Captain Nathaniel Merriman

• General Notes
  • Left England to go to America in 1632.
    In 1636 fought in the Pequot war.
    In March 1641 received a plot of land in New Haven from a lottery on what is now East Water Street in New Haven.
    In 1644 he took an oath of fidelity at the General Court which was the controlling body of the new settlement.
    On November of 1649 he was chosen as an assessor "in ye room of Thomas Munson & Francis Browne."
    In 1653 he sold his home on East Water Street to "Francis Browne" and went to live on his farm.
    In 1659 a land question arose between the farmers and the town folks.  The farmers found it too far to go to church and thus wanted to set up their own villages with churches and police.  The city folk wanted no part of that so they could keep the tax money of the farmers.
    Nathaniel's part in the debase was described as, "He threw a firebarnd into the midst by saying that at the first there were many of them looked upon as men to live by their labor.  They had small lots given them, but when 'the Towne for their support gave them these lots, it was upon condition that they should inhabit them.  And now the Towne would call them off their farmes.'  He was answered that  then the farmers came to town with their families on the last day of the week, and 'stayed till after the Saboth,' and that 'the farmes were given them that corn and cattell might be raised; yet now they need corne from the towne.'"  It may quite possibly be that the annoyance thus experienced had its bearing on Nathaniel's subsequent removal to help found the town of Wallingford, although ten years later he was still a "freeman in the town of New Haven," and, again, after settling in Wallingford, it is recorded that he cfontinued to be one of the proprietors of New Haven.
    In 1662 he was chosen an ensign in the local military.
    In 1665 he was confirmed as the first sergeant of the "trained band" (that is, military company)
    In 1669, thirty-eight men, of whom Nathaniel's name is fourth on the list, signed an agreement to found the village of Wallingford.  Also in that year he bought of Isaac Whitehead, "all his part of land given by the town;" and he also sold to John Moss "half the forementioned land and meadow excepting the homestead."
    In 1672 was appointed a lieutenant of the Wallingford military by the General Court of Conecticut.  During that same year he was appointed secretary of the committee to distribute land among the planters.
    Early in 1675 he appointed one of a committee to build a church, but since no church was built he often held services at his house.
    In 1675 and 1676 was a captain in special service (Dragoons in New Haven County) in King Philip's war.  Fought with his son at the Great Swamp Fort Fight on December 19th, 1675. His son Nathaniel was killed in that fight..
    Their is a file on the  manuscript War Records in the State Library at Hartford, the following letter from John Moss Senior and Nathaniel Merriman, dated the 30th of March, 1676:
    
    "Honored Sirs,
    
       These few lines are to certifie you ... that last night Goodman Coles house was burnt and this morning came wume Thoms and severall Indeans with him a pass from S Major treat which indeans we did suspect to have burnt it but they say they lay at Serj Beckles, and came out of Wethersfield Sun 2 hours high and it was dark before they come to Serj Becklies.  But while the indeans now here at Wallingford their came some souldiers downe and they say that these indeans came out of Wethersfield about sun half an hour high and Dum Thom sayeth that Mr. Chester and Wethserfield Miller saw them when they cambe by the mill.  And these indeans say that they saw a great many traks and some of them went toward Matabesut mountains, and others toward the hanging hills as they did judge near 100.  These things being considered we doe judge the enemie is near us and therefore doe desire thay you would speedyly consider our condition and send us some help.  And soe being in hast wee rest desiring your prayers that the lord would guid you and us to do that which may most please him, we rest,
    
    Your Humble Servants,
    
                   John Moss Senionr
    ffrom Wallingrod          Nathaniel Merriman
    the 30th of the 1st month of 1676"
    
    In 1692 he left military service.
    
    Was of middle class upbringing.  Trained as a cooper by his father in England.
    
    Also father of Hannah Ives Merriman

Click here for details of Nathaniel's family with Mrs Joan

¹ History of Wallingford

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