Mary Wheeler

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1640, , , Massachusetts, USA

Joseph married Sarah Goldstone on 19 May 1642 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. Sarah (daughter of John Goldstone and Frances Jeffrie) was born in 1602 in Tonbridge, Kent, England; died on 12 Mar 1671 in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Concord, Middlesex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sarah Goldstone was probably born in Tenterden, Kent, England around 1602. She was the daughter of John Goldstone and Frances Thompson. She married Joseph Merriam about 1623, probably in Tudeley. He followed his father in the business of being a clothier, and obviously was successful. He formed a partnership to charter a ship and take freight and passengers to New England. Joseph, Sarah and their five children also sailed on that ship, the"Castle" of London, which arrived in Charlestown in July 1638. They settled in Concord, joined the church, and Joseph was admitted as a freeman. Joseph's life in New England was very brief, however, for he died on January 1, 1640/1. His will was written on December 29. His oldest son had not yet reached legal age, so he charged his brother and two of the leading citizens of the town with carrying out his plans for his family. Joseph made his wife executrix of the will with power to sell off parts of his estate to bring up the children. Sarah had a son, John, born on the ninth of July, seven months after Joseph died.

Sarah later married Joseph Wheeler of Concord, who was not the brother of GEORGE WHEELER. Sarah and Joseph had two children. Sarah died in Concord on March 12, 1670/1.

The will of her brother, Robert Golstone, in 1637 names all of the children of Joseph & Sarah Meriam as; William Meriam, Sarah (Meriam) Wheeler, Joseph Meriam, Elizabeth Meriam, Hannah Meriam and John Meriam

Thomas married Rebecca Sayre on 11 Feb 1601 in , Bedfordshire, England. Rebecca was born in 1565 in Odell, Bedfordshire, England; died on 3 May 1653 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England; was buried in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Joseph Merriam and his brothers, Robert and George
[The following is a transcribed excerpt from The Ancestry of Franklin Merriam Peabody, compiled by Sidney A. Merriam, 1929, pages 44 to 46.]

Joseph 6 Merriam (William,5 William,4 Richard,3, Stephen,2 William1), eldest son, was probably born at Tudeley, County Kent, England, where his father was taxed at several dates between 1598 and 1621-2. He married about 1623, Sarah, daughter of John and Frances (Jefferie) Goldston or Goldstone. The will of Robert Goldston of Tonbridge, Kent, dated 10 April 1637; proved 16 May 1637 (Consistory of Rochester xxii:248) reads: “to Sara the wife of Joseph Merryam of Tewdly aforesaid Clothier my sister . . . .” and bequeaths to William, Sara, Joseph, Thomas, Elizabeth and Hannah the six children of the said Joseph Mirriam by the said Sara his now wife . . . .

Joseph6 Merriam, with his brothers, Robert6 and George6, and others, mostly connected by marriage, chartered a vessel called the “Castle” and sailed from the “River of Thames” for New England in April 1638. They arrived off Charleston and Boston, in July 1638, where the vessel lay at anchor several weeks with her passengers living on board. Suits among those who chartered the “Castle” reveal minute and interesting details about the voyage. (Note Book of Thomas Lechford, Boston Attorney: 105, 118, 140, etc.)

Besides the religious situation, there were economic causes for emigration to America. About one year after the death of William Merriam, father of the immigrants, another “Ship Subsidy” was levied. Simon Willard of Horsmonden had gone to Concord in New England; Sir “Harry” Vane, son of Sir Henry Vane of Hadlow, where William Merriam died in 1635, had gone to Massachusetts in 1635 and was elected governor of Massachusetts in 1636. Other neighbors and friends had gone. The cloth industry, formerly highly prosperous, had declined.

Upon arrival in America, Joseph Merriam went almost immediately to Concord, where he settled at what has since been known as “Merriam''s Corner,” at the junction of the Concord-Bedford roads. (Book 10:525, Middlesex Deeds.) This point is now marked by an old tablet reading:

MERRIAM'S CORNER

The British Troops retreating from the old North Bridge were here attacked in flank by the men of Concord and neighboring towns and driven under a hot fire to Charleston.

In this vicinity was the original American home of the family and there they chiefly remained for many generations, some few spreading only as far away as Lexington and Littleton. In Concord, Joseph6 Merriam died 1 January 1640-41, having lived long enough in the new world to erect a house and establish a home. His youngest son, John, was born in Concord. Joseph's will is dated at Concord 29 December 1640; proved 26 October 1642. (Suffolk Court Files. See “Register” : II:184.) His widow, Sara, afterward married Lieut. Joseph Wheeler of Concord, and died 12 March 1670-71. The sons, William, Joseph, and John, joined in a quitclaim to the estate of Joseph Wheeler, their “father-in-law,” 17 April 1667. (Suffolk Court Files 2286.)

Robert6 Merriam remained a short time in Charleston, where his real estate is recorded in the “Book of Possessions.” He was a “trader” and “planter” (as was also Major Simon Willard from Hosmonden, Kent), dealing with Indians in furs, etc. Robert Merriam was Clerk to the Court of Assistants, Deputy to the General Court, 1655, etc. His wife was Mary, daughter of Edmund Sheafe of Cranbrook, Kent. Mary (Sheafe) Merriam was sister to Jacob Sheafe of Boston, aunt to Mrs. Jonathan Corwin of Salem, and closely connected with the Portsmouth Sheafes. These facts do not accord with the highly imaginative account in one of the lesser histories of Concord. He died 15 February 1682 (N. S.), aged 72. His will dated 10 December 1681, proved 4 April 1682 (Register 11:237), mentions many relatives and fixes the connections of persons named in England. His widow, Mary, died 22 July 1693 aged 72. Her will dated 15 February 1688 is also remarkable for the number of relationships explained. She was baptized at Cranbrook, Kent, 26 September 1620. Robert and Mary Merriam had no children.

George6 Merriam is not recorded in New England until after the death of his brother, Joseph, at Concord in 1641. He was probably born at Tudely, Kent. He married at Tonbridge, Kent, 16 October 1627, Susanna Raven. In 1638, Easter Term, Charles I, George Merriam and Susanna, his wife, conveyed to Anne Towne, widow, “tow messuages, two barns, two gardens, two orchards, and six acres of land in Tewdley, co. Kent.” This was close to the date of the departure of the “Castle.” It is doubtful whether or not George and Susannah Merriam came in that vessel. He died 29 December 1675, and his wife, Susannah, 8 October previous. His will of 8 October 1675 mentions one son and five daughters. The male line from his son Samuel soon became extinct. Descendants of the name are all descended from Joseph6 Merriam. The name became extinct in England in 1889.

Children:

William, 7 b. England.
Sarah
Joseph, b. about 1630, probably at Tudely, Kent, England.
Thomas.
Elizabeth, m. Thomas Henchman.
Hannah.
John, b. 9 July 1641, at Concord; (posthumous; provided for in will of his father.)

Ancestor of Presidents Bush
This line shows the generations from John Goldstone to President George Herbert Walker Bush and President George Walker Bush. It is primarily from Ancestors of American Presidents, by Gary Boyd Roberts, 1989, pages 94 to 101.

1. John Goldstone - & Frances Jefferie -after 1637
2. Sarah Goldstone about 1605-1671 & Joseph Wheeler about 1610-after 1678
3. Rebecca Wheeler 1645-1718 & Peter Bulkeley 1641-1688
4. Rebecca Bulkeley 1681- & Jonathan Prescott, Jr. 1677-1729
5. Abel Prescott 1718-1805 & Abigail Brigham 1723-1777
6. Lucy Prescott 1757-1792 & Jonathan Fay, Jr. 1752-1811
7. Samuel Prescott Phillips Fay 1778-1856 & Harriet Howard 1782-1847
8. Samuel Howard Fay 1804-1847 & Susan Shellman 1808-1887
9. Harriet Eleanor Fay 1829-1924 & James Smith Bush 1825-1889
10. Samuel Prescott Bush 1863-1948 & Flora Sheldon 1872-1920
11. Prescott Sheldon Bush 1895-1972 & Dorothy Walker 1901-1992
12. President George Herbert Walker Bush 1924- & Barbara Pierce 1925-2018
13. President George Walker Bush 1946-

Will of Robert Goldstone 1637
[The following is a transcribed excerpt from The Record of My Ancestry, by Charles L. Newhall, 1901, pages 157 and 158.]

GOLDSTONE.

JOHN GOLDSTONE married Frances, dau. of John and Jane Jefferie of Pemburie, Kent County, England; he died and she married Thomas Diker of Tonbridge.

The children of John and Frances Goldstone were:

2 Robert, probably never married, as his will does not mention wife or children.
3 Roger.
4 Jane, m. 1st, Benjamin Johnson; 2d, Thomas Howe.
5 Sara, m. Joseph2, son of William1 and Sarah (Diker) Merriam.
6 Elizabeth, m. Thomas Dan of Tewdly, England.

The will of Robert Goldstone, who probably never married, is here given to show the family connections:

Robert Goldstone of Tonbridge, Kent, 10 April 1637, proved 16 May 1639. The poor of Tunbridge, Tewdly and Capell. Loving friend Mr. Joel Collys. To Elizabeth the wife of William Howe twenty shillings or a ring of that value for a testimony of my thankfulness for her great pains taken with me. William Diker. Thomas and Francis the sons of Sara the daughter of Walter Thompson. William Howard, Robert Rootes the apprentices of Thomas Diker. Elizabeth Goldstone, the late wife of William Goldstone of Brenchley deceased, and Elizabeth, Frances and Anne Goldstone his three children. Frances my loving mother, now the wife of Thomas Diker of Tonbridge, taylor. My sister in law Elizabeth the daughter of the said Thomas Diker. Francys, Anne and William Diker the three children of the said Thomas Diker.

Item. I give and bequeath unto Jane the wife of Thomas Howe of Tonbridge, clothier, and to Sara the wife of Joseph Merriam of Tewdly, clothier, ten shillings apiece, to be paid them within one month after my decease. I will and give to Hannah Merriam, my god daughter, the daughter of the said Joseph, one pair of fine sheets which are in the house of Richard Kipping- of Tewdly, tanner. My god daughter the daughter of Stephen Benntt late of Tewdly deceased. The four chidren of Roger Thomsett of

Brenchley my uncle. William Howe, Sara the wife of Nathaniel Weller, Elizabeth the wife of Josias Johnson, Mary, Susan and Thomas How the children of the said Thomas How. John, William, Jane, Martha and Susan the five children of William Jeffrey of London. Simon, John and Thomas Jeffrey the three sons of Thomas Jeffrey of Tonbridge, and the two children of Nicholas Jaffrey. John Baldock. Jane the wife of Christopher Constable and Martha Harborough. To Francys, John and Mary Johnson, the three daughters of the said Jane my sister by Benjamin Johnson her late deceased husband, and to Alice and Francys, the two other children of said Jane by the said Thomas How her now husband, six pounds apiece.

Item. I give and bequeath unto William, Sara, Joseph, Thomas, Elizabeth and Hanna, the six children of the said Joseph Merriam by the said Sara his now wife, to either of them the sum of six pounds apiece, to be paid within five years next after my decease. Thomas Dan the son of Thomas Dan by Elizabeth my sister deceased. My brother Roger Goldstone certain household stuff &c. in the now dwelling house of Richard Kipping. The residue I wholly give to the said Thomas How and Joseph Merriam whom I make and ordain full and sole executors.

Then follows of the disposition of the lands and tenements in Brenchley which are to go to brother Roger Goldstone at the end of five years (the executors receiving the rents &c. during that period). If Roger die before the end of the said term then all these lands and tenements to go to sisters Jane the wife of Thomas How and Sara the wife of Joseph Merriam &c. provided the said Roger leave no issue. And the said Francys my mother, if then living, shall have the use and occupation of that part, of the said lands &c. which is now in the occupation of William Turner, containing by estimation fourteen acres. — N. K. Hist, and Gene. Reg., Vol. 50, pp. 507-8.

John married Frances Jeffrie. Frances was born in 1575 in , Kent, England; died on 12 Mar 1671 in Tonbridge, Kent, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]