Weymouth New England Genealogy

Nathaniel MERRILL - bap. May 4, 1601, Wherstead, Suffolk,England; d. Mar. 16, 1654/5, Newbury, Essex Co., MA. Son ofNathaniel MERRELL and Mary BLACKSOLL. A principal source ofinformation about the MERRILL family in England and America is AMERRILL MEMORIAL, by Samuel Merrill (1917-1928 Cambridge, MA).Nathaniel arrived at Ipswich, MA about 1633 and remained therewith brother John a year or more before moving to Newbury, MA. His will dated Mar. 8, 1654/5 and proved Mar. 27, 1655 nameswife Susanna, daughter Susanna, and five sons, all childrenexcept Nathaniel being under age 21. The first paragraph of hiswill indicates much about the testator's faith: "Witness bythose psents that I Nathaniell Merrill of Newbury in the Countieof Essex being sicke of body but through gods mercy of perfectmemory do here make my last will and testament. I first bequeathmy soule into the hands of my blessed Redeemer with an assuredhope of a joyfull resurection, and my body when it shall pleasethe lord to take me out of this fraile life to bee buryed in theburying place of Newbury, and for my worldly goods I give anddispose of as followeth." The estate inventory of Mar. 23,1654/5 indicated Nathaniel was a man of modest means, with 13acres of land, 14 head of cattle and common farming andhousehold implements. A debt of œ5 for rent to John Cuttingindicates Nathaniel leased his dwelling. Married probably inEngland. Susanna - d. Jan. 25, 1672/3, Newbury, Essex Co., MA. Althoughson John was executor and major legatee of Gregory WOLTERTON,Susanna was not the sister of Gregory, a tanner of Hartford,Hartford Co., CT. Susanna's surname is not known. The birth ofher first four children are reported in Lawrence I. Shepard's"In Search of English Origins: Edward Shepard Part II," HERITAGEQUEST, No. 24, page 38. Susanna married second Stephen JORDAN(d. Feb. 8, 1669/70, Newbury, MA) who had two daughters by aprior marriage.