Subject: Re: Merrill family Roy Raymond Merrill
Date: Thu, February 23, 2006 14:17

Question: Gloria [Merrill] Connors wrote:

Looking for the parents of Roy R.Merrill b 1885 Berwick Me.and Lydia O. Annis Merrill b1882.They were my grandparents.Have info that Wesley M.Merrill and Annie B. Stillings Merrill were their parents but cannot find confirmation of that.They lived on Wilson St. until 1953. Thank you

Answer: Gloria:

You are correct that Wesley Melvin and Annie Betsey Stillings are the parents of your Roy Raymond, b. 1885 Apr 14 in Berwick, York, ME. We don't have the b. record [they were not required to be filed with the state until 1892].  However, the 1900 census for Berwick gives the following info:  Wesley M, 49, b. ME May 1851, m. 25 years; wife Annie B, 47, b. ME Apr 1853, m. 25 years, 3 children, 2 living; Bertha M, 22, b. NH Jan 1878; Roy R, 15, b. ME Apr 1885.  This shows that Roy R was Wesley M's son.

Roy R m. Lydia Owens Annis, 1906 Feb 10, in Somersworth, NH. We don't have the NH vital records after 1900 [thats as far as they were open to the public when we collected them in the 1980s].  As a member of the family, you should be able to get a copy of that m. record and that record should have the parents of both bride and groom. Registrar of Vital Statistics, State House, Concord NH 03303.

Roy Raymond (10)'s lineage is Wesley M (9), Soranus (8), Benjamin (7), Joseph (6), Daniel (5), Joseph (4), Daniel (3,2), immigrant Nathaniel (1). More details are available.

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 very interested in any detailed info on the Merrill surname descendants of Roy R down to the present day.

Hope this helps,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Ask the Experts
Date: Thu, February 16, 2006 13:08

Question: Elaine Brennan wrote:

Do you have any knowledge of a John and Anna or Annie Berry, parents of Mary E. Berry, b. 1863 and was married to Orrin P. Merrill. I believe John and Anna were both born in Ireland. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer: Elaine:

According to the NH vital records on file in Concord NH, Mary E Berry, b. 1863 Portland ME, m. 1881 Aug 31 in Portsmouth NH, Orion Phineas Merrill, b. 1859 Aug_, Saco ME, s/o Phineas and Martha C.   Mary E Berry parents were listed as Thomas Berry and Annie.  We have no other info on Mary E. Berry's parents.

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 very interested in any detailed info on the Merrill surname descendants of Orion Phineas down to the present day.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Eugene and Dennis
Date: Mon, February 20, 2006 16:15

Question: Connie Merrill Schachel wrote:

Two generations of the Merrill surname lost in one day: Eugene Nicholas Merrill, b 7/7/1917, died 2/16,2006 His son, Dennis Eugene Merrill, b 3/11/1947, died 2/16/2006 Dennis(12) Eugene(11) Hallie(10) Orrie(9) William(8) John(7) John(6) Winthrop(5) David(4) David(3) Abraham(2) Nathanial

Answer: Connie:

So sorry to hear about your dad and brother. Our prayers are with you and the whole family.   Did they die in the same accident or is it just coincidence that they died on the same day?  We seem to recall that two sisters, Emma and Anna, of your great great grandfather, William, d. on the same day in 1905.  [Our memory is not that good - we had to look it up].

Did your brother Dennis leave any male heirs?  The reason we ask is that we have become involved with the use of DNA to follow the Merrill lines. It turns out that descendants of immigrant Nathaniel share a very rare Y-DNA pattern. We encourage all Merrill males to have their DNA tested, if not with the "pay for" test [now down to 134 from over 200], at least with the FREE test carried out by Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation <smgf.org>. With the free test you don't get the actual results but they are eventually [maybe a year] posted to their site for comparision with other Merrills [not with your name but with your lineage].

Your subsequent question about Richard, 1908 -1977. We don't have him in our database. He should be listed as a child with his parents in 1910 and 20.  We have access to those census from HeritageQuest through our library that we can access from home, but they are indexed by head of household, which makes it very difficult to find children if you don't know the parents name  What is your connection or intrest?  Our library has free access to Ancestry.com, which has every member search of the census thru 1930, but you have to use it at the library. If you would like we can try to find Richard in these census..

We found Hallie in 1910, living with his future inlaws in Station, NE. We haven't found him in 1920 yet. When did he go to WI?

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Sylvester
Date: Wed, February 22, 2006 16:15

Question: Vicki Johnston wrote:

I'am looking for a Sylvestor Merrill. [Parnets were Elisha and Anna Merrill who died in Eaton Co, Mic.} I know Sylvestor Merrill was married 3 times. The last wife was Mary ? Sylvestor died May 27,1881 in Elba {Genesse Co, Ny} Any way Mary said she couldn't of the 3 boys. She sent to a Ontario Orphanage. Farand T. Merrill born 1874 Jay Merrill born 1876 {Jay was a nick name } John T. Merrill A boy Merrill was born after Sylvestor died. I have a book Bethany 1800-1900 the poor house and people Farand T Merrill- Bergen "Oldest of 3 brothers" Paid $99.86 to Ontario Orphanage for his board and care 1883-1884; 1885 $18.60 John T Merrill 1884 Paid $94.50 to Industrial School, Rochester, for board and care. Paid Rec. C. Strong for permanently locating John to a good home. And I can't fine the baby boy. He was 9 months old when she gave him up. The Sheriff took them, if was 5 hrs.to get Ontario Orphanage. John Merrill is gone , But Farand is still there in 1888. Thank -you. Vicki Johnston

Answer: Vicki:

Good to hear from you.  The only info we have on these boys is what we got from you. We have not looked for them in the 1900+ census, but even if we found them, we would have no way of being sure they were the right ones.  We don't have Ancestry.com which has every member search.  HeritageQuest, which we have access to thru our Library has only "Head of household" search.  Jay and Ferrand were with Sylverser and Mary in 1800. Did you need Sylvester's lineage?

Howard and Jean

Subject: Re: Merrill family Phineas W
Date: Sun, February 19, 2006 16:37

Question: Elaine Brennan wrote:

Hi, I have some information on Orrin P. and Mary E. Berry. I will forward that info to you in a day or two. I am still checking on some things. In the meantime I have another question. One of Orrin and Mary's children, Phineas W. b. 1891 is said to have some kind of mental disease. I'm not sure if it was insanity or something else. Do you have any idea where I might look for information on this?

Answer: Elaine:

We have no info on the mental health of PhineasW.  His death record might have something, but we do not know when he d.  He m. 1913 Oct 1 Clara Maude (Burton). She had a daughter Nellie b. ca 1909 from her previous m. to Sidney Stockman. We do not know if they divorced, but she m. 3rd 1926 Mar 3 Lewis Brooks. If they divorced, the divorce record might give the reason for the divorce.  We don't have a d. record prior to 1926.  He was in Kennebunkport in 1920.

Sorry we couldn't help,

Howard and Jean Merrill