About Lucy Marks

Col. Nicholas Meriwether, son of Thomas Meriwether and Elizabeth Thornton, (1736 - 1772)

Nicholas Meriwether inherited “Clover Fields”, in 1757, when he came of age. (Anderson, p. 153) He married Margaret Douglas, the daughter of Parson William Douglas of Scotland. After coming to Virginia Douglas was both a pastor serving the parish in Goochland, Louisa and Albemarle Counties and a noted teacher. Before his death, he conveyed all his property except support for himself and wife to his daughter and her children. Family genealogies state that Nicholas served in the French and Indian War with General Braddock and was with him at Braddock’s great defeat at the Battle of the Monongahela in 1755. The general was mortally wounded and Francis supposedly carried the wounded Braddock from the field of battle. (Anderson, p. 151) According to Winthrop Sargent’s book, The History of an Expedition Against Fort Duquesne in 1755, Braddock was placed in a tumbrel by aide-de-camp Robert Orme, Capt. Robert Steward of the Virginia Light Horse and an unnamed American officer.” However, none of the officers listed as being in the forward detachment with Braddock were named “Meriwether.” Perhaps Nicholas was involved in the burial of Gen. Braddock a few days later after the battle. According to family lore, the general’s sister in Ireland sent Braddock’s gold-laced, embroidered military dress coat in appreciation which hung for many years in the front hall at “Clover Fields”. (Saindon, p. 143) Nicholas and his wife Margaret Douglas Meriwether had six children, of whom William Douglas Meriwether (1761 – 1845) was the oldest. He served as the legal guardian of Meriwether Lewis after the death of Meriwether’s father in 1779.

 
Patricia Zontine, April 2009