Lex., yet they all came to W. with their parents, lived and d. in the vicinity, and are therefore tabulated in the usual form. The f. d. in 1804, a. 80; the mother, in 1802, a. unascertained. Chn.:
71. Anna6, b. Oct. 10, 1753; m. Samuel (7) Warren, etc.; res. W. and Ash; 5 chn.; d. Sept. 15, 1790.
72. Eunice6, b. June 22, 1755; m. John Fessenden; res. W.; no chn.; d. May 9, 1840.

[p. 646] [3.] John4 Fessenden, s. of Timothy3 and Elizabeth (Pierce) Fessenden, b. March 23, 1756; m. Eunice Merriam; res. W.; no chn.; d. Feb. 8, 1836.

73. Samuel6, b. March 25, 1757; m. Elizabeth Fessenden; res. W.
74. Ruth6, bap. Feb. 25, 1759; m. Richard Graves, Jr.; res. W. and Prn.

[p. 673] [6.] Richard5 Graves, s. Richard4 and Patience (Grout) Graves, b. April 17, 1750; m. Ruth Merriam; res. Prn.; no chn.; d. Feb. 12, 1828.

75. Tabitha6, bap. Dec. 28, 1760; m. Thomas Johnson; res. W.; no chn.; d. July 12, 1836.
76. Nathan6, b. April 29, 1764; m. Abigail (22) Holden; res. Gr. and W.
77. Jonathan6, b. Feb. 22, 1766; m. Betsey Harris; res. Gr.; 7 chn; d. Dec., 1826.
[73.] Merriam, Samuel6, s. of the last, m. Jan., 1785, m. Elizabeth4 (7), b. June 4, 1764 [p. 646], dau. of Timothy and Elizabeth (Pierce) Fessenden, and res., as stated, on the patrimonial est. He d. June 31, 1838, a. 81. She d. May 11, 1842, a. 77. They had 6 chn.:
78. Polly7, b. March 20, 1786; lived W. unm.; d. March 4, 1855.
79. Unnamed7, b. June 15, 1788; d. infancy.
80. Reuben7, b. Oct. 31, 1790; d. June 24, 1792.
81. Betsey7, b. Dec. 31, 1793; res. W. unm.; d. Feb. 13, 1865.
82. Samuel7, b. April 24, 1798; (twin); m. Elmira (15) Puffer; res. W.
83. Reuben7, b. April 24, 1798; (twin); d. infancy
[76.] Merriam, Nathan6, bro. of the last, m. in 1785 Abigail (22), dau. of Abner and Elizabeth (Darby) Holden, and res. in both W. and Gr., his chn. being b. partly in one town and partly in the other. After his death, Aug. 15, 1794, his wid. m. (2) Joel (149) Whitney, Aug. 16, 1796, by whom she had sev. chn.; dying Nov. 18, 1848, a. 81. The chn. of Nathan6 and Abigail (Holden) Merriam were:
84. Joel7, b. Feb. 21, 1786; m. Polly Farnsworth; res. W.
85. Nathan7, b. Nov. 27, 1787; m. Ruth Keyes; res. W.
86. Reuben7, b. May 15, 1790; d. June 7, 1808.
87. Asaph7, b. March 20, 1792; m. twice; res. various places; 6 chn.; d. Sept. 19, 1868.
88. Abigail7, b. Jan. 19, 1795; m. Farwell (13) Cowee; res. W., etc.; chn.; d. Sept., 1830
[82.] Merriam, Samuel7, s. of Samuel6 and Elizabeth (Fessenden), m. Elmira (15), dau. of Samuel and Polly (Wood) Puffer, Dec. 27, 1831, and followed in the footsteps of his lineal predecessors. He d. Sept. 9, 1853, a. 55, and his wid. m. (2) Ezra Baker of Gr. Since his death, some years since, she has res. with her chn., her home now being in Boston with her dau. Mary - Mrs. Frederick P. Whitney.
89. Adelaide E.8, b. Oct. 6, 1832; m. Willard Foskett; res. Gr.; 3 chn.; d. Nov. 20, 1891.

[p. 654] [22.] Willard7, s. Simon6 and Abigail (Converse) Foskett, b. March 16, 1829; m. Adelaide E. Merriam; res. Gr., 3 chn.; d. Jan. 3, 1868.

90. Reuben P.8, b. Nov. 9, 1835; m. Elizabeth Brooks; res. W.
91. Edson8, b. March 21, 1837; d. Oct. 17, 1853.
92. Mary W.8, b. March 2, 1839; m. Fred. P. Whitney; res. Boston; 2 chn.; l.
93. Martha Jane8, b. Nov. 17, 1842; m. George Miller; res. Boston; 2 chn.; l.
94. Charles Henry8, b. March 14, 1851; d. May 3, 1852.
[92.] Merriam, Mary W.8, of the above family, was gifted by nature with unusual musical talent, by the judicious cultivation and use of which she has attained praiseworthy distinction in the world of song, and reflected honor on the place of her nativity. She studied in Boston some dozen years with such accomplished teachers as Mrs. J. H. Long, Rudolphsen, Mrs. Jennie T. Kempton, and Chas. R. Adams, singing meanwhile and subsequently in some of the leading churches in the city. She then spent a year in Europe under the tuition of some of the best instructors of London and Paris. While in the English capital she achieved repeated successes in her efforts at the Crystal Palace, Royal Albert Hall, and elsewhere, - her renderings of solos and other parts in some of the masterpieces of the great composers being received by audiences of ten or twelve thousand persons with rapturous applause. Since her return in 1884, she has sung not only in Boston churches, but in Handel and Haydn Oratorios, for Thomas' orchestra, and in Opera companies, East and West. She is a great favorite at Saratoga, where her voice has been heard for many years past on public occasions, in halls, hotels, and open parks. She was one of the quartette selected to sing at the funeral of Gen. Grant on Mt. McGregor in 1885.
Mrs. Fred P. Whitney
[portrait facing p. 465]
On the 23d of Nov., 1858, she m. Frederic P., s. of Joseph and Nancy (61) (Sawin) Whitney of Gr., and has had 2 chn. Her home is in Boston. Chn.:
Edson Leon Whitney9, b. Nov. 3, 1861, grad. Harvard Univ. 1885, was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1886, received the degree of PH. D. from his Alma Mater in 1888, and is now Prof. of History at Norwich Univ., Vt.
Harry Clifford Whitney9, b. Sept. 28, 1863; d. Sept. 24, 1864.
[84.] Merriam, Joel7, s. of Nathan6, and Abigail, m. Polly7 (12), b. Aug. 20, 1788 [p. 643], dau. of Asa6 and Damaris (Gates) Farnsworth, March 31, 1808. He lived many years in the Narrows, where he made cooper ware and run a carding machine. Later in life he res. on the place now owned and occupied by Hobart Raymond. A man of sturdy frame and of mental and moral character to correspond. An earnest Baptist, and Dea. of the church. He was interested in all questions of reform, especially in temperance and anti-slavery. For the latter cause he was a vigorous worker in both the moral and political arenas. He lived to se the great national curse removed and to rejoice in the proclamation of "liberty throughout all the land to all inhabitants thereof." He d. Aug. 18, 1867, a. 81. Polly, his wid., followed him to the spirit world July 22, 1873, a. 84. Chn.:
95. Unnamed8, b. 1808; d. infancy.
96. Franklin8, b. March 5, 1810; m. Eunice Ward; res. Weare, N. H.; 4 chn.; living.
97. Reuben8, b. June 28, 1812; d. Dec. 5, 1812.
98. Albert8, b. Dec. 18, 1813; m. Laura Carter, etc.; res. Gr., etc.; 4 chn.; l.

[p. 577-578] [8.] Laura L.7, dau. Asaph6 and Ruth Drake (Carter), b. Jan. 19, 1820; m. Albert Merriam; res. Gr.; 2 chn.; d. March 17, 1852.

99. Joel8, b. May 18, 1816; m. Elmina Perkins; res. W.; chn.
100. Artemas8, b. July 21, 1818; m. Salome (66) Holden; res. W.
101. Mary8, b. April 27, 1821; m. Amos Pierce; res. W. and Fg.; 2 chn.; d. Aug. 27, 1868.
102. Hannah F.8, b. Nov. 11, 1823; m. Edward (11) Bacon; res. W.; 6 chn.; d. Oct. 17, 1884.
103. Sarah E.8, b. June 14, 1826; d. unm. Oct. 4, 1846.
104. Stillman8, b. March 11, 1829; killed by a falling rock, June 25, 1833.

Copyright © 2000, 2006, 2011, Robert L. Ward and the Whitney Research Group.

Retrieved from "http://wiki.whitneygen.org/wrg/index.php?title=Archive:History_of_Westminster,_Heywood,_Merriam_1&oldid=279011"