Hugh Merriken was born on November 5, 1691, in Anne Arundel, British Colonial Maryland. Hugh married (1) Sarah Gosling on November 20, 1716, in Anne Arundel, British Colonial Maryland, and (2) Anne Jacob on November 26, 1719, in Anne Arundel, British Colonial Maryland. Hugh Merriken died before March 30, 1769, in Anne Arundel, British Colonial Maryland.
Merriken also spelled: Merrikin, Merekin, Merrica, Merikin, Merrekin, Merican, Maricken, Merrican
Hugh Merriken, second oldest son of Joshua Merriken and Grace Bayly, was born November 5, 1690 in Anne Arundel, British Colonial Maryland. Hugh was raised on his father's 400 acres plantation, “Scotland”, in the Broadneck of Anne Arundel by Chesapeake Bay and Scotcher's Creek, today's Meredith Creek.
In 1713 Hugh's father Joshua died. Joshua devised to Hugh 2 tracts of land located on the south side of the Patapsco River:
“Treadhaven Point” - 150 acres
“Parker's Increase” - 112 ½ acres part
During Hugh's lifetime, the county line between Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County shifted twice; sometimes these tracts were in Baltimore County and sometimes they were in Anne Arundel County.
On November 20, 1716, Hugh married Sarah Gosling, widow of Stephen Burle, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland. Sarah was the executor of her late husband's estate. Sarah was also the mother of 4 young children. By September of 1717, Sarah was deceased and Hugh took over the administration of Stephen Burle's estate. In November of 1717, Stephen Burle's brother John petitioned the court to be appointed guardian of Stephen Burle's children and have their estate committed to his care. The court approved his petition.
After Sarah's death and the commitment of Stephen Burle's estate to John Burle, Hugh likely moved to the land he inherited from his father, on the Patapsco River and relatively far from Broadneck where he had grown up. Here he met Anne Jacob who was married to George Westall and widowed in 1718.
On November 26, 1719, Hugh married Anne Jacob Westall, daughter of John Jacob and Anne Cheney. Ann was the mother of 4 young children, her 2 sons heirs to a large plantation of 365 acres called “Jackson's Venture”.
Hugh and Ann had the following known children:
- Hugh Merriken
- Ann Merriken
- Jacob Merriken
The family, Hugh's children and his step-children, likely lived on the plantation “Treadhaven Point” on the Patapsco River.
On July 19, 1726, Hugh obtained possession to the entire tract of “Parker's Increase”, 225 acres, when he purchased Thomas Croker's half.
In 1743 Hugh's 12 year old nephew Charles Wright, son of his deceased sister Sarah, was bound to him to learn the trade of carpentry.
From 1754 to 1760, Hugh was appointed the overseer for the Lower Patapsco Hundred. In 1760, Hugh's son Hugh succeeded him as overseer.
Hugh Merriken died intestate sometime before March 20, 1769, in Anne Arundel County, British Colonial Maryland, at the age of 78.
At the time of his death, Hugh possessed the following land tracts:
“Treadhaven Point” - 150 acres
“Parker's Increase” - 225 acres
Hugh's son Hugh administered his father's estate. The probate records note that Hugh had been a lunatic for several years prior to his death.
The tracts “Treadhaven Point” and “Parker's Increase” descended to Hugh's son Hugh, the heir at law.
Genealogical Research and Life Sketch Completed:
Sources:
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch, Hugh Merricken, 1691.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Wills. Liber 14 Folio 35.
"Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970", database, FamilySearch, Hugh Merike, 1716.
"Maryland Marriages, 1666-1970", database, FamilySearch, Hugh Meriken, 1719.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HYL7-Y86Z : 12 February 2020), Hugh Meriken in entry for Hugh Meriken.
"Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HYGV-QHW2 : 12 February 2020), Hugh Meriken in entry for Ann Meriken.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Accounts. Liber 37B Folio 31.
“Orphans Cases in Anne Arundel County Court, Maryland, Judgment Record RC, June 1717-November 1719”, Anne Arundel Readings. Anne Arundel Genealogical Society. Vol 9 No 1. Anne Arundel Co., MD, Jan 2006.
Maryland State Archives. Maryland Land Records. Baltimore Co. Liber IS H Folio 259.
Maryland State Archives. Anne Arundel County Court Judgment Record. Nov 1743, pg 288.
Maryland State Archives. Anne Arundel County Court Judgment Record. Min. Sheet 66.
Maryland State Archives. Anne Arundel County Court Judgment Record. Nov 1756, pg 799.
Maryland State Archives. Anne Arundel County Court Judgment Record. Nov 1757, pg 162.
Maryland State Archives. Anne Arundel County Court Judgment Record. Nov 1758, pg 390.
Maryland State Archives. Anne Arundel County Court Judgment Record. Nov 1760. Pg 38.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventory. Liber 99 Folio 317.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Inventory. Liber 102 Folio 270.
Maryland State Archives. Probate Records. Accounts. Liber 62 Folio 422.
