Thomas is a son of William Meriwether (1790–1825) and Sarah T. Molloy (1796–1881). For most of his life he lived in Newton County but at the time of his death had been living in Wilkes County for a number of years, at one time representing that county in the state legislature. In 1885 he was elected to the Board of Trustees for Emory College. Thomas married four times:

On 11 Aug 1841 he married Henrietta L. Andre in Newton County; she was the daughter of Bishop James O. Andrew of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Thomas and Henrietta had eight known children, of whom seven died as infants or children: William, James, Henry, Robert, Ann, Thomas, Sarah and Elizabeth. Henrietta died in 1862.

On 13 Dec 1862, Thomas married Mary Anne Price (1825–1863) in Marion County, Florida; she died a few months later, 16 Sep 1863, without known issue, although it seems likely she died in childbirth.

On 30 Apr 1865 Thomas married Henrietta C. Smith (1838–1885); they were the parents of six children: Carletta, Cynthia, Clara, Thomas, Fannie and Myra (DAR #84297).

Thomas married, last, Cornelia (Cooper) Florence (1840–1921); they had no children.

∼The Macon Telegraph (Macon, Georgia), 12 July 1899, Wednesday

DEATH OF MR. MERIWETHER

He Was a Prominent Georgian—A Member of Emory College Trustees.

WASHINGTON, Ga., July 11.—Hon. T. M. Meriwether, one of the most prominent and highly respected citizens of Wilkes county, died last night after a lingering illness of several months. He was born in 1821 and for a number of years was resident of Newton county, here his remains were sent this morning for Interment.

A devout member of the Methodist church, he took an active part in religious work and for a number of year was chairman of the financial board of the north Georgia conference. In 1885 he was elected a member of the board of trustees of Emory college and was at the time of his death the oldest member on the board. He represented Wilkes county in the state legislature for one term and made an enviable reputation a legislator.

He was married three times. His first wife was a daughter of Bishop James O. Andrew. His last wife and four children survive him.

∼The Macon Telegraph (Macon, Georgia), 13 Jul 1899, Thursday

Sorrowing for Judge Meriwether.

EMORY COLLEGE, OXFORD, Ga., July 12.—Another one of Emory's trustees is dead and was buried here today. In the death of Judge Thomas M. Meriwether, which occurred at his home in Wilkes county yesterday, Emory college has lost another one of her staunchest and truest friends and supporters. The remains were brought here for burial this evening, accompanied by many sorrowing friends and by Bishop Candler, assisted by President Dowman in the church chapel, beginning at 5 o'clock this evening. Tne Bishop's talk was fittingly directed to the man's life, covering it in every phase and sympathetically eulogizing upon his many noble traits of Character.

Judge Meriwether lived in this county a [g]reat portion of his life as one of its honored citizens. He is a descendant of Mr. David Meriwether, who helped to make the treaty with the Cherokee Indians, thus giving to Georgia all its western territory.

He was married twice, his first wife being a daughter of Bishop J. O. Andrew and his last wife lives to mourn his death. He represented his county (Wilkes) in the legislature at one time; was made a trustee of Emory college in 1886, which place he has admirably filled for the past thirty-four years. Bishop Candler said of him: "He was truly a noble, cultivated, generous and hospitable gentleman of the old school."

His many bereaved friends all over the state will deeply sympathize with the family he left in this their great grief.

∼His friend, Robert Watkins Lovett, married three times. Each of the wives had a sister who married Judge Meriwether.

"There are some facts in Dr. Lovett's life which run parallel with some facts in the life of another in such a way as to form a most wonderful coincidence." In 1843 Thomas Meriwether married Miss Henrietta Andrew, daughter of the late Bishop Andrew, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. A little later in the same year and a few months after Dr. Lovett's graduation he married Elizabeth Mason Andrew, Mrs. Meriwether's sister. Mrs. Lovett died in 1856, and in 1859 Dr. Lovett married Miss Sallie Isabel Price, of Florida. Judge Thomas Meriwether became a widower, and in a few years he married Miss Mary Price, Mrs. Lovett's sister. Then Judge Meriwether became a widower again and married a Miss Smith, of the famous teacher family of Georgia. Dr. Lovett, having been also bereft a second time, married a third time, his bride being Mrs. Meriwether's twin sister, Miss Marietta Smith, who still abides as the faithful and devoted companion of his old age."

∼TMSI [6527]: M1227a — 4G-Grandson of Nicholas Meriwether & Elizabeth (?) Meriwether Browne.