Edward, born about 1790 was probably baptised at the Motcombe Methodist chapel or privately at home. We know nothing about his early years, but the same has to be said about many of our ancestors so we have to rely on sources of information such as newspapers which also occasionally shed a little light on contemporary events. For example, Edward would not have been too young to appreciate the alarming news from Shaftesbury of a disastrous fire which broke out at about 10 in the morning of 21 December 1799. This had started in the north part of Blyke or Ram Street.

From the great scarcity of water, and the wind blowing fresh into the town, the most serious consequences were for some time apprehended but, by the indefatigable and praiseworthy exertions of the inhabitants, it was got under control in about 3 hours, after destroying three dwelling houses. The whole property was uninsured, and little of the furniture saved.¹

Edward lived at Higher Mere Park farm as tenant of the Duchy of Cornwall and became wealthier and even more influential than his father John, judging from the 40 days Statute labour required of him by the Waywarden in 1822. He was Overseer to the Poor in 1821 and 1822.

With Robert Cross he was churchwarden at Mere and they both signed the accounts for 1822 which include the following:

Beer for men using the fire engines	£1.13.10d [£1.69]
Visitation Dinner	£11.15. 6d [£11.77]
---- for communion table cloth	£ 6.16.10d [£6.88]
Total expenditure for the year was:
Edward Merryweather	£136.1.10d [£136.09]
Robert Cross	£131.13.4d. [£131.66]

He married on the 4 April 1820 at St. John's, Yeovil, Sarah Collins who had been baptised there 4 August 1790. She was the daughter of Henry Collins and Elizabeth née Winsor of Yeovil. Henry was a merchant, probably in the leather trade, the town being an important glove-making centre. The Winsor and Phillips families were also prominent Yeovil leather merchants and glove makers and their surnames were to be given to future Merryweathers, confirming and cementing inter-family links. The 1794 Yeovil Trade Directory includes Henry Collins, lamb and kid glover, and in the 1822 edition, both Henry Collins and a Phillips are listed.

Before the marriage took place a very lengthy and detailed Marriage Settlement,² effectively a dowry, was arranged.

Abstract of the Settlement made
on the Marr[iage] of Edward Merryweather Esqr with Miss Sarah Collins.

1820 March 21st and 22nd original produced.

Indenture of Lease and Release made between John Merryweather of Mere Park in the County of Wiltshire, Esq., and Grace his wife of the First Part, Edward Merryweather of the same place as only son and heir at law of John Merryweather of Second Part, George Chitty of Shaftesbury, Third Part, James Barstow of Grays Inn, Middlesex, Gentleman of Fourth Part, Henry Collins of Yeovil, Esq., of the Fifth Part, Sarah Collins daughter of Henry Collins of the Sixth Part and Henry Collins the younger of Yeovil, Merchant and Philip Collins of Yeovil, Merchant of the Seventh Part.

Reciting Indentures of Lease and Release dated the 20 and 21 October 1780 relating to Freehold property at Sedgehill.

Also reciting inter alia that John Merryweather was seized to him and his heirs at the will of the Lord according to the custom of the Manor of Gillingham of the copyhold hereditaments therein after convenanted to be surrendered being part and parcel of the said Manor. Also reciting that a marriage was intended to be shortly had and solemnized between Edward Merryweather and Sarah Collins, Henry Collins the elder signifying his consent by being a party to this now Abstract of Indenture. Also reciting that on the treaty for the marriage it has been agreed that John Merryweather, Grace his wife and Edward should suffer a recovery of the Freehold lands, hereditaments therein described and should make such settlement and disposition of the same copyhold hereditaments.

It is witnessed that in pursuance of Agreement and in consideration of the said intended marriage and also for other considerations and for docking all Estates Tail, John, Grace and Edward with privity and approbation of the said Henry Collins and Sarah testified ... did bargain, sell release and confirm to James Barstow, a certain messuage, pieces and parcels of land in Sedgehill. [The document then recites at great length and complexity that] Sarah, the intended bride of Edward shall after her marriage have full control of the proceeds of the rents of Barstow's tenancy, or for her lawful heirs of the marriage.
[The land and buildings were] All that plot or parcel of ground called Mullens allotment, about two acres lying near to Cranbourne brook. And also that little plot of meadow or pasture ground of three acres called Bowers allotment situate in the tything of Motcombe, which hereditaments form part and parcel of the Manor of Gillingham and were held by the said John Merryweather for an Estate of Inheritance according to the customs of the Manor.

The document usefully includes a note that the marriage was solemnized 4 April 1820 at Yeovil and lists the names and birth dates of their three children.

Edward died at Higher Mere Park farm on the 15 July 1828 and within the week, on the 22 July, joined the many other Merryweathers buried in the Sedgehill churchyard. Fortunately, the Incumbent added a note in the burial register alongside the entry, 'Gent 38 of Mere Park,' otherwise it might have been thought that he and Edward the 'mystery man' were one and the same person, because there is no Church of England record of any baptism for this later, prosperous farmer.

He was supposed to be Executor of his father's Will but he did not live long enough after John's death to undertake that duty. Edward's Will is lengthy and complex and it is very clear that he had become very wealthy since it speaks of 'books, prints, pictures, copious jewels, trinkets and ornaments of person'. Trustees were appointed of 'all my lands and property', some of which would have come to Edward from the marriage settlement and the probate act book at the PPR shows that he left estate totalling £3000 - a very large sum in 1828.³ His three sons were to have to wait until they reached the ages of 25 before they could inherit each his own one third share of the estate which was put in trust to be held by John Woolmington of Hounston Farm, Somerset and John Phillips of Mere, gentlemen.

John Winsor Collins Merryweather 1822-1891 (see Chapter 9).
Henry Broadway Collins Merryweather 1823-1865 (see Chapters 10).
Philip Edward Collins Merryweather 1825-1875 (see Chapter 11).

Following Edward's death, his widow, who may well have been more a lady than a working farmer's wife, maybe quickly decided that with three young children to rear she could not undertake the running of the farm and consequently an advertisement appeared in the Salisbury and Wiltshire Chronicle which confirms the size of Edward's farming activities:

Mere Park Farm to be sold by auction by G Hart
on Thursday 29th November 1828.⁴
Stock of the late Mr. Merryweather.

27 Choice dairy Cows all in Calf, (mixture of Devon & Wiltshire breed) 5 Two year old Heifers 9 Yearling Heifers, 12 Fat Heifers, 11 Calves, 2 Bulls, 8 Cart Horses, 1 Hackney Mare (in foal), 1 Cart, Colt of two years old and 3 Sucking Colts.

Implements.

4 Waggons, 3 Dung Putts, 6 Tickle Ploughs, 2 Pair of Drays, 8 Harrows, 2 Rollers, 4 pair Trace Harness, 4 pair Thrills, 6 pair of Plough Harness and carts etc.

Edward's untimely death meant that more than a century of the Merryweathers as farmers at Sedgehill and Mere had come to an end when Sarah moved with her children, possibly back to her family at Yeovil, where she died of cancer at the age of 50 on the 18 October 1840.

Although now fatherless, the three boys would surely be promising soil out of which the family could flourish.

¹ GM 1800, Pt.1 p.79.
² DRO ref No. 5382. Much of its repetitive wording has been edited out.
³ PROB12//224 Wills 725.
⁴ Date provided by Mervyn Mitchell, but it does not seem to be the right one.