Note 132 — ASHTON’S MEMORIAL An History of the Strange Adventures, and Signal Deliverances of Mr. PHILIP ASHTON, Jun. of Marblehead

Nicholas Merritt was Ashton’s kinsman. He was the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Merritt and born in Marblehead where he was baptized Mar. 29, 1702 in the First Church. He served unwillingly on Low’s vessel and finally escaped at Saint Michael’s, in September, 1722, where he was imprisoned by the Portuguese authorities and not released until the following June. Making his way to Lisbon he at last reached home safely on September 28, 1723.