A Merrill Family History New Edition 12.2008
Search billions of records on Ancestry.com
   

 home
 
A Merrill Family History

Nathaniel Merrill of Wherstead, England
Immigrant Ancestor

From England to Alaska

gbflagma MEilflag waak

In Memory of my grandfather,
Ralph Jay Merrill
1882 - 1953

NATHANIEL MERRILL, Immigrant Ancestor of a large number of Merrills in America, was
born 04 May 1601 in Wherstead, England, and died 16 March 1654/55 in Newbury, Essex, MA.
He immigrated with his brother John between 1635 and 16391,2

A Merrill Memorial, by Samuel Merrill, Cambridge, MA 1917-1928:-
It seems most likely that Nathaniel and John Merrill arrived together in Ipswich
(then called Agawam) , MA, supposedly on the ship Hector in 1633, and that
Nathaniel later returned to England to get his wife and children, arriving in Ipswich
a second time in 1638/39. Nathaniel owned land in Ipswich in 1636. In July 1638,
his brother John arranged for a home site of four acres in Newbury for his unnamed
"brother", indicating that Nathaniel was not able to take care of this himself.
Undisputed is the fact that the brothers and their families were among the earliest
settlers in Newbury.


  Who were Nathaniel's Ancestors?

Many Merrill genealogies list Nathaniel's ancestry like this:
Nathaniel6 Merrill(Nathaniel5, John4 John3, John2, Thomas1)

Some prefer using A-Z to distinguishes ancestors in the Old County:
Nathaniel1 Merrill(NathanielA, JohnB JohnC, JohnD, ThomasE).
This
allows adding ancestors as they are proven without upsetting the
numbering, since
the immigrant ancestor is always Number 1.
 
There are several knowledgeable genealogists who have done extensive research into the
Meryell-Merrill family. Some believe the line traces to one of three knights who accom-
panied William the Conqueror from France to England in 1066: John and Richard Miriel of
Norfolk, or Adam de Miriel, which, because he was from Suffolk County, may be more likely.
True? Maybe, but not provable. One of the early researchers was Samuel Merrill. His book,
A Merrill Memorial (1928) remains the backbone of much of today's Merrill genealogy.
It's available online at: http://www.merrill.org/genealogy/mm/ courtesy of Steve Merrill [email protected]

Samuel Merrill was among those serious researchers who searched for solid evidence, and in-
cluded in his book are copies of a number of wills and other documents that were discovered
in English parishes.

A Merrill Memorial by Samuel Merrill: (1928):
The Calendar of Wills at Ipswich between 1444 and 1600
shows twenty-three entries under the various spellings
Merrell,
Morrell, Murrell, Murell, Meryell, Morriell and Moriell.

Among the wills, were those of Thomas Meriell and three men named John, all of Wherstead. These four men preceded Nathaniel Merrill and his wife, Mary Blacksol--the proven parents
of the immigrant brothers, John and Nathaniel-- and are often reported as their ancestors.


Thomas Meriell of Wherstead
- Will of
1 January 1463

Named in his will are sons William, John "the elder son", Robert, John the younger,Edmund,William the younger, and daughters Christiane, Alice, Katharine
and Juliane.
Executors named - wife Margarete, John Bacon, the elder of
Blakenham and "John my elder son".


[Probated at Sippewith [Ipswich] the [8th (xiii??), 20th ??] of __, 1463]

Researchers commonly report that this Thomas was born in 1444, which can't be correct,
as that would
mean he was only 19 years old when he died, far too young to have ten children. Regardless of his date of birth, there is no evidence to connect any of the sons of Thomas
with John Meryell whose will was presented some 65 years later in 1528. Could there be a
missing generation?



   
 
John Meryell of Wherstead - Will of 1528

Named in his will is John's wife Ann, his two sons, John (I), John (II);
two daughters: Julian and Eleanor; and John (I)'s daughter, Johan.

A Merrill Memorial cites location of will as Archdeaconry of Suffolk, book x, folio 40.

John (I) must have been of age, as he was named as one of the executors. His daughter Johan,
is also probably an adult, as she is bequethed a “combe” of barley. . John (II) was probably a minor, as his father specifies that funds be provided for his education. Was either of these sons
the “John Meryell” whose will was proved in 1551/2? To date, it appears there is no way to prove a connection between any of these children and the John Meryell whose will was pro-
duced 28 Jan 1551/52.


 
John Meryell of Wherstead - Will proved 28 Jan. 1551/2

Named is wife Katherine and five sons and five daughters: John (I), William,
Michael, Thomas, John (II), Mary, Margaret, Alice, Katherine, Agnes..

Although some researchers claim that "John the Younger" is the ancestor of Nathaniel, I
have not found evidence to determine the relationship between any of the John Meryells and
the John Merrill whose own will was produced in Wherstead, England on 11 Dec 1600.


John Merrill of Wherstead - Will proven 11 December 1600

Named in this will is wife Prudence and children: John, Michael, Nathaniel and Thomas.

Information provided in this will, along with information from Wherstead and Belstead registers, provide strong evidence that John (1545-1600) was the grandfather of our Immigrant Ancestor, Nathaniel Merrill, whose older brother John and two sisters, Marie/Mary and Margaret are
clearly identified. (Nathaniel was born in 1601, some six months after this will was written.)



Will of John Merrell
Will proven and accepted 11 Dec 1600
Abstract by jmk

I John Merrell the elder of whersteade in the Countie of Suff:
Yeoman being sicke in bodie and yet of pfect memorie ...
I give and bequeath to Prudence my wife in pte of
recompence of hir dower my parlor and larther howse
pcell of my dwelling howses wth. the bedding and furniture
in the same and the pasture and stover somer and winter
for a Cowe upon my lands in litle belsted and whested
aforesaid from time to time to have and to hold to hir
the said Prudence for terme of hir natural life keeping
hir sole and unmarried. . . the said Prudence in further
recompence of hir dower one anuitie or yeer lierent of five
pounds of lawfull englishe mony to be going out of all
my lands and Tennemts in little Belsted wherested and
Sprowtonne to have and to hold to my said wife for
terme of hir life ... to John my sonne. . .Michaell my Sonne. . .
Nathaniell merrell my Sonne. . .to Thomas my Sonne ...
to Marie Merrell daughter to the said Nathaniell...
to Martha merrell one other of the daughters of the said Nathaniell John Merrell Sonne to the said Nathaniell ...
Thoms merrell Sonne of Thoms Merrell my Sonne...
Ann Merrell daughter of said Thoms
Sohnes John and Michaell, whome
I ordaine name and costitute my Executors of this my
last will & Testament, And I appoint my loving friend
Cristopher Wright supraviser of the same Testament

Source of Will, A Merrill Memorial, citation:
Records of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk, book xxxviii, folio 242.
Complete copy of will can be seen at
http://www.merrill.org/genealogy/mm/mm_04_02.html


The Merrill Newsletter - Vol 6, Numb 3 - October, 2000 - Page 3
Previous Queries and Answers. by Howard and Jean Merrill:
"A Merrill Memorial" by Samuel Merrill gives verbatim the wills of three
John Merrills in England that preceded immigrant Nathaniel's parents
Nathaniel and Mary Blacksol. Certainly the latest of these [will 1600]
refers to Nathaniel's grandfather. Since both earlier wills [1552 and
1529] named two different sons as John it is difficult to know which
one is which. Some folks claim a Thomas Merryl b. 1444, but we have
seen no documentation. Others want to trace their lineage back to the
time of William the Conqueror. We only claim the first John [1600 will]
where we are certain of the direct lineage.


 
Generation B

B. JOHNB MERRILL
was born 1545 in Wherstead, England, and died Bef. 11 Dec 1600 in Wherstead, England. He married PRUDENCE BIRD 1570 in Wherstead, England. She was born 1548 in Wherstead, England, and was buried 22 Dec 1609 in Wherstead, England.

John was a land owner, and apparently made his income from tenements in the parishes of " little Belsted wherested and Sprowtonne."


Children of JOHN MERRILL and PRUDENCE BIRD are:
i. John5 Merrill, born ca. 1568 in Belstead, Suffolk, Eng..
ii. Michael Merrill, born ca. 1570 in Belstead, Suffolk, Eng..
A. iii. NATHANIEL MERRILL, born 1571 in Belstead, Suffolk, England;
iv. Thomas Merrill, born ca. 1572 in Belstead, Suffolk, Eng..



Generation A


  A. NATHANIELA MERRILL (JOHNB) was baptized 1571 in Belstead, Suffolk, England, and died 28 Feb 1626/27 in Wherstead, England. He married MARY BLAXALL 27 Feb 1591/92 in Belstead. She was baptized 01 May 1574 in Wherstead, England, and died 29 Apr 1624 in Wherstead, England.

Children of NATHANIEL MERRILL and MARY BLAXALL are:
i. Unk Daughter Merrill, baptized 1593 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England; buried 1593
ii Francis6 Merrill, bap.1598 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England; buried 01 Aug 1598
iii. Marie/Mary Merrill, bapt 23 Feb 1594/95 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.
iv. John Merrill, born 16 Aug 1599 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England; died 12 Sep 1673 in
Newbury, Essex, MA. He married Anis Bishop Jan 1628/29 in Wherstead, England; b
v. Martha Merrill, born Bef. Dec 1600 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.
1. vi. NATHANIEL MERRILL, bap. 04 May 1601 in Wherstead, England; died
16 Mar 1654/55 in Newbury, Essex, MA.
vii. Michael Merrill, bap. 03 Apr 1603 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.


The registers in Wherstead and Belstead were searched, and the entries copied,
by Stokes & Cox of London, record agents in 1905. (Source: A Merrill Memorial)
Below are items copied from the registers that are of interest to our research:

From the Wherstead Registry:
1593/4 Jan.21 ____Merrell, dau. of Nath! Merrell & his wife was buried.
1594/5 Feb.23. Mary Merrell, dau. of Nath! Merrell & Mary his wife was baptised.
( ) Francis Merrell dau. of _____Merrell & Mary his wife was baptised.
1598. Aug. 1. Fraunces Merrell, dau. of Nath! Merrell & Mary his wife buried.
1599. Aug. 16. John Merrell son of Nath! Merrell & Mary his wife was baptised.
1601. May 4 Nathanaell Merrell son of Nath! Merrell & Mary his wife was baptised.
1603. Apr. 3. Mychell Merrell, son of Nathaniel Merrell & his wife was baptised.
1628/9 Jan. 24. John Merrill & Anis Bishope married.
1626/7 Mar17. Nathaniel Merrill buried.

From the Belstead Registry
1592/3 Feb. 27. Nathanaell Merrill & Mary Blacksoll married.
1601. Dec. 29. John Merrill & Susan Plumley married.
1608. Dec. 22. Prudence Merrill buried.



Generation No. 1

 
The Immigrant Ancestor

   1. NATHANIEL1 MERRILL (NATHANIELA, JOHNB) was born 04 May 1601 in Wherstead, England, and died 16 March 1654/55 in Newbury, Essex, MA. He married SUSANNAH "WILTERTON" 23 Sep 1633 in Wherstead, England. Date and location not verified. Susannah was
the daughter of a prior marriage of Susan ? and step-daughter of Susan's husband, Gregory Wilterton/ Wolterton. She was born Aft. 1610 in Wherstead, England, and died 25 Jan 1672/73 in Newbury, Essex, MA.

 Emigration: Bet. 1635 - 16391,2

 After Nathaniel died on 16 March 1654/55, his widow married Stephen Jordan (Jordain?)3 This  marriage led to much confusion for genealogists, and conjecture as to her maiden name.
Howard and Jean Merrill, Merrill Newsletter 10/08/97
The baptism of Nathaniel's first four children has been found in Lawford, Essex Co, England: Nathaniel, 1634 May 25; John, 1635 Mar 13; Abraham, 1637 Apr 9; Susan, 1638 Dec 12. These studies also suggest that Susannah was NOT Susanna Wilterton but rather the daughter by a prior marriage of Susan the wife of Gregory Wilterton, proprietor of Hartford. We do not know the name of Susan's first husband so we don't know Susannah's surname. When, after Nathaniel's death, John(2)[still a minor] went to Hartford, he went to live with his grandmother, and learned the tanning trade from his stepgrandfather, Gregory Wilterton. When childless Gregory died, John (2) inherited the bulk of Gregory's estate. (Citation: HERITAGE QUEST #24 Sep - Oct 1989 pg 38; #25 Nov - Dec 1989 pg 44, and TAG Vol 33 1957 pg 95-98.)

A Merrill Memorial, by Samuel Merrill, Cambridge, MA 1917-1928:-
It seems most likely that Nathaniel and John Merrill arrived together in
Ipswich
(then called Agawam) , MA, supposedly on the ship Hector in 1633,
and that
Nathaniel later returned to England to get his wife and children, arriving in Ipswich a second time in 1638/39. Nathaniel owned land in Ipswich in 1636. In July 1638, his brother John arranged for a home site of four acres
in Newbury for his unnamed
"brother", indicating that Nathaniel was not
able to take care of this himself.
Undisputed is the fact that the brothers and their families were among the earliest settlers in Newbury.... 
 
The will and inventory of Nathaniel1 Merrill are preserved in the Essex County Court Papers, vol. III leaf 10, in the office of the Clerk of Courts at Salem. The will was executed 8 March, 1654/5; Nathaniel Merrill died 16 March, 1654/5; the will was proved 27 March, 1655.
The conjecture has been advanced, and it has even been stated as a fact, that the wife of Nathaniel Merrill was Susanna Wilterton (or Wolterton.) After the death of Nathaniel Merrill his widow married Stephen Jordan (or Jourdain). Nathaniel Merrill, son of Nathaniel and Susanna Merrill, gave a deed, under date of 16 Aug 1661, to Peter Godfrey of Newbury, in which the phrase occurs, "after the decease of my mother Susanna Jordan," and out of this fact the error regarding the maiden name of Nathaniel's wife grew.

Steve Merrill: Susannah ........, also known as Susannah Wolterton, was the wife of the emigrant, Nathaniel Merrill. For many years she was thought to be the sister of Gregory Wolterton of Hartford, Conn. Later research shows that she probably is the daughter of Gregory's wife, Susannah (Unknown) by a previous marriage.


Will of Nathaniell Merrill

Witnes by these psents that J Nathaniell Merrill of Newbury in the Countie of Essex being ficke of body but through gods mercy of perfect memory do here make my last will and testament, J first bequeath my soule into

5 the hands of my blessed Redeemer with an assured hope of a ioyfull resurection, and my body when it shall please the lord to take me out of this fraile life to bee buryed in the burying place of Newbury, and for my worldly goods J giue and dispose of as followeth

10 Jmpr J giue and bequeath unto Susanna my wife five akers
of plowable land lying next my Brother John land and halfe the marsh dureing her naturall life and a cow and three beifers and all my household goods, And out of this estat so giuen to my wife

15 J giue and bequeath unto my daughter Susanna fiue pounds when she shalbe at the age of twenty yeares then J giue and bequeath unto my son Nathaniell (whom J appoint as my true and lawfull heire) all my land and freehold after my wiues decease, and

20 all the working tooles & Jmplements of husbandry and all the cattell and stocke besids And out of this stocke J appoint that my son Nathaniell shall pay theise legacyes as followeth, that is J giue unto my son John when be shalbee of the age of two and twenty yeers

25 the summe of fiue pounds, And also J giue and bequeath unto my son Abraham at the age of two and twenty yeare fiue £ , And J giue and bequeath unto my sonne Daniell also at the age of one and twenty years fiue £ and J giue and bequeath to my son Abell fiue £ also

30 at the age of one and twenty years, And J appoint my son Nathaniell to be my sole executor and all my debts& funerall rites being discharged J appoint him to haue all the rest of my goods & chattels undisposed
and J desire my brother John merill and Anthony Somerby

35 to be the ouerseers of this my last will & testament.

Jn witnesse wherof J baue set my hand. march the eight in the
yeare one thousand six hundred fifty foure
The NM marke
of Nathaniell Merrill

but if gods p’uidence should by losses & crosses upon ye estate more then ordinary: then proporlionably to be abated in the legacyes
Wittnes Richard Knight
Anthony Somerby

The will and inventory of Nathaniel1 Merrill are preserved in the
Essex County Court Papers, vol. III leaf 10, in the office of the
Clerk of Courts at Salem. The will was executed 8 March, 1654/5; Nathaniel Merrill died 16 March, 1654/5; the will was proved
27 March, 1655.

 

Nathaniel's four oldest children were born in England, the youngest, in Newbury.
Children of NATHANIEL MERRILL and Susannah Wolterton are:

2 i. Nathaniel2 Merrill, was baptized in Lawford, Essex, England on . 25 May 1634; died
Jan 1682/83 in Newbury, MA. He married Joane Ninian 15 October 1661 in Newbury,
MA. She died 08 Feb 1717/18.
The estate of Nathaniel2 Merrill was inventoried at £520,7s. at his death, and his debts amounted to £ 46,9s.8d. He owned land in Haverhill, which he gave to his sons Nathaniel and Peter. He had one additional son, John, and 4 daughters.

3 ii. John Merrill, baptized in Lawford, Essex, England on 1635 Mar 13, died 18 July 1712 in
Hartford, CT He married Sarah Watson 23 September 1663 in Hartford,Conn.; born ca. 1640; died Aft. March 1685/86.

         A Merrill Memorial: It is probable that he went to Hartford before coming of
        age, for he is said to have been adopted by Gregory Wilterton of that town.
        He was admitted a freeman 20 May 1658. He was a tanner, and lived on the south side of
        Elm St., on the second lot west from the corner of Main St. After
some years he removed
        to the West Division of the town, now West Hartford,
where he made large purchases of
        land in 1683 and the following years. In 1684,
1694 and 1700 he was a "townsman," or
        selectman, and he was a deacon of the
Second Church. He married, 23 Sept. 1663, Sarah
        Watson, daughter of John and Margaret (Smith) Watson of Hartford. His eight sons and  
        two daughters, and the
daughters 'husbands. were all living at his death.

4 iii. Abraham Merrill, was baptized 9 Apr 1637 in Lawford, Essex, England, and died
28 Nov 1722. He married (1) Abigail Webster 18 Jan 1660/61. She was born
ca. 1642, and died 12 August 1712. He married (2) Sarah Clements Bond (widow)
Sept 1713.
A Merrill Memorial:
(Abraham) was a weaver, and lived in the north part of the town, (now West Newbury), near the mouth of Artichoke River. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church in Newbury, and was active in the party opposing Rev. Thomas Parker, being one of the founders of the Episcopal Church.
5 iv. Susanna Merrill, baptized 12 Dec 1638 in Lawford, Essex, England and died 10 Oct 1690
in Suffield, Conn. This proves that Nathanial must have made at least one trip back to England to get his family, or that he did not come to America before 1638. Susanna married John Burbank 15 Oct. 1663 in Newbury.He was born in Rowley, MA; died 01 June 1709.

+ 6 v. DANIEL MERRILL, born 20 Aug 1642 in Newbury, MA died 27 June
1717 in Salisbury, MA.

7 vi. Abel Merrill, born 20 Feb.1643/44; died 28 Oct. 1689 in Newbury, MA.
He married Priscilla Chase 10 February 1670/71 in Newbury, MA.

In 1682, a Baptist church was formed in Newbury, and Abel was one of the
original members. (Coffin, History of Newbury, p. 135.) Under the name of
"Abil Merell" he appears to have been a soldier in the company of Capt. Thomas
Noyes in 1688.

The tax list of 1688 shows that Abel2 Merrill was in that year assessed on one house,
five acres of "Plow Lands" in Newbury, one horse, five cows, six young cattle, ten sheep
and four swine. At his death he was an owner of land in Haverhill, his interest being ap-
praised at £35. This was no doubt his undivided share in land which he and his brother
Daniel (See page 92) purchased in 1673 and 1674. He died intestate, leaving his wife with
eight minor children, the youngest less than one year old.

 

Generation No. 2

My report is not a history of all descendants of Nathaniel Merrill, but primarily includes ancestors
and descendants of my grandfather, Ralph Jay Merrill. Names of my ancestors are in bold CAPITALS

 
6. DANIEL2 MERRILL (NATHANIEL1,NATHANIELA, JOHNB) was born 20 August 1642 in Newbury, Mass, and died 27 June 1717 in Salisbury, MA. He married (1) SARAH CLOUGH 14 May 1667 in Salisbury, Essex Co., daughter of John Clough and Jane Clough. She was born 28 June 1646 in Salisbury, MA, and died 18 March 1705/06 in Salisbury, MA. He married (2) Sarah Morrill 23 May 1708. She was born 24 October 1650 in Salisbury, MA, and died 11 September 1731 in Amesbury, MA.
A Merrill Memorial:
Daniel(2) Merrill was born 20 Aug. 1642, in Newbury. He was a carpenter as
well as a farmer. The site of his homestead is not now known. The Colonial
charter required that the inhabitants take the oath of allegiance to the King.
Political disorders under the Commonwealth and after the Restoration had
resulted in the requirement remaining for a time in abeyance, but, in a modified
form, some of the inhabitants were ultimately called upon to take the oath. It is
recorded that Daniell Merrill” of Newberie” took “ye oath of ffidelitie vnto this
gouerment ye 25 of february sixty eight,” and again in 1678 he took the oath of
allegiance, his age being given at that time as thirty-four years. In 1677 he was
chosen fence viewer, and in 1689 he was one of four “way wardens.

Daniel Merrill began buying land in Salisbury in 1682, his purchases including two
tracts in the Barbary meadows ,” œ 46.5s.; six acres in the Higglede Pigglede lotts,
” œ 20; two tracts in the Goodale Swamp Division, œ 20; besides upland at the Great
Plain and at Munday’s Hill, and other land now not easily identified.


Jack Merrill: The tax list of 1688 showed that Daniel Merrill owned two houses, with twelve acres of arable land, in Newbury, and his farm was stocked with two horses, a yoke of oxen, five cows, four three-year-old heifers and four yearlings, besides thirty sheep and six hogs. The absence of pasture in the enumeration is explained by the practice of pasturing cattle on land held in common.

At what time he removed to Salisbury is not known. He is described as of Newbury when, 28 Jan. 1696/7, he purchased, from Richard Hubbard of Boston, a forty-acre tract in Salisbury, bounded easterly by Daniel Moody, northerly by Nathaniel Brown, westerly by “the highway,” and southerly by “a way.” Five years later, 31 Jan. 1701/2, he bought land at the Birchen Meadow, near Turkey Hill, in Newbury, being then described as of Salisbury. He evidently acquired other land also in Salisbury and Haverhill, by deeds which were not recorded, or otherwise, for he made several conveyances of other property, which are recorded with the Essex deeds.

Daniel(2) Merrill continued to own a homestead in Newbury, which descended to his eldest son under his will, besides the Salisbury homestead, which fell to his youngest son. This Salisbury homestead at the "Great Plain" was probably near the ancient cemetery which lies a mile and a half north from East Salisbury village, where the road leading west to Amesbury and South Hampton branches off from the road north to Seabrook. Moses3 Merrill, son of Daniel2, is known to have lived across the road from this cemetery, toward the northwest. This neighborhood was variously known as the Great Plain and Pitch Pine Plain.

Daniel2 Merrill was admitted a freeman by the General Court, and took the freeman’s oath 7 Feb. 1682/3.

Military Service

 
Merrill Memorial: It is recoreded that 'Daniel Merrill of Newberie took ye oath of ffidelitie unto this government ye 25 of february sixty eight.' In 1678, he took the oath of allegiance, his age being given as 34 years. In 1677, he was chosen 'fence viewer' and, in 1689, was one of four 'way wardens.' In 1688, in a list of 'soldiers under ye command of Capt. Thos. Noyes' is the name of 'Daniel Merell' “ He was then forty-five years old. He was called Sergt. Merrill in papers of that time.

Currier, History of Newbury, pp. 528, 540, 541.) In the General Register of the Society of Colonial Wars for 1899-1902 (page 709) it is stated that he was in Lieut.-Col. Thomas Noyes’ company of Snowshoe Men, 1706. But in 1706 Daniel2 Merrill was living in Salisbury. Furthermore, at sixty-three years of age he would hardly have been rated as an effective campaigner on snowshoes. The snowshoe-man of 1706 was his son, Daniel3 Merrill of Newbury, then thirty-four years old. The snowshoe men were "apointed to keep snow shous & moggensons", in addition to the muskets which all inhabitants were required to have ready for use in any emergency.

A silver teaspoon which is supposed to have belonged to Daniel2 Merrill
was handed down in the line of William-Patten7 Merrill of Topsham, Maine. It is now in the possession of his daughters. On the back of the handle are engraved the initials of Daniel Merrill and Sarah Clough, with the date of their marriage, and the initials of John(3), John(4), John(5), Abel(6) and William-Patten(7) Merrill, which were added in later years. The bowl of the spoon shows a number of dents, probably the teeth-marks of youthful Merrills of many generations ago.

At the Registry of Deeds in Salem may be found the record of fifteen conveyances under which Daniel2 Merrill acquired title to various lots of land in Newbury, Salisbury and Haverhill. The earliest of these was dated 5 May, 1668, and the latest 27 Feb. 1706/7. Some of the earlier ones were not recorded until after his death. In 1668, for œ 55, he bought sixteen acres, with buildings, "near the great pine swamp," (in the southern part of Newbury, not far from Parker River). In 1673, jointly with his brother Abel, he bought fifty-six acres in Haverhill, the purchase price being œ 52. The following year the two bought twenty acres adjoining their previous purchase, this being described as situated at “Hogghill” in Haverhill (in the present town of Atkinson, N.H.) The consideration for this second purchase was a Cow and a Yoke of Oxen and “ffivepounds in cloathing in hand payd.”

A Merrill Memorial:
“John Clough*, senior, of Salisbury, in 1686, in consideration of love and good will, gave a deed to"my sone Daniell Merrill & Sarah his wyfe of Nubury", conveying one-half of all the grantor’s land in Haverhill, together with rights of commonage. It was stipulated in the deed that "John Merrill ye sone of Sarah Merrill shalbe considered & allowed some prehemenency in ye abovesd lands abov ye rest of ye sd Sarahs children."

* John Clough was Daniel's father-in-law.

Will of Daniel Merrill
Transcribed by Jack Merrill

Jn ye. Name of God amen

J Daniel Merrill of ye: town of salisbury in ye: County of Essex in ye:
Province of ye: Massachusetts bay in new eng land Carpenter this
tenth day of May 1717 being weak in body but of perfeot mind &
memory. thanks be given to God. therefore caling to ming the
mortality of my body & knowing that it is appointed for all men
once to die do make & ordain this my last will & testament that is to
say principally & first of all J give & recommend my soul into the hands
of God yt: gaue it & my body J re comend to the earth to be buryed in
decent christian burial at ye: discretion of my executor nothing doubting
but at ye: general resurrection J shall receive ye: same a gain by the mighty power of God. & as touching such worly estate wherewth: it has pleased God to bless me in this life J give demise & dispose of ye: same in ye: follow ingmanner & form.(???)

Jmprimis J give & beqveath unto Daniel my oldest sone all my homested
housing & land in newberry as also all my salt marsh my rate lot & wood lot so called & birchin meadow in sd. newberry aforesd he paying out legacys as followeth to my daughter Sarah Morse fourty shillings also to my son in lay Onesiphorus Page sixteen pounds wch: my desire is that he would devide eqvally amongst ye. four ohilldr en wch: he had by my daughter Ruth when they come of age also sixteen pounds to my daughter Martha True all wch: to be paid in or as money wth: in five years after my decease (???)

2ly. J giue & bequeath unto John my second son two thirds of my hoge hill lot so called in Haverhill wch: was given 30 me by my father Clough as also ye: Barbary meadow t was my father Cloughs (???)

3ly: J give & bequeath unto my third son Moses Merrill— the other hird of my hoghill lot to gether wth: all my right to ye: other lands & meadow wch: is between my Cousin Thomas Merrill & J in Haverhill aforesd. as also ye: Pilsbury lot of salt marsh so caled ying in ye: barbary Meadows in salisbury

4ll. J give & beqveath unto my youngest son stephen Merrill.
Whom J likewise make constitute & ordain my sole Executor of this my last will & testament, all my homested buildings & appertenances together wth: my land on ye: Great plain ajoyning to it as also my pasture & meadow Ground in Goodale swamp so called containing about thirty acres as also two lots in ye: salt Marsh at ye: Barbary the oneknown by the name of ye: Downer & the other ye: Bayly lot as also all my stock & moueables also my will is yt: my sd: sone stephen do take Care of my beloved Wife Sarah Merrill after my decease that is to say to find her a convenient fire room in my now dwelling house with necessary & convenient privelidges & to maintain her two Cows winter & summer (she finding ye: Cows) also to find herten load of convenient fire wood at her aforesd. dwell ing place & to pay her five pounds per annum in
money or good provision pay at money price & all this as a yearly an nuity according to a covenant made between me & my wife before marriage & J do hereby utterly disalow revoke & dissanul all & every other former testaments wills legacys & beqvests and executors by me in any ways before Ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last will & testement in witness whereof J haue here unto set my hand & seal the day & year aboue written (???) signed sealed published pronounced & declared by the sd. Danll: Merrill as his last will & testament in presents of us ye: subscribers

Jsrael ShaparD
moses clouf
Jacob Bradbury


This will was sealed with a few drops of red wax, now broken. The seal shows no impress, save a fingerprint of some hand which has long since returned to dust. No inventory of the estate is to be found in the probate files in Salem. The will was proved 12 July, 1717.

"My cousin Thomas Merrill", refers to the testator’s nephew, Thomas3 (Abel2) Merrill. The word "cousin" was used in the old general sense of kinsman.


More About DANIEL MERRILL:
Burial: Salisbury Plains Cemetery, Amesbury, MA

Children of DANIEL MERRILL and Sarah Clough:
were named in Daniel's will. They were all born in Newbury.
i. Daniel3, b. 8 Mar. 1671/2; d. before 29 Sept. 1725.
9. ii. JOHN3, b. 7 Oct. 1674; d. 17 Jan. 1756.
iii. Sarah3, b. 15 Oct. 1677; m. 12 May, 1696, William Morse,
son of Benjamin and Ruth (Sawyer) Morse of Newbury; he was b.
23 Jan. 1673/4, was deacon of the First Church of Newbury,
and d. 10 May, 1749; lived Newbury.
v. Ruth3, b. 7 Feb. 1680/1; d. 29 Jan. 1710/11; m. (pub. 22 Apr. 1701)
Onesiphorus Page, son of Onesiphorus and Mary (Hauxworth) Page of
Salisbury; he was b. 10 Feb. 1678/9; was a soldier 1710; lived Salisbury.
|v. Moses3, b. 3 Sept. 1683; d. 17 Jan. 1756.
vi. Martha3, b. 3 Sept. 1683; m. 16 June, 1702, in Salisbury,
John True, son of Capt. Henry and Jane (Bradbury) True of Salisbury;
he was b. 23 Feb. 1678/9; he was a deacon of the Salisbury Church.
vii. Stephen3, b. 16 Sept. 1688; d. before 4 June, 1755.


Generation No. 3

9. JOHN3 MERRILL (DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1,NATHANIELA, JOHNB)was born 07 October 1674 in Newbury, MA13, and died 17 January 1756 in Salisbury, MA. He married MARY ALLEN 23 September 1702 in Salisbury, MA, daughter of Captain Allen and Mary Pike. She was born 27 December 1681 in Salisbury, MA, and died Aft. 1756 in Salisbury, MA.

Named in his father Daniel's will, "...(I)...give & bequeath unto John my second son two thirds of my hoge hill lot so called in Haverhill wch: was given 30 me by my father Clough as also ye: Barbary meadow yt was my father Cloughs--"

Note: John Clough was Daniel's father-in-law.

More About JOHN MERRILL:
Church Service: John was a deacon of the Church of Salisbury.
Military service: 1710
Occupation: House carpenter.
Will: 1756, The inventory at his death showed real estate in the amount of &343.6s.9d; personal estate- &51.5s10d.

 A Merrill Memorial:
Children all born in Salisbury.
About 1725 Abel4 and John4 Merrill (John3, Daniel2) settled in Arundel.
Their sisters Ruth4 (Whitten), Nancy4 (Carr), and Mary4 (Burnham), with
their husbands, also lived in the town. Abel4 Merrill in a short time removed
to Wells, but John4 was living in Arundel in 1728, when he was granted one
hundred acres "on the Country Road in Arundel, as it is laid from Wells Township to Saco across Bedeford the uper way." It was stipulated that he,
and others who
received grants at the same time, should "settle on said Land according to theCommetys Directions in a Defencable manner, and give bond
to Preform the same."


More About JOHN MERRILL and Mary Allen:
Children: Bet. 1702 - 1724, John and Mary had 14 children: Abel, John, Mary, Daniel, Thomas, Daniel, Ruth, Hannah,Gideon, Nancy, Humphrey (1) who lived less than 3 months, Humphry(2), Martha and Mary.
Marriage: 23 September 1702, Salisbury, MA.

Children of JOHN MERRILL and MARY ALLEN are:
+ 10. i. ABEL4 MERRILL, born 04 January 1701/02 in Salisbury, MA.
ii. John Merrill13, born 14 April 1704 in Salisbur, MA; died 08 April 1784.

A Merrill Memorial:- John4 was living in Arundel in 1728, when he was granted
one hundred acres "on the Country Road in Arundel, as it is laid from Wells Town-
ship to Saco across Bedeford the uper way." It was stipulated that he, and others
who received grants at the same time, should "settle on said Land according to the Commetys Directions in a Defencable manner, and give bond to Preform the same."


John Merrill built a homestead, and made it "Defencable," for the Kennebunkport historystates that he maintained a garrison house near Goff's mill. Such defences were greatly needed, for the Indian wars continued for many years after his advent in the town.

iii. Daniel Merrill, born 17 May 1707; died 05 April 1709 in Salisbury, MA.
iv. Mary Merrill, born 26 Sept 1705; died in childhood..
v. Thomas Merrill, born 18 Dec 1708 in Salisbury, MA; died 03 Feb 1791.
vi. Daniel Merrill, born 16 March 1709/10?.; Prob. died young..
vii. Ruth Merrill, born 26 July 1711. She married John Whitten. They had several sons who fought in the              Revolution.13
viii. Hannah Merrill13, born 01 Dec 1712 in Salisbury, MA; died Aft. 1753 in Salisbury, MA13 She
     married.Jonathan Osgood.
ix. Gideon Merrill, born 23 March 1713/14; died 18 February 1716/17.
x. Nancy Merrill, born 17 February 1715/16 in Salisbury, MA13; died Bef.1753. m. Hezekiah Carr.
xi. Humphrey Merrill, born 04 June 1717; died 29 August 1717.
xii. Humphrey Merrill, born 14 March 1718/19.
xiii. Martha Merrill, born 09 May 1721; m Anthony Morse 22 Dec 1743.
xiv. Mary Merrill, born 17 July 1724 in Salisbury, MA; died Aft. 1753. m. 17 Jan 1744/45, Joseph Burnham.
       Lived in Arundel.13



Generation No. 4


10. ABEL4 MERRILL (JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB) was born 04 January 1701/02 in Salisbury, MA13. He married MARY HARDING Bef. 1728. She was born ca. 1703, the daughter of Stephen Harding and Abigail Littlefield of Wells, Maine. Abel and Mary were early settlers in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Between Wells and Biddeford, in York County, Maine, the coast region was successively
known as Cape Porpoise, Arundel and Kennebunkport. It was first settled by white men in
1629, but owing to its exposed situation suffered much from attacks by Indians, and the white man's occupation was not continuous. The town was first incorporated, as "Cape Porpoise," in 1653. It was reincorporated, as "Arundel," in 1717, and received its present name in 1821.

A Merrill Memorial:
About 1725 Abel4 and John4 Merrill (John3, Daniel2) settled in Arundel. Their sisters Ruth4 (Whitten), Nancy4 (Carr), and Mary4 (Burnham), with their husbands, also lived in the town. Abel4 Merrill in a short time removed to Wells*, but John4 was living in Arundel in 1728, when he was granted one hundred acres "on the Country Road in Arundel, as it is laid from Wells Township to Saco across Bedeford the uper way." It was stipulated that he, and others who received grants at the same time, should "settle on said Land according to the Commetys Directions in a Defencable manner, and give bond to Preform the same."

* Bradbury reports Abel remained resident of Arundel.

1738- Named as a proprietor of Arundel.

Note: Name changed to "Kennebunkport" in 1821. The modern town of Arundel—called
"North Kennebunkport" until 1957—was set off from Kennebunkport in 1915.

Susan Howland Thompson, citing Durell Genealogy by Charles Terry Durell:
Abel and his two brothers moved to Arundel when it was part of Mass.
colony. Abel and John settled not more than a mile from where Henry
Sewell Merrill was born and lived. Abel Merrill was killed by a black
fish while out fishing with his brother-in-law, Joseph Burnham.

Bradbury, Charles, History of Kennebunk Port: MERRILL, ABEL and John, were
brothers, and probably nephews(sic)
of Thomas Merrill, who had a grant of land
from the town in 1681, for killing an Indian. They came from Salisbury. Their sister
Ruth married John Whitten.
[See note below]

Abel settled in Wells about 1725, but shortly removed into Arundel, and married
Mary Harding. He was killed while out a fishing
in a small boat, by black fish. He
had but one child, Gideon, who married Dorothy Wildes. Gideon’s children were,
Abel*, m. Mehitable Burbank and widow Huldah Fletcher; Ruth m.
Israel Burnham;
Jemima m. Jonathan Smith; Jacob, Sarah Huff; and several that died young.


* Abel Merrill (son of Gideon) died in April, 1837, aged 82 yearn. lie was an honest,
intelligent man, remarkable for the accuracy of his memory as to dates, which he
retained till
a short time before his death. The compiler of this work [Charles Bradbury]
is indebted to
him for many of the facts found in it.

Note: The Thomas Bradbury mentions was not related to Abel and John Merrill.
The only Thomas in their family was their cousin Thomas, born 1710, son of Daniel
Merrill & Esther Chase of Newbury.

Only child of ABEL MERRILL and MARY HARDING is:
+ 11 i. GIDEON5 MERRILL, born 1728 in Arundel, ME; died April 1811 in Arundel, ME.



Generation No. 5


11. GIDEON5 MERRILL (ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA,JOHNB) was born 1728 in Arundel, ME, and died April 1811 in Arundel, ME. He married DOROTHY WILDES 13 January 1749/50 in Arundel, (Kennebuckport) ME, daughter of Jacob Wildes and Ruth Foster. She was born Aft. 1728.

Dorothy's father Jacob Wildes was one of the proprietors of Arundel. He was a member
of the committee to settle the dividing line between Arundel and Saco, March 29, 1732.
Tradition says in 1724 he was a member of the expedition which was sent to destroy the
Indian settlement at Norridgewock

Merrill Memorial, Part II pg 356
GIDEON MERRILL(Abel, John, Daniel) was born
1728 in Arundel(now Kennebunkport)ME.,and died 1811. He lived in Arundel
and served in the Revolution. He married 13 Jan 1751, Dorothy Wildes, dau. of
Jacob and Ruth (Foster) Wildes of Arudnel.


Bradbury, Charles, History of Kennebunk Port, pg 294:
Gideon's name is on a list of men required to pay 15 pounds fine.
in order to avoid the 1776 draft to serve in the militia.
If his dob is accurate, he would have been 48 yrs. old, but
no mention is made re. his reasons to not join the militia.


SallyMerrillTaylorpic
.                               The Gideon Merrill House on River Road
                                                 Photo by Sally Merrill Taylor - 2007

Gideon Merrill had been one of my Brick Walls until October of 2007,
when I received an email from Bill & Robb, the current owners of the
house Gideon had built in Kennebunkport, Maine. This contact led me
to Sharon Cummings, former curator of the Kennybunkport Historical
Society, who provided historical background,, maps, and great advice.
As though this wasn't enough, I then heard from Sally Merrill Taylor,
who read a posting I had left on a Merrill forum, contacted me for more
information. She then grabbed her camera, and went off to take photos
of Merrill houses, mills and tombstones in Kennybunkport, Maine.
My genealogy cup runneth over with the kindness of these new friends.



Children of GIDEON MERRILL and Dorothy Wildes are:
i. Ruth6 Merrill, born ca. 1752.
ii. Jemima Merrill, born ca. 1754.

+ 12 iii. ABEL (WILDES) MERRILL, born 01 Oct 1756; died 16 Apr 1837.
+ 13 iv. JACOB MERRILL, born 1759 in Arundel, ME; died 1847.



Generation No. 6


12. ABEL (WILDES)6 MERRILL (GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB,) was born 01 October 1756 in Arundel, ME, and died 16 April 1837 in Arundel, ME. He married (1) MEHITABLE BURBANK ca. 1774 in Arundel, ME, daughter of Benjamin Burbank and Jane Sewall. She was born 27 November 1754 in Arundel, ME, and died 26 December 1817 in Arundel, ME. Abel married (2) Huldah Fletcher 22 January 1823.


Military History
Merrill, Abel, Arundel. Private, Capt. Jesse Dorman's co.,
Col. James Scammon's (30th) regt.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775;
enlisted May 8, 1775; 8 mo.stationed at Cambridge MA regm.
Disc.end of Dec. 1775 and returned home.
.
Jan 1776 - Enlisted as drummer in Capt Tobias Lord's MA Co.
for 1yr. stationed in Portland, ME. In the summer of that year, he
was serving as private in Capt Eliphalet Daniel's N.H. co at Fort
Sullivan, when he recruited his younger brother Jacob to serve
the remaining 4 mo.as his substitute. Apparently, Abel was bored
and looking for more excitement, as he immediately enlisted in a
group expecting --and getting-- more action.

Aug 1777 - Served 4 mo. as private in Capt Joshus Mason's of
Col Jos. Storer's MA regm, during which time he was at Stillwater
and Saratoga. Discharge near Albany, NY at end of service.


MERRELL, Abel MA
Private, Capt. Joshua Nason's co., (late) Col. Storer's regt.;
from 14 Aug to 30 Nov 1777; with Northern army; company
discharged at Queman's Heights. Ref. MA01

Sources include : Pension Claim of Abel Merrill,. MA No. 4442;
More About Mehitable Burbank:
Mehitable's mother, Jane Sewall, was the source of the Sewall
name used by the Merrills of this family naming their children.
More About ABEL MERRILL and Mehitable Burbank:
Children: It was not uncommon for a family to have more than one child with the same name, but this usually happened when a new baby was named for a sibling who had already died. In this family, there appears to be three Stephens.

Daughter Jane m.Eliphalet Durell in 1807. Durell genealogists report that Jane's four older brothers were lost at sea. Merrill Memorial says Stephen lost at sea, age 16.

1830 Census Maine > York > Kennebunkport
Abel Merrill Male 1- 70-80 Yrs 1-F 70-80 Yrs
Benj. Merrill Male 1-30-40 + 2 under 15
FeM 1-30-40 + 2 under 15

  Possibly this Benj. is son of Abel and Mehitable. Unverified.

Children of ABEL MERRILL and Mehitable Burbank are:
i. Stephen Sewall (1)7 Merrill, born 1775.
ii. Jacob Sewall Merrill, born ca. 1777.
iii. Mary Merrill, born ca. 1779.
iv. William Sewall Merrill, born ca. 1782; died Unknown in At sea (?).
v. Edwin Sewall Merrill, born ca. 1785.
vi. Jane Merrill, born 1788.
vii. Benjamin Merrill, born ca. 1790.
+ 14 viii. LYDIA MERRILL, born 11 April 1791 in Arundel, ME; died
21 Sept 1857 in Astoria, IL.
ix. Stephen Sewall (2) Merrill, born 1794; died June.
x. Stephen Sewall (3) Merrill, born 24 June 1798 in Kennebuckport,
York County, ME; died 08 May 1890 in Aged 91 yrs 10m 14 d.
He married Elizabeth Marshall 1835




13. JACOB6 MERRILL (GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1,NATHANIELA, JOHNB)14 was born 1759 in Arundel, ME, and died 1847. He married SARAH HUFF ca. 1788. She was born 1765, and died 1841.


Maine 1840 Pensioners List
Name: JACOB MERRILL
State: ME
County: York County
Township: Age 81 Kennebunk Port
Year: 1840
Page: 004

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Vol. 10 Page:672
Merrill, Jacob, Arundel. Private, Capt John Elden's(sic) Co. Col. Lemuel
Robinson's regt.; also Capt Daniel Merrill's Co., Col Samuel Brewer's regt;

Pension Application of Jacob Merrill: MA #S31251
Jan 1776 - Enl Capt Eldridge Co of Buxton for 3 mo creating on defense
works for Dorchester Heights near Boston... left Boston in Mar, we were ???

Jul 1776 - Took over for bro. Abel in Capt Daniel's Co. for 4 mo and
served 2 stationed at Portsmouth, NH making defense in the harbor.
served 6 mo. in said Co. Col Long may have been reg. commander.

Dec 1776 - Enl with Capt Samuel Holbrook of --ittery point in Maine
for 3 mo marched to Danbury, CT then Terrytown near West Point, NY.

March 1777 Discharged at Pito--ill and returned home
1777 - Enl Capt David Merrill's co, Col Bremen?? on the North River


1790 Census Arendel, Maine
Jacob Merrill 1-M 16+ 1-M 16-, 2-F (all ages)

Children of JACOB MERRILL and Sarah Huff are:
i. Ruth7 Merrill, born 1789.
ii. Sarah Merrill, born 1791; died 1819.
+ 15 iii. ISRAEL MERRILL, born 05 Oct 1792 in Arundel, ME;
died 11 Nov 1876 in Astoria, Fulton Co.Illinois.
iv. Jacob (1) Merrill, born 1794.
v. Caroline Merrill, born 1796.
vi. Charlotte Merrill, born 1798.
vii. Jacob (2) Merrill, born 1800.
viii. William Merrill, born 1802.
ix. Mary Merrill, born 1804.
x. Lucinda Merrill, born 1806.
xi. Elizabeth Merrill, born 1808.
xii. Jonas Merrill, born 1810.


Generation No. 7


  14. LYDIA7 MERRILL (ABEL (WILDES)6, GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB) was born 11 April 1791 in Arundel, ME, and died 21 September 1857 in Astoria, IL16. She married her cousin, (#15) ISRAEL MERRILL Aft. 1810 in Maine?, son of JACOB MERRILL and Sarah Huff. He was born 05 October 1792 in Arundel, ME, and died 11 November 1876 in Astoria, Fulton Co. IL.
Burial: Astoria Cemetery

Israel and Lydia were first cousins, grandchildren of Gideon and Dorothy Wildes Merrill. Their children are listed below.

15. ISRAEL7 MERRILL (JACOB6, GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB) was born 05 October 1792 in Arundel, ME, and died 11 November 1876 in Astoria, Fulton Co. IL. He married his cousin,(#14) LYDIA MERRILL Aft. 1810 in Maine?, daughter of ABEL MERRILL and Mehitable Burbank. She was born 11 April 1791 in Arundel, ME, and died 21 September 1857 in Astoria, IL20.

 History of Fulton County, Illinois: ". . .Israel Merrill was also a native
of the State (Maine), where he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia, daughter of Abel Merrill. . . . Israel Merrill [and his family] left his old home in Maine during the autumn of 1838, and after a long journey, mostly by water, landed in Astoria and purchased 160 acres of land. Mr. M. worked early and late, and in time became comfortably situated. He died Nov. 12, 1876. Mrs. M died Sept. 10, 1857."

1830 United States Federal Census Kennebunkport, York Co. Maine
Israel Merrill Males 3-under 5, (Joseph, Benj., Henry)
2- 5-10, ???
1- 30-40; (Israel)
Fem-1- 30-40 (Lydia)

1840 Winnebego, IL
Israel Merrill Males 2-under 5 Does not fit 3 sons 14-17yrs. old.
1-30-40
Fem 1-under 5
1-15-19
1-20-29
1-30-40


1870 Illinois/Fulton/Astoria
376/383 Merril Israel 76 Retired Farmer Maine
Hetzel Daniel 25 Works on farm
Lucinda 20 IL
Olive 1

Living nearby are sons Henry and Joseph Merrill with their families.

More About ISRAEL MERRILL:
Burial: Astoria Cemetery Sec.G21

Census: 1870, Fulton Co. IL.: Israel Merril, retired farmer age 75.
Living near son Joseph.

Emigration: Bet. June - August 1838.
Israel, Lydia and their family traveled mostly by water from Maine to Astoria,IL where Israel purchased 160 acres.22

Children of Israel and Lydia Merrill:
i. Joseph WB Merrill, born 06 April 1823 in Maine; died in Illinois;
m. Melvina Hudnall in IL.
ii. Benjamin R Merrill, born 11 Nov 1824 in Maine; died 04 Aug 1851
in Fulton Co.IL19.Burial: Astoria Cemetery s/o I & L Age 26y 9m 24d .
16. iii. HENRY SEWALL MERRILL, born 12 April 1826 in Kennebuckport,
Maine; died 27 December 1913 in Astoria Twp., Fulton County, IL


Generation No. 8

16. HENRY SEWALL8 MERRILL (ISRAEL7, JACOB6, GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB) was born 12 April 1826 in Kennebuckport, Maine29, and died 27 December 1913 in Astoria Twp. Fulton Co.IL30. He married SARAH MCNEIL 14 November 1847 in Fulton Co. IL31, daughter of David McNeil and Mary McNeil. She was born 21 April 1829 in Parke Co. IN, and died 27 May 1904 in Astoria, IL.

The McNeils were the founding family of Astoria Township in Illinois. Sarah's mother died in 1840 at the age of "40yrs, 7mo. and 5days" and is buried in the Astoria Cemetery in Fulton Co. IL. She left seven young children under the age of 15. As the only daughter, Sarah must have had to take on the role of surrogate mom for her five younger brothers until her father remarried the following year. She was 11 years old.

hsMerrill

History of Fulton Co. Illinois
(1879), pg 451-452

Henry Merrill, farmer & stock-raiser, sec. 24 Astoria
Mr. Merrill
is one of the leading agriculturists of this county and bears the reputation of a wise, energetic business man, and an enterprising, generous citizen. He was born in Maine April 12, 1826. His father, Israel Merrill, was a native of that State, where he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia, daughter of Abel Merrill.

The history of those who bear the name of Merrill in this section of the country is quite interesting. Sir Peter Merrill (sic) came from
England and settled in Mass., and it is supposed that those who bear the name are descendants
of the colony that settled there. Owing to our limited space we are compelled to note only events of those of this day and gen
eration. Israel Merrill left his old home in Maine during the autumn of 1838, and after a long journey, mostly by water, landed in Astoria tp., (where he) purchased 160 acres of land. Mr. M. worked early and late, and in time became comfortably situated. He died Nov 12, 1876. Mrs. Merrill died Sept. 10, 1857.

Henry passed his early years amid the associations of pioneer life. Nov. 14, 1847, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah McNeill, daughter of David McNeill, one of the pioneers
of this county, and a soldier of the war of 1812. We find occasion to mention this gentleman frequently in this work. Henry Merrill has succeeded well in his chosen occupation. In 1846 he had a farm consisting of 80 acres; he now has 280 acres in this county, 165 in Christian Co., and land in Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. M. have been blessed with 12 children, 9 of whom are living,---Luther M., Ellery C., Lydia, Henry L., Belle, Hattie, Jacob, Nellie and Benjamin R. Ellery and Luther, who reside on the homestead, are both married. The former married Mary E. Bell, June 1, 1875. Luther married Mary Meredith, December 19, 1878. (History of Fulton County, C. C. Chapman, 1879, pages 451-452)


Note: To my knowledge, there was no "Sir Peter Merrill." Henry and his father Israel were descendants of Nathanial Merrill who arrived in Massachusetts ca. 1635; Nathanial had no proved blood ties to royalty, nor is there any proven history of a knighthood.

August 1860 Census Banner Twp. Fulton Co. IL.
HH 2376/2380
Henry S Merrill -34 farmer 2000, 1000 Maine
Sarah -30 Indiana
Luther-11 Ilinois
Ellery-8 "
Olive-7 "
Lydia-4 "
Harry-4/12 "

Brother Joseph and his family are next door.

1870 Federal Census Fulton, IL (INDEX - File 14 of 23)
Merril Henry S 44 M W Farmer . . Md
Merril Sarah 41 F W Keeping house Ind
Merril Luther M. 20 M W works on farm Children all born IL.
Merril Ellery 18 M W works on farm
Merril Lyddia 12 F W
Merril Henry 10 M W
Merril Arabell 7 F W
Merril Mitta 5 F W (Mehitable?)
Merril Jacob 4 M W .
Merril Nellie 2 F W
Merril Not named 1/12 M W

Israel Merrill, age 78 is in HH 376, and brother Joseph in HH 372\

There is no mention of Olive, who was reported in the household in the 1860 census as 8 years old. There is a gravestone for her in the Astoria Cemetery, which is probably the right Olive. If so, her age in the 1860 Census or on the stone is off by a couple years.

"Mary Olive Merrill, Dau of HS & S Merrill,
Died Aug 17, 1866, Aged 12y 10m 5d"


1880 Census Astoria, Fulton, Illinois
Age Bpl Fr's Bpl Mr's Bpl
Henry S. MERRILL 54 ME Farming ME ME
Sarah wife 51 IN Kpng House NH NY
Lydia dau 22 IL Teacher ME IN
Henry L. son 20 IL Farm Laborer ME IN
Arabella dau 18 IL At Home ME IN
Hattie dau 16 IL At Home ME IN
Jacob son 14 IL At Home ME IN
Nellie dau 12 IL At Home ME IN
Benjamin son 10 IL At Home ME IN


More About HENRY MERRILL and Sarah McNeil: 34
Occupation: 1879, Farmer and stock-raiser in Sec24, Astoria, described as a

"leading agriculturist of the county. (He) has 280 acres in this
county, 165 in Christian Co. and land in Kansas".33
Burials/Headstones:Sec F Astoria Cemetery35

Children: 1879, 9 children reported as living: LutherM, Ellery, Lydia, Henry L, Belle, Hattie, Jacob, Nellie and Benjamin R. Ellery & Luther, both married, resided on the homestead.36

Family/Census: 1860; 1870 Fulton Co. IL37
Marriage: 14 November 1847, Fulton Co. IL38

Children of HENRY MERRILL and Sarah McNeil are:

i. Martin Luther9 Merrill, born 20 June 1849, Fulton CO, IL; died
06 Jan 1916 in KS. He married Mary Jane Meredith 17 December
1878 in Fulton Co. IL43. She was born 1857 in England, and died
02Oct 1933 in Wichita, KS. Emigrated with brother Jacob to Kansas
ca. 1901. Burial LeRoy Cemetery, Coffey, KS. (courtesy Suz Evans)

+17 ii. ELLERY CHANNING MERRILL, born 29 Feb 1852 in Astoria,
           Fulton Co. IL; died 09 August 1916 in Puyallup, WA.
iii. Mary Olive Merrill, born 12 October 1853; died 17 Augt 1866.
    Headstone reads: Aged 12y 10m ?d.
iv. Lydia Merrill, born 18 Oct 1857; died 21 March 1913 in Fulton Co. IL.
v. Harry (Henry) Merrill, born 1860; died 1930. He married Addie Bevans.
vi. Arabell Merrill, born 11 February 186240; died 17 February 1950.
vii. Mitta(Hitta?) "Pet" Merrill, born 1865. "Mitta" had more nicknames than
     most, possibly as a result of being named for her great-grandmother,
     Mehitable Burbank.
viii. Jacob Merrill, born 27 March 1866 in Astoria ,IL; died 30 Sept1930 in
    Seattle, WA.
ix. Nellie Merrill, born 1868. Census (Substitute): 1891, Tacoma, WA Directories42
x. Benjamin Rush Merrill, born 02 May 1870; died 23 Feb 1945 in Fulton Co. IL.
xi. William Oliver Merrill, born 09 November 1875; died 05 February 1975.


Generation No. 9

17. ELLERY CHANNING9 MERRILL (HENRY SEWALL8, ISRAEL7, JACOB6,
GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB)44 was
born 29 February 1852 in Astoria, Fulton Co. IL, and died 09 August 1916 in Puyallup, WA.
He married MARY ELIZABETH BELL 01 July 1875 in Sagamon Co. IL45, daughter of Isaac
Bell and Susan Stokes. She was born 27 April 1849 in Sangamon County, IL, and died 08 October 1925 in Lopoc, CA46.
Sometime after the census of 1870, when Ellery is shown living on the family farm with his parents and siblings, he left Astoria, Illinois for "big-town" Springfield in Sangamon County, where he met Mary Bell. In June of 1875 they married. Over the next seven years, it appears they moved several times, with children born in Christian, Fulton and Springfield counties.

June 1880 Census Rochester, Sangamon, Illinois
Ellery Merill 29 farmer IL ME NY(sic)
Mary Merill 31 IL KY KY
Jennie Merill 4 IL IL IL
Bayard Merill 2
Henry Merill 20 brother IL ME NY(sic)

Son Ralph was born in 1882, and the family moved west the following year on the first through passenger train from Illinois to Tacoma, Washington.

Census(Substitute): 1891, Listed as druggist in Puyallup, WA.47

1900 Buena Vista Dst 177 Polk Co. OR
Merrill, Ellery C. Feb 1852 48 IL ME IN Farmer
Mary E Apr 1849 57 IL KY KY 7(children) 5(living)
Bayard T. Sept 1878 21 IL sch.teacher 5-m.unemp.
Cody Aug 1888 11 WA
Carl Feb 1891 9 WA

1900 Tacoma Ward 3 Dst.169, Pierce Co. WA
Merrill, R(alph) Lodger b.Sept 1882 age 17 IL IL IL Fireman Engineer

1910 United States Federal Census, Corning Twp, Tehama Co., CA
Merrill Ellery C 57 IL ME ME farm labor
Mary E. 60 IL KY KY M(29 yrs) 7chd. 5 living
Carl 19 WA farm labor


1920 United States Federal Census Lompoc, Santa Barbara Co., California Lompoc 
Adams, Theodore 44 CA Frnc NY
Jennie B 43 IL IL IL
Theo. Jr. 8 OR IL CA
Merrill, Mary E. 70 IL KY VA (mother-in-law)


Mary Elizabeth Bell Obituary

Mary Bell was a descendant of the Bell and Breckenridge families of Kentucky.
With her husband Ellery ("E.C.") Merrill and children, she left Illinois in 1883 on
the first through passenger train of the Northern Pacific RR. for Tacoma, WA.
They lived in the Puget Sound area until 1896, moving to Oregon, where they lived
first in Independence. They moved to Carlton, OR in 1909. Following the death of
her husband in 1916, Mary made her home with a daughter in Lonpoc, CA. Mary was
a member of the Christian Church for 65 years. At the time of her death, Mary was
survived by sons Ralph Jay Merrill of Seattle and Alaska, and Bayard T. Merrill of
Independence, OR. and a daughter, Mrs. T.E. Adams of Lonpoc, CA. as well as 11
grandchildren and two sisters, Caroline Smith of Decatur and Mrs. James Wickersham
of Juneau, Alaska. Pall bearers at the funeral were: W.C.Wood, William McKinney,
Oscar Fredrickson, C.O. Sloper, A.C. Moore, and O.A. Kreamer. Members of the
Eastern Star, Adah Chapter, provided Eastern Star committal services in the Yamhill
cemetery near Carlton, OR.

More About Mary Elizabeth Bell:
Burial (date is approx): 12 October 1925, Yamhill Cemetery, Carlton, OR48

More About ELLERY MERRILL and Mary Bell:
Children: In addition to Ralph and Baynard, Mary's obit in an Oregon newspaper makes
mention of a daughter (Mrs. T.E. Adams of Lonpoc. CA), and states that these three are
the only surviving children of seven born to Mary and Ellery.49

Children of ELLERY MERRILL and Mary Bell are:
i. Jennie Bell Merrill, born 27 April 1876 in Christian Co. IL; died Aft. 1930.
   She married Theodore Emmett Adams 14 June 1910. Fed. Census CA:
   1930, Ted was proprietor of wholesale sporting goods store. Their son,
   Ted, Jr.(born ca. 1911) was a salesman in the same store. Family owns
   home value-$5000.
+ 18 ii. Bayard Taylor Merrill, born 01 Sept 1878 in Fulton Co. IL; died June
   1956 in Oregon.
iii. Dudley Field Merrill, born 19 Sept 1880; died 09 Jan 1881 in Sangamon Co. IL.
+ 19. iv. RALPH JAY MERRILL, born 08 July 1882 in Springfield, IL;
   died 22 Jan 1953 in Seattle, WA.
v. Infant Merrill, born 05 August 1885; died 05 August 1885 in Tacoma, WA.
vi. Cady Irene Merrill, born 05 August 1888 in Puyallup, WA; died 03
     March 1911. She married Harold R. Barton 26 October 1906.
vii. Carl Ellery Merrill, born 03 February 1891; died 05 August 1915 in Puyallup, WA.


Generation No. 10

 18. Bayard Taylor10 Merrill (ELLERY CHANNING9, HENRY SEWALL8, ISRAEL7, JACOB6, GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB)
was born 01 September 1878 in Fulton Co. IL, and died June 1956 in Lane Co. Oregon64. He
married Iva L. Merrill ca. 1904 in Oregon. She was born ca. 1875 in Oregon, and died 02 May 1955
in Lane Co. Oregon65.

Notes for Bayard Taylor Merrill:
Database: Oregon Death Index, 1903-98
Name: Merrill, Bayard T
County: Lane
Death Date: 06 0 1956
Certificate: 11732
Spouse: Iva

More About Bayard Taylor Merrill:
Occupation: 1930, School teacher 66

Notes for Iva L. Merrill:
Name: Merrill, Iva L
County: Lane
Death Date: 22 May 1955
Certificate: 5414
Spouse: Bayard

More About Bayard Merrill and Iva Merrill:
Marriage: ca. 1904, Oregon

Oregon Census : 1930, Eugene, Lane Co. Oregon
. Bayard, wife Ida, and 4 children: Marion, Ruth, Chas, Jean67

Oregon Census : 1920, Polk Co. Independence Twn Oregon:

Children of Bayard Merrill and Iva Merrill are:
i. Marian Merrill, born 1905 in Oregon.
ii. Ruth Merrill, born 1907 in Oregon.
iii. Charlie Merrill, born 1908 in Oregon; died 17 July 1991 in Oregon.
died 17 July 1991 in Oregon; married Mabel (?) Merrill78.

Oregon Death Index, 1903-98 Record
Name: Merrill, Charles Kingsley
County: Lane
Death Date: 17 Jul 1991
Certificate: 91-13563
Age: 83
Birth Date: 11 Feb 1908
Spouse: Mabel

Military Records:
Charles Kingsley Merrill
Veteran's Rank: PCCS
Branch: US Navy
Last known address: 11800 Se MT. Scott Boulevard Portland, OR 97266
Birth Date: 11 Feb 1908
Death Date: 17 Jul 1991
Veteran Service Start Date: 21 Apr 1944
Veteran Service End Date: 1 Mar 1968
Interment Date: 4 Sep 1991
Cemetery: Willamette National Cemetery
Buried At: Section W Site 909

iv. Jean Merrill, born 1912 in Washington.



19. RALPH JAY10 MERRILL (ELLERY CHANNING9, HENRY SEWALL8, ISRAEL7, JACOB6, GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA,JOHNB)
was born 08 July 1882 in Springfield, IL, and died 22 January 1953 in Seattle, WA68. He married (1) INEZ MAUD ESTERBROOK69 23 September 1906 in Fairbanks, Alaska70,71, daughter of George Esterbrooks and Sarah Sipprell. She was born 07 April 1884 in Canada? Minnesota?72, and died 15 February 1975 in Crescent City, CA. He married (2) Louisa Anderson ca. 1930 in Valdez, Alaska.
She was born ca. 1888, and died in 1948. He married (3) Alice Haley Selb ca. 1950. This marriage
was very short-lived.

When Ralph's family moved to Oregon, he remained in Washington State where at 17 years old, with nothing but eagerness and the ability to learn quickly, he was hired as an engineer.

1900 Tacoma Ward 3 Dst.169, Pierce Co. WA
Merrill, R(alph) Lodger b. Sept 1882 age 17 IL IL IL Fireman Engineer

ralphmerrill
Ralph first went to Alaska in 1903, where he helped install and operate the first central steam plant in Fairbanks. Judge James Wickersham --husband of Ralph's maternal aunt, Debra Bell Wickersham-- noted in his diary that Ralph Merrill, newly employed by the "N.C.Company," was one of his guests on Thanksgiving Day in November 1903.
By 1906, at 24 years of age,Ralph was the chief engineer of the power plant of the N.C. Company when he met Inez Estabrook, who had arrived in Alaska with her family from New Brunswick, Canada when she was a young girl. She and her siblings lived in Fairbanks with their mother and step-father, George Sproule. Ralph and Inez were married in May of 1906. After the first few years of their marriage, they spent the winter months in Seattle.

In 1918, when Ralph registered with the draft (WW I), the family was living on North 64th St in Seattle and Ralph was employed as an engineer for a brewery company. According to his draft registration, Ralph was 70" tall with brown eyes and black hair. He listed his wife Inez as next of kin. Two years later, the family was living in the house Ralph built north of Seattle in the community of Richmond Highlands. He was never drafted, possibly due to his large family.

1920 US Census Greenwood Prc, Twp 26, King Co. WA
Ralph (37) machinist, and Inez (35) living with six children, Roger 11, Albert 10, Pauline 8, Ralph Jr. 6, Annabelle 3, Gertrude 3 mon.

The oldest three children were born in Alaska, younger three in Washington State. Also in household is Sadie Sproul 55, mother-in-law, widow, listed as a non-citizen born in Canada with immigration date of 189_?_ . Much erroneous information given to the enumerator, including place of birth for Ralph and his parents.

Inez much preferred the climate of Seattle, and in 1923, refused to make the annual trip north. Possibly she was motivated by having a new house and perhaps a wish to keep the children in Seattle area schools. Whatever the reasons, the result was a separation followed by a divorce in July 1929. Inez kept the house and a $6000 settlement.

Census 1930 Alaska Third Dist Valdez
HH 156 Merrill, Ralph J Male W age 47 D(divorced) Born Illinois Parents both b Illinois Occupation Miner Gold Mine Not a veteran

Nearby, was a young divorced woman, Louise Anderson. By the end of the year, Ralph and Louise were married. They continued to live in Valdez, Alaska and Ralph worked his gold mine outside of town.   Within the next few years, Ralph added the Merrill Mercantile and a hotel  in Valdez to his business endevors. Like many Alaskans, they enjoyed spending winter months in the Seattle area with visits to Oregon to visit Ralph's brother Baylor.

Louisa died in December 1947 and was buried in Seattle.
          From a probate file:
<Ralph J. Merrill...respectfully shows... that Lousisa A. Merrill died in Madison Street Hospital in Seattle, Washington, December 26, 1947. That at the time of her death and for many years prior thereto, the said Louisa A. Merrill was a resident and inhabitiant of the Town of Valdez (Alaska) except for a brief period of hospitalization in the said Madison Street Hosptital.... Ralph J. Merrill is the husband and sole heir-at-law...

Ralph returned to Valdez to run his businesses, spending most of the winter months visiting his brother in Oregon. When he retired, he sold the mercantile and hotel on contract --interest free-- and the payments provided him with his retirement income.   He kept the gold mine.

Obituary: Seattle Post Intelligencer, ca. 25 Jan 1953
Ralph Jay Merrill came to the Puget Sound area with his family in October 1883 when he was a year-old , making the journey on the first through passenger train to Tacoma. He lived in Puyallup, Tacoma and Seattle until 1905, when he went to Fairbanks, Alaska, where he helped install and operate the first central steam plant there. He returned to Seattle in 1913, and built a home for his growing family in the Richmond Highlands area north of Seattle. Returning to Alaska in 1923, Ralph mined near Valdez, where he reportedly found the largest gold nugget ever taken from that area. He later established the Merrill Mercantile Company which he operated in Alaska until his retirement in 1950. Ralph was a proud member of the Trailblazers' Lodge #1, Alaska Yukon Pioneers, the Pioneers of Alaska, and the Seattle Aerie #1 Eagles. Along with his 2nd wife, Louise, and again as a widower in later years, he enjoyed his "Sourdough"status at the old Vance Hotel in Seattle, where fellow Alaskans spent several months each winter. During winter months, he also spent time in Eugene,OR. with his brother Bayard T. Merrill.
________________________________
In his will written 6 February 1952, Ralph listed bequests to two nieces, Alma Fisher and Alma Knutson; his granddaughter, Joanne Merrill Kartak, his three daughters, Polly, Helen and Gertrude. He named his living sons, Roger and Albert, but did not leave them any part of his estate. Alma Fisher was named administrator. There was also this surprising item in Ralph's will:
". . . to my wife, Alice M. Merrill, the sum of ten dollars."

No one in his immediate family knew of this marriage, and since no one named Alice came forward to explain, or to contest the will, "Alice" remained a mystery until April of 2007, when Steve Merrill--son of Bayard and Ralph's great-nephew--wrote,

"I do have a bit of information I'm sure you'll find interesting: Ralph's mystery wife, mentioned in his will, was Alice Selb, née Haley. She was Iva's sister. [wife of Ralph's brother, Bayard] Alice and Ralph were married, I think to everyone's surprise (or perhaps shock?), sometime around 1950. . . things didn't work out and the marriage was effectively over after a short time. Ralph's leaving Alice $10 was undoubtedly meant as an insult."

         More About RALPH JAY MERRILL:
Name: Ralph J Merrill
Place of Death: Seattle
Age: 70
Gender: M
Date of Death: 22 Jan 1953
Certificate: 651


Burial: Washelli Cemetery, Seattle; next to the grave of his beloved 2nd wife, Louisa.

Notes for Inez Maud Esterbrook:

California Deaths, 1940-97 dob dod Place/ Birth /Death
Merrill Inez M Female 7 Apr 1884 22 Feb 1975 CANADA DEL NORTE

Inez stated her place of birth as Minneapolis, Minnesota on several occasions, but in the California,Death Index it’s listed as Canada. Nothing verified, but I suspect she and her parents were "illegal immigrants".

Of interest to descendants of Ralph and Inez was the discovery that Inez was a Mayflower Descendant, tracing to John Alden and the Mullins family through members of the Shaw family who found themselves on the wrong side of the border following the Revolutionary War. See our Mayflower report for more.

Inez Castor (email to JMK 1/15/2000):
"....here are the birth records from her bible, where they appear in her own writing.
To start with, she wrote her name and the date she acquired the bible --
January 31, 1903 - A.D.
Inez M. Spraule (George Spraule was her beloved step-father.)
Roger Ellery Merrill -- June 19, 1908 -- Fairbanks, Alaska
Albert R. Merrill -- August 16, 1909 -- Fairbanks, Alaska
Pauline Inez Merrill -- May 19, 1911 -- Fairbanks, Alaska
Ralph J. Merrill -- September 19, l913 -- Seattle, Wash.
Helen Irene Merrill -- April 3, 1916 -- Seattle, Wash.
Gertrude R. Merrill -- October 11, 1919 -- Seattle, Wash.
(no other notations)

Gram was a published poet, as was my mother -- I've been
blessed to have all that love of words and word pictures come to some
sort of fruition in my life. Our grandmother wrote a poem that I still
think is one of the most succinct descriptions of the life of a woman
that I've ever seen. I offer it to you here, in it's entirety.
DIARY: My newborn baby tumbles from my arms and toddles off to school.
A tall youth saunters home with her; their child brings me a shawl and stool.

~~~~~

Marriage Notes for RALPH MERRILL and Inez Esterbrook:

Fairbanks Daily Times (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1912 May • (Copied as written.)

Ivey Estabrook-Sprouls Weds Ralph J. Merrill

A quiet, impressive... wedding ceremony at St. Matthew's
Methodist Episcopal Church...Dr. John Parsons, DD officiating...
The bride was beatifully gowned. . . Miss Sproule is one of
Fairbank's most popular and fairest daughters and Mr. Merrill is
fortunate in winning such a beautiful and talented bride. Mr.
Merrill is the chief engineer of the power plant of the N.C.
Company... Those present were: Mrs. Sproule, mother of the
bride; Judge and Mrs. Wickersham, Edward and Mrs. Wickersham.
Mrs. Thomas Woodston, Ed. Foley.


More About RALPH MERRILL and Inez Esterbrook: 73
Divorce: 23 July 1929, King County, WA Decree #219064
Marriage: 23 September 1906, Fairbanks, Alaska73,74

Children of RALPH MERRILL and Inez Esterbrook are:
i. Roger Ellery11 Merrill75, born 19 June 1908 in AK; died July 1976 in Bullhead City, AZ76
More About Roger Ellery Merrill:
Occupation: Chef in the Bay Area ca. 1960 -1970.
Family tradition claims that in late 1932, Roger committed the first day-time bank
robbery in Yakima,Wa.and escaped--temporarily--by offering his sister-in- law,
Irene,and her baby, Joanne--compiler of this report--a ride to Seattle in order to
get through the roadblock unquestioned. Not until Roger was later arrested, charged
and found guilty did Irene realize his duplicity! According to some, Roger spent many years in San Quintin Prison. This story is unverified, as is another somewhat conflicting story about Roger that places him in Asia working as a translator during WW II. This story could be a tale to explain his absence and save face for a family who did NOT tell family secrets...particularly not to others in the family.

NEW!!! OCTOBER 2011 I discovered Roger did have a criminal history beginning at a very young age. He was released from prison ca 1940. Ca. 1955, he was a successful chef in San Francisco. He died in Bullhead City, AZ in July of 1976. He had no children.


+20 ii. ALBERT RALPH MERRILL, born 16 Aug 1909 in Fairbanks, AK; died 20 Sept 1981 in Anacortes, WA.

iii. Pauline Inez Merrill, born 19 May 1911 Fairbanks, AK., d. ca. 2002
Eureka, CA. Married name: "Stevens"? Had one son, "Jack"? Lived in
Eureka, CA for many years.

iv. Ralph Jay Merrill, Jr., born 19 September 1913 in Alaska77
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 39950035
Name: Ralph J Merrill Jr
Birth Year: 1913 [age 29]
Race: White, citizen
Nativity State or Country: Washington
Enlistment Date: 4 Dec 1942
Enlistment State: California
Enlistment City: Puente
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private Civil Occupation: Tracktor Driver* or Truck Driver
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 72 Weight: 177

Just five months after enlistment, Ralph died. His body was
moved from an unknown original burial site in October of 1948.
This sort of delay was not uncommon for military people in WW II.

Golden Gate National Cemetery
Ralph J Merrill Jr
Veteran's Rank: PFC
Branch: US Army
Last known address: 1300 Sneath Lane San Bruno, CA 94066
Birth Date: 19 Sep 1913
Death Date: 10 May 1943
Interment Date: 18 Oct 1948
Cemetery: Golden Gate National Cemetery
Buried At: Section C Site 71

v. Helen Irene Merrill, born 03 April 1916 in Seattle, WA. and died 11 Mar 2008
in Santa Maria, Calif.She married (1) Jack Achenbach. Helen was an RN and met her husband,
a Seattle policeman, when she was working at the King County hospital in Seattle.
Jack was born 03 October 1898 and died Bet. 1956 - 1962.
Helen and Jack had four children.  Helen married (2) Ray Nicholson. He died 1983.


vi. Gertrude R. Merrill, born 11 Oct 1919 in Seattle, died 12 June 1967,Crescent City, CA.
She married (1) William Travis Holley August 1943 in Redding, CA. He was born 03 Feb 1913 in Silverdale, TX88, and died 25 September 1983 in Houston, TX. She married (2) James Howard Heacock 07 April 1947 in CA. He was born 05 April 1909,and died 05 April 1993 in Crescent City, CA.


 
 Generation No. 11


20. ALBERT RALPH11 MERRILL (RALPH JAY10, ELLERY CHANNING9, HENRY SEWALL8, ISRAEL7, JACOB6, GIDEON5, ABEL4, JOHN3, DANIEL2, NATHANIEL1, NATHANIELA, JOHNB) was born 16 August 1909 in Fairbanks, AK, and died 20 September 1981 in Anacortes, WA83. Burial: North Bend, WA He married (1) IRENE ALLA BILYEU April 1931 near Yakima, WA. She was born 29 November 1912 in Spokane, Washington State84 and died October 1993 in Lynnwood, WA. Irene was the daughter of Roy Bilyeu and Julia Humes. Albert married (2) Louise Jorgenson ca. 1937. He married (3) Helen Pyle ca. 1958. She was born 02 November 1911,
and died 1963.

Only Child of ALBERT MERRILL and IRENE BILYEU is:
i. Joanne Irene12 Merrill, born 09 August 1932 in Yakima, WA85,86 She married
Jerry Edmon Kartak 03 August 1950, and their marriage was blessed at Christ the King Catholic Church Catholic Church in Seattle on 14 December 1950, when Jerry returned from duty on a troop transport ship in Korea.  As of Jan 2012, they have 6 children, 16 grandchildren, 6 adopted grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren .


See Endnotes below.

 
                                HOME        Merrill Album      Census Reports & Cemetery Notes 


Comments? Corrections? Questions?
Want more information or have
some to share?
Please Write.

Samuel Merrill's A Merrill Memorial, Cambridge, MA (1917-1928) is the
primary source for the early generations. This classic Merrill family
history is available at http://www.merrill.org/genealogy/mm/
courtesy of Steve Merrill [email protected]

The Merrill DNA program offers males who trace in a solid line to a Merrill
ancestor, the opportunity to verify their family line. For more information see:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Merrill-DNA-Genealogy/

Sharon Cummins, genealogist, historian and former curator for
The Kennebunkport Historical Society, has an online site with
great information about Kennebunkport and York County, ME.
 http://www.mykennebunks.com/history_m.htm

Special thanks to all of the Merrill researchers who have provided help
and encouragement, particularly my cousins Suz Evans and Inez Castor,
and to the following Merrills: Gary, Jack, John, Steve, Deane, Howard & Jean.
If I've inadvertently not given someone credit, please let me know, as I firmly
believe in "credit where credit is due", and you are all due a great deal.
 


Endnotes:
1. Merrill, Samuel; "A Merrill Memorial" , Cambridge, MA 1917-1928.
2. Savage, General Dictionary of New England Families, (pub. 1861).
3. Merrill, Samuel; "A Merrill Memorial" , Cambridge, MA 1917-1928.
4. ibid.
5. Merrill Genealogy by Paul V. Merrill, The Merrill Newsletter, Vol 4, Issue 3.
6. Merrill, Samuel; "A Merrill Memorial" , Cambridge, MA 1917-1928.
7. Will of Daniel Merrill.
8. ibid Wording in father's will seems to indicate Ruth died before the will was written in May 1717.
9. ibid "...to my son in lay Onesiphorus Page sixteen pounds wch: my desire is that he would devide
equally amongst ye. four ohilldr en wch: he had by my daughter Ruth when they come of age"'..."
10. ibid "...sixteen pounds to my daughter Martha True..."
11. Merrill, Samuel; "A Merrill Memorial" , Cambridge, MA 1917-1928.
12. ibid p 195-196, John3 MERRILL (Daniel2) was born 7 Oct. 1674, in Newbury, Mass., and died 17 Jan. 1756, in Salisbury, Mass., where he passed most of his life. He is described as a house carpenter, was a soldier in 1710, and was a deacon of the church in Salisbury. The inventory at his death showed real estate to the amount of £343, 6s. 8d.; personal estate, £51, 5s. 10d. He married Mary Allen, daughter of Capt. John and Mary (Pike) Allen of Salisbury, who was born 27 Dec. 1681, and who survived him. Children, born in Salisbury:.
13. ibid
14. Arundel (Kennebunkport) Records, 1790-1840, Letter 0f 10/1999 Howard & Jean Merrill.
15. Howard & Jean Merrill, (Oct, Nov. 1999).
16. Fulton Co. IL Cem. Inscriptions, Vol 12, Aged 66y 6m 10d w/o Israel d/0 Abel Merrill ref. 1879 History FC pg 451.
17. ibid. Aged 84y 1mo 6d h/o Lydia.
18. History of Fulton County, Illinois, Peoria 1879, (Peoria, 1879), Pg 451.
19. Fulton Co. IL Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol 12, s/o I & L Age 26y 9m 24d.
20. ibid. Aged 66y 6m 10d w/o Israel d/0 Abel Merrill ref. 1879 HIstory FC pg 451.
21. ibid. Aged 84y 1mo 6d h/o Lydia.
22. History of Fulton County, Illinois, Peoria 1879, (Peoria, 1879), Pg 451.
23. ibid
24. Fulton Co. IL Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol 12, DOB given as 4-26-1823- no date of death. Bur. with C.S. & Melvina.
25. Illinois State Records, MERRILL, JOSEPH W HUDNALL, MALVINA FULTON 11/29/1849
26. w/o J.W. ref. d.c.
27. Illinois State Records, MERRILL, JOSEPH W HUDNALL, MALVINA FULTON 11/29/1849
28. Fulton Co. IL Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol 12, s/o J.W. & M.
29. Merrill, Samuel; "A Merrill Memorial" , Cambridge, MA 1917-1928, Pg 372a of the hand written addition.
30. Fulton Co. IL Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol 12, dob, dod, dom to Sarah (McNeil) : s/o Isreal & Lydia (Merrill) Merrill ; ref.d.c. (death certificate).
31. Illinois State Records, Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900, MERRILL, HENRY S MCNIEL, SARAH FULTON 11/14/1847 00B/0072 00000160.
32. Howard & Jean Merrill, (Oct, Nov. 1999).
33. History of Fulton County, Illinois, Peoria 1879, (Peoria, 1879), Pg 451-452.
34. Census, Fulton C0., IL 1870.
35. Astoria Cemetery
36. History of Fulton County, Illinois, Peoria 1879, (Peoria, 1879), pg 452.
37. Census, Fulton C0., IL 1870.
38. Illinois State Records, Illinois Marriage Index 1763 - 1900, MERRILL, HENRY S MCNIEL, SARAH FULTON 11/14/1847
39. Illinois State Records, Only record for a Lydia Merrill shows different groom. WEAVER, OBADIAH O MERRILL, LYDIA P FULTON 10/28/1873 . If this is the correct Lydia, she would have only been 16.
40. Fulton Co. IL Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol 12, b. feb 11, 1862-d.Feb 17, 1950- d/o Henry & Sarah (McNeil) Merrill -ref.d.c.-NS (No stone).
41. Census, Fulton C0., IL 1870, Gives age of Nettie as 2.
42. Tacoma, WA Directories, 1889-1891, "Electronic," Nellie Merrill teacher Puyallup WA 1891.
43. Illinois State Records, MERRILL, LUTHER M MEREDITH, MARY J FULTON 12/17/1878
44. Census, Fulton C0., IL 1870.
45. Illinois State Records, Illinois Marriage Index 1763 - 1900, MERRILL, ELERY C BILL, MARY E SANGAMON 06/01/1875 .
46. "Salem, Oregon, Newspaper,," Obituary for Mary E. Merrill.
47. Tacoma, WA Directories, 1889-1891, "Electronic," Ellery C Merrill druggist Puyallup WA 1891.
48. Newspaper Obituary.
49. "Salem, Oregon, Newspaper,," Obituary of Mary E. Merrill, October 1925.
50. Illinois State Records, Illinois Marriage Index 1763 - 1900, MERRILL, ELERY C BILL, MARY E SANGAMON 06/01/1875 .
51. History of the Northern Pacific Ry., http://www.employees.org/~davison/nprha/first.html., First service to Livingston, Montana Territory, begins January 15, 1883 Temporary line over Bozeman Pass opens, March 9. Land purchased for Como Shops in Minn., March 17. Operations begin between Lisbon and LaMoure, Dakota Territory, August 25. Last Spike is driven as main line is completed in grand celebration at Gold Creek, Montana Territory, September 8. First transcontinental train arrives Portland, Ore., September 11. Mullan Tunnel completed between Helena and Missoula, Mont., November 1. Through passenger service is begun with Pacific Express (westbound) and Atlantic Express (eastbound). The line from Portland to Tacoma was not completed for another year or more, so families going north would have had to traveled either by boat or wagon..
52. Suz Evans, Letter from Howard & Jean Merrill. 9/30/2000
53. Merrill, Howard and Jean.
54. Illinois State Records, Marriage bond.
55. ibid. MERRILL, JACOB WINEBRIGHT, LOUISE MAY WARREN 02/13/1889 D
56. Howard & Jean Merrill, (Oct, Nov. 1999), Letter from Howard & Jean MerrillAll information re Jacob's family.
57. Illinois State Records, MERRILL, JACOB WINEBRIGHT, LOUISE MAY WARREN 02/13/1889
58. Fulton Co. IL Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol 12, s/oHenry & Sarah (McNeil)- h/o Hattie (Leininger) ref.d.c.
59. Tacoma, WA Directories, 1889-1891, Benjamin R Merrill Washington Herald compos Puyallup WA 1891.
60. ibid. Hettie M Merrill Hospital for the Insane attendant WA .
61. Fulton Co. IL Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol 12, d/o Benj & Hattie (Leininger) Merrill - ref obit.
62. Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR.
63. Census 1930 California, Los Angeles • Alhambra • District 1398 Age 19 in census report.
64. Oregon Death Index, No 11732.
65. ibid Certificate: 5414.
66. Census 1930 Lane Co. OR, Both Bayard and his wife were public school teachers in Eugene, OR.
67. 1930 Census Oregon, ancestry.com, Lane Co OR.
68. Washington State Death Index, As per ancestry.com: Certificate #651 age 70. Date needs verification.
69. Social Security Death Index, Maud or Maude?
70. Family Bible of Inez Esterbrook Merrill.
71. "Fairbanks Daily Times," Historical Newspapers @ancestry.com, Fairbanks Daily Times (Fairbanks, Alaska) .
72. Social Security Death Index, Inez M. Merrill.
73. Family Bible of Inez Esterbrook Merrill.
74. "Fairbanks Daily Times," Historical Newspapers @ancestry.com, Fairbanks Daily Times (Fairbanks, Alaska) .
75. Family Bible of Inez Esterbrook Merrill.
76. Social Security Death Index.
77. Washington State Birth Index Prior to 1910 - 1919, Ralph Jay Merrill Name: Ralph Jay Merrill Location: Seattle Parent: Inez Maud Spraul Birth Date: 19 Sep 1913 .
78. Deleted due to new information.
79.ibid
81. ibid
82. Alaska State Records, Birth Certificate.
83. Washington State Records, Death Certificate: Albert R Merrill Place of Death: Anacortes Date of Death: 20 Sep 1981 Residence: San Juan Age: 72 years Gender: M Certificate: 022424 .
84. Washington State Birth Index Prior to 1910 - 1919, Another example of the name Bilyeu being distorted. In this case, there's an additional error in the first name, which should have read "Mary Alla". Sometime shortly after her birth, her father Roy Bilyeu changed her name from "Mary Alla" to "Irene Alla.". Here is the "recorded record: in the Washington State Birth Index: Parent: Roy Bilgen Name: Mary Alice Bilgen Location: Spokane Parent: Julia Humes Birth Date: 29 Nov 1912 Sex: F .
85. Washington State Records, Birth Certificate.
86. Will of Albert R. Merrill, Named in father's will.


counter