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    Samuel Merrill, 1928, reprint 1983

1 - First Generation, pp 159-62

   NATHANIEL¹ MERRILL was one of the earliest settlers of Newbury, Mass., in 1635.(*) He was the ancestor of a vast majority of those who now bear the Merrill name in this country: it is believed, indeed, that less than one percent. of the Merrills in America can trace their pedigree to any other emigrant ancestor.

   Nathaniel¹ Merrill and his older brother John were born in England. The registers of Wherstead, a parish lying three miles south of Ipswich, in Suffolk County, England, contain the following entries:

   There are reasons for believing that these entries are the record of baptism of John and Nathaniel¹ Merrill of Newbury. These reasons will be given at length in another place.(***)

   Nathaniel¹ Merrill and his brother John settled in Newbury in the Spring of 1635, having passed a year or two at Ipswich, Mass., (then called Agawam) with most of the Newbury settlers. In 1638 Nathaniel1 became one of the “proprietors” of Newbury.

   It is supposed that Nathaniel¹ Merrill was married before leaving England. No record is found of his marriage in America. If the marriage took place here it was probably at Ipswich, in the short time before the settlement in Newbury. His wife’s name was Susanna. Savage, in the “Genealogical Dictionary of New England” (published in 1861), says that Nathaniel¹ Merrill married Susanna Jordan. In this he was no doubt following Coffin’s “History of Newbury” (published in 1845), and the statement has been frequently copied.

   After the death of Nathaniel¹ Merrill his widow married Stephen Jordan (or Jourdain). Nathaniel² Merrill, son of Nathaniel¹ and Susanna Merrill, gave a deed, under date of 16 Aug. 1661, to Peter Godfrey of Newbury, in which the phrase occurs, “after the decease of my mother Susanna Jordan,” and out of this fact the error regarding the maiden name of Nathaniel’s wife grew.(****)

   Stephen Jordan came to America in March, 1633/4, in the ship Mary and John, and settled in Ipswich. He removed after 1649 to Newbury. The date of his removal was probably about 1653, in which year he sold land in Ipswich.(*****) He died in Newbury 8 Feb. 1669/70. Susanna Jordan died 15 Jan. 1672/3, in Newbury, administration on her estate being granted to her son Abel2 Merrill. Stephen Jordan had two daughters by a prior marriage. They had married, in Ipswich, Robert Cross and John Andrews respectively. It is supposed that no children were born to Stephen and Susanna Jordan, none being mentioned in the settlement of the estate of either.

   The conjecture has been advanced, and it has even been stated as a fact, that the wife of Nathaniel¹ Merrill was Susanna Wilterton (or Wolterton.)

   John² Merrill, one of the older sons of Nathaniel¹, went to Hartford, Conn., before 1657, while still a minor, and it is said was adopted by Gregory Wilterton. Savage, in his “Genealogical Dictionary,” said that Gregory Wilterton “had good estate, large tan works, and no children.” Gregory Wilterton made his will 17 July, 1674, and died soon after, leaving legacies to a number of persons, including relatives in Ipswich, England. Savage adds: “Most of his estate was given to John Merrills, because he had adopted him.” The same statement of adoption is repeated in the “Memorial History of Hartford County.”

   These facts lend plausibility to the theory that Gregory Wilterton was a brother of Susanna Merrill. It was a long journey from Newbury to Hartford; means of communication were meagre, and both communities were in their infancy. It seems unlikely that John², as a very young man, would have made such a journey, separating himself for a lifetime from home and kin, unless to make a home with other kin in the place where he went to live.

   Gregory Wilterton of Hartford was childless: Susanna Merrill of Newbury was a widow with five sons and a daughter, most of them in their minority. It would have been natural for Gregory Wilterton under these circumstances to write to his kinswoman in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and offer a home and modest fortune to one of the boys. But Gregory Wilterton may have been a more distant relative, or merely a friend. Until other evidence is brought forward the conscientious genealogist must say that the maiden name of Nathaniel’s wife is unknown.

   Nathaniel¹ Merrill died 16 March, 1654/5. His will was dated 8 March, 1654/5, and was probated 27 March, 1655. It is not to be assumed from the fact that the testator signed with his mark that he had not learned to write. He lay on his deathbed, and died eight days after executing the instrument. John Merrill, his brother, signed the will as a witness, and there is no reason to doubt that Nathaniel had enjoyed equal advantages of schooling.

Children of Nathaniel¹ and Susanna Merrill, the last five of whom were born in Newbury:

SECOND GENERATION

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