James Merrick (1612 - 1708)

Born 1612 in St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 1708 at about age 96 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts

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James Merrick migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Merrick in his genealogy makes the Rev. John of St. David's the father of the four Myricks who came to New England, however, no proof is given and he admits that: "This is pure assumption, as no record of John's children has as yet been found... this writer bequeaths this, with many other unsolved riddles, to the successor whom he hopes and believes will some time revise, correct, and enlarge the present work".^[1]

Tradition states that James and his younger brother John (b.c.1614) came from St. David's, Pembrokeshire and that they arrived in America in 1636 on the "James" but, they are not listed on the shipping lists and no authority is given for this statement.

James and John were early inhabitants of Charlestown, Massachusetts, where John was granted a house lot in 1644. The grant to James has not been found but, he owned land there before 1649 since it is mentioned as a bound in that year. In 1655/6 the bounds of his and John's lands were finally settled.

James was a cooper and fish-monger owning a wharf in Charlestown. John was also a cooper and he attached the wharf of Henry Kemble because Henry had taken a son of his and withheld a writing (John had apprenticed his son to Henry). James testified about 1653, aged forty years, that John Smith took mackerel at the house of Edward Johnson and on 22 May 1653 he again testified in court aged 40 years.

Before 1657 James moved to Newbury where he remained for some years and where most of his children were born. On 13 May 1657 John Andrews of Charlestown purchased land there from "James Mirack, Cooper and Margerite his wife."

After the birth of his last child in 1670 James moved to Boston but, returned to Newbury before 1681. Later his son James Jr. went to Boston to live. On 25 Oct. 1676 James Sr. of Boston sold to James Jr. his house lot in Newbury with all of the household goods for £40. James Jr. was also to receive from his brother the last year's rent of 40/. James Jr. of Newbury then sold the house to William Ellsby of Newbury for £40 15 June 1679.

I James Myrick senior of Boston… doe resigne over all my right… that I have in a houselott… in Newbury… with all the household stuff therein… my said sonne James Myrick shall… have… the premises above mentioned…. James Myrick is to pay unto his said ffather James Myrick the full Sum of forty pounds… within two years… and to Demand of his Brother the last yeares rent, the sum of forty shillings” The deed is dated 25 Oct. 1676 and was witnessed by Josiah Cobham and John Fernside.^[2]

I James Mirick Junr of Newbury… for Forty Pounds… do… sell… unto William Ellsly of Newbury… that house & land wc I… bought of my ffather Mirick”. The deed is dated 15 June 1679.^[3]

In 1681 John Atkinson (daughter Sarah's husband) sued Sarah Stickney for slander in the Essex County Court. The testimonies in this case prove that Sarah was the daughter of James and not his sister as stated by some.

Research Notes

These Notes are from some of the WikiTree profiles that have been merged together to create this profile.

James Meyrick / Mirick / Myrick / Merrick born in 1612 in St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales to John "Sion"Merrick and Dorothy (Unknown) Merrick. He died on April 2, 1708 in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA. AKA: "Mirick", "Merrick". (I suspect the James who died in 1708 is a different person. James the immigrant drops out of the records after 1681.)

James Merrick / Meyrick Birth: 1606 in Wales Death: 1708

Parents::

John Meyrick

Dorothy (Bishop) Meyrick

Parents: John "Sion" Merrick and Dorothy (Unknown) Merrick

Siblings: Thomas Meyrick; Janet Meyrick; Ensign William Myrick; John Meyrick; John Mirick; Thomas Meyrick; Sarah Meyrick; Thomas Merrick, Sr and Owen Merrick

Spouse:

• Margaret UNKNOWN Marriage: 1652/1653

Children: Sarah Atkinson; amity Myrick; James Myrick, II; Abigail Myrick; Joseph Myrick; John Myrick; Isaac M. Myrick ; Timothy Merrick, Sr.; Susanna Myrick and Hannah Mirick.

Burial: Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts

Sources

1. ↑ Merrick, George Byron. Genealogy of the Merrick-Mirick-Myrick Family of Massachusetts 1636-1902. Tracy, Gibbs & Co., Madison, WI, 1902- pp. 95-6, 143-5
2. ↑ Ipswich Land Records- Vol. IV, p. 344
3. ↑ Ipswich Land Records- Vol. IV, p. 29

• Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury- Mary Lovering Holman, The Rumford Press, Concord, 1938- Vol. II, pp.727-8
• Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England- Savage- Vol.III, p.218
• Ancestral File (R), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998
• James Merrick profile on Geni.com
• Ancestry Family Trees. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.