Mercy Nye

Not the same as Mercy Ellis

Mercy was born in Sandwich, Plymouth Colony on April 8, 1652 to Benjamin and Katherine Tupper Nye.[1] She was never married and died sometime after February 28, 1718 when mentioned in a deed executed by her brother Jonathan. He instructs his son Jonathan Jr. "to provide and allow unto Mercy Nye my sister (who is a p[er]son infirm both in Body & Mind) a Competant & Comfortable maintenance both in sickness & health." [2]

Notes

A very detailed article with thorough sourcing:
Brownson, Lydia B. (Phinney); McLean, Maclean W., Lt. John and Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis of Sandwich, Mass., The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Vol. 119 (Oct 1965), p. 267-268. Available on AmericanAncestors.org. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB202/i/11651/267/23519527

Mercy Nye was cared for by her parents because she was too feeble in body and mind to care for herself. The article summarized research by Maclean McLean that proved Mercy Nye was unmarried as of 1704 and 1713. He cited a 9 Jun 1704 conveyance from her father, Banjamin Nye, in which the grantor gives all of his lands, mills and appurtenances in Sandwich to his son Jonathan. This bequest was given with the restriction that Jonathan was to continue to care for, relieve and support Mercy Nye. The conveyance stated that Mercy was unable to support herself "by reason of weakness and other infirmities." Later in 1713, Jonathan Nye gave his son Jonathan substantial land provided that the son care "for my sister Mercy who is feeble in body and mind." This history does not match the wife of Mathias Ellis, who was the mother of all of his children from 1679 - 1699 and was appointed co-executor of his will on 13 Nov 1744.

References

• Genealogies of Mayflower Families, Vol. II page 757 AncestryImage