Subject: Re: Merrill family Charles Edward Merrill
Date: Thu, Sep 29, 2005 3:45 pm

Question: Heather Christianson wrote:

I am looking for My fiance, whose name is Charles Edward Merrill III. We are looking for his family history, he hasn't seen his father since he was 6 so we can't start there. I am completely in the dark about this, so if you could maybe give me some tips or point me in the right direction that would be helpful. I know that the family last lived and could still live in Salem, Ma. about 17 to 23 years ago. Charles was born in Salem himself. Thank you for your help.

Answer: Heather:

You have to start from what you know and work backward. Let us ask some questions. When was your fiance born?  You said in Salem MA.  Since he is Charles Edward III, are we correct in assuming that both his father and grandfather were also Charles Edward? Is his mother still living? If so do you have contact with her? She may have information about his father, such as his b. date and place and their m. date and place. Were they divorced? When and Where? Do you know if he remarried?  To whom, when, where? Does your fiance have siblings? Do they know anything? Any aunts or uncles that you know of?  They might have info.

MA has excellent vital records. You can get copies of  your fiance's b. record. that will give his parents names and where they were b. If they were m. in MA you can get a copy of their m. record. That will give you, not only when and where they were m. but also how old they were, where they were from and  their parents names.  Now knowing how old his father was at m. you can search for his b. record and repeat the process for his parents. Complete MA b,m,d records go back to 1850, and a lot of towns go much further. If you can work your way back to 1930, then the census records become available, every 10 years back to 1850 [except 1890 which burned].  Beyond 1850 to 1790 the census only gives the name of the head of household with #s by sex in age brackets for family members.

 We are trying to database the Merrill/Merrell surname nationwide from the original immigrants right down to the present day for all the immigrant lines. So far we have over 60,000 Merrill males, plus their wives and daughters in our database, but we estimate that there are well over 100,000 so we have a long way to go, and we need and appreciate all the help we can get, particularly with the later generations. We use this database strictly to try and help folks trace their Merrill roots. Be assured that no info on living individuals will become internet accessible.

Most of our data is pre 1880 but we do have some data after that and can search the 1900-1920 census if we know where to look. We do have info on several Charles Edwards but have no way to know  if any of them are connected to yours.

Hope this helps. We will be interested in anything you find.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Merrill Newsletter
Date: Thu, Sep 29, 2005 1:10 pm

Question: Beverly Merrill wrote:

I have been wondering how you have faired with all the terrible problems in Louisanna. Also, is the Merrill Newsletter still in existence? I may have another article for it concerning Henry Merrill, the Blacksmith from Hiram, ME.

Answer: Beverly:

Thanks for your concern.  We made it through both storms OK. Lots of small trash blown out of trees both times but no significant damage.  Nine inches of rain in Rita. Lost power only five hours for Katrina, none for Rita. Had our daughter's family with us a week the first time since they were out of power. We lost phone service ten days, but the cell worked most of the time. We were very lucky.

The Merrill Newsletter hasn't issued in several years. Send your article to <Steve@Merrill.org>. May we can prod him into some action. He took over from Lil when her health problems prevented her from continuing. Sure would like to see it  reactivated.

We wanted to make you aware of a Merrill surname project that has just begun, trying to document the various Merrill lines through the use of DNA. The full DNA-Y testing usually runs over $200, but because we are promoting  a Merrill surname project has been reduced below that amount [$189].

There is, however, a new free DNA testing being done by Sorensen Molecular Genetics Foundation, which we would urge Merrill surname males with known lineages to take part in.  We are trying to get folks from each Merrill line to take part so we can have folks with known lineages form a data base that other Merrills can check against to confirm or disprove a particular lineage.  Check out the Sorensen site at <http://smgf.org/>.  They have an online Y-database searchable by surname.  You have to submit a pedigree with the test kit. While you don't get the results from this free test, you can find the results by checking their site periodically and find when your pedigree shows up with its associated results. No names for those participating or for living generations are posted.

We are hoping to get Merrills from various parts of England to take part, and maybe prove where in England these various lines come from. This project is just getting started, but we have already shown that Marriner Wood Merrill, the Mormon Prophet, is not descended from Nathaniel of Newbury MA as was suspected, but never proven.

We thought that Tom might be interested in taking part in this project. Descendants of Nathaniel of Newbury have a very distinctive DNA profile vastly different from other known Merrill lines.

Howard and Jean

Subject: Re: Merrill family Johnathan Merrill
Date: Wed, Sep 28, 2005 11:32 pm

Question: Georgann Hunter wrote:

Hi, I have a Andrew Jonathan living in Sevier CO, AR and was wondering if he might be one of your Merrell's. Andrew when by Jonathan. He married a Mary Malissa COWLING and I know of three children that they had; Sally, William B. and Andrew J. They were living in Sevier CO, AR about 1867. How long they stayed I don't know. Georgann Hunter TX

Answer: Georgeann:

We find a Jonathan Merrill listed in the 1860 census in Washington twp, Sevier, AR, but he doesn't correspond to the Andrew Jonathan you described.  He was the only Merrill in Sevier Co in 1860, and there were none listed there in 1870.  The 1860 results were Jonathan, 35, b. TN; Lucinda, 33, AL; Mary 11, LA; Rufus, 8, LA; Martha, 6, LA; Smith, 4, AR; Susan, 2, AR; Lucinda, 1/12, AR. In 1880, only the son Rufus, 28, was in Sevier Co AR.

You didn't give any dates, even approximate, for your Andrew Jonathan, his wife Mary Malisa Cowling, or any of their three children, Sally, William B, or Andrew J.  Do you know where they went after leaving AR?  What do you know about the children? Do you know who they m., when, where, their children?

We are trying to database the Merrill/Merrell surname nationwide from the original immigrants right down to the present day for all the immigrant lines. So far we have over 60,000 Merrill males, plus their wives and daughters in our database, but we estimate that there are well over 100,000 so we have a long way to go, and we need and appreciate all the help we can get, particularly with the later generations. We use this database strictly to try and help folks trace their Merrill roots. Be assured that no info on living individuals will become internet accessible. We would be interested in any info you have on the Merrill surname descendants of Andrew Jonathan Merrill down to the present.

We are sorry we don't have any info on your Andrew Jonathan at this time. Maybe if you can supply us with more specific data we may be able to help you. How are you related to Andrew Jonathan?

Howard and Jean Merrill