Previous Queries and Answers
by Howard and Jean Merrill Q. Duane E. Crabtree from Arlington, MA was seeking proof of parentage of True Merrill, born 1802; died 1846, Dover, ME
Answer:
We are pretty sure that True L. Merrill, b. 1806 Sept. 7 in Lewiston ME was the s/o Samuel6 [Samuel 5,4, Moses 3, Daniel 2, immigrant Nathaniel 1] and Betsy Wilborn. True m. Sallie Lowe [we don't have a date], she b. Charleston ME ca 1805. Their children: Elijah Wilson 1829 Mar. 29; Samuel True 1831 May 25; Betsey Ann, 1833 Feb. 11; Nehemiah Dore, 1835 Dec. 29; Julia Ann, !837; Sarah Eliza, 1839; Charles Lowe, 1841 May 19; Miranda Augusta, 1844 July 13. True L d. Dover ME 1848 Sept. 7. True and his family were listed in Dover in 1830 and 40 and the family was there in 1850 and 60.
Q. I'm John Sullivan living in Greensboro NC, grew up in Huntsville, AL. My grandmother was Josie Merrill, a daughter of George Washington Merrill, lived in Giles Co, TN, married Issac Gatlin. Do you have marriage dates? I have the booklet about the TN Merrills written by Mrs. Broadway and others. I would also like to get additional information on the connection going back from Rowan Co. NC. to NJ to Staten Island NY.
Answer:
We do not have a m. date for Mary Josie and Isaac Gatlin.The book on TN Merrills by Broadway et al is in error with regard to the William Merrill who moved from Staten Island to Hopewell NJ. This William b. ca 1652 in Tysoe, Warwickshire, England was the brother, not the son, of Richard and Susanna Wells and is believed to have immigrated with them in 1680. He owned land in SI by 1683 which he and his wife Grace sold in 1687 when they moved, first to Monmouth NJ, then to Hopewell in 1704. Richard did have a son William b. 1668 [he was too young to have owned land in 1683], but after a disagreement with his father, he moved to St. Marys Co MD where he m. Ann Angel, had several children and d. there in 1712.
William Jr., m. 1st 1697 Ann Parke and 2nd 1728 Penelope (Stout) Jewell. William Jr. was killed by lighting 1739 June 25. His sons William 3 and Benjamin 3 moved from Hopewell NJ to Rowan Co NC. From here on the Broadway book is correct.
Q. Jon Krause from Lubbock Texas said, I am working on a Merrill Line of Morris Pomeroy Merrill born in what is now Renssalear. Co., NY on Apr 13, 1779, came to Onieda Co. around 1800, married Rhoda Robbins in Utica 1807, died in Rising Sun Indiana. I believe he had a brother named William that died in Herkimer Co. N.Y. The LDS Church has his name as Moris Elijah Merrill. Would like to know if you have any information on this line. Will supply you with his family if you need. Thanks, Jon Krause, Grandson of Samuel Robin Merrill
Answer:
Your Morris Pomeroy or Morris Elijah is in our "lineage unknown" file. We have what we thought was your Morris in Pittston, Renssalear Co, NY in 1800, but he says he is [26-45] which doesn't jive with the 61 and 71 he gave as his age in 1850 and 1860 respectively [ he should be 21]. That Morris also has a [26-45] wife and 2m, 2f [under 10]. The more we study this, the less likely we think that he is your Morris.Your Morris is in Freeport, Ontario Co, NY in 1820; in Randolph, Dearborn Co IN in 1830 and 40; in Rising Sun, Ohio Co [formed from Dearborn in 1844] IN in 1850; and [as Marcus - probably misread] with son Morris P in Randolph in 1860. We haven't read the 1870 OH census yet. We have from a correspondent that he had four sons and seven daughters.
In 1790 there is no Merrill listed in Stephentown, now Renssalear Co NY, but in 1800 brothers Barzillai 6 and Mead 6 were there. They are sons of David 5 and Esther Howe of Waterbury CT [Nathaniel 4, John 3,2, Nathaniel 1]. Both Barzillai and Mead have one more male than we have as known children, but only Mead has one in the age bracket in which Morris would belong [16-26]. We do not believe this is Mead's child, however, since in 1790 in Harwinton CT he only had one male [under 16] which matches his known children (Abel b. 1787). The extra male in 1800 could be a boarder or a hired hand or anyone living in his household.
Truman 6 [Nathaniel 5, Gideon 4, Wilterton 3, John 2, Nathaniel 1] and the above mentioned Morris were in Pittston NY in 1800. An unknown John was in Pittston in 1790 with a son [under 16] and an unknown Mosier was in Shaghticoke with 2 males [under 16]. These towns are in the north end of Renssalear Co about 40 miles from Stephentown. These were the only Merrills in what is now Renssalear Co in 1790. You wonder if Mosier could be a misreading of Morris?
You mentioned a William who d. in Herkimer Co NY as being a possible brother of your Morris. There is an unknown William in Fairfield in 1810 with wife and 2f [under 10]. In Newport, Herkimer Co in 1810 there is a Marvis (Morris? but the head of household seems to be a [45+] female, but could be one of two [10-16] males; also there is a [16-26] female.
In 1820 what seems to be this same family (2m [16-26], 1f [16-26], 1f [45+] now headed by Thomas) is in Fairfield on the same page with William [26-45], wife [26-45], 4m,1f [under 10], 1f [10-16].
In 1830 William [40-50], wife [30-40] is still in Fairfield with 2m,1f [under 5], 2m,1f [5-10], 1m [10-15], 2m [15-20]. No other Merrills are listed in Herkimer Co.
In 1840 William [50-60], wife [40-50] is in Manheim with 2m [5-10], 1m [10-15], 1m,1f [15-20], and 1m [20-30]. In Frankfort, Harvey (2m [30-40] with 1f [50-60]) is next door to John [30-40] and wife [20-30].
In 1850 Harvey, 44 and brother Ora, 43, are still in Frankfort. There is a Morris, 27, and wife Jane in Litchfield. Also there are Clarissa 7, [Asa 6, Gideon 5,4, Wilterton 3, John 2, Nathaniel 1] and a minister Samuel L, 28. In Fairfield there is an Ellen, 20. In Little Falls there is a Morris, 32, a saloon keeper. Finally in Manheim there is a George, 18. We do not know what relation these have to William or to your Morris.
Q. Russell Merrill from Riverton, KS: I am looking for information on my Great Great Grandfather Dudley Merrill b. 1814 Orange County, Vt to Oliver Merrill and Elizabeth Fellows Merrill. Any help would be Greatly Appreciated.
Answer:
Your Dudley Y 7 was b. 1814 Sept. 10 in Corinth, Orange Co, VT and d. 1890 July 8 in Merrillville, Lake Co, IN. He m. 1st, 1840 Jan 1, Julia Ann Peters [1818 Sept. 7 -1852 June 4] in Ross Twp [Merrillville] IN. Their children were: Oliver William, 1841 Feb. 1; John Porter, 1842 Oct. 13; Eliza Jane, 1844 Aug. 26; James Dudley, 1846 May 1; and Charles Louis, 1850 Mar. 15. Merrillville was named for Dudley and his brother William. Dudley m. 3 more times: 1852 Dec. 13 to Emeline Allen [1827 Aug. 24 - 1853 Nov. 13]; 1854 Feb. 12 to Roxelana (Pearce) Towl [1817 Apr. 3 - 1875 Apr. 4], (2 children d. young); 1875 July 3 to Caroline (Campbell) Merrill, widow of his brother William.Dudley was the son of Oliver 6 [1782 Jan. 20, NH - 1854 Oct. 7 Merrillville IN] and Elizabeth Fellows [1788 Jan. 20 - 1852 Dec. 19] of Corinth VT. Their children were: William, 1808 Apr. 16; Hannah, 1810 May 28; Dudley; Mary Fellows, 1817 June 17; Plumy, 1820; John Fellows, 1822 May 13; Lewis Barton, 1829 June 5.
Oliver 6's lineage is Dudley 5 [1751 Dec. 12], James 4 [1719 May 6 - 1798], Thomas 3 [1678/9 Jan. 1 -1756 Sept. 18], Abel 2 1643/4 Feb. 20 - 1689 Oct. 28, Immigrant Nathaniel 1 [bapt. 1601 May 4, Wherstead, Suffolk, England - 1654/5 Mar. 16 Newbury MA].
Q. Pat Hanson from Ames, Iowa: I am doing some beginning research on my Merrill line. I do know that in the late 1800s that my great grandparents settled in Butler County Iowa. Over the years they had 14 children. My great grandparents names: Joseph and Clara (Malarky) Merrill. These children were: Percy, Everett, Francis, Gladys, Marlys, Frank, Maude, Nellie, Madge, Joseph, Gene, Richard, Jean, ? (I know but can't think or find it right now.) My great aunt has a partial family tree worked up, and I am trying to get a copy with dates, etc. This is a new project for me. Don't really know how to go into it. I do know to work from myself back, and I'm starting that way. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Answer:
In 1870 there is a Joseph, 37, b. OH, in Butler Co IA, but he is not the Joseph to whom you refer. Joseph and his young 2nd wife Luisa, 21, have 4 young daughters [under 6]. Perhaps these are your Joseph's parents and your Joseph hasn't been born yet in 1870. We know that this Joseph is the son of Jesse and Nancy Hemphill, but we can't carry this line any further back at this time. We haven't started reading the 1880 census yet - still working on 1870 - but reading the 1880 Butler Co census should tell us if this Joseph did have a Joseph 1870-80 who might be a good candidate for your great grandfather. The place is correct, but we don't know if this is the right family.When you get your Joseph's death date, newspaper obits, or funeral home records, or death certificates may give his parents names. Have you looked in graveyards for their grave stones? Are there other Merrills buried there? Collect ALL the Merrill data you find, and record where you found it - later on, you won't remember where you got it!
We looked in the Social Security Death Index for IA Merrills and found two we are sure are your family. Percy, b. 1898 Sept. 24; d. 1985 Apr; last known residence Bistow IA; SS# 484-10-2318 Everett, b. 1900 Sept. 10; d. 1966 Mar.; Last known res. Hansell IA; SS# 484-01-9107
Q. William Boston from Pocomoke MD: My great-great-great-great grandmother is Leah Merrill, dau. of Joshua Merrill, she mar. Esau Boston about 1780. Would like to trace Merrill family in Pocomoke area.Answer:
We know that the original immigrant to Somerset Co MD was William, b. ca 1645, who came as an indentured servant in 1668, worked off his servitude, m. Eliza (__?__), and d. 1710 Jan 23, leaving 9 sons and 4 daughters. This family populated the eastern shore of MD and VA. One of his sons was Joshua b. ca 1689. We do not know if this is the Joshua who mentioned your Leah in his will or a Joshua of a later generation.Little has been done to trace this family. We made a special side trip to Annapolis a couple of years ago just to research this line , but the Hall of Records was closed the only day we had available for research.
Q. Karen Loftus from Winslow, Maine: I just browsed the Merrill Genforum today and found where you are very helpful to many people searching the Merrill line. I will be subscribing to the Merrill Newsletter soon. Hope to be able to help some; and to fill in the gaps in my lines. My Merrill line from Nathaniel is Daniel; Daniel; Joseph; Daniel; Joseph (lived in Livermore, ME. m. Eunice Boothby) Jonathan; William; Charles E.; Charles E.; E. Maude; Glenys Goodwin; Karen DeRoch. I have printed out copies from my Family Tree Maker and will send them to you. I do have a few gaps in regards to the wives of Jonathan, William, and Charles E.
Answer:
Thanks for sending your line. . We checked for the wives you mentioned. We don't have any m. dates or the wives parents, but Jonathan 7 m. Sarah Coffin [1787-1870]; William Clark 8 m. Annabel Hill [ca 1825 - 1898]; Charles E 9 m. Lucy Gilman [b. ca 1848].
Q. Jimmy Merrell of Augusta Ga: I am originally from Huntsville,AL. I am just getting started with researching my family genealogy. I recently was back in Huntsville and went to an area of Marshall County AL, where a lot of my descendants lived back in the 1800's. The area in question is Merrill Mtn. It is located about 25 miles southeast of Huntsville near the Guntersville Dam (TVA). I was wondering if you had traced any relatives to this part of the country.
Answer:
We know of one line of Merrell/Merrill that was located in the Marshall Co AL area. The widow of Charles 4 [Capt. Benjamin 3, William 2,1] (1761, NC - 1822, SC) filed for her widow's pension [Rev. War] from that area where she was living with her son Benjamin in 1840. Since you gave no data we have no way of knowing if you are descended from this line, but it seems likely. William 1 came from Warwickshire, England to Staten Island NY in 1680 and later moved to Hopewell NJ. Capt. Benjamin 3 was a pre-Revolutionary patriot who was hanged for treason in 1771 for opposing the tyrannical policies of NC Gov. Tryon.
