According to Revised Merritt Records, by Douglas Merritt, the parents for Thomas Merritt, who settled in Rye, New York are unknown. He was first present in Wethersfield, Connecticut in 1662, but was probably in Connecticut much earlier than that since he married his first wife there in 1656. He then settled in Rye, New York by 1673. He married three times: 1st to Jane Sherwood, 2nd to Abigail Francis, and 3rd to Mary Ferris.[1]
Thomas died on November 10, 1725. He was buried in the Tomac Burying Ground in Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut.[2]
(1) History of Rye
Thomas and John Merrit came here early, Thomas being mentioned in 1673 and John in 1678. We know nothing of their antecedants. It is supposed that they were brothers, but we have no evidence that such was the case. Both obtained proprietor's rights.
I. Thomas Merrit (1), called senior in 1698, had married, perhaps as his second wife, Mary, youngest daughter of Robert Francis of Wethersfield, Conn. (Rec.) She was born, says Mr. Savage, in 1656. An 'indenture' regarding the dispostiion of his property after death, assigns to his wife the use of his house, etc., which is to descend to his eldest son. He had proprietary rights with Robert Bloomer. He lived nearly opposite the spot where the Park Institute now (1870) stands. In 1702 he gave to his son, Thomas junior, his house-lot, where he [the son] now lives.'
Thomas Merrit was one of the princial men of the place. He was sent with Deliverance Brown in January, 1697, to Hartford, to petition the General Court of Connecticut to take the town back into its jurisdiction. (Conn. Rec., vol. iv. p. 192.) He was forward in the matter of building a 'meeting-house' and parsonage, and procuring a minister, while under Connecticut. He seems to have taken no part in town affairs after this. He was living in 1713.
Children: Thomas, Ephraim, Samuel, and perhaps others.[3]
Spouses
Jane ___ [?] b. 12/3/1636 d. 1/4/1685
Abigail Frances b. 2/14/1660 m. 8/13/1688
Mary Ferris Lockwood m. 6/1696 d. 1708
Possible Children
John b. 10 Oct 1657 in England d. 10 Apr 1726 [age 68]
Alice b. 1 Jan 1660 in England d. 10 Jun 1680 [age 20]
Joseph b. 6 Jun 1662 in Wethersfield, CT d. 12 May 1754 [age 91]
Ephraim b. 5 May 1664 in Wethersfield, CT d. after 1719
Jane b. 07 Nov 1666 in Wethersfield, CT
Isaac b. 3 May 1668 in Wethersfield, CT
Thomas [Sgt] Jr. b. 31 Jan 1670 d. 30 Jan 1719
Samuel Merritt b. 21 Aug 1672 [m. Elizabeth Underhill] d. 1722
Thomas Merritt was born 2 Aug 1633-34 in London, England and died 10 Nov 1725 in Rye, Westchester, NY [age 91]
Thomas emigrated from England about 1662 which is when he first appears in records at Wethersfield, CT and it is supposed that is when he arrived or a little beforehand, according to various Merritt genealogies. He purchased land in Wethersfield from Thomas Standish. The lot is adjoined by other Standish land on the north, the land of Robert Francis on the west and the road to the south [Vol 2. P30, Wethersfield town records].
Thomas Merritt and Abigail France were married on 8/13/1688 in Rye, NY. Revised Merritt records lists her as shown, -History of ‘Rye, p426: “—perhaps his second wife, Mary, youngest daughter of Robert Francis of Wethersfield, CT. [Rec]” His ‘indenture’ of 10/27/1688 clearly lists his wife as Abigail. Possibly the history of Rye is confusing his third wife, Mary Ferris.
Thomas and Mary Ferris were married in 1696 in Rye, NY.
All children are by his first wife. They settled in Rye, NY in 1673.
Notice: “These are to give notice to all people to which it may any ways concern, that I, Thomaa Merritt, senior of the town of Rye, do by these presents forewarne any person or persons, whatsoever, from entertaining my wife, Mary Merritt, and likewise from buying, selling, bartering or trading directly or indirectly, with my above named wife without my consent.
As witness my hand this 9th day of October in the year of our Lord 1698.
Thomas Merritt”
This is taken from the town records.
Some genealogical records indicate Thomas was born 5/1634. Debrett Ancestry Research of England indicates he was son of Thomas of Cambridge, Massachusetts and was born 8/2/1633.
Personal notes concerning Wife # 1:
Thomas Merritt and Jane* ___?___ were married 12/3/1656. This Jane is not Jane Sherwood, as a number of genealogists have listed it. Who exactly Thomas Merritt's first wife was is not certain.
Following is more information that has been passed along. Thomas Sherwood, the father of Jane Sherwood, came from Ipswich, England in 1636, with his wife and their four youngest children, according to Sherwood genealogy [Daniel Sherwood and his paternal ancestors]. Thomas Sherwood’s older children were left behind to come later—it is thought with Robert Seabrook, in 1638-39, Namely: Jane, Tamsen, Mary and Sarah.--though it has sometimes been stated that Jane [Sherwood] married [in England] a Mr. Thomson, or Thomasine. The date Jane is thought to have come from England in about 24 years before the Merritt records have it. If this were to follow, Jane would have been about 2, according to the date we have her born, and hardly married to Thomas Merritt or a Mr. Thompson or Thomasine. Therefore, Jane must have been born much earlier [she was one of the four older children] or she came much later, around the time Thomas Merritt emigrated. If she came to America in 1638-39, she would have been older than Thomas Sherwood Jr., who was 10 in 1636. He was the oldest of the Sherwood children to come from Ipswich with his father and wife. Jane, therefore, he would have had to be at least 12 in 1636 which would make her 36 when she married Thomas—a little old to have a dozen children. It is likely that Thomas Merritt’s first wife was another Jane whose maiden name is unknown.
Thomas Merritt-Personal Notes:
Thomas’s second wife, Abigail, was the daughter of Robert and Joan Francis of Wethersfield, CT. Mary, his third wife, was the daughter of Jeffrey Ferris of Wethersfield and widow of Jonathan Lockwood. Mary made provision for her Lockwood children on 6/5/1696, being about to marry Thomas Merritt [from Lockwood genealogy]. Thomas bought a home lot in Wethersfield, CT as noted above. [also see Wethersielf town records, Vol 2, p.30]
Thomas settled in Rye, NY in 1673.
Witness to deed of Thomas Statham, 6/24/1676. One of the purchases of Hogpen Ridge, 9/4/1680. Bought land adjoining John Merritt’s from Jonathan Vowles, 11/22/1682.
On list of Rye proprietors, 1683. Constable 7/12/1684. Witness to deed from Isaac Sherwood to Caleb Hyatt, 9/15/1684. Appraiser of will of Caleb Hyatt 9/15. Bought a half lotment next to Disbrow’s from Robert Bloomer 3/5/1685 [Rye records, lib B. p 43] Francis and Thomas Brown and Thomas Merritt deliver to executors of John Budd of Southold, LI certain animals from his farm at Rye, 6/11/1685. One of the grantors of land to Lockwood 1/15/1688. Owned a home lot between Boyd and Disbrow and two acres in the plains between Richard and Jonathan Vowles, 1688. Rye proprietors acknowledged grant to Thomas Merritt of a parcel of land called Pine Island, adjoining said Merritt’s meadows, 4/14/1694. Vestryman of Rye, 2/28/1694, 1695, 1697.
On a committee to select a minister 7/22/1697.
On a committee to build a meetinghouse, 9/25/1697. A collector of minister’s salary, 1667-68. The patent of Rye was granted to Joseph Theale, Thomas Merritt, Deliverance Brown and other s at Hartford, 1/22/1696. he and Brown appeared before the general court of CT to obtain a charter for Rye, 1/19/1697. Called senior, 1698. Deputy to general court, 10/1698.
On committee to run a line between White Plains and Col Heathcote’s patent 2/24/1702.
Thomas gave his son, Thomas, a house and lot then occupied by his son, 1/20/1703. He and Robert Bloomer granted land to John Merritt, 2/7/1704 [Lib 3, p152]. Owned land at Rye 12/6/1704. Bought land adjoining his from Caleb Haytt, 5/1/1705; deed recorded 1/23/1722. Supervisor, 1705. Bought 15 acres from Wm. Fowler for 27 pounds, 12/25/1706.
On committee to settle the line between Greenwich and Rye, 11/1/1707. One of the grantors of land in Wills Purchase to Samuel Lane, 10/17/1709. Witness to petition of Stephen Sherwood of Rye for a patent 5/1710. Also to petition of Samuel Purdy, 10/1710.
On grand jury 6/2/1713-16. Gave a deed to his son, Joseph of Rye, yeoman, 8/5/1714. He and son, Thomas, sign a permission for building a mill to Isaac Anderson, 1/6/1717. A proprietor of Peningo Neck, 1715. Sold 6 acres at White Plains for 40 pounds to Elizabeth Kniffen, 5/19/1719; acknowledged 4/29/1721. Sold 40 acres at White Plains for 40 pounds to Samuel Merritt, 3/21/1720; acknowledged 6/17/1721. He lived nearly opposite the site of the present “Park Institute”.
Information from Debrett ancestry research, England, indicates that Thomas Marrett of Cambridge, MA, whom it is believed to the father of Thomas Merritt of Rye, NY, came from Ipswich, England, parish of St. Stephen. According to the records in England, which are consistent with American records, his wife’s name was Susan or Suzan, and the births of his children have been recorded as
# Abigail 5/1/1623;
# Susan 7/9/1626;
# John 4/6/1628;
# James 11/9/1629-died young, buried 2/15/1634-35];
# Thomas 8/2/1633.
Merritt has the following variants in its spelling : Marritt, Maritt, Mariott, Maryott, Marrett
Sources
↑ Merritt, Douglas. Revised Merritt Records, Rhinebeck, New York, 1916.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 02 April 2021), memorial page for Thomas Merritt (May 1634–10 Nov 1725), Find A Grave: Memorial #159261570, citing Tomac Burying Ground, Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Mookie (contributor 47515129) .
Hart, Jr., Frederick C., Ancestry of William Weed of Stamford and Darien, Connecticut, Connecticut Ancestry (Connecticut Ancestry Society, Inc., Stamford, Conn., Aug 2008) Vol. 51, No. 1, Page 2-3.
The date of his prenuptial agreement is dated 3 June 1696. citing: Prindle, Paul W., Ancestry of Elizabeth Barrett Gillespie (1976) Page 128.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Thomas by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Thomas:
Merritt-151 and Merritt-49 appear to represent the same person because: Same birthdate. No identifying information for Merritt-151 and no sources. Best to merge to get rid of duplicate.
According to Revised Merritt Records, by Douglas Merritt, the Thomas Merritt who settled in Rye, New York was born in England, and the parents are not known. There is no proof that he is any way linked to Thomas Merritt and Susanna Wolfenden. Thomas and Susanna did have a son named Thomas born in 1633, according to Anderson's The Great Migration. No further information about his wife or wives or children are listed in The Great Migration. This is Merritt-1617.
This Thomas cannot be the son of Henry Merritt of Scituate. The location of birth is in a different state from where this family lived. Please see the book, Revised Merritt Records by Douglas Merritt. Thomas and Henry come from totally different families.
Duane Merritt