William Merrick

!Birth-Marriage Freeman 1:365 (secondary) !Birth: The Register of Eastham pg. 35, in Shurtleff 8:30: "William, the son of William Merecke, was borne the 15th of September, 1643." Also [MD 18:55], [MD 5:23] !Birth-Marriage-Death-Children: MF 6:28, 6:17 !Marriage: Shurtleff 8:56: "William Merricke and Abigaill Hopkins were married the 23 day of May, 1667" (Eastham recs). Same ref 8:56-7 lists children Rebeckah and William. Also [MD 19:110] Freeman gives death as 20 Mar 1671, but I haven't figured out how to resolve this with the marriage of Elizabeth Smith to her second husband. One of the other must be a case of mistaken identity. There was also an Ensign William Merrick who died on 30 Oct 1732 who lived in Harwich (Freeman 1:507). Paine's History of Harwich says he died 30 Oct 1732 at the age of 89 [Paine p.100]. That biography is given below. I believe the 1732 date to be correct. !Will: William Myrick of Harwich, yeoman, dated 5 May 1723 with codicil of 29 Aug 1729, both proved 29 Nov 1732. Mentions wife Elizabeth, four sons "Living at Harwich", viz. Benjamin, Nathaniel, Stephen, and Joshua; Stephen's wife Deborah; son John; father-in-law giles Hopkins; children of dec'd dau. Rebecca Sparrow; dau. Ruth Sears; dau-in-law Mercy Witherel, and dau-in-law Rachael Hugens. [MF 6:28] The following land deed gives relevant information about his descendants. It was not filed originally in the Barnstable Land Deeds, but was later printed in MD 15:203-4. The deed was dated 3 February 1741/2 and signed by "Ben mirick", "Nathll Myrick", "Chillingsth Foster" and Ruth Foster, the last by a mark, and acknowledged the same day by all the grantors before Edmund Freeman, Justice of the Peace. The witnesses were Edmund Freeman and Lemuel Berry. It reads as follows: "we Benjamin Mirrick, & Nathaniel Mirrick yeomen and Chillingsworth Forster Blacksmith & his wife Ruth Forster Semstris all of Harwich .... for Divers good Causes us thereunto Moving but more Especially for that we understand and are fully Satisfied, that it was the will & intent of our Honoured Father Mr William Mirrick late of Harwich aforesd Deceast, and that he had so declared to give unto his two Grandsons Namely Jonathan & Joseph Sparrow both of Eastham.... Husbandmen, his lot of land which fell to him ye sd William Mirrick in that tract of land Lying in Sd Eastham Called Smiths Purchase. Containing four acrues be it more or less and is the seventy third lot in ye Division of Sd land, for the Said Consideration we.... Surrender and quit all our Interest, Right or title which we or any of us have should or ought to have in or to the above sd Seventy third lot of land which fell to our sd father in the division of the above sd Smiths purchase or any part of sd lot, to them the sd Jonathan Sparrow & Joseph sparrow" This biography appears in Paine's History of Harwich Mass., p. 100: William Merrick, or Myrick as the name is now written, came from Eastham and settled eastward of Sauquatucket River sometime after 1670. He was the eldest son of William Merrick, and was born at Duxbury September 15, 1643. He came with his father's family to Eastham, where he married Abigail, daughter of Giles Hopkins, May 23, 1667, and resided for a while. The precise spot where he settled in Harwich is not pointed out. His place doubtless was in the vicinity of the Brewster meeting house. He was a very prominent citizen. He was one of the founders of the first church October 16, 1700. He was a selectman of the town in 1702-10, and a Representative in 1719. He belonged to the military company, and at one time held the office of ensign. He died at the great age of 89 years, October 30, 1732. He lies buried in the old Cemetery at Brewster, where a slate stone with the following inscription points to the spot: "Here Lyes Buried ye Body of Mr. William Myrick, Decd. Oct. ye 30, 1732, in ye 90 year of his age." Mr. Myrick's second wife was Elizabeth, who survived him. He made his will in 1732. It was presented to Probate Court November 29, 1732. He had eight children it is certain [listing omitted here]. From [Bulletin of Cape Cod Gen. Soc., Vol XIV No. 1, Mar 1988, p.22]: "... William came from Eastham to Harwich about the end of the 17th century. He died 30 Oct 1732, aged 89 and is buried in Ancient Cemetery in Brewseter, MA. William was one of eight male members who founded the church in Brewster 16 Oct 1700."