Ann Merriken was born on January 22, 1692, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Ann married (1) Lewis Jones around 1708 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, (2) Nathaniel Stinchcomb around 1710 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, and (3) William Lewis on May 20, 1730, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Ann Merriken Jones Stinchcomb Lewis died before April 17, 1765, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland.
Ann Merriken was born on January 22, 1692, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, the second known child of Hugh Merriken. Ann's mother is unknown however according to testimony, Ann was heir to Mathew Clarke's estate so Ann's mother may have been a daughter of Mathew Clarke. Since Ann's older brother Joshua is not noted as an heir of Mathew Clark, Joshua is presumably Ann's half-brother.
Ann's mother died sometime after her birth and 1697 when her father sailed to England with her brother Joshua. It is likely that 5 year old Ann stayed behind in Maryland with relatives or possibly her uncle Joshua Merriken. Ann's father remarried in London in 1697 and shortly afterward died. Her brother Joshua remained in England for several years before returning to the Province of Maryland in 1701. Ann's uncle Joshua paid for his passage but there was no mention of a payment for Ann's passage, implying that Ann did not go to England.
Ann's uncle Joshua became her guardian and guardian to her brother Joshua as well. When Ann's brother Joshua reached the age of majority in 1707, Ann chose her brother as her guardian.
Around 1708 at the age of 16 or 17, Ann married Lewis Jones. As Mathew Clarke's heir and upon her marriage, she received her inheritance, a 200 acre part of “Scotland”. “Scotland” was located in the Broadneck of Anne Arundel County, near Chesapeake Bay and today what is known as Meredith Creek. The Anne Arundel Rent Roll recorded around 1708 showed Lewis Jones in possession of 200 acres of “Scotland” which was in right of his wife. The marriage did not last long. Lewis Jones died within 2 years.
Ann married second Nathaniel Stinchcomb around 1710 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Nathaniel had been a servant to Ann's uncle Joshua when Ann was a child. Nathaniel administered the estate of Ann's deceased husband Lewis Jones.
Ann and Nathaniel had 6 known children:
- Mary Stinchcomb
- Nathaniel Stinchcomb
- John Stinchcomb
- Thomas Stinchcomb
- Lewis Stinchcomb
- Charles Stinchcomb
In 1710 Ann's uncle Joshua Merriken appeared at a special court session to have the deed to “Scotland” recorded which was necessary due to a fire at the Anne Arundel State House in October of 1704. All the court proceedings and land records were destroyed in the fire with the exception of 3 volumes. As a result landowners were encouraged to bring in their original patents and their deeds to court to have them re-recorded.
“Be it remembered that here into Court came Mr. Joshua Merikin Senior of Ann Arundell County ... that four hundred [400] acres of Land being part of a greater Tract containing six hundred [600] acre by Patent exemplified to John Eason Assignee of Richard Ewen may be here recorded for and on behalf of the said Joshua Merekin and that the residue thereof being Two hundred [200] acres as part assignment on the back of the said patent may be likewise recorded on behalf of Nathaniel Stinicom [Stinchcomb] who intermarried with the heir of Mathew Clarke, assignee of aforesaid John Eason”
The court decreed that the deed be recorded as requested and in all likelihood, the family lived on their mother's 200 acres portion of “Scotland”.
In March of 1729 Anne's husband Nathaniel wrote his will and by June 25, 1729, he was deceased. Nathaniel's will stated that his entire estate was to be divided as the law directed and also the children should be considered to be of majority at age 18. Nathaniel's estate did not consist of any real property. With the exception of daughter Mary who was married, none of the other children were 18 years of age.
A month after Nathaniel's death, daughter Mary and her husband Richard Todd, sold Richard Todd's inheritance, 125 acres of land. Possibly they moved in with Ann to help with the plantation “Scotland” and also help with Ann's young children, Mary's brothers.
On May 20, 1730, Ann married for the third time William Lewis in Anne Arundel, British Colonial Maryland. Ann and William had 2 known children:
- Rachel Lewis
- Nicholas Lewis
Prior to the marriage, Ann deeded 100 acres of “Scotland” to son John Stinchcomb. In the event he died without heirs, then son Thomas Stinchcomb was to receive the property, and if Thomas died without heirs, then son Lewis Stinchcomb was to receive the property. The deed was written so that it would be executed at the time of Ann's death. By law, the other 100 acres of “Scotland” would descend to oldest son Nathaniel Stinchcomb following Ann's death and therefore did not need to be deeded.
In 1750 Ann's husband William Lewis died. Prior to his death, Ann's sons Nathaniel, John and Charles Stinchcomb were also all deceased.
On February 22, 1765, Ann wrote her will. Her son Lewis Stinchcomb had just died. She devised “my plantation whereon I now live being part of a tract of land called “Scotland” containing 200 acres” to her son Nicholas Lewis. She left her daughter Mary Todd 3 heifers, £14, and a black gown. She bequeathed her “granddaughter” Ann Jones, actually a great granddaughter, a gold ring, a feather bed with furniture, 2 heifers, 4 ewes, a colt named “Duke”, a pewter dish, and all of her wearing apparel. If Ann Jones were to die before the age of 16, then these items would go to Nicholas Lewis. Ann's will did not mention son Thomas Stinchcomb or daughter Rachel Lewis so both are presumed to have died before the will was written.
By April 17, 1765, the date the will was proven, Ann was deceased. Ann Merriken Jones Stinchcomb Lewis died at the age of 73 in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Ann had outlived 3 husbands and all but 2 of her children.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Completed: September 2020
Sources:
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Ann Merriken, 1692.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Anne Arundel. Liber WH 4 Folios 128, 130 & 131.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Accounts. Liber 29 Folio 206.
Maryland Historical Society. Maryland Historical Magazine. “Rent Rolls”. Vols 19 - 26.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts. Liber 31 Folio 114.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventories and Accounts. Liber 32C Folio 21.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Provincial Court Judgment Record, 1707, pg 616.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Anne Stinchcomb in entry for Mary Stinchcomb, 1710.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Anne Stinchcomb in entry for Nathaniel Stinchcomb, 1713.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Anne Stinchcomb in entry for Jno Stinchcomb, 1717.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Anne Stinchcomb in entry for Thomas Stinchcomb, 1719.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Anna Stinchcomb in entry for Charles Stinchcomb, 1725.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records, Anne Arundel, Liber TI 1 Folio 28 & 260.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. LIber 19 Folio 799.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventory. Liber 15 Folio 249.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Accounts. Liber 10 Folio 409.
"Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970", database, FamilySearch, Anna Stinchcomb in entry for William Lewis, 1730.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Ann in entry for Rachell Lewiss, .
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Ann Lewis in entry for Nicholus Lewiss, 1736.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. Liber 27 Folio 364.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. Liber 33 Folio 152.
