Subject: Re: Merrill family - William and Mary Hays
Date: Fri, May 1, 2009 9:00p

Question: Jack D. Merrill wrote:

Hello, Howard and Jean.

I wrote you a few months ago about my apparent connection to John and Jemima Merrill of WV through their son William. I haven't heard anything and was wondering if you've been able to determine if that connection is correct and if you had any other insights for me? ! Also was wanting to ask if the files I set you ever came through properly? Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks. Jack Merrill

Answer: Jack,

We can confirm that William, 1805, who m. Mary Hays and had John Nelson, 1830, was the son of John, ca 1773, and Jemima Batton. It now appears, although we haven't proven it yet, that John and brother Joseph, that m. Jemima's triplet sister, Elizabeth Batton, were sons of Nicholas (3), 1728 [Philip (2), immigrant Richard (1) of Staten Island, NY. A descendant of John and Jemima has been DNA tested and his pattern is consistant with other descendants of this Staten Island branch.

Don't know why, but the GED and Decendancy chart never did show up as openable attachments, although the file size indicated they were there. By forwarding the email to myself, they did show up and I was able to open them. As I pointed out in my email of 3/17, quoted below, the Rosa who m. Samuel R cannot be the d/o George Franklin Merrill.

We have some real questions about the validity of some points. You mentioned that you had Samuel R m. to a Rosie Reid, d/o Joe Reid, but changed that to Rosa Merrill d/o George Franklin Merrill. You need to revisit that. In 1900, Rosalie Sinclair Merrill, b. 1878 Dec 28 in Richmond, VA, d/o George Franklin Merrill was still single living with her parents in Richmond. She m. 1905 apr 25 Preston W Noland. In 1910, she and Preston Noland were still in Richmond with a 4 year old daughter, Rosalie M Noland.

In 1900, Samuel R, 35 and Rosa, 21,[b. WV] were in Winfield, Marion, WV. They had been m. 5 years and had a 2 month old daughter Minnie B. so Rosa cannot be the d/o George Franklin Merrill. In 1910, Samuel R, 44, and Rosa A, 30 were in Grant, Marion, WV, m. 15 years, and had Minnie B, 10; George C, 6; and Charles E, 3; You have Charles E, b, Wetzel Co WV. Where does that come from?

We haven't been able to locate Samuel R and family in 1920. Have You? But we know they didn't d. till much later, and we found Samuel R, 65, and Rosie A, 52 in 1930 in Cass, Monongalia, WV, but no sign of Charles or George. In 1920 there is a Link Merrill, 63, wid., in Clay, Wetzel, WV with two sons, George, 17, and Charles, 14. These two boys ages match up pretty well with those of Samuel's, but Link can't be a nickname for Samuel R. He is too old and Rosa has not died. If your Charles Edward was really b. Wetzel Co, there might confusion between Charles, son of Link and Charles son of Samuel R. How firm is the connection between Charles Edward and Samuel R? I assume you have personal knowledge back as far as Charles Edward. Do you have info on the other children of Charles Edward, Charles H, and Perry Wayne?

We question the Wetzel Co bp for Charles E. From the gedcom, you show his father, Samuel R in Marion Co WV in 1880, 1900, and 1910. What record puts him in Wetzel Co in 1905? Charles E's wife was b. Wetzel Co. Perhaps if she gave the info for the death certificate [when did he d.?], she put down where she was b. thinking he was b. there too.

We haven't looked at the gedcom in detail, I just got it open today, but did notice one error. In the facts page for William, 1805, the 1820 census in Accomac Co VA is NOT this William, not even related. That is a descendant of an entirely differnt immigrant.

At least in your own GED you should put in specific dates, if you know them. We would also appreciate specific dates, if you will share them, but by private email, not on this site which is internet accesible. Our database is NOT internet accessible, nor will we give out info on living individuals.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - James (7) Merrill
Date: Fri, May 8, 2009 2:47p

Question: Maureen Hyde wrote:

Hi, Jean and Howard

Guess you are still at it and so am I. I was out at the Univ. of British Columbia and found the History of Newburyport, Mass 1764-1905 by John J. Currier, pub. Newburyport, Mass. Published by the Author, 1906. On p. 237 the following - James Merrill, Solomon Littlefield, Hiram Littlefield, Atkinson Stanwood, Jonathan Kenniston, Daniel C. Rogers and John R. Stanwood and George B. Merrill, part owners of the Bark Amazonian, 480 tons register built in Newburyport by James Merrill in 1860, recovered their proportion of the amount claimed for the loss of that vessel. She sailed April 22, 1863, with a general cargo from New York for Montevideo. She was captured and burned by the Alabama June 2, 1863.

On another site I found The New York Times archives, p. 4, General News, published July 28, 1863 (copyrighted The New York Times): The bark Amazonia of Boston which was destroyed by the rebel pirates was valued at $28,000. There were war risks on the vessel to the amount of about three-quarters of her value. One quarter was owned by Capt. D.F. Mayo, a quarter by Mr. James Merrill, of Newburyport. I know this isn't my James Merrill but he must be related, being from Newburyport. In doing my genealogy, I think I have got it correct that I have another line through my Betsy Greenough whose father was Capt. Carpenter Greenough. In the Newburyport vital records there is his intention to marry Susanna Merril, dau. of Jonathan Merrill and Mary Merrill -- his parents being Daniel Merrill and Sarah Mooers and her parents being Roger Merrill and Mary Hale.

Answer: Maureen:

Good to hear from you again. Yes we are still at it.

It looks like the James, builder and Part Owner of "Amazonian" was James (7) [Nathan (6,5), Thomas (4,3), Abel (2), Nathaniel (1). James, his father, two uncles and his grandfather were all Newburyport shipbuilders.

You've got your lines correct. Susanna (6), Jonathan (5) Daniel (4,3,2), Nathaniel (1) with Jonathan m. to Mary (5), Roger (4), Nathaniel, (3), Abel (2), Nathaniel (1). Keep up the good work.

Howard and Jean

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Jesse (6) Merrill
Date: Sun, May 17, 2009 6:02p

Question: Sue Follansbee wrote:

I am helping a friend (Lisa Merrill Spears) research her connection through John Merrill of Bolton, NY, and I have a question about your answer to Dennis Owens of July 4, 2007: "Jesse and Nancy were in Dunstable, Hillsborough, NH in 1810, in Arlington, Bennington, VT in 1820, and in Bolton, Warren, NY in 1830." I did not find Jesse in Dunstable in the 1810 census; the only Jesse I found in Hillsborough county, NH, in 1810 was in Fishersfield. Did you have some source other than the census for that information, or did you perhaps mean John Merrill in Nottinghamwest? I have been trying to puzzle this out. Thank you for your help. I myself am descended from Mary Merrill (Abraham, Nathaniel), but I have that line completed, so I'm puzzling over some of the other Merrills with my friend.

Answer: Sue and Lisa:

You are absolutely correct, Jesse was in Fisherfield in 1810, not Dunstable NH.

Back in the early 1980's when we started collecting the Merrills from the early New England census, all we had was the published printed indexes, and access to the microfilms. The indexes gave name, county, town and microfilm page number. On printed forms we would put down each Merrill in order by County, town and page #, then read the microfilm by page number to try and find the Merrills on that page. The 1810 NH index showed three Merrills Jesse, Nathaniel, and Jonathan in Dunstable on pages 548 and 549. And we found those three Merrills on those pages. What we didn't notice at the time, was that the Dunstable listing ended on page 547, and Fisherfield started on page 548. Apparently the indexer didn't notice it either so there was an error in the printed index and they should have been listed in Fisherfield [now Newbury, NH].

With the census pages "on line" it certainly easier to look up the records, except that Ancestry has changed their search criteria so that it is easier to miss folks with varied spelling.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Cyrus W Merrill
Date: Tue, May 19, 2009 1:41p

Question: Nancy Lindemeyer wrote:

Am interested in Cyrus Wheadon Merrill b. 1818, Fabius, New York. Also interested as to how he is related to David Merrill, who fought in the Revolution. I am doing work on the letters of Julian W. Merrill, Cyrus's son, who fought in the Civil War and was then married to Matilda Morgan.

Answer: Nancy:

Our identification of Cyrus W's lineage must be considered tentative. In the 1840 census, in Fabius, Onondaga, NY, Cyrus [listed as Silas], is [20-30], wife [20-30], with 1f [15-20] (possibly a sister, helping with a newborn), and 1m [under 5]. Cyrus is living next door to Samuel W [40-50] and family, believed to be his father. Samuel W is listed in Fabius in both 1820 and 1830 and in both has a son consistent with Cyrus's age.

In 1850, both Cyrus and Samuel W [1797-1876] have moved to Perry, Wyoming, NY. 1850 is the fist census in which each family member is listed by name and age. From this and later census, Cyrus and Ann Augusta (__?__), had 3 children: Julian Wheaton, ca 1840; Mary E, ca 1841; and Clara A ca 1852. You have Cyrus's middle name as Wheadon, while we have his son's middle name as Wheaton. We suspect the names should be the same. What is your source for Wheadon? Perhaps that is what Samuel W's middle initial stands for.

We do not have the name of Samuel W's first wife, the mother of Cyrus. They had Cyrus, 1818; Alva D, 1823; and Orris 1833. She apparently d. sometime after 1840, and Samuel W m. 2nd Helen Matilda (__?__) before 1843. They had Emily, 1843; Samuel W Jr., 1849; and James 1853.

You mention David who fought in the Revolutionary War. Are you referring to the David (5), 1738-1821, who d. in Fabius? We have no record of his being a Rev War vet, although he certainly would have been in his prime at that time. He is not listed as a DAR patriot. Neither is he listed as a Rev. War pensioner, although I guess you had to apply for a pension, and he might not have bothered. Do you have info that indicates he was a vet? From the census it looks like David must have m. twice. He and first wife, Esther Howe, had Mead, 1762; Barzilla, 1764; Esther, 1766; Amy, 1769, Chilion, 1771; and perhaps John, 1777. In the 1800 census, David has a wife [26-45], 1 son and 4 daughters b. after 1784. This looks like a second family to us and we believe the son [under 10] in 1800 is Samuel W [1797]. Esther Howe would have been 56 in 1800. Speculation: Perhaps David's 2nd wife was a Wheaton, and that name has carried forward.

If our suppositions are correct Cyrus W (7)'s lineage would be Samuel W (6), David (5), Nathaniel (4), John (3,2), immigrant Nathaniel (1). More details are available. We would be interested in any information on Cyrus W's Merrill surname descendants down to the present day.

We are Howard and Jean Merrill. For over twenty five years we have been trying to database the Merrill/Merrell family nationwide from the original immigrants down to the present day for all immigrant lines. So far we have info on over 60,000 Merrill males plus their wives and daughters in our database, but we estimate there have been well over a100,000 so we have a long way to go, and 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 from us. 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 we ask is that folks share their Merrill data with us so that we can expand our database and do a better job of helping solve Merrill lineage problems.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Kate Merrill Langill
Date: Fri, May 29, 2009 7:26p

Question: Angie Langill wrote:

Dear Howard and Jean Merrill,

I am writing this to let you know that there were three Katie Merrill's born in New Hampshire that I have been able to find. All in the late 1800's. In reading your reply to K. Bottomley on 18 Feb 2008, I find it necessary to let you know that the Kate Merrill we are searching for is not the one born in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. I have also found one born in Laconia, New Hampshire and she is not the one either. I am quite sure our Kate Merrill was born in Woodstock, New Hampshire but, have been unable to find the names of her biological parents as of yet. I write you merely to set the record straight. Also thank you for helping many to solve their Merrill dilemmas.

Respectfully Yours, Angie

Answer: Angie:

You are correct that neither the Kate b. 1881 Aug 15 in Pittsburg, NH [the only Kate reported in the NH vital records in Concord] nor the Kate L, b. 1873 Oct 20 in Laconia [not reported in the vital records, but mentioned in "Genealogy of the Greely Family" and confirmed in the 1880 Laconia census] is your Kate Lillian Merrill who m. Howard H Langill.

While our initial answer to Kate Bottomley's query suggested that the Pittsburg Kate might be be her ancestor, subsequent research and correspondence, not posted to this site, showed that NOT to be correct. We still question Kate Lillian's Woodstock birthplace. What proof do you have for the Woodstock location? No Woodstock Merrill births prior to 1900 were sent to Concord, although there were four Merrill families there in 1880 and three in 1900, one with small children.

Our speculation is that the Kate L, b.1873 Oct 20 in Laconia to Myron M (7) and Abbie S Moulton, d. shortly after the 1880 census, and they had a daughter b. 1882 Apr who they also named Kate Lillian. Myron M d. in 1889 in Laconia. We don't know when Abbie d. The Laconia Cemetery records are not "on line" nor were they posted at the NH Genealogical Society in Concord when we last visited there [ca 1983]. It would be helpful to find the cemetery records for Myron, Abbie, and the 1873 Kate L.

We next found your Kate in the 1900 census in Plymouth, listed as Kate Piper, 18, b. 1882 Apr, living with her adopted mother, Melissa, 41, widow of James Piper, now remarried 5 years to Prentiss H Crawford, 56. Melissa and Kate live next door to Mary E Merrill, 65, and her granddaughter, Flossie E Merrill, 15, possibly your Kate's sister. Mary E Merrill is Myron M's mother, actually his stepmother, but she raised him.

Our speculation is that after Abbie's d. [or Myron's d. in 1889] Kate Lillian, was adopted by the childless James and Melissa Piper, next door neighbors of Myron's mother in Plymouth. In 1910, Kate and Howard H Langill are living next door to Melissa and Prentiss Crawford. In 1920, one of Kate's daughters, Mildred Langhill, 16, is living with Melissa and Prentiss Crawford, and is listed as a granddaughter. Howard and Katherine are also in Plymouth with their other children. In 1930, Howard Langill, 54, divorced, is living with Melissa Crawford, 71, and three of his children.

If our suppositions are correct, your Kate Lillian's lineage is Myron M (7), Hiram W (6), Samuel (5), Enoch (4), Joseph (3), Abel (2), immigrant Nathaniel (1).

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Thea Fabio Merrill
Date: Fri, May 29, 2009 4:50p

Question: Barbara Fried wrote:

Is your Merrill family related in any way to this Merrill family? Thanks! http://thomaspaulmerrill.com/Benweb/thea_fabio_merrill.pdf

Answer: Barbara:

Thea Fabio Merrill is one of our correspondents. Her husband Richard is descended from William [ca 1652-1724] of Staten Island and Hopewell NJ. We are descended from Nathaniel of Newbury MA [1601-1655]. There is no connection between these two Merrill immigrants. What is your Merrill connection?

We are Howard and Jean Merrill. For twenty five years we have been trying to database the Merrill/Merrell family nationwide from the original immigrants down to the present day for all immigrant lines. So far we have info on over 60,000 Merrill males plus their wives and daughters in our database, but we estimate there have been well over a100,000 so we have a long way to go, and 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 from us. 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 we ask is that folks share their Merrill data with us so that we can expand our database and do a better job of helping solve Merrill lineage problems.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Charles Pinkney Merrill
Date: Fri, May 31, 2009 5:29p

Question: Sandra Nash wrote:

Hello,

I wrote to you in Sept. of 2008. I had Charles born in North Carolina, but as you stated it was South Carolina. I was curious about the name Pinkney. My grandfather was Charles Pinkney Sanders--Mother Nancy Isabella Merrill, her father Charles Pinkney Merrill. Are we related to the Pinkney Family?

Thank you, Sandra

Answer: Sandra

We know of no connection between your Merrill family and the Pinkney family. Charles Cotesworth Pinkney 1746-1825 is listed in our dictionary as an American Statesman - no more info. We haven't Googled him, but I associate the name with the southern states. We suspect the only connection is that his parents named him after a famous American of the period the same as many named their kids George Washington Merrill or Benjamin Franklin Merrill.

In all the census from 1840 to 1870 Charles Pinkney went by Pinkney.

Howard and Jean Merrill