William Meriam

Other Events and Attributes:

• Arrival: 1638, Charlestown, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA
• Residence: 14 Mar 1639, , , Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

Joseph was probably born in Tudeley in the County of Kent in England, around 1600. His parents were William Merriam and Sarah Burgess. He married Sarah Goldstone 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, which was written on December 29, shows his thoughtful, businesslike mind. 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. He is buried in the Old Hill Burying Ground in Concord. His widow later married Joseph Wheeler of Concord. She died in Concord in 1671.

Joseph married Sarah Goldstone in 1623 in Tudeley, Kent, 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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1564, Goudhurst, Kent, England; Relation to Head: Son
• Baptism: 11 May 1564, Goudhurst, Kent, England

Notes:

Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906
"The Testimony of Jeremiah Shepard Aged 42 who Testifyeth and saith that being present with William Meriam Sr. at his last sickness, his last will and mind with reference to the disposall of his outward estate was That his wife Sarah should out of his estate have maintained for her 2 cowes & a beast to ride upon, a bed and furniture. In the Leantoo wherin he then lay, and alsoe a Bras ketle with the use of sd Room during her life; and what he had allready conveyed to his children should be confirmed to ym; his eldest son Joseph to enjoy what lands he had bequeathed to him and his two sons William and John should have the remainder of the Lands equally divided between them."

The Merriam name goes back to 1295 in England. Laurence Meryham is recorded to have paid taxes to Edward I at Isenhurst, which is north os Sussix in the year 1295 AD. There are wills recorded for Merriams in England going back to 1455. The will of William Mirriam, of Hadlow, co. Kent, clothier dated September 8, 1635, is the first provable direct line to the present Merriam family.Our ancestors would have been called Yeomen of Kent. Yeomen were usually freeholders and men of substance. The Merriam name was spelled many ways: Meryham, Merryham, Meriham, and Mirriam. The name is derived from the Saxon words Merry and Ham, and would interpret to mean Merry Home.
The Merriam families lived in Goudhurst, Hosmonden, Boughton, Monchelsea, Mardstone, Yolding, and Cranbrook, all of which are found in Mid-Kent, and are most numerously mentioned in the Weald of Kent, south of Mid-Kent and formerly running into Sussex, where the first Merriam reference is found in 1295.
The English history of our Merriam family is somewhat sketchy, but it is known that William Merriam, Meryam, Myriam (all three spellings are used in his papers) was a clothier. "Clothiers were generally men who comprehended the entire process of manufacturing cloth and who were cloth merchants; so the trade or business implied a person oflarge brain and strong grasp of details and good sagacity", according to information collected by Mr. C.E. Gildersom-Dickinson who researched the wills and parish lsits and continued the research begun by Charles Pierce Merriam. The author goes on to say that the clothier business was very profitable and "that clothiers were very often more wealthy than the gentry, as well as more intelligent and virtuous". William Merriam's wife's first name was Sara. Her maiden name probably was Burgess. His son, George, sold land before coming to America.
Journey to AmericaThe first Merriams to come to this country were Robert, George, and Joseph Merriam, sons of William Merriam of Hadlow in Kent. Joseph and Robert emigrated to this country in 1638 and settled in Concord MA. Joseph Merriam being a man of some wealth joined with others to charter a vessel and took freight and passengers to help pay the expenses of the voyeage. So it is that the brothers and families arrived aboard the ship, Castle of London, in July of 1638 at the port of Charleston in New England. Joseph, whose occupation is listed as "planter" made his home in Concord. He was admitted to the freemanship or citizenship of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay on March 14, 1638-39, the first month that he would have been eligible to do so after his arrival (9 months after arrival). Josephy died January 1, 1640-1. George become a citizen of Concord June 2, 1641, and would have had to arrive in New England 9 months before and may have been here sooner and simply did not join the church for a while. Church membership was a prerequisite to freemanship. However since he was not an overseer of Joseph's estate it would appear that he was not on the plantation in 1640 when Joseph made his will.





Marriage 1 Sara (Burgess?)Children


Joseph Merriam b: 1600 in in England
Susan Merriam
Margaret Merriam
George Merriam b: 1603
Joane Merriam
Sara Merriam
Robert Merriam b: 1613

Birth:
1564
Goudhurst
Kent, England


Death:
Sep. 23, 1635
Hadlow
Kent, England




William was the only son of William Merriam and Alice Apse to reach maturity. He was born just before May 11, 1564, when he was baptized in Goudhurst, Kent. He became a prosperous cloth merchant with a shop on Barne Street in Hadlow, Kent. He probably became a clothier because either his father or his step-father was in that business. He first appears in the "Kentish Lay Subsidy Rolls" or tax lists, in 1598, living in Tudeley. William also owned land or buildings in several nearby villages. He married Sarah Burgess, daughter of James Burgess of Tudeley, probably in Tudely, but the record of their marriage has not been found. James Burgess of Tudeley, Kent, mentioned in his will of 1590 his "son-in-law William Meryam."

William was living in Hadlow, about four miles northeast of Tonbridge, in 1635, when he made his will on September 8. In the will, which was proved on November 27, he refers to himself as aged. His eldest son Joseph, the immigrant, was also a clothier. Since William was well to do and died in Hadlow, there is no reason to think he was not buried in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church in Hadlow on September 23, 1635.

William Mirriam of Hadlowe, Kent, clothier, 8 September 1635, proved 27 November 1 1635. To the poor of Hadlowe ten shillings. To my daughter Susan, already preferred, fifty shillings. The like sum to daughter Margaret, likewise preferred. To daughter Joane, already preferred, one shilling. To my daughter Sara forty pounds within three months next after my decease. To wife Sara all the household stuff of mine which is in my now dwelling house situate at Barnestreet in Hadlowe and the five pounds per annum which is to be paid out of my lands in Goodherst, Kent, during her natural life. I give her also three pounds per annum to be paid to her during her natural life out of my tenementi and lands in Yalding, Kent. And she shall have her dwelling and abiding in my dwelling house aforesaid after my decease during the whole term of her natural life, with free access, ingress, egress and recourse to and from the same and into and from the gardens and orchards for herbs, water and for her brewing, baking, washing, drying and the like needful occasions. To my son Joseph Myrriam all such household stull as I shall have at the time of my decease remaining and being in the house wherein he now dwelleth situate in Tewdly, or elsewhere where he shall then dwell, being in his custody or possession. To George Mirriam my son five pounds and to his daughter Mary, my god daughter, five shillings. To William Howe, my grandchild, ten shillings and to every child of his father Thomas Howe which be had by my daughter, his late deceased wife, I will five shillings. To William Mirriam my grandchild, son of the said Joseph my son, five shillings. And touching my lands and tenements I will to Joseph Mirriam my son &c. all my lands and tenements in Yalding charged with the before mentioned annuity of three pounds. To Robert my son the messuage wherein I now dwell, in Hadlowe with the barns, outhhouses, yards, gardens, orchard and all my lands thereto belonging, and all other my lands, tenements &c. in Hadlowe. And I give him all my goods and chattels not formerly bequeathed. And I make him sole executor.
Proved by Christopher Crispe, Notary Public, attorney for Robert Mirriam, son and executor.
Rochester Wills, Vol. xxii. (1631-1644), vol. 165.

Family links:
Parents:
William Meriam (1525 - 1566)
Alice Apse Piper (1535 - 1580)

Spouse:
Sarah Burgess Merriam (1570 - 1640)*

Children:
Joseph Merriam (1600 - 1641)*
George Meriam (1602 - 1675)*
Robert Meriam (1609 - 1681)*


WILLIAM MERRIAM'S WILL
William MerriamWIFE HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/breedelizabeth.htm" Elizabeth Breed

Born: Abt 1624 Tudley, Kent, Eng  FATHER HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriamjoseph.htm" Joseph Merriam MOTHER HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/goldstonesarah.htm" Sarah Goldstone







Died: 22/May/1698 Lynn, Essex, England



Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906

" The Testimony of Jeremiah Shepard Aged 42 who Testifyeth and saith that being present with William Meriam Sr. at his last sickness, his last will and mind with reference to the disposall of his outward estate was That his wife Sarah should out of his estate have maintained for her 2 cowes & a beast to ride upon, a bed and furniture. In the Leantoo wherin he then lay, and alsoe a Bras ketle with the use of sd Room during her life; and what he had allready conveyed to his children should be confirmed to ym; his eldest son Joseph to enjoy what lands he had bequeathed to him and his two sons William and John should have the remainder of the Lands equally divided between them."

Merriam Genealogy by Charles Henry Pope 1906 William, born in England, probably at Tewdley, in the county of Kent, about 1624; came as a boy to Concord, Mass., and entered into the life of the new plantation. Joined the church, and was made a freeman of the colony, May 2, 1649. He was one of the witnesses to the will of Joseph How 24 (2), 1651. The "goodman Merriam," who owned a lot of land in Hampon, N. H., May 2, 1655, may be - we may say must be - this man; but there is no evidence that he resided there. He had already settled at Lynn, where he married first Elizabeth, daughter of Allen Breed. Her father gave them, June 26, 1666, a good portion, 200 acres of farm land, all in Lynn, in the southern part, now called by the ancient name Saugus. He married second, Oct 11, 1676, Anna Jones, who died July 29, 1677. He married third, Sarah------, who survived him. He served as a trooper in King Philip's War, enrolled Feb. 29, 1675-6, in Capt. George Curwin's company, and received 4-10's for his services. He died in 1689' was buried 22 May, 1689.

William is mentioned in the will of his grandfather, HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriamwilliamsr.htm" William Merriam

William Merriam – Christened 11 May 1564 Tudeley, Kent, England

Died 27 November 1635 Hadlowe, Kent, England

FATHER William Merriam MOTHER Alice Hablett

WIFE Sarah Burges

, Kent, clothier. Dated 8 Sept, 1635; proved 27 Nov, 1635

" In the name of God Amen the eighth daie of September in the yeare of our Lord Christ one thousand six hundred thirty and five. I William Mirriam of Hadlowe in the County of Kent Clothier being of sound and good memory And in reasonable good health of body but aged. And thereby as well as by daylie examples and the consideracon of mans mortalitye put in mynde of my last end and departure of this world for the setling of that estate wherewith God hath blessed mee doe ordayne and make this my Testament and last Will in manner followinge. First therefore recommending my soule to the gratious acceptance of Almighie God through Jesus Christ my Saviour And my Bodie to the Earth in decent manner to be buried. I will to the poore of Hadlowe Tenn shillings. Item I will to Susan my daughter already preferred fifty shillings. Item I will to my daughter Margarit likewise preferred alredy the like sume of fifty shillings. Item to my daughter Joane already preferred one shillinge Item I will to Sara my daughter the sume of fortie poundes of lawfull English money to be paid unto her within three monethes next after my decease by mine executor here after named. Item I will to Sara my loveinge wife all the household stuffe of myne which is in my nowe dwelling house scituate at Barnestreete in Hadlowe aforesaid. Item I will to the said Sara my wife The Five poundes p Annum which she is to be paid out of my landes in Goodherst in the County of Kent duringe her naturall life. And allsoe I will unto her Three poundes p Annu of lawfull English money to be paid to her during her naturall life (halfe yearely by equall porcons) out of my tenement and lands in Taldinge in the said County. And for defaulte of payment therof to her accordinglie I will that it shall and may be lawfull to and for my said wife and her assignes to enter and distreyne unpon my said tenement and landes or any parte therof. And the distress and distresses to hold and deteyne untill the said Annutiy of three poundes shall be paid unto her from tyme to tyme according to the purport of this my Will And further I will that my said wife shall freely and quietly have her dwelling & abidinge in my dwellinge house aforesaid after my decease during the whole terme of her naturall life with free howse ingresse egresse and recourse to and from the same. And into and from the gardens and orchards for herbs water and for her Bruinge Bakeing washing dryeinge and the like needful occasions Item I will to my sonne Joseph Mirriam all such household stuffe as I shall have at the time of my decease remayning and being in the howse wherein he now dwelleth scituate in Tewdly or elsewhere where he shall then dwell being in his custody or possession. Item I will to George Mirriam my Sonne five poundes and to his daughter HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriammary.htm" Mary my god-daughter five shillings Item I will to William Howe my grandchild Tenn shillings. And to every childe of his father Thomas Howe which he had by my daughter his late deceased wife I will five shillings. Item I will to HYPERLINK "http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brookefamily/merriamwilliam.htm" William Mirriam my grandchilde sonne of the said Joseph my sonne five shillings. All which Legacyes before by mee bequeathed (not assigned to anie tyme of payment) I will shalbe paid within one whole next after my decease. And if anie Legtatorie before named shalbe then within age I will my executor shall paie it to the parent of such Legatorye and so shalbe discharged therof. And as touchinge my lands and tenements this is alsoe the last Will of mee the said William Mirriam made and declared the daie and yeare first above written. Item I will to Joseph Mirriam my sonne and to his heires and assignes for ever All my Landes and Tenements lying in Yalding in the said Countie of Kent with theire and every of theire appurtennes charged with the before mentioned Annunitie of three poundes willed to my said wife as aforesaid to be paid unto her Item I will to Roger Mirriam my sonne and to his heires and assignes for ever all that Messuage or Tenement wherein I nowe dwell scituate lying and beinge in Hadlowe aforesaid with the Barnes Outhouses Yardes Gardens orchards And all my Landes thereto belonginge And alsoe all other my Landes Tenemts and Hereditaments with theire and every of theire appurtenncs lying and being in Hadlowe aforesaid. To hold to the said Robert his heirs and Assignes for ever He and they sufferine my wife to have her dwelling and the Easements and comodityes aforesaid to the which Robert my sonne I will and give all my Goods and Chattels not formerly bequeathed. To hold to him his executors and Assignes for ever. And I doe ordeyne & make the said Robert the full and sole Executor of this my Testment & last Will sealed with my Seale Dated the daie and yeare first before written - The marke of the said William Mirriam- Sealed subscribed and declared in the presence of Thomas Humphrey - John Hooper norie pbqe



INCLUDEPICTUR E "http://www.merriamfamilypapers.com/img71.gif" \* MERGEFORMATINET













The Merriam Coat of arms "Divided into diamond shapes of black and silver; a n ermine upper third" Above the shield and Helmet is the Crest which is " A boar walking, wearing a green collar" There is no motto

































The name Merriam is now a distinctly American (North American) name. The name has died out in Kent county and England altogether. Early records show John Meryham stonemason in 1455.
In the 16th century in Pembrokeshire a manor called Meriham or Myrryam is found near the town of Tenby.
William Merryan is mentioned in the will of James Burgess of Tudeley England in 1590. This may be the same William Merriam the father of our ancestors.
The discovery of the spelling of the name Merryham, Meriham and Meryham settles the question of its meaning.
Both Merry and Ham are Saxon words. They are in Bosworth's "Dictionary of Anglo Saxon Language," London 1808 as follows;
Mirige, myrig, adj. Merry, pleasant: hilaris, jucunis.
Ham, a home, house, dwelling; domus.
Ham, as a termination, in the name of places, denotes a home. dwelling, village.
So the meaning of Merryham is "Happy home".
The first ancestor to distinguish himself from other Johns of his village became John of the happy home or John Meryham.
The editor has found Merriam spelt as Meriam, Miriam, Merium, Merrum.
So the next time someone says "How do you spell that", be proud and make sure they get it right.
Where did we come from. The first Merriam that we can prove is our ancestor is William Merriam born about 1400 in Kent England. Merriam's name of Meryham can be traced back to 1295 HYPERLINK "http://www.merriamfamilypapers.com/page151.html" in England. In 1500 a descendant of William Merriam another " HYPERLINK "http://www.merriamfamilypapers.com/page18.html" William" had three sons, Joseph, Robert and George who came to the new world ( New England) in 1638 on the ship Castle of London, landing at Port of Charleston. They settled in Lynn Mass. Joseph and his wife Sara Goldstone had children and it is from this couple that all Merriam's in North America are descended. George also had children But the Male line survived only three generations. You can read more about the early Merriams in " Merriam Genealogy in England and America compiled by Charles Henry Pope and John Merriam Kingsbury. It is available at HYPERLINK "http://www.bullbrier.com" Bullbrier Press



William is listed in the 1614 Kentish Lay Subsidy Rolls. The Subsidy Rolls were basically a list of taxes levied on the English people. "William Myriam and Sara his wife. One messuage, three stables, one garden, one orchard, two acres of arable land, one acre of meadow and one acre of pasture in Sevenoaks, co. Kent." William lived in Tudeley at least as far back as 1598 on the tax rolls.

William married Sarah Burgess. Sarah was born in 1570 in Goudhurst, Kent, England; died in 1640 in Hadlow, Kent, 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]

Notes:

Birth: 1525 Goudhurst Kent, England
Death: Jan. 27, 1566 Goudhurst Kent, England

William Merriam was born about 1525 at Goudhurst, Kent, England. He was probably the eldest son of Richard Merriam and his first wife. It seems that William first married a woman named Anne, who probably died in childbirth just before June 20, 1560, when she was buried in Goudhurst. The child also must have died soon after, for "a mayde of Wylliam Meriam" was buried there on July 18, 1560.

On October 13, 1560, he married Alice Apse in Goudhurst. Her name is difficult to make out in the transcript of the marriage. It is not known what he did for a living, but he was probably a yeoman farmer. William made an oral will on January 27, 1566 and must have died the same day, because he was buried in Goudhurst on Janauary 28, 1566, in the churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin Church in Goudhurst. The overseer of his will was John Horsemonden, the husband of William's sister Deonys.

William left two sons, only one of whom, William, lived to maturity. Alice, who was obviously still young, must have then married a man named Piper, because the 1616 will of Robert Pyper of Tonbridge mentions a William Merryam, "brother -in-lawe". That term was used in those days to mean step-brother as well.

Spouse: Alice Apse Piper b. 1535-1580 est
Children: William Merriam b. 1564-1635
Burial at St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard Goudhurst Tunbridge Wells Borough, Kent England

William Merriam was born about 1525 at Goudhurst, Kent, England. He was probably the eldest son of Richard Merriam and his first wife. It seems that William first married a woman named Anne, who probably died in childbirth just before June 20, 1560, when she was buried in Goudhurst. The child also must have died soon after, for "a mayde of Wylliam Meriam" was buried there on July 18, 1560.
On October 13, 1560, he married Alice Apse in Goudhurst. Her name is difficult to make out in the transcript of the marriage. It is not known what he did for a living, but he was probably a yeoman farmer. William made an oral will on January 27, 1566 and must have died the same day, because he was buried in Goudhurst on Janauary 28, 1566, in the churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin Church in Goudhurst. The overseer of his will was John Horsemonden, the husband of William's sister Deonys.
William left two sons, only one of whom, William, lived to maturity. Alice, who was obviously still young, must have then married a man named Piper, because the 1616 will of Robert Pyper (step son of Alice) of Tonbridge mentions a William Merryam, "brother -in-lawe". That term was used in those days to mean step-brother as well.

William married Alice Apse. Alice died in 1580. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]