Theophilus Merriam (1688 - 1744)

Born 16 Jul 1688 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail (Ramsdell) Merriam — married 4 Apr 1718 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 31 Dec 1744 at age 56 in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ellen Jennings [send private message]

Biography

Theophilus was born on July 16th, 1688 to Joseph Merriam and Sarah Jenkins. ^{[1] [2]}

He married Abigail Ramsdell on April 4th, 1718 in Lynn. ^{[3] [4]} They had the following children: ^[2]

• Sarah, born 22 Jan 1719, ^[5] m. 4 Jan 1738-9, Samuel Rhoads
• Esther, born 24 Nov 1722 ^[6]
• Ebenezer, born 6 Sep 1724 ^[7]
• Esher, born 24 Nov 1726 (not listed in the "Merriam Genealogy") ^[8]
• Joseph, born 21 Jul 1728 ^[9] m. 7 Oct 1762, Ann Mason ^[2]
• Abagal [Abigail], born 19 Mar 1732 ^[10]
• Jerusha, born 18 Mar 1735 ^[11] m. 7 Dec 1761, John Hawkes ^[2]
• John, born 24 May 1738 ^[12]
• Ezeekiel [Ezekiel] , born 29 Jul 1744 ^[13]

Theophilus was a a house carpenter and conducted business with Ebenezer Merriam, his brother. ^[2]

On December 31st, 1744 he was "found dead on the ice" on the Saugus River. After his passing, his wife married James Butler on July 7th, 1747 at Lynn. ^{[2][14] [15]}

Research Notes

His name is spelled in the records many different ways such as Theopaylus, Theoparlus, and Theophilus with the last name being spelled Merriam, Meriam and Marriamnus. Some entries provide a different date of birth. The most common date is July 16th, however it is also recorded as July 15th. ^{[16] [17]}

His death is recorded as 31: 10m: 1744. The 10th month of the year in 1744 was December as March was the first month of the year.

In the "Descendants of Thomas Farr of Harpswell, Maine and ninety allied families" on page 54 it mentions an Ephraim Chamberlain that married Anna Merriam (1715-1778), daughter of Theophilus Merriam. This is not correct as she has a surname of Merriman. Her profile can be seen here: Abigail Merriman.

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Joseph Meriam in entry for Theopaylus Meriam, 16 Jul 1688; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Pope, Charles Henry, "Merriam Genealogy in England and America: Including the "Genealogical Memoranda" of Charles Pierce Merriam, the Collections of James Sheldon Merriam, etc." (Boston, Mass.: Charles H. Pope, 1906), page 49. 60
3. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (9 February 2018), Theophilus Merriam and Abigail Ramsdel, 04 Apr 1718; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 547,549, 878,650, 877,737, 877,738, 877,736.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (13 July 2016), Essex > County wide > County court births, marriages, deaths 1654-1795 > image 436 of 610; town clerk offices, Massachusetts.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for Sarah Meriam, 22 Jan 1719; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for Esther Meriam, 24 Nov 1722; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
7. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Merriam in entry for Ebenezer Merriam, 06 Sep 1724; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
8. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for Esher Meriam, 24 Nov 1726; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 877,736, 877,737, 877,736, 877,738.
9. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for Joseph Meriam, 21 Jul 1728; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for Abagal Meriam, 19 Mar 1732; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for Jerusha Meriam, 18 Mar 1735; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
12. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for John Meriam, 24 May 1738; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
13. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Theophilus Meriam in entry for Ezeekiel Meriam, 29 Jul 1744; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0397791 V. 1.
14. ↑ Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Town and City Clerks of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital and Town Records. Provo, UT: Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
15. ↑ Lewis, Alonzo. "The History of Lynn", Boston, Press of J.H. Eastburn: 1829. page 161
16. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Joseph Meriam in entry for Theoparlus Meriam, 15 Jul 1688; citing LYNN,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 547,549, 878,650, 877,737, 877,738, 877,736.
17. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Joseph Marriamnus in entry for Theophilus Marriamnus, 16 Jul 1688; citing Linn, Essex, Massachusetts, ; FHL microfilm 877,468.

See Also:

Source S282

Type: Web Site

Title: Family of Sarah Gilbert (1311) and Joel Jenkins

URL: http://babbage.clarku.edu/~djoyce/gen/report/rr03/rr03

DATV 3/19/04