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WILLIAM and REBECCA MYRICK
The following extract is
taken from.pages 13 and 14 of "Merrick Genealogy" by
George Byron Merrick Rennie
(Courtesy Keith)
WILLIAM MERRICK OF EASTHAM
William Merrick the oldest of four brothers who reached Charlestown in the good ship "James" in the spring of 1636, was born in Wales in 1603. Of his early life, nothing is known. He was a farmer by occupation after reaching the colony; what trade or avocation he had followed in Wales is not known. That his instincts and tastes inclined him toward a military life appear in the fact that he served six years, after his arrival in the colony, in the colonial militia under Miles Standish. He was spoken of first as Ensign, and later as Lieutenant. That he gave all his time and attention to his military duties seems to be indicated by the fact he was not married until 1642, which was at the end of his six year term of service. He appears to have had property both at Eastham and Duxbury. He was probably married at Eastham but the destruction of the first book of records of that town renders it impossible to determine this fact definitely. He certainly lived in both towns within the decade from 1637 to 1647, as some of his children were born at Eastham during that time, and yet he is reported as being a citizen of Duxbury. The records relate that he was a citizen of Duxbury in 1636; was allotted 5A. (acres)of land "Next the glade at Powder Point"; in 1637 he was allotted another 20Aat Great Head; he was one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater. He was Surveyor of highways in 1646, and Constable in 1647. He married Rebecca (surname unknown) in 1642. became a legal voter in Eastham in 1655 on May 22nd, which is the time he took up permanent residence in that town. He had ten children born to him by Rebecca.
Paige, in his history of Hardwick, dwells
on the fact that he was so old as to seem rather the grandfather
than the father of his own family. He says:
"William Merrick, the father was a Lieutenant, residing in
Eastham. In his will, dated December 3, 1686, and proved March
6, 1688-9, he is described as about"86 years of age"
, by which it would seem that he was about 43 when the first of
his ten children was born, and he might seem to be the grandfather
of his family rather than the father, were it not that he names
his wife , Rebecca and his children, Stephen, and William,
in his will."
1. WILLIAM MEYRICK b,1603 -in St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales ,married . Rebecca Tracy, b. 1623 they had daughter Sarah MERRICK married . John Freeman II, b. 12/1651, had son John FREEMAN, b. 4/1678 MA m. Mercy Watson, b. 10/1683 -had daughter Phebe FREEMAN b. 11/28/1711 MA (Freemans go to Mayflower Line) m. Thomas Ashley, b. 1/16/1727 MA - had son Zebulon ASHLEY, b. 11/29/1767 VT m. Thankful Pond - had son Asheal Pond ASHLEY, b. 4/7/1791 VT m. Ursula Williams Woodcock, b. 1801 NY - had daughter Betsy Elizabeth May ASHLEY, b. 4/17/1823, OH m. Amos Frisbe Owen, b. 6/9/1819 - had daughter Estoria Columbia OWEN, b. 9/8/1847 m. Galen Vaught, b. 6/9/1849 - had son George Amos VAUGHT, b. St. MO USA m. Rosanna Foster, b. 1879 - had daughter Opal Marie VAUGHT, b. 1906, St Joe, MO USA m. Lovell Osborn Hatfield, b. 1903, MO, CA USA}- had son Lovell Osborn HATFIELD, b. 1927, St. Joe MO USA m. Gere Louise Grafton, b. 1930, Los Angeles, CA USA - had daughter *Sharon Louise WRIGHT , B. 1950 Santa Monica, CA USA m. Donald Charles Wright, b. 1931, Edmonton, England . ( * With acknowledgment to the contribution of Sharon WRIGHT in compiling this section of family history.)
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