William3 (Joseph,2 William1), born in England, probably at Tewdley, in the county of Kent, about 1624; came as a boy to Concord, Mass., and entered into the life of the new plantation. Joined the church, and was made a freeman of the colony, May 2, 1649. He was one of the witnesses to the will of Joseph How 24 (2), 1651. The "goodman Merriam," who owned a lot of land in Hampton, N. H., May 2, 1655, may be — we may say must be — this man; but there is no evidence that he resided there. He had already settled at Lynn, where he married first Elizabeth, daughter of Allen Breed. Her father gave them, June 26, 1666, a good portion, 200 acres of farm land, 20 acres of meadow, and 10 acres of salt marsh, all in Lynn, in the southern part, now called by the ancient name Saugus. He married second, Oct 11, 1676, Anna Jones, who died July 29, 1677. He married third, Sarah -----, who survived him. He served as a trooper in King Philip's War, enrolled Feb. 29, 1675-6, in Capt. George Curwin's company, and received 4-10s. for his services. He died in 1689; was buried 22 May, 1689.
