Mary must have played her part as a farmer's wife as she became the plaintiff in a suit for defamation of character, following a quarrel with a farmer Henry Matthews of Gillingham, Dorset. One Saturday in January 1756 bantering between her and Henry led to an angry exchange in the kitchen of the Lord Ilchester's Arms at Shaftesbury, Dorset. This spilled over later that evening at The Sign of the Bush, an inn where John and Mary usually lodged when they went to market. Henry had called Mary 'a bitch of a whore'. The suit was an ecclesiastical matter and started the following 9 July and dragged on until the 28 April 1757 when the Court, having found Mary to be of good reputation, ordered Matthews to make a public penance in the vestry of Gillingham church (see Interchapter 4).

Apart from the interesting glimpses of John's character and life-style which are to be found in the lawsuit, little more is known of him. Perhaps the lengthy court case contributed to his early death aged about 52 on Monday the 6 February 1758. The Will was signed on the previous 27 January so death may not have been unexpected. Burial took place at Sedgehill on the 10 February. The Will¹ follows the same pattern as his father's but is much lengthier.

First I give and devise unto my brother Anthony Merryweather his heirs and assigns all that my estate land and premises with the appurtenances called Deanes otherwise Veanes which I lately purchased of Thomas Blandford of Charlton Musgrove in the County of Somerset Gentleman and is situate lying and being in the parish of Sedgehill in the said County of Wilts In Trust and to and for the use and benefit and behoof of my son John until he shall attain the age of twenty one years.
And also until such time In Trust to receive the rents and profits thereof to be applied for and towards his maintenance and education and from and after my said son's attainment of the age of twenty one years I give the said estate land and premises with the appurtenances unto my son John his heirs and assigns for ever.
Also I give to John at such age one hundred pounds more to be paid by my executrix in case she in her discretion shall think fit but not otherwise.
Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Edward the sum of two hundred pounds at his attainment of the age of twenty one years.
Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne the sum of two hundred pounds at her attainment of the age of twenty one years.
Also I give and bequeath unto my daughters Mary, Sarah and Sophia the sum of One hundred and Fifty pounds at their several attainments of the age of twenty one years.
And whereas my beloved wife Mary is now ensient or big with child or children which child or children being twin if born alive and shall attain the age of twenty one years I hereby give and bequeath the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds apiece.
And also in case any of my said children shall die before age twenty one then one hundred pounds shall be paid to Edward [if] my executrix shall in her discretion think meet and not otherwise. And the residue of such legacy to be equally divided between him and my other surviving children share and share alike.
To my mother Sarah Merryweather the sum of ten pounds to be paid her in the twelve months after my decease.
To my brother Andrew Merryweather the sum of five pounds.
To my godsons John King and Thomas Jupe five pounds apiece.
To my said godson Thomas Jupe my clock that was his fathers.
To my brother Anthony Merryweather ten pounds for his trouble in and about the Trust hereby in him reposed.
The rest of my goods chattels cattle stock in husbandry personal estate ... I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife whom I make my sole executrix. But do hereby desire and request Anthony to assist my said wife and children as an overseer in and about the farm so as to prevent their being imposed on and injured by any unfair dealings.

John Merryweather.

Witnesses: Betty Rideout, the mark of Thomas Dowland, Jno. Brickle.

The Will, proved at the PCC London 17 May 1758 may have been dealt with there because the local court was closed or possibly the family were keen to reassure themselves of their status and undoubted wealth and could afford a more expensive probate in the capital city.

Mary outlived her son John by some 42 years, on into the 19th century. She would therefore have learned of the alarming events following the French revolution of 1789 and the later threat of invasion by Napoleon; but no other information has come to light about her. She died aged 84 on the 8 June 1800, according to the legend on the family tomb that stands outside the south porch of Sedgehill church, and was buried there eight days later.

Baptisms are recorded in parish registers but rarely births. However, if it can be assumed that the family gathered around the font fairly closely after the birth of each infant, then it seems that there may have been two sets of twins amongst the seven children of the marriage. This view is reinforced by the clause in the Will dealing with Mary's expected addition to the family. Furthermore, if Mary lost a child in about 1751, then she followed the classic pattern of an infant being born about every two years, conception being naturally inhibited by lactation. All baptisms took place at Mere except for Susannah's.

Anne Merryweather was the first-born, baptised 8 September 1749. She married William Hale (or Heal) of Stourton, Wiltshire by licence on the 27 February 1770 at Mere. The couple had eight children.²

John Merryweather was the heir, baptised 13 June 1753 who died in 1828 (See Chapter 5).

Mary Merryweather was baptised the same day as her brother John and was perhaps his twin. She married John Coward, a widower at Mere on the 5 February 1799.

Edward Merryweather may have been one of another set of twins but apart from his baptism at Mere on the 18 June 1755, nothing is known about him. He is the family's mystery man. Clearly he was alive in 1758 when his father John drew up his Will since he was left £200, but there is no trace of a local marriage nor of a burial. His name is omitted from the family's chest tomb at Sedgehill which was erected about 1814, so it is reasonable to assume that he was still alive then. Being the second son of a comparatively wealthy farmer he could have gone into the army or navy or the church or to have emigrated or he may have been the black sheep of the family.

Sarah Merryweather could be Edward's twin as she was baptised the same day as him. She married James Gane a widower of Kilmersdon, Somerset on the 8 June 1775, by licence at Mere.

Sophia Merryweather was baptised 3 June 1757 at Mere, but she continued the long line of early deaths when she passed away on the 31 August 1777 followed by burial at Sedgehill on the 4 September.

Susannah Merryweather was the baby Mary was expecting when her husband John drew up his Will in 1757 and was probably born that year. She died 10 February 1782 and was buried aged 25 years.