Merrick, Thomas

Notes:

BIRTH: Springfield Vital Records, 1:12 (FHL #185414).
MAR: Ibid, 1:18.
DEATH: Ella May Lewis, ed, "Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1736-1809, First Church of Springfield" (typescript, 1938), 40 (FHL #974.426/S1 V2l). The death is recorded only as "1743" in Springfield Vital Records, Deaths, 2:18 (FHL #185417). Also see the will of Thomas Merrick of Springfield, 3 Feb 1737/8, proved 13 Sep 1743, Hampshire Co. Probate, 6:195 (FHL #879185).

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BEPS: IGI

Thomas married Dumbleton, Hannah on 18 Dec 1690 in Springfield,Hampden,MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: Date and place of birth are approximations. Although Thomas's birth date is frequently set at 1620, it seems likely that he was older. In a Connecticut court rec, dated 5 Apr 1638, he is mentioned as one of six men chosen to treat with the Indians at "Warranocke" [Westfield area]. It seems unlikely that an 18-year-old would have been chosen for this assignment (J. H. Trumbull and Charles J. Hoadly, eds, THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT, 15 vols. [Hartford, 1850-90], 1:17 [FHL #974.6 N2c]). Wales is the traditional birthplace of Thomas Merrick, but no documentation has been found. See Thomas B. Warren, "Springfield Families" (typescript, 1935; Conn. Valley Historical Museum, Springfield, Mass.), 457 (FHL #014787). Also see George Byron Merrick, GENEALOGY OF THE MERRICK-MIRICK-MYRICK FAMILY (Madison, WI, 1902), 266 (FHL #1034023 it 2).
MAR #1: Springfield Vital Records, 1:13 (FHL #185414).
MAR #2: Ibid.
DEATH: Ibid, 1:98.
OCC: Husbandman, carter, riverboatman, sergeant in militia.

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BES1,2: IGI

Thomas married Tilley, Elizabeth on 21 Oct 1653 in Springfield,Hampden,MA. Elizabeth (daughter of Tilley, John and Eady) was born about 1632 in Dorchester,Suffolk,MA; died on 21 Aug 1684 in Springfield,Hampden,MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: There is no proof that Elizabeth is the daughter of John and Edith Tilley. However, there is considerable circumstantial evidence. Investigation of all known Tilley families in New England during the period finds no other family into which Elizabeth could fit. Furthermore, after the death of John Tilley in Oct 1636, the widow Edith was granted land in Windsor, where she took up residence. See Windsor Deeds, 1:25, 30, 51, 53, 77, 112 (FHL #006188). Also see Henry R. Stiles, HISTORY AND GENEALOGIES OF ANCIENT WINDSOR, 2 vols. (Hartford, 1891-92; repr Somersworth, NH, 1976), 1:167 (FHL #974.62/W1 H2s). Windsor is within 20 miles of Springfield. Thomas Merrick, who was once a resident of Connecticut, was, at the time of his marriage, freighting goods from Springfield to Windsor for John Pynchon (Carl Bridenbaugh, ed, THE PYNCHON PAPERS, 2 vols. Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, vols. 60 and 61 [Boston, 1982], 2:23, 200 [BYU #F61.C71]). No other Tilley family was in close proximity to Springfield. Eady, the widow of John Tilley, was capable of bearing children, as she had a dau Abigail by her 2nd husband, Nicholas Camp. The date and place of birth of Elizabeth Tilley are approximations based on family chronology and history. See DORCHESTER TOWN RECORDS, 4th Report Boston Record Commissioners (Boston, 1883), 2, 11, 18, 26, 27, 30, 305, 322 (FHL #974.46/D1 N2d). Elizabeth is called the dau of John Tilley in Herbert E. Thayer, "Miscellaneous Genealocial Records" (card index, n.d.), alpabetically arranged, Springfield Public Library (FHL #185395).
MAR: Springfield Vital Records, 1:13 (FHL #185414).
DEATH: Ibid, 1:51.

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BES: IGI

Notes:

BIRTH: Date and place of birth are approximations. John was probably born in the area around Dorset, Somerset, or Devon, where the founders of the Dorchester Company of Adventurers were situated. Tilley was employed by the Dorchester Co. in 1623 to oversee the fisheries at Cape Anne.
MAR: No proof has been found that John was the husband of the widow Eady Tilley of Windsor. However, it is known that John Tilley of Dorchester was married and that after his death in 1636 his widow is listed as a land owner in Dorchester town recs. See DORCHESTER TOWN RECORDS, 4th Report Boston Record Commissioners (Boston 1883), 2, 11, 18, 26, 27, 30, 305, 322 (FHL #974.46/D1 N2d). "Mrs. Tillie" is last of record in Dorchester on 2 Jan 1637/8. An Eady Tilly was granted a homelot at Windsor, Conn., 25 Dec 1640 (Windsor Deeds, 1:30 [FHL #006188]). Most of the original settlers of Windsor were from Dorchester.
DEATH: There are several contemporary accounts of the death of John Tilley. See John Winthrop, THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND, 2 vols. (Boston, 1825), 1:200 (FHL #974 H2w); letter from Lyon Gardiner to Robert Chapman and Thomas Hurlburt, 12 Jun 1660, cited in Gilman C. Gates, SAYBROOK AT THE MOUTH OF THE CONNECTICUT (New Haven, CT, 1935), 35-36 (FHL #974.66/O1 H2g); and John Underhill, NEVVES [NEWS] FROM AMERICA (London, 1638; repr New York, 1971), 22-23 (FHL #973.22 Un2n). Tilley was killed by the Indians, one of the 1st casualties of the Pequot War.
OCC: Merchant, coastal trader.

John married Eady. Eady was born about 1605 in England; died before 14 Jul 1652 in Milford,New Haven,CT (?). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BIRTH: Date and place of birth are approximations.
MAR #1: No proof has been found that John Tilley was the husband of Eady, but it seemly highly probable. It is known that John Tilley of Dorchester was married, and that after his death in 1636 his widow is listed as a land owner in Dorchester town recs. See DORCHESTER TOWN RECORDS, 4th Report Boston Record Commissioners (Boston, 1883), 2, 11, 18, 26, 27, 30305, 322 (FHL #974.46/D1 N2d). "Mrs. Tillie" last appears of record in Dorchester on 2 January 1637/8. An Eady Tilly was granted a homelot at Windsor, Conn. on 25 Dec 1640 (Windsor Deeds, 1:30 [FHL #006188]). Most of the original settlers of Windsor came from Dorchester.
MAR #2: No mar rec found. See undated deed of Thomas Dewey, attorney for Nicholas Campe and "his wife Eady formerly Eady Tilly" (Windsor Deeds, 1:25 [FHL #006188]).
DEATH: No death rec found. Eady was living in 1647 when dau Abigail was born, but she was apparently dead by 14 Jul 1652 when Nicholas Camp married Katherine Thompson (VITAL RECORDS OF NEW HAVEN, 2 vols. [Hartford, 1917-24], 1:3 [FHL #974.68 V2v]).

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SEAL S2: IGI