Subject: Re: Merill family Merrill Genealogy
Date: Tue, Oct 17, 2006 1:21 pm

Question: Hello, Merrill publishing compiled a genealogy decades ago. I do not have a copy, although I did read it cover to cover many years ago now. Have you ever heard of it before? If you have do you know where I can find a copy? Thanks, John Merrill

Answer: John:

We are not sure to which Merrill Genealogy you are refering. There are many, but we are not aware of any published by Merrill Publishing. Do you know the author?  Do you know which Merrill line the book is about?

The most authorative book on the descendants of Nathaniel Merrill of Newbury MA is "A Merrill Memorial", 1927, by Samuel Merrill, former editor of the Boston Globe. It was privately printed and sent to many Genealogical Libraries.  It was reprinted several years ago by Parker River Researchers of Newburyport MA, but they have gone out of business. The book is out of  print. Steve Merrill is in the process of putting it online on his site <merrill.org>, where you posted this query.  He has the text portion completed and some of the Genealogical section.  Haven't checked recently to see how far he has gotten.  But you could check to see if that is the book you are referring to.

Let us introduce ourselves. We are Howard and Jean Merrill. For twenty five years we have been 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 info on 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 your Merrill line down to the present day.

We will be glad to try to help with any Merrill/Merrell genealogical problems you may have, or fill in any blanks in your lineage.  While our database is not internet searchable, we will be glad to search it for anybody and share what we find at no cost. All that we ask is that folks share their Merrill data with us, so we can expand the database, and do a better job of helping solve Merrill lineage problems.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Henry Merrill
Date: Fri, Oct 13, 2006 23:05

Question: JAMES MERRILL wrote:

Hi,
I'm looking for info. on Henry E Merrill.He was born in or around Gardiner in 1826. He married a saah Dodge and they had two children, CharlesR born in Washington ME in 1849 and Helen born 1853.He was an officer with the 16th Maine during Civil War.

You have help me establish his death in 1908 in Gardiner. He was listed as a carpenter and a justice of the peace.

My desire is to find info on Henry's parents and if possible Saah Dodge's parents.
Jim Merrill

Answer: Jim:

We do not know who Henry's parents were. In the 1830 census for Gardiner, ME there are six Merrill families listed, however only three of these have male children [under 5]. Two of these are Daniel (6) and Nahum (6), sons of Daniel (5), John (4), Nathan (3), Abel (2), Nathaniel (1). We have good records of their children and are pretty sure that Henry does not belong to either of them. The other is Ebenezer, b. 1796 in Sanford, but m. 1821 Edith Spear in Gardiner. Their son Jeremiah B b. 1828 is the one shown in the 1830 census. the also had a later son William Henry in 1836. So that eliminates all the possible parents listed in the 1830 Gardiner census. There are not any extraneous folks listed in the 1840 Gardiner census that are not the folks from 1830 or their known children. So we still don't know who Henry's parents were, but nobody listed in Gardiner 1820-40 seems to fit.

Sorry we couldn't help.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Benjamin F Merrill
Date: Mon, Oct 09, 2006 9:53 pm

Question: Nancy Grzymkowski wrote:

Hello, Two questions: I sent a check of $ 10 out at the end of August as I would like to get the Merrill newsletter, but have not heard anything. Nancy Grzymkowski 23 South Cove Rd. Old Saybrook, CT 06475 Should I sent a second check? Question # 2: Regarding Merrill ancestry: Benjamin F. MERRILL( b. 1850 ? Boston, Mass.) is my Great Grandfather. I am related to the Merrill's on my mother's side. Her name was Mary Hudson Merrill and her father was Roger Merrill. I am searching for Benjamin MERRILL's father. I have requested a birth certififcate from Vital Records in Boston. Mass. I found him in the 1880 Census living with his wife, Mary H. HUDSON b. Dec. 1856 and four children Ben Jr., Enid, John Hudson and Roger ( my Grandfather) in Malden, Mass. His Occupation is Upholsterer. By the 1900 Census, Mary HUDSON is widowed, and head of the household. The family is lving at 5 Park Street in Boston. The son, Benjamin Jr. is a Real Estate Agent. I can not find Benjamin's parents. I do find a Benjamin L. in the 1860 Census in Suffolk County, Boston, Mass. The dates seem right. Could this Benjamin L. be my Grandfather ? His father is shown as Ezekiel MERRILL b. 1820 with his wife Susan H.b. 1820( could have been Sarah and a sibling Chas A.(short for Charles ? ) Ezekiel's occupation is Clothing Store and his age is 40. Going back in time... In the 1850 Census an Ezekiel MERRILL, age 30 is married to Sarah H. with two children Chas A. and Benj. L. with the occupation as trader. Ezekiel MERRILL m. Sarah Helen Homans 9 July 1843 in the City of Salisbury, Mass. Essex County. source:according to the FH Library, Salt Lake City UT Films 0845110 My Question: Do you know the lineage of this Ezekiel to Nathaniel MERRILL of Newbury, Mass ? Thank you. Nancy Grzymkowski

Answer: Nancy:

The Merrill Newsletter has not been issued for about two years now, although Steve Merrill [cc'd above] is going to try and revive it.  At this point I would void your check, as we are considering making it free on his site <merrill.org>. Steve, would you add Nancy's name to the mailing list.

We think you are correct that the Benjamin L listed in 1850 and 1860 as son of  Ezekiel and Sarah Helen Homans and your Benjamin Franklin who m. Mary Hawkes Hudson are the same person.  Unfortunately we didn't find in the MA vital records, a listing of their m. record which would have given both Benjamin and Mary's parents names.  If this assumption is correct, then Benjamin F (8)'s  lineage is Ezekiel (7, 6), Joseph (5), Eliphalet (4), Thomas (3), Abel (2), Nathaniel (1).  More details are available.

You couldn't have found sons John Hudson and Roger with Benjamin F and Mary in Malden in 1880, for they were not b. until 1881 and 1883 respectively. They were, however, with Mary H in 1900 and 1910.  We didn't find Mary in 1920 [perhaps she has d.], but we did find a Roger, 36, and Elizabeth, 38, in Brookline, Norfolk, MA with twins Roger and Elizabeth, 3 2/12 and Eleanor, 3/12. Is this your grandfather?  He was a Cotton Broker salesman.  We had from another correspondent that Roger was an Army Colonel.   We would appreciate any info you have on Benjamin F's Merrill surname descendants, don to the present.

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.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Edward Merrill 1823-1869
Date: Mon, Oct 02, 2006 9:20 pm

Question: Valli Ellis wrote:

Hi Howard & Jean, My name is "Valli" and I'm a Merrill. I'm wondering if I'm related to you. My family records take me back to the Abel that married Priscilla Chase ... I hook into the Merrill Memorial there. Abel Merrill/Priscilla Chase Thomas Merrill/Judith Kent Eliphalet Merrill/lMary Clough Thomas Merrill/Lydia Abbott Thomas Merrill/Eliza Allen Edward Merrill/Laura Heriman Cornelia Merrill/Franklin Spencer June Merrill Spencer June/Frances Carr Thomas Merrill June/Jacqueline Valentine (my Dad&Mom) Valentine June Ellis ("Valli", that's me) So, I'm a novice at this and the surviving family member with an interest in this stuff (I do have one living Uncle, a sister & two cousins). I have a few old Merrill photos I've scanned, a journal of Edward's if been trying to transcribe (he traveled quite a bit, died in Waco, TX), some letters from Laura prior to her death - after which I can track Cornelia but lose track of all others. Anyway, I'd be happy to share what photos I have or any other info that might be of interest. You guys seem to be the experts - so I thought I'd start with you ... Thanks! Valli

Answer: Valli:

Thanks so much for writing.  We are also descended from Abel and Priscilla Chase, but they are our closest common ancestors.  You have the lineage correct down to Edward (7) and Laura and their daughter Cornelia Spencer, b. 1861 Nov 27 in Trinity, Concordia, LA. Although Edward and Laura had two sons, Edward Thomas, 1858, and Charles Henry, 1860, neither m., so this generation is the last to carry the Merrill surname in this line [they also had two other daughters, Eliza Allen, 1863 and Julia Abbott, 1866].

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.

While the daughters carry just as much Merrill blood and Merrill traits, with such a large database we had to draw the line somewhere, and took the easy way out and stick strictly to the Merrill surname.  If we tried to follow all the ancillary lines we would be databasing at least half of New England. For the same reason we don't try and collect pictures, but thanks for the offer. It is always nice to see how our correspondents connect to their respective Merrill line.

We don't have b. and d. dates for Laura or a d. date for Cornelia. Do you?

Howard and Jean Merrill