The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-18
MBRlwETHER COURT or ARMS.

MERlWETHER COURT OF ARMS.
CREST.
An arm In armour endowed; In hand
a sword targenD hilt and pommel (or),
entwined with q serpent (NerD.
ARMS.
tori three martlets (sablel. On chief
azure, sun In splendor. proper for Meri-
HetheT.
VI ct Sonsilio.
II ono should ask which of the early
Virginia families ntermarried with tho
greatest number of families during and
since the colonial period we would say
without doubt the Metiwether family
Spr!ngins from three OF the name who'
cmigrated from England and settled
chiefly In Virginia. they soon filled the
land" with the name hMeriwcther.' their
several families, consisting of many sons.
who scattered South and West, filing
the veins of more than five hundred diff
ferent families with their strenuous and,
high spirited blood which tells in their
descendants to this day.
The name Meriwether, originally Merry
Weather, is easily accounted for, as 1t is
found in England, time of the Conqueror.
among the Hundred Rolls, as John
Meryweder," varying in form to "Nluri-
Coventry Mysteries:
'cBontyng. the Brewster, and sybyly
Slynge.
Mcgee Merywedyr and sabyn Syringe"
The word merry" seemed to have been
quite common at that time, for there
were "Merryman," 'Merrycock" and
"Merrymouth," a sunshiny, happy set.
which is depicted among tho Meriwethers
to the present time
Tho name Is Welsh. Nicholas Mer11
wether (first) was born in Wales, 1913.
He had five sons--Nicholas, David. Franz
cis William and Thomas. Tho first
three are known TO have come early to
America. Francis Merlwether, the Sec
ond son. married Mary Bathurst, daugh-
ter Of Launcelot Bathurst, Of England.
second son Of Sir Edward Bathurst,
knighted 1913 by Charles 1. Issue from
them were four daughters-Mary, married
William Colston from whom sprung tho
noted Colstons of Virginia: Lucy. mar
ried Francis Smith, from whom was A1er-
iuether Smith, member Of Congress, 177a
to 1882; he married Alice. daughter of
Philip Lee. and was the father of Gov-
ernor George Smith. Of Virginia, who
lost his life In the burning Of the Rich
mond Theatre. December 26. 1911
Frances, married Theodore Bland, OF
Prince George county, Va, from whom
many distinguished men Of that namo.
Jane. married Dr.. James Shelton.
David Meriwether the third son that
came over. had one son, Thomas, vino
married and settled in Essex county. near
Tappahannock. where he died. 17OS.
The descendants Of these two brothers
are numerous but few now bear the
name of Merwether, most Of the male
line having died out.
Nicholas Merlwether. second. eldest son
Of Nicholas. first. married Elizabeth Craw-
ford, daughter Of David Crawford. q gem
teman Of AssasQuin. New Kent, county.
Va He acquiIed large landed possessions
In New Kent county. where he died. 1744.
He was very prominent in State affairs
and a firm supporter OF the established
church. being vestryman from 1895 to 1899
In st. Peters Church. New Kent. He had
nine children. as follows:
First. Jane, married, Colonel Robert
Lewis. OF "Beio!r." Albemarle county.
Second Thomas. married -, and had
son Nicholas, fourth.
Third. Nicholas. third). married aiiI-
dred Thornton; he was born July 1, 1929.
and baptised same year.
Fourth. William. married -, and had
seven children.
Fifth. David. married ammo Holmes.
Sixth. Elizabeth. born 1903; married
Thomas Bray; died. 1925.
Seventh, Anne, married Thomas John
son.
Eighth, Sarah. married William Little
page; died. 1881
Ninth. Mary. married John Aylett; died
without Issue.
Nicholas Meriwether, first, OF England.
was in high favor OF King Charles II.
for having loaned that troubled monarch
large sum OF money when sore pressed
nd nd -
in the colony of Virginia, some say, &c. 600
acres. OF which embraced most OF the
present counties of Louisa Albemarle
Fluvanna and Nelson. This large landed
estate he distributed between his three
sons. Nicholas, Frances and David. From
the Virginia land registry office. 1t seeme
that lands were also granted him largely
In Westmoreland and New Kent coun-
ties as early as 1864. but Nicholas seems
10 have inherited the largest share. and
from him the Meriwether class have
chiefly sprung. He settled in Albema rle
on the South West Mountains and out.
lived all his children, dying In 1744 at the
advanced age OF ntney-seven years, and
was buried on the east bank of the RI
wanna River. near Charlottesville, Va
He was immensely wealthy, owning IL
one tract alone in Albemarle, 1882 acres
granted by George II. In 1880, with larg,
numbers Of negroes IN proportion,
These extensive lands along the south
west mountains were Inherited by hi!
children His daughter, Jane, had a large
tract, which. Wy her marriage with
Colonel Robert Lewis, fell TO his de
scendants
The widow OF Nicholas (2dl, Mildret
Thornton MerIwether married Dr Thoma
Walker, Of Castle Hnl!" thereby III,
Walkers gaining 1000 acres in Able
marie
The history of DR. Thomas Walker In
ciudes an interesting period of Virginia
living as he did contemporary with Wash
ington. being with him al Braddockl
defeat, l755 and Ike Washington. hC
toe. had his '4itte hatcher 10 mark hi
way In his Western explorations. whlc
is sun proudly exhibited by his desoer
dants; but his fame was chiefly as bein
great paeificator with the Indians