Nathaniel MERRILL/MERRELL, 1601-1654/55 Early NE Settler

Nathaniel MERRILL is my 9th great-grandfather, tracing down through the PETTYGROVES to KUHN, in the Terwilliger-Kuhn lines.  

He was apparently the sixth of either 7 or 9 children of Nathaniel & Mary MERRILL. Two children are often added in 1609 and 1611, but they were born in a different place, and it seems quite unlikely. I'm assuming he was the sixth of 7 children.  It is thought Mary's surname is Blacksoll, but this has not been proven.

A book by Samuel Merrill titled "A Merrill memorial" may be found on Internet Archive; on pp 40-41, a 5 generation descendant chart can be seen, partially supported by baptisms, marriages, burials, as well as family details in wills.

Nathaniel was baptised on May 3rd, 1601, in St. Mary church [seen on the right], Wherstead, Suffolk, England, and likely was born a few weeks or less prior to this date. Two different databases indicate his baptism date as May 4th or May 1st. Original documents need to be found, if possible. St. Mary was founded in 1590, parts of the church date earlier, and parts from later in 1600s. Looking at the gravestones, I wish I could walk around there! 

At the age of 31, Nathaniel married Susannah [unproven surname] on September 23, 1633, in St. Mary, Wherstead. Wherstead is a very small village on the south-western outskirts of Ipswich, Suffolk, by the River Orwell. Shortly after their marriage, the couple apparently moved to an even smaller village: Lawford, in Essex county, about 9 miles away, in the northeast corner of Essex.

Somewhere between 1637-1639, Nathaniel, Susannah, and their four children, immigrated to Massachusetts, several of the first settlers in Newbury, Essex, MA. Nathaniel and his brother John, had immigrated in 1635 on the ship Hector, going to Newbury.  Although Nathaniel apparently came with John, he then returned to England and brought his wife and children back with him, likely by spring of 1639. It is known that in 23 Jul 1638, John Merrill held an adjoining homesite of four acres for his brother, who was still back in England at that time.

Children of Nathaniel and Susannah, first 4 born in Lawford, Essex, Eng; more research is needed to expand the children's marriages and descendents:

  1.  Nathaniel [ancestor], bap 25 May 1634, d. abt 1 Jan 1682/83 in Newbury MA; m. 15 Oct 1661 to Joanne NINIAN, Newbury MA; 2 known boys: John and Nathaniel

  2.  John [Deacon], bap 13 Feb 1635/36, d. 18 Jul 1712 Hartford CT; marriage/children not researched

  3.  Abraham [Deacon], bap 9 Apr 1637, d. 28 Nov 1722 Newbury MA; m. 18 Jan 1660/61 in Newbury MA to Abigail Webster; children, not researched

  4.  Susannah, bap 12 Dec 1638, d. 10 Oct 1690, Suffield CT; m. 15 Oct 1663 to John Burbank 

  5.  Daniel[l], b. 20 Aug 1642 Newbury MA; d. 27 Jun 1717 Salisbury MA

  6.  Abel[l], bap 20 Feb 1643/44, d. 28 Oct 1689; m. 10 Feb 1670/71 to Priscilla Chase
  7.  Thomas, b. abt 1648; no other information known.

It is believed that Nathaniel was a farmer, although little more is known about him. His will is transcribed into the Probate Records book of Essex County [Massachusett]. Although not dated in the transcription, it was likely written shortly before he died on 16 Mar 1654/55.  It was proved, 27 Mar 1655 by John Merrill [his brother] and Anthony Somerby.

In his will he names his wife Susanna, giving her "5 acres of plowable land lying next my brother Johns land, [as well as other lands,] cow, heifers and all my household goods." He appointed his son Nathaniell to pay his legacies, as sole executor. Sons John, Abraham, Daniell, Abell, were each given five pounds as soon as they became either 22 or 21 years. I am not clear why there was this  distinction. He did not name his daughter Susannah at all, who did not marry until Oct 1663, therefore staying at home with her widowed mother. An extensive inventory of absolutely everything of value in the house, as well as descriptions of all the lands and animals, amounted to a total of 37 li (pounds) 14s. 11d. The inventory was taken by Daniell Thurston, Richard Knight and Archelaus Woodman.

His widow Susannah married a second time to Stephen Jordan [Jourdain] on 16 Aug 1661. Stephen died in 1670 in Newbury, aged 81, leaving Susannah a widow a second time.  She died 25 Jan 1672/73 in Newbury, aged 58.

It is considered that a vast majority of "Merrill" descendants (sometimes spelled Merrell) in America, came from the children of Nathaniel and Susannah.

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If you have more information or corrections to offer, please contact me [at bottom of page]. I am always happy to hear from other 'cousins' no matter how far away.

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An Almost-Settler in 1639: Agnes GOSLING, est 1570-1639

Here's a very early settler to New England - but, she didn't quite make it.  She was one of a number of passengers on the "Jonathan" to Boston Harbour who lost their lives on the challenging voyage.

Agnes GOSLING.  She was born approximately 1570 in Weyhill area, Hampshire, England.  There are a number of Gosling families in Hampshire, but no parents have yet been proven for this very early period.   Although her marriage date is noted from those who seem to have seen the original record or an index, I have not yet seen an original where I would expect to find her father's name. The church below, St Michael's & All Angels, may be the one her family attended.

On 13 Oct 1589, Agnes married Robert BENT in Weyhill.  Robert was the son of John BENT who died in 1588.  Agnes and Robert apparently had 10 children, although I have only noted 7 names found in baptism records for Weyhill:

1. Margery, bap 28 Mar 1590
2. Richard, bap 7 May 1592
3. Jane, abt 1594, d. 1631;  m. Robert Plympton, 2 surviving children
4. *John [ancestor], bap 20 Nov 1596, d. 27 Sep 1672 Sudbury MA; m. 1624 to Martha [unknown-possibly Blanchard]; 5 children
5. Maria, bap 24 Sep 1598, buried 2 Feb 1598/99.
6. Dennis, bap 10 Dec 1599\
7. Agnes, bap 16 Jul 1602, d. 1639 on voyage; m.Thomas Blanchard; infant died on voyage

Agnes' husband, Robert BENT, was a successful farmer, a yeoman, who was buried July 29th, 1631, leaving her a widow.  The overseer of Robert's will, Peter Noyes, encouraged moving to America, having travelled on the same ship as Agnes' son John in 1638, along with several other families.  Her son, John and his wife Martha left for New England on the ship "Confidence" which sailed out from Southampton on April 30th, 1638.

The following year, the widow Agnes GOSLING Bent, with her daughter Jane's only two surviving children (the Plympton grandchildren, Thomas & Elizabeth), her daughter Agnes Blanchard, husband Thomas and family, all set sail on the ship, "Jonathan" from Southampton.  

And as the ship arrived in Boston Harbor in June of 1639, Agnes died, never having set foot in New England.  Her son-in-law, Thomas apparently had her carried ashore and buried.  Her burial place is not known. 

A new beginning which started out with great hopes, with a very sad ending.  

If you have more information or questions about this ancestor, I would love to hear from you through contact information below.  Blogger is not allowing me to reply directly to any commenters, unfortunately.  However I am always thrilled when someone leaves a comment!   Thank you for stopping by and reading about the ancestors of my children.  

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 50, Deacon Richard MILES II, 1597-1667

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes, although it seems not always relevant for me to use!  "Naughty" is the weekly theme, but I'm not following it.  None of our ancestors seems to have run off with someone's wife, or stolen anything, or... Good solid people. So here's one more of my very early immigrant ancestors, Deacon Richard MILES II, from England to New Haven, Connecticut. He is my 10th great-grandfather in my mother's lines.

Richard MILES II was the son of Richard MILES I and Alice CHERRYE, of Hertfordshire England, likely in the Wormley or Great Munden region.  He was born approximately 1597, in Great Munden, Hertfordshire.  Both his parents died about 1628, and he seems to have married shortly afterwards, certainly by 1632. He and his wife, with their first three children, immigrated to New Haven region, first to Milford, and then later moved to New Haven where he owned property by 1643.

His first wife is unknown; their six children are the following, "Herts" = Hertsfordshire:

1. Martha MILES [ancestor], b. abt 1633 Herts Eng., d. bef Dec 1662, East Haven CT; m. 20 Oct 1650 to George PARDEE, New Haven CT; 5 children [Mary PARDEE ancestor]
2. Mary, b. abt 1635 Herts, d. 12 Sep 1730; m.1/ 12 Dec 1654 ti Jonathan Ince; children; m.2/  22 Oct 1661 in Norwalk CT  to Rev Thomas Hanford.
3. Richard III, b. abt 1637 Herts, d. Boston MA; m. Experience Callicott
4. Samuel, bap 22 Apr 1640, New Haven CT, d. 24 Dec 1678; m. 9 Apr 1667 to Hannah WILMOT, 5 children; Hannah's 2nd marr. to Miles MERWIN II, 3 children [Elizabeth MERWIN ancestor]
5. Anna/Hannah, b. abt 1642, New Haven CT, d. 19 Jul 1730 West Haven CT; m. 3 Nov 1664 to Samuel Street; 7 children
6. John, b. Oct 1644, New Haven CT.

Note that Martha MILES Pardee is my 9th great-grandmother; Hannah WILMOT Merwin is my 7th great-grandmother; the lines braid.

In 1646, Richard married a second time to a New Haven widow, Katherine Elithorpe Constable, originally from Yorkshire, England. She had no children from her first husband, nor any with Richard.  He apparently was appointed deputy to the general court in 1651.

Richard died Jan. 7th, 1666/67 in New Haven, CT, having written his will December 28th, 1666.

Although a will is known of, and was probated by June 13th, 1667, six months later, I have not yet seen/found a copy of it.  His second wife, Katherine, died almost 20 years later Jan. 8th, 1687/88, at the apparent age of 96 years, in Wallingford, CT, approximately 14 miles north of New Haven.

Several resources provide information on the MILES family: Families of Ancient New Haven, History of the Colony of New Haven, and Families of Early Milford, are three useful texts, along with Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut, Vol.III,  which had potted histories as well. American Ancestors website databases are also helpful in shedding some additional light. 

If you know anything more about any of the above individuals, I would be so pleased for more details. And if you wish more information on them, I'm happy to share. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my personal genealogy posts.