Subject: Re: Merrill family Henry E Merrill
Date: Wed, January 4, 2009 10:26a

Question: Don Ellis wrote:

Hello. I'm from Akron OH, descended from Henry E. and E.H. Merrill (through James A. Merrill). Wondering if you can tell me if any of the immediate family might have been in the Spanish American war. I have a Colt Army issue .38 pistol and am trying to determine provenance.

Answer: Don:

Do you (have) birth dates for Henry E and James A? I assume E. H. was Henry's wife, or was that another generation? Where did they live? What other info can you give us to try and identify them? We have literally hundreds of Henry Merrills in our database. The more info you give, the more likely we can find them, and maybe even connect them with their original Merrill immigrant. I realize that is not your present goal, but even if we find that a Henry Merrill served in the S-A war, to provide any provenance for your pistol, you would have to prove that that Henry was your ancestor Henry E.

We did a very cursory search of "Ohio soldiers in the war with Spain 1898-99" and only came up with a William Merrill from OH. There was, however, a Henry Morrill, an easy interpretation error when transcribing handwritten records.

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 100,000 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. We would be interested in whatever info you can share with us on Henry E and his Merrill surname descendants down to the present.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Ask the Experts Query
Date: Wed, January 4, 2009 2:30p

Question: John Stark wrote:

Hi Howard and Jean,

It's been a long time since we corresponded about my Merrell family but I finaly made the connection! The next part of the puzzel is to connect other Merrell's and Merrill's in Chenango County NY, but I now have my Grandmother Grace Lillian Merrell Thorne connected which was the biggest one to connect. And I wanted to say thank you as your tips helped to make that connection! Grace Lillian Merrell Thorne (daughter) Clifford W. Merrell Ira B Merrell Caleb Merrell Caleb Merrell Nathaniel Merrell John Merrell And so forth to Thomas!

Thanks again for your help, and if you would like any information please feel free to ask.

John Stark

Answer: John:

Glad we were able to help. Who specifically are the other Merrills or Merrells in Chenango Co. that you are trying to find the lineage of? They are probably all related somehow- very few from lines other than immigrant Nathaniel's went to that area of NY. We may be able to help.

Howard and Jean

More from John on 5 Feb 2009, 8:43a:

Howard,

First, let me thank you for responding. I didn’t expect such a quick reply!

The brief history, as I know it, is as follows:

Abijah Merrill, a potter by trade, moved from New England (I believe Connecticut) to the Zanesville area of Ohio sometime in the early 1800’s. He was married to Abigail, his second wife (and sister of his first wife, who died I think in 1806). On February 9, 1808, they had Edwin Hubbard Merrill, better known as E.H. Merrill. At some point, the family moved to the Painesville OH area where in the 1820’s and early ‘30’s E.H. was employed on canal boats and apprenticed with a man named Fiske in the pottery business. Eventually (1833 or 1835, depending on which account is correct), E.H. bought out Fiske, moved the business to Springfield and then Middlebury, near Akron, and formed Merrill Pottery (various names are mentioned in contemporary accounts). He partnered with men named Hill and Powers, forming Hill-Merrill and Powers-Merrill and they started making vitrified sewer pipe, smoking pipes, crocks and other wares. In 1838, he married Emily Gleason of Bedford OH. Of seven children only Henry and William G. survived. Henry was born in 1839, exact date unsure.

E.H. later separated from Hill and Powers and in the ‘50’s worked with his brother Calvin. In the early 1860’s, he formed E.H. Merrill with his son Henry and the company continued until the 1890’s when it merged with Robinson and became Robinson-Merrill. Eventually the company became Akron Porcelain, which is still in business today. E.H. died January 25, 1888. William G. engaged in the pottery business in Richmond VA (I think with financial support from E.H.). Calvin moved to California and started a company there.

E.H., Calvin, Henry and William Merrill were awarded many patents between them for manufacturing processes related to the making of smoking pipes, sewer pipe, bottles etc.

An E.H. Merrill is listed as Choir Director for Painesville Methodist Church in the 1870’s and also as director of the Akron YMCA in the 1890’s. I’m not sure who this person is since E.H. died in 1888. It’s also unlikely that he would travel to Painesville from Akron every Sunday (although he did grow up in Painesville, so it’s not impossible).

Henry served in the 164th Ohio Volunteers (Company F or H, not sure which) from May to August 1864. The unit was garrisoned in Washington along the Potomac and defended against Jubal Early’s offensive in July 1864. Abraham Lincoln gave a speech to the unit on Aug. 18 1864.

This is where the history becomes a little cloudy. I am unsure of the birthdate or history of George Bartges Merrill. George was Henry’s son and my great grandfather. Unfortunately, I never asked my Grandfather about the family history in detail when he was alive. I do know that George B. attended Cornell and worked for Robinson and/or Robinson-Merrill, but that’s about it. The William Merrill you cite may have been a son of Henry’s brother, William. If so, the pistol may have been his Army issue sidearm. I would like to investigate further to determine if the William who served in the S-A War was indeed Henry’s nephew. The name Bartges is well known in Akron. Dr. Samuel Bartges donated land that eventually became Akron City Hospital. I have a microscope of his from the 1880’s.

James Albert Merrill was born 1907 in Akron. He attended Cornell and MIT, studying chemistry. In 1933, he took a position with Goodyear, moving up the ranks in the research division. He married Priscilla Branch (whose family is from Rochester NY and I think came into money from a business relationship with the Eastmans of Kodak fame) and they had four children in the ‘30’s, George, James, Priscilla (my mother) and Robert. All are still living except Bob. In 1942, James and his team at Goodyear developed a chemistry and manufacturing method which allowed gas tanks to seal themselves after being penetrated by bullets. He received an Individual Merit Citation from the War Production Board (one of the first 6 awarded – not sure how many were eventually awarded), presented by Pres. Roosevelt in Dec. 1942, and attended a luncheon with the other award winners. His invention is credited with saving thousands of Allied pilots. The basic idea behind the invention is still in use today and forms the underpinning of run-flat tires. Unfortunately, he signed the rights to the patent over to Goodyear!!

Interestingly, I believe that Victor Perlo, Chief of the Aviation Division of the War Production Board may have attended the luncheon and/or ceremony and also most likely had dealings with my Grandfather, given Perlo’s position and the nature of the invention for which my Grandfather was given the citation. Perlo was part of the Silvermaster Group of Soviet Intelligence Agents that penetrated the U.S. government at various levels before and during the war.

J.A. Merrill went on to become head of the research division at Goodyear and also managed nuclear and atomic research for Goodyear Atomic at the Piketon nuclear facility in Ohio. He never spoke of this work and internet searches reveal very little detail. He was very unassuming and never really talked about his achievements. He was likely in line for higher positions in Goodyear (rumor was CEO), but retired in 1961 and lived out his life in Akron and Alliance, OH where he owned a recreational property that is in the family to this day.

There are rumors and/or unsubstantiated claims in the family of connections to Betsy Ross and John Adams, as well as Minor Spicer, one of the founders of Akron. I don’t know if any of them are true.

My uncle wrote a family some years ago of which I have a copy. I believe most of it is accurate, but it was written before the explosion of the internet and I think warrants verification. I will scan it and e-mail it to you. Also, I have attached a zip file with documents, photos, patents and other information that you may find interesting (Google is a great thing!). However, it’s over 11 MB. If your e-mail can accept a file this large, let me know and I can send it along.

The family also has some papers, photographs, antiques etc.

Thanks again for your help. Any additional information you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Don Ellis

Subject: Re: Merrill family Josiah Merrill
Date: Tue, January 10, 2009 6:52a

Question: Dawn Merrill wrote,

Any idea whether it was Deacon Samuel or his son Sam. Fellows Jr. that sprang Josiah Merrill of North Yarmouth (6thGen) from British arrest? Josiah md Euniece Fellows daughter/sister. Courant newspaper 5 Jun1769 p2. reprint of Boston news IDs the Samuel Fellows (that threatened the Deputy Sheriff that his people were going to aim the next volley) as being a Midshipman commanding a British armed cutter off Cape Anne.

Answer: Dawn:

We had not heard this story. Any idea what Josiah was arrested for? We do not know which Samuel Fellows the newspaper article refers to.

What is your reference that indicates that Josiah m. Eunice Fellows? "A Merrill Memorial" states that Josiah (6), 1765 - 1846 of North Yarmouth, m. 1790 Oct 7, Eunice Noyes of Falmouth, 1772 Apr 21 - 1837 Feb 25.

We do have record of ten Merrill - Fellows marriages including one for a Eunice Fellows to Daniel Merrill (5) [b. 1729 in Haverhill, MA] ca 1776 in Ashburnham MA [his 2nd m.].

Sorry we couldn't help,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Abraham (6) Merrill
Date: Sun, January 15, 2009 11:56a

Question: Mike Korgie wrote,

I am looking for information on Abraham Merrill listed on the 1820 census for Freeport, Harrison County, Ohio. His daughter, Anna Merrill, married Samuel Haines in Harrison County, 12/18/1823.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Mike

Answer: Mike:

Your Abraham listed in Freeport, Harrison, OH in 1820 is Abraham (6) Merrill, b. 1775 Aug 12 in Hopkinton, [now] Merrimack, NH. He is also listed there in 1830 and is in Wheeling, Guernsey, OH in 1840. He d. there 1848 Nov_. His son David (7) is still in Freeport in 1840. His lineage is Nathaniel (5,4), Thomas (3), Abel (2), immigrant Nathaniel (1). More details are available. We have Abraham's daughter, Anna, b.1807 June 16 in Enfield, Grafton, NH. Do you have her d. date and place? Do you know anything about her siblings, who they m. and their Merrill surname descendants?

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 Abraham (6) Merrill
Date: Mon, January 16, 2009 12:04p

Question: Mike Korgie wrote,

Howard & Jean …

Thank you very much! … I really applaud your diligence over the 25 years, the professionalism of your web site and communications and the willingness to share so openly. We are just getting started on our Merrill ancestors so what you’re doing is very helpful. What would be the best way for me to find out the details of Abraham’s family? I could not locate Abraham in the Merrill Memorial but admit it’s a pretty colossal work!

I have the following Merrill marriages in Harrison County, Ohio. Are these siblings to Anna & David? Do you know if or how Jesse Merrill in Harrison County is related?

Samuel Haynes & Anna Merrill – 12/18/1823 (daughter of Abraham)
David Merrill & Jane Knock – Nov 14, 1831 (son of Abraham)

John Tice & Polly Merrill – 11/1/1827
Nathaniel Smith & Abiah W. Merrill – 8/11/1831
John Morgan & Jemima Merrill – 3/5/1833
John Merrill & Margaret Guttery (Guthrie) – 9/24/1835

Thomas Merrill & Elizabeth Jackson – 8/31/1842 (son of Jesse Merrill)

Mike

Answer: coming

Subject: Re: Merrill family John Merrill and son Jackson
Date: Mon, January 16, 2009 10:49a

Question: Jack Pfuntner wrote:

Dear Howard,

I wrote in Nov & Dec, I realize how busy you are, but thought maybe my emails did not go thru. We need Parents of John Merrill b. 1791 in ME. m: to Fedila ? b. abt 1796 in VT. They were in Grove, Allegany Co., NY in 1850. 6 children all b. in NY., Jackson Merrill b. 1834, d.1883 m: 1st Phoebe Burton, 4-5 children m; 2nd Eunice Burrows b. 1839, m: aft. 1875, Cora oldest daug b. 1877 m: Francis B. Mcnamara my wife's grand parents, we found John & Jackson in the 1850, 1860 & 1880 NY census. John was with Jackson 1n 1880. Any Information would be greatlty appreciated.

Thanks, Jack Pfuntner

Answer: Jack:

My sincere apologies for not answering your Nov 11th query [we didn't receive a Dec query]. It came the day we finally had two trees removed from our Labor Day hurricane Gustav. One oak tree was draped over our backyard Japanese Teahouse, but luckily only a few eaves boards were damaged. We had no damage to the house, but a lot of backyard damage to deck, fences, Bonsai display benches, watering system, grape arbor, repairs of which took up all my free time till Christmas. I remember your query, and that it would require some time to answer. I guess it is still lost in the pile on my desk. I am truly sorry for not answering.

When we compiled The Merrills of 1850 from microfilm some 20 years ago, we apparently missed your John in Allegany Co. In that census John and Fedelia said they were from MA, but in 1860 John said he was b. ME and Fidelia was b. NY. In 1880, John said he was b. ME. We suspect that the Denis, 29, wagon maker, in Grove in 1860 is another child of John and Fidelia, based on his location and occupation, since John was a wagon maker in 1850 and 60. It looks like John was in Burns, Allegany, NY in 1840: John [50-60]; wife [30-40]; 3 m [under 5]; 1 m [5-10]; 1 f [10-15]. While Jackson was still in Grove in 1860, John, Fidelia and daughter Almira were in Castile, Wyoming, NY. We have been unable to find any of the family in 1870. We search NY and neighboring PA and OH, even nationwide.

We have not been able to identify this John. He is not among the 862 John Merrills in our known descendants of Nathaniel Merrill of Newbury MA, although from his MA or ME birthplace he is almost certainly descended from Nathaniel. We don't find a John that fits in either of our compiled b. or m . records of MA or ME.

The 1791 b. for John is consistent with the 1860 and 1880 census, but not with the 1850 of 1840. Maybe we misread 68 in 1858 and it should have been 58. Where does the VT bp for Fidelia come from? Do you have tombstone or other data? We read MA in 1850 and NY in 1860. Do you have the children's names of Jackson and Phoebe? The 1880 census only gives Walter. If only we could find that 1870 census. Did Jackson and Eunice have other children beside Cora?

We are Howard and Jean Merrill. We are co-moderators for the Group. 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.

So soory for the delay and that we couldn't identify your John.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Loren L Merrill
Date: Mon, January 16, 2009 4:32a

Question: Carol Berry wrote:

You had a request about Loren Merrill and in tracing him i find his parent's are Moses Merrill bn 1797 and Martha(unknown) bn 1798, They are in 1850 Dover, Piscataquis co., Maine census. Moses died Jul 21 1864-Roxbury, Osford co., Maine. Martha died 1856, buried South Dover cem., Dover-Fo! xcroft, Piscataquis co., Maine. In 1860 Loring-Loren L Merrill is in Dover, Maine with Woodbury family. On November 14, 1862 he is in Tipton, Cedar co., Iowa,married to Hennrietta Barrett, dau of Horatio and Abigail (Hussey) Barrett.. L L Merrill is buried in Spaulding Center, Union co., Iowa, died July 25, 1889, age 54. Find-A-Grave info says Co I, 10 Maine Infantry.Civil War Vet. I am in contact with Betty Woods who originally asked you about this line. Do you have Moses and Martha Merrill?

Carol Berry-in Iowa

Answer: Carol:

Thank you for the information. In subsequent correspondence with Betty Woods we gave her what we are pretty sure is the lineage of Loren L (8) which is Moses (7), Samuel (6,5,4), Moses (3), Daniel (2), immigrant Nathaniel (1). With regard to the death date of Moses (7), you have the death in 1864 of the wrong Moses. Loren L's father, Moses (7), d. 1859 May 20 in Dover, ME. Neither he nor wife Martha (Huney) are listed in the 1860 census [both deceased]. The Moses who d. in Roxbury, Oxford, ME, 1864 Jul 20, was Moses Mitchell (7), Richard (6), Moses (5), Nathan (4,3), Abel (2), Nathaniel (1).

Do you have Henrietta's d. date? How about any Merrill surname descendants of Loren L?

Thanks again for the info. We didn't have Henrietta's surname or Loren's d. date.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Charlotte Merrill
Date: Tue, November 11, 2008 11:34a

Question: Melanie O'Connor wrote:

Hello,

I have a genealogical brick wall: Charlotte Merrill - born 1800 (about) in New York She married Samuel Drake McDowell, son of Daniel "Keto" McDowell of Cherry Valley, Chemung, New York & Ruth Drake of New York. I can find no information about Charlotte, and I am very desparate. She married Samuel Drake McDowell and they moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, becoming some of the firt settlers of the county. She died in Ann Arbor in 1879. Their children included, Mary Eliza McDowell, who married Frederick Wade Collins of Michigan. ANY help would be so greatly appreciated!!!

Many thanks!

Melanie O'Connor

Answer: Melanie:

In going through my old mail I came across this Nov 11 query, which I can't find that I tried to answer. Please excuse the delay. From Labor Day to christmas I was dealing with the aftereffects of Hurricane Gustav. By then your query must have gotten lost in the pile on my desk. So Sorry.

Sorry too, that we cannot find any connection to your Charlotte. The only references we have to Cherry Valley NY is to the one in Otsego Co. There is an Asher Merrill there having children in the right time frame, but he has no Charlotte. Chemung Co was formed from Tioga Co in 1836. There was an Anson Merrill in Union, Tioga Co, NY in 1800 with 4 daughters [under 10]. We do not know who this Anson [16-26] was, or the names of the daughters. There were no Merrills listed again in Tioga Co until the 1830 census. None of the Charlottes in our database of over 60,000 individuals matches your Charlotte.

Sorry that we could not help with your brick wall,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Kate Merrill
Date: Wed, February 18, 2008 11:40p

Question: Katherine Bottomley wrote:

Dear Mr & Mrs Merrill,

I am looking for information about my grandmother who was born Kate Lillian Merrill in Woodstock New Hampshire abt 1882. She was adopted by James & Melissa Piper. I am told that she died in Littleton New Hampshire before 1938. She left her family due to a divorce w! hen my late mother was a child. I would like to know who both of the birth parents had been. I realize that this is difficult to trace but I would appreciate any advice or information that you could give.

Thank you

K Bottomley

Answer: Katherine:

We don't know if we have any data for you or not. How firm is Kate's birthplace? The only Kate [or Katherine] listed in the NH vital records is a Kate Merrill b. 1881 Aug 15 in Pittsburg, Coos, NH to George S and Alice (Terrill) Merrill. It may be that the Woodstock birth records were never sent in to the state, for there are no Merrill births prior to 1900 listed from Woodstock. There were 3 Merrill families in Woodstock in 1900, one with young children. There were four Merrill families there in 1880.

The above George S d. in Bartlett, Carroll, NH in 1892. Bartlett is only 20-30 miles from Woodstock, but over Kanamangus pass. He was buried in Pittsburg. His wife married a Charles Peterson in 1893. Kate would have been 12 and her younger sister, Emma, 10 when their mother remarried.. We do not know if this Kate is your Kate. The age is right, but not the birthplace. Do you know when Kate was adopted? Did she have any brothers? We could not find James and Melissa Piper in the 1900 census or a Kate ___ of the right age in NH. Who did she m.? When? Where? When we collected the NH vital records, back in 1983, the records were only open to 1900, so we don't have NH vr since then, and they haven't been put on-line.

IF, and that's a big IF, this is the right Kate, then her lineage is George S (9), Daniel (8), Amos (7), Abraham (6,5,4), Jonathan (3), Abraham (2), immigrant Nathaniel (1). More details on this line are available.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Abraham (8) Merrill
Date: Thu, February 19, 2008 9:20a

Question: Mike Korgie wrote:

Hello Howard & Jean!

... sorry if my earlier question was too broad ... do you have any information on the wife and children of Abraham Merrill (b.1775 son of Nathaniel)? I was able to locate Abraham on the Merrill Memorial but the detail stops at his generation.

Thanks!

Mike

Answer: Mike:

We assume that you are descended from Abraham (8)'s daughter Anna. Is that correct? Do you have her d. date? We will attach a Genealogy report giving what we have on the descendants of Abraham (8). If you have additional information please let us know so we can add it to our database.

Howard and Jean Merrill