Col. MERIWETHER David

Notes:

When David Meriwether was born in 1690 in Goochland, Virginia, his father, Nicholas, was 25 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 24. He married his first wife in 1711 in New Kent, Virginia. In 1713 he married his second wife in Virginia. He died on December 25, 1744, in Louisa, Virginia, at the age of 54.

Birth: Probably James City County, maybe Surry County
Burial: Buried beside his father on the east side of the Rivanna River. Site has been lost.


Children
Thomas MERIWETHER b: ABT 1713 in New Kent County, Virginia
David MERIWETHER b: 5 OCT 1716 in Hanover County, Virginia
Nicholas MERIWETHER b: 11 Feb 1719/20 in New Kent County, Virginia
Anne MERIWETHER b: 11 NOV 1721 in Hanover County, Virginia
Sarah MERIWETHER b: 12 Feb 1724/5 in Hanover County, Virginia
Francis MERIWETHER b: ABT 1726 in Virginia
James MERIWETHER b: 1 JUN 1729 in Hanover County, Virginia
William MERIWETHER b: 25 DEC 1730 in Goochland County, Virginia

Col. David Meriwether married Ann Holmes and had a son, Thomas. This Thomas Meriwether married Elizabeth Thornton, and had 11 children, including Lucy Meriwether , the mother of Meriwether Lewis. Ann also gave birth to Colonel Nicholas Meriwether (the first Meriwether to live at Cloverfields with his wife, Margaret Douglas) (Anderson, 1984) , Francis, David, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ann, Mildred, Thomas, and Jane. You will notice by now that the Meriwether family tended to recycle the same name every generation, and occasionally more than once a generation. This has become very confusing to genealogists. Many have confused which Nicholas married who, and who exactly was Meriwether Lewis' grandfather. This presentation streamlines the family to list those who directly pertain to the explorers to clarify the connections.

David married HOLMES Anne in 1713 in New Kent County, VA. Anne (daughter of HOLMES George, Esq.) was born on 19 Dec 1695 in King and Queen Court House, King and Queen, Virginia, USA; died on 11 Mar 1735 in Gwathmey, Hanover, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. MERIWETHER Thomas was born about 1713 in New Kent County, VA; died before 25 Jun 1757 in Louisa County, VA.
2. MERIWETHER David was born on 5 Oct 1716 in Hanover County, VA; died on 23 Aug 1772 in Atlantic Ocean; was buried in At Sea.
3. MERIWETHER Nicholas was born on 11 Feb 1720 in New Kent County, VA; died on 3 May 1758 in North Garden, Albemarle, Virginia, USA.
4. MERIWETHER Anne was born on 11 Nov 1721 in Louisa County, VA; died before 10 Dec 1792.
5. MERIWETHER Sarah was born on 12 Feb 1725 in Louisa County, VA; died on 5 Sep 1725 in Louisa County, VA.
6. MERIWETHER Francis was born about 1726 in Greensville County, Virginia; died on 7 Jun 1793 in Greenwood, Abbeville County, Sc; was buried in Greenwood, Abbeville County, Sc.
7. MERIWETHER James was born on 1 Jun 1729 in Hanover County, VA; died on 26 Sep 1801 in Louisa County, VA.
8. MERIWETHER William was born on 25 Dec 1730 in Goochland County, VA; died on 24 Dec 1790 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; was buried in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Farmer/Planter, land speculator; Attorney
• Residence: 1729, Cismont, Albemarle County, VA; Cloverfields plantation
• Residence: 1735, Goochland County, VA

Notes:

Nicholas Meriwether was born on October 26, 1665, in Iceland, the child of Nicholas Meriwether to Elizabeth Woodhouse, age 32, and Nicholas Meriwether, age 34. He married Elizabeth Crawford in 1687 in Buckingham County, Virginia. They had eight children in 17 years. He died in November 1744 in Virginia, having lived a long life of 79 years.

Col. Nicholas Meriwether II
Col. Nicholas Meriwether II amassed a large quantity of land, at one point owning about 33,000 acres. His will, one of the longest recorded in Virginia, was witnessed by Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson.
Buried: East bank of Rivanna River, near present day Charlottesville. Actual site has been lost.

Children
William MERIWETHER b: ABT 1688 in James City County, Virginia
David MERIWETHER b: ABT 1690 in James City County, Virginia
Thomas MERIWETHER b: ABT 1691 in Virginia
Anne MERIWETHER b: ABT 1694 in Virginia
Sarah MERIWETHER b: 1697 in Virginia
Nicholas MERIWETHER b: 11 JUL 1699 in Virginia
Elizabeth MERIWETHER b: 20 JUN 1703 in Virginia
Jane MERIWETHER b: ABT 1705 in Virginia
Mary MERIWETHER b: ABT 1707 in Virginia

Lake Meriweather is located there and poss named after him

Historical Background The first plantation house was built by Nicholas Meriwether about 1735 where he died in 1744. Sometime before the Revolutionary War, the house burned and Col. Nicholas Lewis, grandson and heir of Meriwether, built a second main house which has since disappeared. Colonel Nicholas Lewis (1728-1807) (uncle of the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis) was a surveyor who served in several public roles including sheriff, surveyor and magistrate.[4] The 1782 tax records indicate he owned 33 slaves, 80 cattle and 17 horses.[5] His neighbor and friend Thomas Jefferson paid tribute to him in his writings for bravery in fighting the Cherokee Indians in 1776:[6]

Residence:
Cloverfields Plantation: The Cloverfields plantation, which the Meriwether family first acquired as part of the 3,000 acre grant to Nicholas Meriwether II in 1729. No one called it"cloverfields"until at least 1760, when Nicholas Meriwether II and his wife, Margaret Douglas built the first dwelling on the property. At the present time, there are several buildings in which people live. The original chimney from the kitchen still stands on the property, as well as the original smokehouse. The other buildings have been updated and/or rebuilt since the Meriwether's lived there. One of the buildings was added to the property in order to keep it from being destroyed. Developers were building on the land where the building originally stood. The graveyard is, of course, also in its original spot and condition. Edward C. Mead wrote in 1899"Here sleep undisturbed on their native ground those noble men and women who lived in the exciting times of the Revolution and saw the wild country emerge into a'new nation.'"Many of the people who lived at the plantation were originally buried in the family plot, but have since been moved to Grace Church in Cismont. Many people interred in the graveyard lie in unmarked tombs. The most well-known burial there is William Lewis, Meriwether's father. While on leave from the Continental Army to visit his wife and children at Locust Hill, he crossed the Rivanna River in a flood. His horse drowned and he caught pneumonia. Cloverfields, his wife Lucy's childhood home was much closer, so he went there to recouperate. Instead, he died there, and his body was never moved. Cloverfields is still a private property owned by the descendants of the Meriwether family."Cloverfields Cemetery."Write-up by Douglas Valentine. April 1998 and Barnes, Sara Lee. Live Interview at Cloverfields. 2 December 2002.

Source: http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/encounter/projects/homesteads/map/farm.html The farm was the 1020 acre plantation of Colonel Nicholas Meriweather, a contemporary of Thomas Jefferson's father, where he build his home in 1735. This stretch of land lies in the river flats between Moore's Creek and Meadow Creek. Its simple name comes from it being the earliest cleared loaction West of the Rivanna River and as such became a conspicuous landmark in the area. It was on this site with a view of Monticello that Nicholas Meriweather lived the rest of his life and was buried nearby. His grandson Colonel Nicholas LEWIS, a Revolutionary Officer uinherited the property.

Residence:
The Farm: Col. Nicholas Meriwether II amassed a large quantity of land, at one point owning about 33,000 acres. In 1735 he built his plantation, [which became] "The Farm", in Goochland (now Albemarle) County, the site of which is now the city of Charlottesville, Virginia. His will, one of the longest recorded in Virginia, was witnessed by Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson.

Descendants of Nicholas Meriwether II & Elizabeth Crawford are eligible for membership in the Magna Charta Dames or to the Barons of Runnymede (NHM p. 174).
02 May 2013 • F

Buried:
The Cloverfields plantation, which the Meriwether family first acquired as part of the 3,000 acre grant to Nicholas Meriwether II in 1729. No one called it"cloverfields"until at least 1760, when Nicholas Meriwether II and his wife, Margaret Douglas built the first dwelling on the property. At the present time, there are several buildings in which people live. The original chimney from the kitchen still stands on the property, as well as the original smokehouse. The other buildings have been updated and/or rebuilt since the Meriwether's lived there. One of the buildings was added to the property in order to keep it from being destroyed. Developers were building on the land where the building originally stood. The graveyard is, of course, also in its original spot and condition. Edward C. Mead wrote in 1899"Here sleep undisturbed on their native ground those noble men and women who lived in the exciting times of the REvolution and saw the wild country emerge into a'new nation.'"Many of the people who lived at the plantation were originally buried in the family plot, but have since been moved to Grace Church in Cismont. Many people interred in the graveyard lie in unmarked tombs. The most well-known burial there is William Lewis, Meriwether's father. While on leave from the Continental Army to visit his wife and children at Locust Hill, he crossed the Rivanna River in a flood. His horse drowned and he caught pneumonia. Cloverfields, his wife Lucy's childhood home was much closer, so he went there to recouperate. Instead, he died there, and his body was never moved. Cloverfields is still a private property owned by the descendants of the Meriwether family."Cloverfields Cemetery."Write-up by Douglas Valentine. April 1998 and Barnes, Sara Lee. Live Interview at Cloverfields. 2 December 2002.

Charlottesville
Albemarle County
Virginia USA
Cemetery notes and/or description:
THE OLD FAMILY GRAVEYARD, A DISGRACE TO ALL THE DESCENDANTS

Following the county road already described, starting at Charlottesville and as soon as you cross the Country Bridge over the Rivanna River, you are upon the plantation left by the will of Nicholas (2) "to my grandson Nicholas Lewis the son of Mr. Robt. Lewis, my plantation and land whereon I now live, containing by Patent One Thousand and Twenty acres, together with One Hundred and nineteen acres part of a greater tract bought of Thomas Graves…"

The county road begins to climb the side of the mountain as soon as it leaves the bridge. Off to the left a short distance, and facing the river, is the present Mansion, but upon the right of the road and facing more towards "Monticello", and the bend of the river, stood the old home of Nicholas (2) Meriwether and wife Elizabeth (Crafford). This was the house in which he died, and it was a beautiful site for a home. On the same first ridge of the mountain, but about 150 yards to the right of the present county road, and perhaps 200 yards from the bridge, was the old Meriwether family graveyard in which were buried Nicholas, Col. David, and many of the family.

At the time of the writer's visit the entire field where stood the old house and where is located the old graveyard, was planted in corn. Not even a mound marks a grave, and it seems to him a disgrace to every descendant of the family. Cannot this be rectified? The cost would be very small divided among so many

Nicholas married CRAWFORD Elizabeth in 1687 in Buckingham, Buckingham, Virginia, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of CRAWFORD David, Esq. and CRAWFORD Jane --?--) was born about 1672 in New Kent County, VA ("Assasquin"); died before 11 May 1762 in Greenville, Augusta, Virginia, USA; was buried in Greenville, Augusta, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alt. Burial: Unknown
• Will: Will proved in Louisa, but may have died in Albemarle

Notes:

. Her family is said to be descendents of Sir Roland Crawford, the grandfather of Sir William Wallace (the subject of Mel Gibson's 1994 epic movie Braveheart.) (Anderson, 1984) Together, they had nine children. Their oldest, Jane Meriwether married Colonel Robert Lewis; they became Meriwether Lewis' paternal great-grandparents. The second oldest, Nicholas Meriwether III married Mildred Thornton. The other children were William, Thomas, Colonel David Meriwether, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, and Mary.

Alt. Burial:
Burial place unknown, though some state "Clover Fields." May also have been with Nicholas on the Rivanna River.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Legal clerk, legal representative, planter, Justice
• Immigration: 1652
• Alt. Death: 15 Dec 1678, Lynnhaven Parish, Prince William, Virginia
• Alt. Death: 17 Dec 1678, New Kent County, VA

Notes:

When Nicholas Meriwether was born in 1631 in Bramber, Sussex, his father, Francis, was 27 and his mother, Alice, was 46. He was married in 1655 in Virginia. He died on December 15, 1678, in Prince William County, Virginia, at the age of 47.

Nicholas Meriwether arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, probably about 1650. The first confirmation of his existence there was 4 July 1653 when he patented 300 acres of land in Lancaster County. From at least 13 Oct 1653 until 13 Dec 1656, Nicholas served as a clerk of the Quarter Court and Governor's Council for the Colony in Jamestown. Although many researchers state he was clerk of Surry County, there is no evidence that he was. About 1661, he bought "The Island House" from Elizabeth Kingsmill & her husband Nathaniel Bacon, a relative of the Bacon who started "Bacon's Rebellion"; a marker on Jamestown Island identifies the "Island House" location today.
Sometime in the 1660's, after the English monarchy was reestablished, Nicholas bought "Indian Springs" in Surry County and seems to have retired from public office to pursue land speculation and tobacco production and shipping. Since his entire government career was during the reign of Cromwell and he ceased upon restoration of the throne, this seems to contradict those who claim Nicholas was one of the "Cavaliers", supporters of the Crown who came to the Colony to escape persecution.
Recent research has tried, without success, to determine if Nicholas came to Virginia in 1652 as part of the Parliamentary fleet that sought the surrender of Virginia to the Cromwellian government. This would certainly explain his appearance in 1653 as a clerk of the Quarter Court and subsequent years working for the colonial government.
The birth date of Nicholas was derived from an affidavit in which he stated his age. His death date was supposedly found in the bible of Nicholas Meriwether II, in possession of descendants in Louisville, Ky, in the late 1800's. Efforts to locate this bible in the late 1900's have failed. Documents created in the mid 1800's, 200 years after Nicholas was in the Colonies, refer to him, or possibly his son, Nicholas II, as "The Welshman". No evidence has been found to indicate that he was from Wales, however. Nothing has been found to track him to a particular location in England, either; efforts to locate Nicholas in Kent or Wiltshire, where many English Meriwether families are found, have not been successful.
A Thomas Meriwether, merchant, of Bristol & London, had business dealings with Nicholas and it was at one time believed he could be a brother or uncle. Evidence found in 2004 no longer supports this.

Children
Elizabeth MERIWETHER b: ABT 1662 in Virginia
Nicholas MERIWETHER b: 26 OCT 1665 in Virginia
Francis MERIWETHER b: ABT 1670 in Virginia
Jane MERIWETHER b: ABT 1675 in Virginia
Thomas MERIWETHER b: ABT 1677 in Virginia
William MERIWETHER b: AFT 17 JUN 1678 in Virginia

The Meriwether Family
were the men that settled central and southwestern Virginia? They were few in number, and their families rose to prominence throughout the formative years of the United States of America. One of these men, Nicholas Meriwether I, came to the shores of Virginia in 1652 to claim a large tract of land in Northrern Neck and Surry Counties. Supposedly, there is a record "in Virginia land registry office between 1652 and 1669 of patents to the extent of 5,250 acres in Westmoreland Co. done by Nicholas Meriwether." (Anderson, 1984) The family, so-called because they were happy all the time, hailed from either Wales or England (this is still in dispute.). The name was originally spelled Merryweather.) Nicholas I married Elizabeth Woodhouse, who gave birth to seven children. They were Nicholas, Jane, Elizabeth, Francis, Thomas, William and David. (Minor, 1892)
Nicholas II was the only one to extend the family name. He lived on a land grant which he secured from King George II in 1727 at the base of the Southwest Mountains. This 13,762-acre tract of land grew another 3,000 acres in 1730. In 1735, he added another 1,190 acres to his holdings, on which he built "The Farm." Charlottesville now lies over the land on which "The Farm" existed. (Minor, 1892) It all exists in what is currently Albemarle county, and history sometimes refers to Nicholas as "the Father of Albemarle." Albemarle County was carved out of Goochland County in 1744, the year of Nicholas' death.
Nicholas Meriwether (II) met and married Elizabeth Crawford. Her family is said to be descendents of Sir Roland Crawford, the grandfather of Sir William Wallace (the subject of Mel Gibson's 1994 epic movie Braveheart.) (Anderson, 1984) Together, they had nine children. Their oldest, Jane Meriwether married Colonel Robert Lewis; they became Meriwether Lewis' paternal great-grandparents. The second oldest, Nicholas Meriwether III married Mildred Thornton. The other children were William, Thomas, Colonel David Meriwether, Elizabeth, Ann, Sarah, and Mary.

Alt. Death:
15 Dec 1678 • Lynnhaven Parish, Prince William, Virginia Colony, America

Nicholas married WOODHOUSE Elizabeth about 1664 in Greenville, Augusta, Virginia, USA. Elizabeth was born about 1638; died about 21 Apr 1695 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; was buried in Surry County, VA ("Four Mile Tree"). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In Surry County Court on 4 March 1678/9, Elizabeth Meriwether was listed as the executrix of Mr. Nicholas Meriwether, deceased. On 13 Jun 1680 in James City, Coll. Browne represented Ni. Meriwether and on 6 July 1680 there is a judgement to Lt. Col. William Browne as marrying the executrix of Mr. Ni. Meriwether which would be Elizabeth Meriwether. In Aug, 1679, she is granted a Commission of Administration for the estate and orphan of Lewis Williams. She is apparently dead by 21 Apr 1695, when Nicholas II and his sister Elizabeth (Meriwether) Clements are appointed administrators of the estate of their brother, William. She is certainly dead by Jan 1695/6, when her son Thomas is assigned a guardian.
In 1899, William Ridgely Griffith stated in his book that he thought Elizabeth's maiden name was Woodhouse(?), daughter of Thomas Woodhouse (a resident of Jamestown and a client of Nicholas Meriwether) but had found no evidence to support this. Most Meriwether genealogies since that time have simply stated she was Elizabeth Woodhouse, daughter of Henry or Thomas Woodhouse. There is no evidence that Thomas Woodhouse ever married, much less had a daughter named Elizabeth. Although Henry did have a daughter named Elizabeth, she is believed to have married Giles Collins. According to annecdotal information collected by the Society, Collins & Woodhouse married abt 1653 and had at least four children. Collins supposedly died about June 1674. This was well after a number of children had been born to Nicholas and his Elizabeth. In addition, no Collins descendants were mentioned in Henry Hartwell's will, though all known Meriwether and Browne descendants of Elizabeth were. These facts strongly indicate that Elizabeth was not the daughter of Henry Woodhouse.
It is likely that Elizabeth was the sister of Jane (?) White Hartwell, wife of William Hartwell. There is some support for their maiden names being May (a partner of Nicholas) or Williams (see above association of Elizabeth with the estate of Lewis Williams).

Marriage 1 Nicholas MERIWETHER b: ABT 1631 in Great Britain
     Married: ABT 1664 in Virginia
     Note:

The children shown are all proven to have existed by various primary sources. There is a possibility that the mother of the first child, Elizabeth, was not the Elizabeth who was the mother of the remainder of the children.

Many people also claim descent from a David Meriwether, whose daughter Susannah married a Nicholas Catlett about 1669. There is no record that NM1 had a son David and in any event a son of NM1 could not have been old enough to have a daughter of marital age in 1669 (at which time NM1 himself was only 38).See:

150 VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE:
William Browne, Henry Browne, and eleven servants and negroes. It is probable that Colonel William Browne married Mary, daughter and heiress of Colonel Henry Browne, as there is in Surry a deed.
December 3rd, 1695, from William Browne, Jr., son and heir of Mrs. Mary Browne, the only heir of Colonel Henry Browne, deceased.

And yet there is a record in Surry, November 7th, 1682, which states that Lieutenant-Colonel William Browne married the administratrix of Lewis Williams, deceased. On June 9th, 1679, Elizabeth Merriwether was granted administration on the estate of Lewis Williams ( whose wife was named Lucy). Mrs. Merriwether was the wife of Nicholas Merriwether, who, the records show, lived a number of years after 1682.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: Sons of the American Revolution
• Immigration: 1 Jul 1643
• Land: 1672, New Kent County, VA
• Occupation: 1690; Plantation Owner; House Of Burgesses 1690-92

Notes:

Military:
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
about David Crawford, Col.
Name:David Crawford          
SAR Membership:91053          
Birth Date:1625          
Birth Place:Ayreshire, Scotland          
Death Place:Virginia          
Father:          
Children:David Crawford          

Immigration:
Immigration with father
1 Jul 1643 Age: 43 To America-Virginia Came with his only son, David

Land:
Date
1672
Location
New Kent County Virginia
Description
1,000 acres headrights passage for 20 people

Notes:

Married:
Type: Web Site
Author: Arlene Crawford
Title: Crawford Family
URL: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=arlen

Notes:

Francis Meriwether was born in 1604. He married Alice Crawford on January 7, 1623. They had two children during their marriage. He died on March 15, 1672, at the age of 68.

Francis married CRAWFORD Alice on 15 Mar 1672. Alice was born on 16 May 1585 in Great Mongeham, Kent, England; died in 1643 in Kent, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Alice Crawford was born on May 16, 1585, in Great Mongeham, Kent, the child of William and Anne. She married Francis Meriwether on January 7, 1623. They had two children during their marriage. She died in 1643 in Kent, at the age of 58.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: Kilbirne Crawfords
• Immigration: 1 Jul 1643
• Alt. Death: 1676, Jamestown, Virginia

Notes:

Type: Web Site
Author: Arlene Crawford
Title: Crawford Family
URL: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=arlen

(Medical):Killed in the "Bacon Rebellion"

Military:
As a young man he was a cadet of the Kilbirne Crawfords

Immigration:
Immigration
1 Jul 1643 Age: 43 To America-Virginia Came with his only son, David

John married CUNNINGHAM MargaretScotland. Margaret and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]