William Merrick: Mayflower Marriages

In 1902 George Byron Merrick wrote the definitive family history on the Merricks of Massachusetts. In his work, he writes,

George Byron Merrick

 

'The endeavor of the author has been to follow the lines originating in the four brothers Merrick who landed at Charlestown, Mass., in 1636.' - Genealogy of the Merrick-Mirick-Myrick Family of Massachusetts, 1636-1902 (link to Preface).'

The brothers - listed according to age - are:

1. William (b 1603)
2. James (b 1612)
3. John  (b 1614)
4. Thomas (b 1620)

This post is about the oldest brother, William.

Stephen Hopkins: Jamestown Minister/Mayflower Pilgrim

Trust me. This story of Stephen Hopkins is relevant to our Merrick legacy. We'll let the Mayflower Society tell his tale.

Stephen Hopkins went with the ship Sea Venture on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the 'Isle of Devils' (Bermuda). Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. 

Captain John Smith wrote the first
History of the Island of Bermuda 

Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current governor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company". He managed to get his sentence commuted. 

Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children Elizabeth, Constance and Giles. 

Ruins of the Jamestown Church ca 1905

Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife, and children Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the Mayflower (child Elizabeth apparently had died). 

Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor by William Halsall

Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrim group shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had been to Virginia previously. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used as an 'expert' on Native Americans for the first few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. 

And when Samoset (first Indian to make contact with the Pilgrims) walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins' house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several of the ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region. 

Samoset with the Pilgrims

Stephen was an assistant to the governor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. - Mayflower History.com

William Merrick

The book History and genealogy of the Mayflower planters and first comers to ye olde colonie by Elon Clark Hills is...

Based largely on the genealogy of Mayflower planter Stephen Hopkins, this work includes both his male and female lines through a number of generations. Since four of Hopkins' children intermarried with descendants of many of the "first comers" to Plymouth and Cape Cod, this work is brimming with Mayflower connections. - Amazon.com description

On page 65 (link here) and 66 (link here):

Va. Merrick, William 5 (John 4, William 3, John 2, Meuric ap Llewellyn 1), born Wales about 1615, made his will December 3, 1686, proved March 6, 1688-9, married Rebecca Tracey about 1642, died after 1688-9, daughter of Stephen Tracy. He seems to have been the oldest of the four brothers to reach Charlestown in the (ship) 'James' in the spring of 1636, and was a soldier serving under Capt. Standish as an Ensign and Lieutentant. At the end of his service he married, most likely, in Eastham. He married late in life.

The unloading of the James, 1733

His oldest son, William, married into the Pilgrim line with Abigail Hopkins. So did his fourth child, a daughter named Mary, who wed Stephen Hopkins. Another daughter, Sarah Merrick, married into another early Plymouth settler line and ended up in the book The Paddock genealogy - Descendants of Robert Paddock of Plymouth Colony page 46.

What do you think of our connection to Stephen Hopkins? Are you a Merrick with pictures from Plymouth, Massachussets? Can we share them and your story in a blog post? E-mail me or comment below.

Stephen Hopkins 

*Note: Relationships, such as grandmother, 2nd great, etc., are expressed from the perspective of the grandchildren of Leon Arthur and Anna Grace (Fuller) Merrick.

Terms of relationship - grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousin, etc.  - are used here generically to include relatives such as fourth great grandfathers, great grand uncles, second cousins twice removed, etc.