Deacon John Merrill

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved to: Before 1657, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; He lived with Gregory Wolterton when he arrived in Hartford. There is a tradition that Gregory adopted him, but there is no proof.
• Freeman: 20 May 1658, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
• Occupation: say 1659, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; He was a tanner.
• Married: 23 Sep 1663, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; Sarah Watson, the daughter of John and Margaret (Smith) Watson. Issue: 1. Sarah Merrill (1664-____) 2. Nathaniel Merrill (1667-1725) 3. John Merrill (1669-____) 4. Abraham Merrill (1670-1747) 5. Daniel Merrill (1673-1750) 6. Wilterton Merrill (1675-1755) 7. Susanna Merrill (1677-____) 8. Abel Merrill (1680-1759) 9. Isaac Merrill (1682-1742) 10. Jacob Merrill (1686-1725)
• Offices Held: 1664, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; He was the Chimney Viewer. He served again in 1673.
• Offices Held: 1684, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; He was elected a Selectman. He was elected Selectman again in 1694 and 1700.
• Will: 11 Apr 1684, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
• Inventory: say Nov 1712, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; John's estate was inventoried and valued at £505 4/6d.
• Probate/Proved: 1 Dec 1712, Hartford County, Connecticut

Notes:

Birth:
Merrill (1928) gives the date as about 1635.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: say 1636 to death, Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts
• Immigration: 1633/24;

Notes:

Name:


History:
In 1638, he was a proprietor of Newbury.

On 8 March 1654/55, he made his will.

On 16 March 1654/55, Nathaniel's estate was inventoried and valued at £84 6/0d.

On 27 March 1654/55, his will was proved.

Nathaniel married Susannah after 16 Mar 1625. Susannah was born in 1599 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England; died on 25 Jan 1672/73 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; was buried in Burying Ground of the First Settlers, Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, U.S.A.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1633/34; She came over to America in 1633/24.
• Inventory: 4 Feb 1672, Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts; On 4 February 1672, her estate was inventoried. It reads: Inventory of the estate of Susanna Jordan, deceased Jan. 25, 1672, taken Feb. 4, 1672, by William Pilsbury, Moses Pilsbury and Anthony Somerby : one cow, 31i. 15s. ; two heifers coming three yere old, 51i.; one pigg, 3 s. 4d. her wearing apparrell, 21i.; an old flockbed, a paire of sheets, an old Eug & blancket, Hi. 10s.; two old Iron potts, one pr. of pot hooks, frying pan, bucket, 2 tramells, Hi. 4s.; a little cubbard, 2 old chests, a keiler, an old hogshead & 2 trayes, 14s.; 3 old pewter dishes, an old chamber pot, a pint pott & a broken cup, 13s.; An old sword, a spit, fire shovel & tongues, 10s.; a brasen candlestick, pr. of sheep sheers, an old brasse skillet & some lumber, 3s.; total, 15li. 12s. 4d. Debts due from Abraham Merril, Hi. 10s.; Eichard Bartlet, Hi. ; Thomas Barbur, 9s. The deceased owes to Henry Short, Hi. 10s.; goodman Ordway, 5s. 5d.; John Bartlet, 2s.; Will. Bolten, 2s. 8d.; Tristrum Coffin, 12s. ; John Knight, 6s. ; to Abell Merrill for wintering two cowes 3 winters & 2 calves, 7li. 4s.; cutting & making 3 load & halfe of hay, 18s. ; charges for her funerall for coffin & digging the grave, Hi. ; due to Joane Merrill, 21i. 5s. total, 121i. 5s. Id. Attested in Ipswich court 25: Im: 1673 by Abell Merrill. Essex County Prolate Files, Docket 15,247,.
• Estate Admin: 25 Mar 1673; The estate of Susannah Jordan was administered by Abel Merrill on 25 March 1673.
• Last Full Review: 2 Jun 2020

Notes:

Surname: Her surname is conjecture. Thurston (1894) states "(maiden name not certainly fixed, but probably Wolterton" Merrill (1899) agrees with this, and offers the following as semi proof: The son John is not again mentioned in the Massachusetts records, but, in 1657, probably the year in which he received his patrimony, he appeared at Hartford, Connecticut, purchased land and was elected a freeman at a session of the general court on May 20, 1658. There he became associated with Gregory Wolterton, one of the first settlers, who was a man of means and the proprietor of a large tan yard as well as of other real estate. At Wolterton's death, in July, 1674, and by his will, John Merrill became the owner of his tan yard and house and, in honor of his benefactor, John's next born son was named Wolterton, There are several possibilities in regard to the relationship between Gregory Wolterton and John Merrill, which led to this large bequest. Gregory may have been the brother of John Merrill's mother, Susannah, in which case it is probable that John went to Hartford because his uncle was there. Or, it is possible that the bequest came solely from Wolterton's interest in a young man who had been useful to him in his business and who took the place of a son, as he had no children of his own, although he was married three times. This does not, however, account for John's presence at Hartford. It is hoped that genealogical research now in progress in England under the direction of the writer may throw some light upon this important question. It has also been stated bv genealogists that John was adopted^ by Gregory Wolterton, but no authority can, at present, be found for this assertion.

While all of this is quite nice, it has been thoroughly disproven by Sanborn (1993)

Name:


Buried:
She is in an unmarked grave.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Probate/Proved: 11 Dec 1600, Suffolk, England

Notes:

2019-03-27 Either the burial date or the probate date given by Merrill is incorrect.

Nathaniel married Mary Blacksoll on 27 Feb 1592/93 in Belstead, Suffolk, England. Mary was buried on 1 May 1624 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 2 Dec 1600, Wherstead, Suffolk, England

John married Prudence. Prudence was buried on 22 Dec 1609 in Belstead, Suffolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]