Individual Details
James Meriam
(30 Nov 1747 - 7 Feb 1804)
Lived at Country Gore on the old homestead of his father..
Soldier in Revolutionary War. Bought his way out of the military, a legal thing to do as late as the 1930s, which indicates he came from a family that could afford this.
========
Merriam Genealogy in England and America, Charles Pierce Merriam, 1900:
p95-96
James (6) (Joshua (5), John (4), Joseph (3), Joseph (2), William.
He was born in Oxford, Nov 30, 1747; married May 25, 1774, Eunice, daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Putnam) Lovell, of Sutton, now Milbury.
He settled on the homestead; was a prominent citizen; clerk of the Second Militia Company in 1779. He was a member of the "Oxford Theft Detective Society," formed in 1791.
Whether he actually served in the Revolutionary army or not, he paid commutation once, and sent a substitute at another time, as is shown by the following documents, reproduced by Mr Rufus Nichols Meriam (pages 48,49).
"Oxford Sept the 23 1777 this may satisfy that I have rec'd. By the of Sert James Meriam fifteen pound as a fine for Refusin to go into the Conaniel Sarvis in the Room and Steed of his father.
Rec'd by me
John Towncap
Oxford Aug 29th 1781 then Rec'd of Mr James Meriam ninety pounds in Stock and Money in full for a Negro Man to go into the army and this is to Discharge him from all Demands I have on Sd Meriam and Clap as Witness my hand
Edwd R Campbell"
He died Feb 7, 1804. His widow died July 14, 1830, aged 78 years, 9 months, 1 day.
Children:
211 i James b Feb15, 1775
ii Mary b July 20, 1776; d Oct 2, 1793
iii Eunice b Dec 23, 1780; m March 12, 1801, her cousin, Ezra Gleason, of Ward; She d in 1805.
iv Mercy, b March 11, 1783; m May 29, 1806, Ezra Gleason. She died in 1808.
212 v Thomas b Mar 21, 1785
vi Susanna b Jan 2, 1787; d unmarr in 1811
213 vii Samuel b Aug 5, 1789
viii Nancy b Dec 30, 1791; d unmarr Nov 5, 1822; óf lovely character and unusual mental endowments; active in the Sunday School and Missionary Society movements."
=============================
Some Merriams and Their Connection with Other Families by Rufus N Meriam, Worcester, Mass; Private Press of Franklin P Rice.
1888. Reprinted from the Proceedings of The Worcester Society of Antiquity for 1887.
p 47
James (6), s. of Joshua (5), b. Nov 39, 1747, m. Eunice, dau of Thomas and Eunice (Putnam) Lovell of Sutton, afterwards set off to Millbury. They llived on the old homestead of his father in the Country Gore. Her father made some objection to the marriage on account of the distance the place was situated from the meeting-house, four or five miles; but James told him he had two horses, and she would have no trouble in going to meeting.
p 48
This is explained by the fact that there was then, 1774, no open road to the place, and the usual mode of travel was by foot or on horseback. Once on returning home from a visit to her friends she was thrown from her horse, startled by the sudden assault of a yelping dog and in consequence suffered the dislocation of one hip, which, not being properly set, caused her to hobble on crutches the remainder of her life. This was afterwards aggravated by being thrown out of the old "one horse shay" returning from a visit with her only sis., Sarah, w. of Josiah Waite of Royalston, caused by the horse stumbling in descending a hill in Leicester. Her bro., Ezra Lovell, was called the strongest man in "these parts," and it was his yearly pastime to place the barrels of cider in the cellar upon the third tier, simply lifting them by the chimes. He once lifted a weight of 900 pounds.
The following is characteristic of one who was occasionally called to attend the family in his official capacity as physician, whose w. was a cousin of Samuel Meriam:
Oxford May 3rd 1815
This may Certify that the Subscriber has given the kine pock Disease to Mrs. Eunice Meriam to Samuel and to Nancy Meriam her Children, and do promise should they, or either of them ever have the small pox to pay all expenses of their having said Disease
Witness my hand Delano Pierce
James (6) was enrolled a soldier in the Revolution, as the following documents show:
Oxford Sept the 23 1777 this may sartfy that I have Recd, By the [hand] of Sert. James Meriam fifteen Pound as a fine for Refusen to go into the Contaniel Sarvis in the Room & Steed of his father
Recd by me
John Town cap
To Sert. James Meriam yout forth with Required to notify & warne Capt Isaac hertwell to Sarve in the Contanentel armey Eight months or get Sum good abele Bodied man in his Room & Stid or pay Fifteen Pounds in twenty foour ours by Spechel orders from Corte
Oxford Sept the 22: 1777 John Town Capt
p 49
Worcester July 7th, 1779
Personally appeared James Meriam Clerk of the Second Militia Company in Oxford and made solemn oath that he would honestly faithfully & imparshally Execute the several Duties of his Sd office according to the best of skill and abilities
before me Jacob Davis Jus. Peace
Oxford Aug 29th 1781 Then Recd of Mr James Meriam Ninety Pounds in Stock and Money in full for a Negro Man to go into the army and this is to Discharge him from all Demands I have on Sd Meriam and Clap as witness my hand
Edwd R Campbell
Leicester Aug 30th 1781 this day recvd one man for the town of Oxford to Sarve in the army for three years for the clase whear of Mr James Meriam is chear man.
Seth Wash burn Superint
He was one of the original members of the "Oxford Theft Detecting Society," formed in 1791.
========================
wiki trees
James Merriam (1747 - 1804)
James
Merriam
Born 30 Nov 1747
in Oxford, Worcester, Mass.
ANCESTORS Son of Joshua Merriam and Susanna (Gleason) MerriamBrother of Joshua (Merriam) Meriam Jr, Susannah (Meriam) Eddy, Ruth (Merriam) Burnett, Lydia (Merriam) Gleason, Martha (Merriam) Conant and Asa Merriam[spouse(s) unknown][children unknown]Died 7 Feb 1804
in Oxford, Worcester, Mass.
Profile manager: Victoria VanAllen [send private message]Profile last modified 25 Mar 2017This page has been accessed 44 times.Biography
"James6 (Joshua,5 John,4 Joseph,3 Joseph,2 William,1), born in Oxford, Nov. 30, 1747; married May 25, 1774, Eunice, daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Putnam) Lovell, of Sutton, now Milbury.He settled on the homestead; was a prominent citizen; clerk of the Second Militia Company in 1779. He was a member of the " Oxford Theft Detective Society," formed in 1791.Whether he actually served in the Revolutionary army or not, he certainly paid commutation once, and sent a substitute at another time, as is shown by the following documents, reproduced by Mr. Rufus Nichols Meriam (pages 48, 49).
0xford Sept. the 23 1777 this may sastify that I have recd. of Sert. James Meriam fifteen Pound as a fine for Refusin to go into the Contanied Sarvis in the Room & Steed of his fatherReed by meJohn Town cap
Oxford Aug 29th 1 78 1 Then Reed of Mr James Meriam Ninety Pounds in Stock and Money in full for a Negro Man to go into the army and this is to Discharge him from all Demands I have on Sd Meriam and Clap as Witness my handEdwd R. Campbell
He died Feb. 7, 1804. His widow died July 14, 1830, aged 78 years, 9 months, 1 day.Children :211. i, James,' h. Feb. 15, 1775.ii. Mary, b. July 20, 1776; d. Oct. 12, 1793.iii. Eunice, b. Dec. 23, 1780; m. March 12, 1801, her cousin, Ezra Gleason, of Ward; she d. in 1805.iv. Mercy, b. March 11, 1783; m. May 29, 1806, Ezra Gleason. she d. in 1808.212. V. Thomas, b. March 21, 1785.vi. Susanna, b. Jan. 2, 1787; d. unm. in 1811.213. vii. Samuel, b. Aug. 5, 1789.viii. Nancy, b. Dec. 30, 1791; d. unm. Nov. 5, 1822; 'of lovely character and unusual mental endowments; active in the Sunday School and Missionary Society movements.'"[1]
Sources
↑ Merriam genealogy in England and America, by Pope, Charles Henry, 1841-1918; Merriam, Charles Pierce, 1856-; Dickinson, C. E. Gildersome-; Merriam, James Sheldon, 1829-, Published 1906, p. 95-6. https://archive.org/stream/merriamgenealogy00pope#page/94/mode/2up
Merriam genealogy in England and America, by Pope, Charles Henry, 1841-1918; Merriam, Charles Pierce, 1856-; Dickinson, C. E. Gildersome-; Merriam, James Sheldon, 1829-, Published 1906, p. 95-6. https://archive.org/stream/merriamgenealogy00pope#page/94/mode/2up
Soldier in Revolutionary War. Bought his way out of the military, a legal thing to do as late as the 1930s, which indicates he came from a family that could afford this.
========
Merriam Genealogy in England and America, Charles Pierce Merriam, 1900:
p95-96
James (6) (Joshua (5), John (4), Joseph (3), Joseph (2), William.
He was born in Oxford, Nov 30, 1747; married May 25, 1774, Eunice, daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Putnam) Lovell, of Sutton, now Milbury.
He settled on the homestead; was a prominent citizen; clerk of the Second Militia Company in 1779. He was a member of the "Oxford Theft Detective Society," formed in 1791.
Whether he actually served in the Revolutionary army or not, he paid commutation once, and sent a substitute at another time, as is shown by the following documents, reproduced by Mr Rufus Nichols Meriam (pages 48,49).
"Oxford Sept the 23 1777 this may satisfy that I have rec'd. By the of Sert James Meriam fifteen pound as a fine for Refusin to go into the Conaniel Sarvis in the Room and Steed of his father.
Rec'd by me
John Towncap
Oxford Aug 29th 1781 then Rec'd of Mr James Meriam ninety pounds in Stock and Money in full for a Negro Man to go into the army and this is to Discharge him from all Demands I have on Sd Meriam and Clap as Witness my hand
Edwd R Campbell"
He died Feb 7, 1804. His widow died July 14, 1830, aged 78 years, 9 months, 1 day.
Children:
211 i James b Feb15, 1775
ii Mary b July 20, 1776; d Oct 2, 1793
iii Eunice b Dec 23, 1780; m March 12, 1801, her cousin, Ezra Gleason, of Ward; She d in 1805.
iv Mercy, b March 11, 1783; m May 29, 1806, Ezra Gleason. She died in 1808.
212 v Thomas b Mar 21, 1785
vi Susanna b Jan 2, 1787; d unmarr in 1811
213 vii Samuel b Aug 5, 1789
viii Nancy b Dec 30, 1791; d unmarr Nov 5, 1822; óf lovely character and unusual mental endowments; active in the Sunday School and Missionary Society movements."
=============================
Some Merriams and Their Connection with Other Families by Rufus N Meriam, Worcester, Mass; Private Press of Franklin P Rice.
1888. Reprinted from the Proceedings of The Worcester Society of Antiquity for 1887.
p 47
James (6), s. of Joshua (5), b. Nov 39, 1747, m. Eunice, dau of Thomas and Eunice (Putnam) Lovell of Sutton, afterwards set off to Millbury. They llived on the old homestead of his father in the Country Gore. Her father made some objection to the marriage on account of the distance the place was situated from the meeting-house, four or five miles; but James told him he had two horses, and she would have no trouble in going to meeting.
p 48
This is explained by the fact that there was then, 1774, no open road to the place, and the usual mode of travel was by foot or on horseback. Once on returning home from a visit to her friends she was thrown from her horse, startled by the sudden assault of a yelping dog and in consequence suffered the dislocation of one hip, which, not being properly set, caused her to hobble on crutches the remainder of her life. This was afterwards aggravated by being thrown out of the old "one horse shay" returning from a visit with her only sis., Sarah, w. of Josiah Waite of Royalston, caused by the horse stumbling in descending a hill in Leicester. Her bro., Ezra Lovell, was called the strongest man in "these parts," and it was his yearly pastime to place the barrels of cider in the cellar upon the third tier, simply lifting them by the chimes. He once lifted a weight of 900 pounds.
The following is characteristic of one who was occasionally called to attend the family in his official capacity as physician, whose w. was a cousin of Samuel Meriam:
Oxford May 3rd 1815
This may Certify that the Subscriber has given the kine pock Disease to Mrs. Eunice Meriam to Samuel and to Nancy Meriam her Children, and do promise should they, or either of them ever have the small pox to pay all expenses of their having said Disease
Witness my hand Delano Pierce
James (6) was enrolled a soldier in the Revolution, as the following documents show:
Oxford Sept the 23 1777 this may sartfy that I have Recd, By the [hand] of Sert. James Meriam fifteen Pound as a fine for Refusen to go into the Contaniel Sarvis in the Room & Steed of his father
Recd by me
John Town cap
To Sert. James Meriam yout forth with Required to notify & warne Capt Isaac hertwell to Sarve in the Contanentel armey Eight months or get Sum good abele Bodied man in his Room & Stid or pay Fifteen Pounds in twenty foour ours by Spechel orders from Corte
Oxford Sept the 22: 1777 John Town Capt
p 49
Worcester July 7th, 1779
Personally appeared James Meriam Clerk of the Second Militia Company in Oxford and made solemn oath that he would honestly faithfully & imparshally Execute the several Duties of his Sd office according to the best of skill and abilities
before me Jacob Davis Jus. Peace
Oxford Aug 29th 1781 Then Recd of Mr James Meriam Ninety Pounds in Stock and Money in full for a Negro Man to go into the army and this is to Discharge him from all Demands I have on Sd Meriam and Clap as witness my hand
Edwd R Campbell
Leicester Aug 30th 1781 this day recvd one man for the town of Oxford to Sarve in the army for three years for the clase whear of Mr James Meriam is chear man.
Seth Wash burn Superint
He was one of the original members of the "Oxford Theft Detecting Society," formed in 1791.
========================
wiki trees
James Merriam (1747 - 1804)
James
Merriam
Born 30 Nov 1747
in Oxford, Worcester, Mass.
ANCESTORS Son of Joshua Merriam and Susanna (Gleason) MerriamBrother of Joshua (Merriam) Meriam Jr, Susannah (Meriam) Eddy, Ruth (Merriam) Burnett, Lydia (Merriam) Gleason, Martha (Merriam) Conant and Asa Merriam[spouse(s) unknown][children unknown]Died 7 Feb 1804
in Oxford, Worcester, Mass.
Profile manager: Victoria VanAllen [send private message]Profile last modified 25 Mar 2017This page has been accessed 44 times.Biography
"James6 (Joshua,5 John,4 Joseph,3 Joseph,2 William,1), born in Oxford, Nov. 30, 1747; married May 25, 1774, Eunice, daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Putnam) Lovell, of Sutton, now Milbury.He settled on the homestead; was a prominent citizen; clerk of the Second Militia Company in 1779. He was a member of the " Oxford Theft Detective Society," formed in 1791.Whether he actually served in the Revolutionary army or not, he certainly paid commutation once, and sent a substitute at another time, as is shown by the following documents, reproduced by Mr. Rufus Nichols Meriam (pages 48, 49).
0xford Sept. the 23 1777 this may sastify that I have recd. of Sert. James Meriam fifteen Pound as a fine for Refusin to go into the Contanied Sarvis in the Room & Steed of his fatherReed by meJohn Town cap
Oxford Aug 29th 1 78 1 Then Reed of Mr James Meriam Ninety Pounds in Stock and Money in full for a Negro Man to go into the army and this is to Discharge him from all Demands I have on Sd Meriam and Clap as Witness my handEdwd R. Campbell
He died Feb. 7, 1804. His widow died July 14, 1830, aged 78 years, 9 months, 1 day.Children :211. i, James,' h. Feb. 15, 1775.ii. Mary, b. July 20, 1776; d. Oct. 12, 1793.iii. Eunice, b. Dec. 23, 1780; m. March 12, 1801, her cousin, Ezra Gleason, of Ward; she d. in 1805.iv. Mercy, b. March 11, 1783; m. May 29, 1806, Ezra Gleason. she d. in 1808.212. V. Thomas, b. March 21, 1785.vi. Susanna, b. Jan. 2, 1787; d. unm. in 1811.213. vii. Samuel, b. Aug. 5, 1789.viii. Nancy, b. Dec. 30, 1791; d. unm. Nov. 5, 1822; 'of lovely character and unusual mental endowments; active in the Sunday School and Missionary Society movements.'"[1]
Sources
↑ Merriam genealogy in England and America, by Pope, Charles Henry, 1841-1918; Merriam, Charles Pierce, 1856-; Dickinson, C. E. Gildersome-; Merriam, James Sheldon, 1829-, Published 1906, p. 95-6. https://archive.org/stream/merriamgenealogy00pope#page/94/mode/2up
Merriam genealogy in England and America, by Pope, Charles Henry, 1841-1918; Merriam, Charles Pierce, 1856-; Dickinson, C. E. Gildersome-; Merriam, James Sheldon, 1829-, Published 1906, p. 95-6. https://archive.org/stream/merriamgenealogy00pope#page/94/mode/2up
Events
| Birth | 30 Nov 1747 | Oxford, MA |  | ||
| Marriage | 25 May 1774 | Sutton, MA - Eunice Lovell | | ||
| Death | 7 Feb 1804 | Oxford MA | |
Families
| Spouse | Eunice Lovell (1751 - 1830) |
| Child | Samuel Meriam (1789 - 1871) |
| Child | James Meriam (1775 - ) |
| Child | Thomas Meriam (1785 - ) |
| Child | Nancy Meriam (1791 - 1822) |
| Child | Mary Meriam (1776 - 1793) |
| Child | Eunice Meriam ( - 1805) |
| Child | Mercy Meriam (1783 - 1808) |
| Child | Susanna Meriam (1787 - 1811) |
| Father | Joshua(5) Meriam ( - 1784) |
| Mother | Susannah Gleason (1716 - 1788) |
| Sibling | Joshua Meriam (1734 - ) |
| Sibling | Susannah Meriam (1736 - 1803) |
| Sibling | Ruth Meriam (1739 - ) |
| Sibling | Lydia Meriam (1745 - ) |
| Sibling | Martha Meriam (1752 - 1812) |
| Sibling | Asa Meriam (1754 - 1795) |
| Sibling | John Meriam (1741 - 1761) |
| Sibling | Marcy Meriam (1743 - 1799) |
| Sibling | Mary Meriam (1750 - 1768) |
Endnotes
1. Rufus N. Meriam, Some Meriams and Their Connection with Other Families (Worcester, Mass: Private Press of Franklin P. Rice, 1888), p 47.
2. Massachusetts, Oxford, Vital Records, 1714-1894 [Oxford, Massachusetts], Town Clerks, Oxford, FHL microfilm no. 0754010, (Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah,) 1971., 60.
3. Charles Henry Pope, Merriam Genealogy in England and America (Boston, Mass: Charles Henry Pope, 1906), p 96.
4. Massachusetts, Sutton, Births, marriages and intentions, deaths, ca. 1710-1877, Town Clerks, Sutton, FHL microfilm no. 721190, (Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah,) 1971, p. 9 marriage intentions.
5. Massachusetts, Sutton, Births, marriages and intentions, deaths, ca. 1710-1877, Town Clerks, Sutton, FHL microfilm no. 721190, (Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah,) 1971, p. 347 marriages.
6. Charles Henry Pope, Merriam Genealogy in England and America (Boston, Mass: Charles Henry Pope, 1906), p 96.
7. Charles Henry Pope, Merriam Genealogy in England and America (Boston, Mass: Charles Henry Pope, 1906), p 96.