Individual Details
John Merritt
(Abt 1625 - 1 Mar 1676)
John Merritt and his brother Henry were pioneers at Scituate. John was able to bear arms in Scituate in 1643. He married Elizabeth Wyborne. John served as a grand juror in 1656 and Constable in 1660. His name appears in Plymouth records as administrator of the will of Henry Merritt 6 June, 1654, an assignment of land in 1673 and a complaint in 1673 by Isaac Chitenden for removing a fence on the common near Merrits' Meadow. John succeeded to his father's homestead. He died in middle life after falling from the works on the rocks March 1,1676. An inquest was held a few days later on the 6th. His wife Elizabeth was ordered by the court in 1677 to have the improvements of her deceased husband's estate until the children come of age.
1673 Plymouth Court Records. Att this Court, complaint was made by Isacke Chettenden, of Scittuate, that Joseph Turner, Senir, Thomas Turner, Daniell Turner, Jeremiah Hatch, William Hatch, Thomas Hatch, Charles Stockbridge, John Merrett, Joseph Woodward, Thomas Woodward, William Randall, and Richard Dwelley assembled together on the 14th day of May last, and did, contrary to law and in a roictus way, throw downe a fence or great psell of fence of the abovesaid Chettendens, by him sett up on land layed out to him by such as were by the authoritie of this govment therunto impowered.
The said psons being summoned to appear att this Court to answare the said, and theire defence being fully heard, it appeered evidently to the Court that theire said acte was done in a roietus way in regard of theire number, yett conceiucing that theire intent was to comit a treaspas onely, to bring the case to a tryall, doe therfore onely amerce them to pay a five shillings a peece to the use of the collonie (Shurtleff 127).
1673 Plymouth Court Records. Att this Court, complaint was made by Isacke Chettenden, of Scittuate, that Joseph Turner, Senir, Thomas Turner, Daniell Turner, Jeremiah Hatch, William Hatch, Thomas Hatch, Charles Stockbridge, John Merrett, Joseph Woodward, Thomas Woodward, William Randall, and Richard Dwelley assembled together on the 14th day of May last, and did, contrary to law and in a roictus way, throw downe a fence or great psell of fence of the abovesaid Chettendens, by him sett up on land layed out to him by such as were by the authoritie of this govment therunto impowered.
The said psons being summoned to appear att this Court to answare the said, and theire defence being fully heard, it appeered evidently to the Court that theire said acte was done in a roietus way in regard of theire number, yett conceiucing that theire intent was to comit a treaspas onely, to bring the case to a tryall, doe therfore onely amerce them to pay a five shillings a peece to the use of the collonie (Shurtleff 127).
Events
| Birth | Abt 1625 | Kent, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Marriage | 3 Apr 1655 | Scituate, Plymouth, Massachusetts, British America - Elizabeth Wyborn |  |  | |
| Death | 1 Mar 1676 | falling on the rocks - Cedar Point, Scituate Harbor, Plymouth, Massachusetts, British America | | |
Families
| Spouse | Elizabeth Wyborn (1641 - 1677) |
| Child | Ichabod Merritt (1655 - ) |
| Child | Deborah Merritt (1656 - 1677) |
| Child | John Merritt Jr (1661 - 1740) |
| Child | Henry Merritt (1663 - 1732) |
| Child | Jonathan Merritt (1665 - ) |
| Child | Mary Merritt (1668 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth Merritt (1671 - 1733) |
| Father | Henry Merritt (1590 - 1652) |
| Mother | "Goodwife" (1600 - ) |
| Sibling | Katherine Merritt (1621 - 1655) |
| Sibling | Henry Merritt (1623 - 1667) |
Notes
Marriage
The records of Charlestown have the following:"1655, ---- John Mirick and Elizabeth Wyborne, daughter of Thomas Wyborne of Boston, married by Captain Humphrey Atherton, at Cambridge, 3rd day, 2nd mo."
Death
1676-7 Plymouth Court Records. Wee, whose names are heer under written, being required, in his ma.. name, by James Briggs, constable of Scittuate, to serve in the crowners inquest and on the body of John Merritt, and having don our dutyes therin, wee apprehend the occation of his death was falling on the rockes att a place called Ceder Point, att Scittuate Harbor, March the first, 1676.All sworne.
John Williams
Samuell Jackson
Rodulpus Ellmes
James Doughtey
John Allin
Joseph White
John Briggs
Steuen Vinall
Israell Cudworth
Thomas Wade
Thomas Penchen
Israell Chettenden
The Oath to the Jury after they had given in theire Verdict under theire Hands, taken the third of March, 1676.
You and every of you call the everliving God to witnes, that upon youer dilligent serch and serious view of the body of John Merrett, and by the best light and information you can obtaine either from psons or thinges, that what is above expressed in your verdict is most probable to be the cause an meanes of bringing him to his untimly end; and this you testify to be according to youer best understanding and descretion, as you looke for healp from God, whoe is the God of truth and the punisher of falcehood.
Taken before mee.
James Cudworth, Assistant.
Endnotes
1. Merrick, George Byron., Genealogy of the Merrick-Mirick-Myrick family of Massachusetts, 1636-1902 (Madison, Wis.: Tracy, Gibbs, & Co., 1902, 516 pgs.), p. 100.
2. Merritt, Douglas., [New Merritt records] (Rhinebeck, N.Y.: unknown, 1991, 67 pgs.), p. 9.
3. Merritt, Douglas., [New Merritt records] (Rhinebeck, N.Y.: unknown, 1991, 67 pgs.), p. 9.
4. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, editor, Records of the colony of New Plymouth, in New England: Court orders: Vol. V. 1668-1678 (Boston, MA: Press of William White, 1856), p 127; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com : accessed 20 October 2009.