Individual Details

Latest evidence of lineage:
Nicholas Meriwether was baptized 9 August 1631 in Little Walsingham Parish (his mother's home church), Norfolk, England, the son of John Merywether and Joane Browne. John and Joane also had children John (b. 1633), Anne (b. 1634), Fayth (b. 1636/7), Joane (b. 1638), and Francis (b. 1642). These parish records are available on FamilySearch and Ancestry.com.
The Meriwether Society has documented proof of these relationships as published in the Jan-Mar 2020 issue of "Meriwether Connections", the newsletter of The Meriwether Society. Articles for submission to other genealogical and family history magazines are in preparation.
I am the genealogist for The Meriwether Society and certify that these relationships are proven. Church records held by New College and the Norfolk Records Office state that John Merywether died before 1660 while sailing to Virginia to join his son. This is only one item. We have multiple items showing John's education at Winchester College (1611-1618), then enrollment aat New College (1618-1629) and finally his appointment as Rector at Stratton St. Michael Parish, his imprisonment for debt, and the disposition of his books and materials.
The Society is extremely excited to have made this discovery during intensive research in England over the past few months, which really started with research in the 1990s by professional research organization hired by the Society. This is the culmination of thousands of hours of research and many thousands of dollars spent on professional researcher assisting the Society.
We respectfully request that persons without knowledge of our research stop deleting the associations we have establish, based only on their lack of knowledge.
Nicholas Meriwether appeared in Jamestown about 1653. His younger brother Francis joined him there by 1669.
For detailed information on the life and times of Nicholas Meriwether in Virginia, please see the book "The Meriwether Family in America, Volume I, The Colonists".
The Meriwether Society, Inc.
5 Jan 2020

From The Meriwether Society
Nicholas Meriwether arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, probably about 1650. The first confirmation of his existence there was 4 July 1653 when he patented 300 acres of land in Lancaster County. From at least 13 Oct 1653 until 13 Dec 1656, Nicholas served as a clerk of the Quarter Court and Governor's Council for the Colony in Jamestown. Although many researchers state he was clerk of Surry County, there is no evidence that he was. About 1661, he bought "The Island House" from Elizabeth Kingsmill & her husband Nathaniel Bacon, a relative of the Bacon who started "Bacon's Rebellion"; a marker on Jamestown Island identifies the "Island House" location today.

Sometime in the 1660's, after the English monarchy was reestablished, Nicholas bought "Indian Springs" in Surry County and seems to have retired from public office to pursue land speculation and tobacco production and shipping. Since his entire government career was during the reign of Cromwell and he ceased upon restoration of the throne, this seems to contradict those who claim Nicholas was one of the "Cavaliers", supporters of the Crown who came to the Colony to escape persecution.

Recent research has tried, without success, to determine if Nicholas came to Virginia in 1652 as part of the Parliamentary fleet that sought the surrender of Virginia to the Cromwellian government. This would certainly explain his appearance in 1653 as a clerk of the Quarter Court and subsequent years working for the colonial government.

The birth date of Nicholas was derived from an affidavit in which he stated his age. His death date was supposedly found in the bible of Nicholas Meriwether II, in possession of descendants in Louisville, Ky, in the late 1800's. Efforts to locate this bible in the late 1900's have failed. Documents created in the mid 1800's, 200 years after Nicholas was in the Colonies, refer to him, or possibly his son, Nicholas II, as "The Welshman". No evidence has been found to indicate that he was from Wales, however. Nothing has been found to track him to a particular location in England, either; efforts to locate Nicholas in Kent or Wiltshire, where many English Meriwether families are found, have not been successful.

A Thomas Meriwether, merchant, of Bristol & London, had business dealings with Nicholas and it was at one time believed he could be a brother or uncle. Evidence found in 2004 no longer supports this.

Descendants of Nicholas Meriwether I (NM) have formed The Meriwether Society, Inc. Additional information may be obtained by sending email to or by writing to the Society at POB 19967, San Diego, CA 92159.

The Society also maintains a web site. The site contains links to Meriwether-related message boards and an online Research Database.




The Anderson book states that the emigrant Meriwether, Nicholas, was married to an Elizabeth, possibly Elizabeth Woodhouse, daughter of Capt Henry Woodhouse of Bermuda [since discredited - Nicholas was not married to a Woodhouse. Nicholas had a brother Francis. There was also a Joan Meriwether, either a sister or wife of Francis that died 3 Sep 1677. The Hanover Record of 1728, p.22, 23, 26 is said to state on 22 Apr 1655, Nicholas Meriwether was clerk of Surry County. He was administrator of the estate of Thos. Woodhouse in 1665. He made oath on 7 May 1663 that he was 37 years old [born in 1631]. This first Nicholas died 17 Dec 1678 and his wife survived him. The following patents are no doubt his:

CAVALIERS & PIONEERS; Vol II, p.13 25 Apr 1667 651 acres in Surry Co; 175 acres he bought of Wm Seward on the Indian Spring; 240 acres on West side of Cyprus Swamp; 236 acres on East side of main Blackwater Swamp.
p.98 William Wilton patented 300 acres on North side of Rappahannock about 10 miles above Nansemond Towne and adj Nicholas Merriwether. 3 Oct 1671
p.331 Henry Hartwell patented 2 acres in James City on 20 Apr 1689. On the bank of the river facing the bastions of old ruined turf fort. 1/2 acre was granted to William May on 20 May 1661; he bequeathed it to Mr. Nicholas Merryweather, who sold it to Mr. Wm. White on 6 Feb 1677 who had died without heirs & escheated.

The documented children of Nicholas are: Elizabeth who married (1) John Clough, and (2) Francis Clements; Nicholas who married Elizabeth Crawford; Francis Meriwether who married Mary Bathurst; Jane who married William Browne; Thomas who married (1) Elizabeth Williamson and (2) Susannah and died in Essex Co VA, will probated Jan 1703; William who died in 1694/95.
On 21 April, 1695, Captain Francis Clements, his wife, Elizabeth Meriwether Clements, and Nicholas Meriwether II applied for letters of administration of William's estate. Researchers have attempted to also attach a son David, but no records of such a son have been found.

Nicholas' wife was Elizabeth but her surname as never been determined. It has been speculated that she was a second wife and that perhaps the eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was the daughter of the unknown first wife.

Birth	1631	Norfolk, England
Marriage	Abt 1660	Elizabeth [Meriwether]
Death	1678

Spouse	Elizabeth [Meriwether] ( - )
Child	Elizabeth Meriwether (1661 - 1700)
Child	Capt Nicholas Meriwether II (1667 - 1744)
Child	Francis Meriwether (1670 - )
Child	Jane Meriwether (1675 - 1746)
Child	Thomas Meriwether (1677 - 1708)
Child	William Meriwether (1678 - 1694)

Father	John Merywether (1599 - 1653)
Mother	Living

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