Subject: Re: Merrill family Gary Franklin Merrill
Date: Wed, July 3, 2007 9:29a

Question: Matt Merrill wrote:

Hi Howard and Jean,

I came across your page recently and to say the least, I am very impressed. I believe I have traced my lineage back to Nathaniel Merrill of MA B 1601 and I was wondering if you could take a look and make sure it checks out according to your database. I have numerous gigantic holes in the 8 generation tree I am trying to make for my parents - especially the wives of the Merrills (not sure if you guys extend your research in that directions. I would, first and foremost like to know if I have the merrill chain correct. If you can help me that would be great. The lineage is below, thanks. Matt Merrill Nathaniel Merrill (all Merrill hereafter) Abel 2 Abel 3 Abel 4 B: 1697 John 1737 Abel 1763 Benjamin 1784 Abel K(imbell?) 1809 Benjamin 1835 William K 1865 Benjamin Gary 1892 Gary Franklin 1915 Michael Woodman 1952 Matthew Davis 1981

Answer: Matt:

We can confirm your lineage as stated down to your father, but we have very few details from Benjamin Gary forward to the present.  We would greatly appreciate any details you can give us on the last our generations.

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 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.

As soon as we get your data we will put together a Genealogy Report from immigrant Nathaniel down to you with all the data we have on the wives and siblings of your direct line.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Thomas Merrill, 1646
Date: Wed, July 3, 2007 1:03p

Question: Jerrie Earle-Beard wrote:

Hi again, Been doing more research on John son of Nathaniel of Newbury. I came across the name Thomas b 1646 who was a son of Thomas. I have also found that John and Nathaniel had a brothers in England named Thomas, Mychell(Michael) and a sister named Anne. Could this Thomas also came to New Haven a little later? another mystery I haven't solved is who Caleb b 1707 d 1735 who married Mercy 1733 and had son named Caleb in 1734.

Answer: Jerrie:

Thomas, son of Thomas, bapt 1646 in Hartford is believed to be the Thomas who later lived in Saybrook, CT.  The jury is still out on whether he is related to immigrant Nathaniel of Newbury MA.  There is some speculation, but no hard evidence to support it, that the elder Thomas, father of Thomas, 1646, might be Nathaniel's COUSIN, not brother, son of Thomas and Rose Pearson. Nathaniel did have a brother Michael, but not a brother Thomas or sister Anne. Nathaniel's grandfather, John, in his 1600 will, mentioned his grandchildren, Nathaniel's brother John and sister Mary [Nathaniel wasn't b. till 1601] and his cousins Thomas and Anne. The Michael mentioned in that will was not Nathaniel's brother, Michael [b. 1603], but rather his uncle. His father, Nathaniel, and uncles John and Thomas were also mentioned.

So far, no living male Merrill descendant of Thomas of Saybrook has been DNA tested.  IF one is found willing to be tested, and IF his DNA pattern matches the distinctive, and very rare pattern shown by Nathaniel descendants, that would be good supporting evidence that Thomas of Saybrook was related to Nathaniel and the elder Thomas was probably Nathaniel's cousin, the son of Thomas and Rose Pearson.  A lot of IF's. We are actively searching for a living male Merrill descendant of Thomas of Saybrook, willing to be tested, to try and resolve this question.

We don't have an early Thomas in New Haven, CT, but Thomas [1688-1759], the son of Thomas of Saybrook did live in Guilford, CT [his will was probated there], not far from New Haven.

Caleb (4), 1707-1735, m. 1733 Mercy Sedgwick. His lineage is John (3,2), Nathaniel (1).  We think someone has misinterpreted handwriting. We have that Caleb and Mercy had a Capt. Abijah, 1734 May 2. We think someone probably misread Capt. as Caleb.  Abijah m. Sarah Barton, and Hannah Chadwick.  His title Capt. came from his service in the Rev. War.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Iver Edwin.B. Merrill
Date: Wed, July 3, 2007 1:03p

Question: Thomas D. Merrill wrote:

Greetings, My Great-great grand Father was Iver E. B. Merrill He was born April 10, 1854 & died April 19, 1935 (both in Deerfield, NH) Do you have any info on his parents? Thank You! Sincerely Thomas D Merrill Haverhill MA

Answer: Thomas:

Iver Edwin B (8) Merrill was the son of Stephen H and Judith Augusta Bean. His lineage is Stephen H (7), Eliphalet (6,5,4), Thomas (3), Abel (2), immigrant Nathaniel (1). More details are available. Iver had two sons Herbert and Roscoe. Since Roscoe lived in Haverhill, as do you, our guess is that you are probably descended from Roscoe. We would be very interested in the detais of Iver's Merrill surname descendants down to the present.

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 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 John Bolton of NY
Date: Wed, July 4, 2007 4:34p

Question: Dennis Owens wrote:

There is a reference to John Merrill(who is he!!!) in the publication entitled "The Goodmans of Bolton,NY,Their ancestry and descendants" published by the the Goodmans, stating that Hannah mariah Goodman, (daughter of Origen and Tryphosa Murrell (Goodman)), hannah b.sept 1 1819,d. feb 13,! 1901, md ____John Merrill. In the census she is referred to as Maria G. The only data I have is that John Merril was born in NH or NY about 1818 and Hannah was born in NY ABOUT 1820. Hannahs father was born in MA.and her mother (Tryphosa Murrell) b. in NY. John Merrill's And Hannah's children were Belva, Byron, And Origen(all born in NY). The Goodmans had a sawmill in S. Hadley Mass. in 1771. I have a census record of John Merrill being a sawmill worker. In the article, Hannah's ancestry is Origen Goodman, MA, and Tryphosa Murrell,NY.(mother) Please help if you can. I'm quite willing to support your wonderful cause (25-40$/hr) thanks. Help if you can. PS: any info on the Murrells would be GREAT. Thanks, Dennis PS: My lineage goes from John Merrill,NY, to Origen G. Merrill(NY) to Bessie(betty) Jane Merrill(dakota territories) to missouri

Answer: Dennis:

Our identification of your John Merrill of Bolton, Warren, NY is full of conjecture.  Our best guess is that John's lineage is John (7), Jesse (6), John (5), Abraham (4), Jonathan (3), Abraham (2), immigrant Nathaniel (1). More details are available.  We believe that John's parents were Jesse and Nancy Cheny who were m. 1798 Nov 8 in Dunbarton, Hillsborough, NH. They had at least five sons and a daughter, We do not know the daughter's [b.1800-1810] name. The names of  the sons we know of were: Wait, Daniel, Jesse, John and Caleb.  Jesse and Nancy were in Dunstable, Hillsborough, NH in 1810, in Arlington, Bennington, VT in 1820, and in Bolton, Warren, NY in 1830. Jesse is not listed in 1840 but there is an elderly male listed with son Wait. Daniel and Jesse Jr. are also listed in Bolton in 1840. Jesse Jr has another young couple living with him in 1840.

In 1850, the Merrill families in Bolton are headed by Wait, 47,b. NH; and son Silas, 21, b. NY; Jesse, 37, b. NH; Caleb, 33, b. VT; and your John, 32, b. NY. Nancy, 72, b. NH is living with son Jesse Jr. It is our belief, although we have no proof, that your John belongs to the family of Jesse and Nancy Cheny.

We don't have any Tryphosa Merrills in our "lineage known" although there are several Tryphena. None are known to have m. Origen Goodman. When was he b.? South Hadley, MA? Our "lineage unknown" is not on computer and the Merrill daughter are on their father's card, so we can't search for them but we don't remember any Tryphosa.

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.  

Hope this helps,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Thomas Merrill 1444
Date: Sat, July 7, 2007 9:12p

Question: Allison Merrill wrote:

I am working on the Merrill's genealogy. I could only go as far as a male named Thomas Merrill born in about 1444 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England. Does anyone know anything beyond him? Thanks!

Answer: Allison:

We have no record of Merrills in the Whersead area that predate Thomas, 1444.  This date is close to the time when surnames for the common man came into common use.

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 Edwin Kimball Merrill
Date: Wed, July 8, 2007 2:10p

Question: Allen Merrill wrote:

I am Allen(11) from Lester(10), Edwin(9), John(8), Charles(7), Joseph(6), Joseph(5), Daniel(4), Moses (3), Daniel(2), and Nathaniel(1). Do you require any of these family History Sheets or other information to add to your Merrill data base?

Answer: Allen:

Thank you for writing and offering.  We can confirm your lineage as posted down to your dad, Lester Mamuel (10), but we don't have any data on his family or yours. Just to make sure we have all the data on your grandfather, Edwin Kimball (9)'s family we would like to include him also, and your uncles, Carl S and Percy W. We would like to bring these lines down to the present.  

Be assured that our database is not internet accessible, nor do we give out info on living individuals, but if anyone asks, we refer them back to the person who gave us the data. While not searchable, we will search our database for anyone and share what we find at no cost.  All we ask is that they share their Merrill data, so we can do a better job of helping folks with their Merrill lineage.

I think we just sent a welcoming letter to you [different e-mail] and to your daughter.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Daniel Merrill
Date: Wed, July 25, 2007 10:51p

Question: Connie Guerin wrote:

In searching through the Merrill GenForum, I saw one of your replies to a posting about "Julia Merrill and Edward Stewart NH ME" where you said that there was only one Julia Merrill in York Co. ME's 1870 census, and that you didn't know if she married. I am descended from her sister, Henrietta, who married Horace Lord Webber (my ggfather). Julia became a doctor and never married. She is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco, ME with other members of both her parents' families. If you would like any information regarding the Merrills descended from her father Daniel, I will be happy to help with what I have so far. I have been trying to trace his ancestry and have only been able to confirm his parents as Joshua, Jr. (1789-1860) & Abigail (Berry) Fenner (1778-1830)[her 2nd marriage, his 1st]. I believe Joshua's parents were Joshua, Sr. (d.Oct 29, 1816) & Jane (_?_) (d.Jan 7, 1814). They lived and died in Saco, ME where Daniel was born. I don't know when/where they were born/married, either's ancestry or Jane's maiden name. Any help would be appreciated and it would be best if your response could be emailed directly to me. Thank you. ~Connie Guerin

Answer: Connie:

The lineage of Daniel (8) Merrill, father of your Henrietta and her sister Julia is Joshua (7,6), Daniel  (5, 4, 3, 2), immigrant Nathaniel (1).  More details are available.  We would be very interested in what you have on the Merrill descendants of Daniel (8) down to the present.  We follow the Merrill daughters till we get them m., but don't try to follow their children [our own daughters excepted, of course].

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 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 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