Subject: Re: Merrill family - Charles Pinkney Merrill
Date: Fri, June 1, 2009 9:00p

Question: Sandra Nash wrote:

Hello,

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

Thank you, Sandra

Answer: Sandra

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

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

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Frederick Merrill
Date: Tue, June 9, 2009 2:18p

Question: Ellen Bitters wrote:

I am looking for my grandmother, Bertha M Merrill,d/o Nina Vahey and Fredrick Merrill. Born Bangor,Me circa 1886. (Information from marriage certificate).She married Edw J Leighton Jan 1910 in Boston, Ma. At time of marriage her address is listed as 2710 Washington Street, Boston. Occupat! ion listed as "At Home".

Bless you for all the help you have been to everyone.

Answer: Ellen:

We are sorry, but we haven't been able to identify the lineage of Bertha or her parents. The m. of Frederick and Nina Varney, or Bertha's b. are not listed at the ME archives in Augusta, but ME did not require the vital records be sent to the state till 1892. Some towns sent in prior vital records, but some did not. We could not locate Frederick, Nina or Bertha in the 1900 census in either ME or MA. We did find Bertha and her husband Edward Leighton in Boston in 1910, but didn't find her parents in ME or MA.

There is only one Fred/Frederick in Bangor in 1880, the son of Albert Ford (9), but that Frederick H, 1861, m. a Julia Young, so it doesn't look like he is your Frederick. Of course, Nina might have been a 1st m. if she d. at Bertha's b. or divorced soon after. We don't have Julia's m. date but her 1st child was b. Jan 1890. That makes dates awfully close.

Sorry we couldn't help,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Paul Merrill
Date: Wed, June 17, 2009 12:47p

Question: Paula Merrill Belak wrote:

Dear Howard & Jean,

RE: This post from Jan. '09 - I believe that her grandfather and my grandfather (Paul Merrill) were brothers. Do you have contact information for her? Thank you! Paula Merrill Belak Subject: Re: Merrill family Christopher Philemon Merrill Date: Sat, January 3, 2009 10:07p Question: Kathryn Sorensen wrote: Hi There, Fun stuff. I'm from the Arizona Mormon line. I see from your pdf book of 1999 that you've got all the info on Christopher Philemon MERRILL (AFN:1ZX4-ZG) (number 7742 in your book). But, nothing about his descendents. This is my grandfather's father. Do you have the info? If not, I'm happy to provide it. My grandfather, Bruce Thorpe Merrill, is still kicking at 92 and likes to talk about himself, so he might be willing to fill in some fun details and strange family stories about life in southeastern AZ back in the day.

Thanks for your work!

Answer: Paula:

Let us introduce our selves. 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.

To our knowledge, Kathryn Sorenson's grandfather, Bruce Thorpe Merrill, did not have a brother Paul. When was your grandfather, Paul, b.? Another of this same line of AZ Merrills, Orlando Bryce, did have a son Paul Felshaw, b. 1942. Could this be your grandfather? If it is we can give you his lineage back to the original Merrill immigrant. Even if it is not, we would greatly appreciate having information on Paul's surname descendants down to the present day, and any information you have on his parents and/or lineage.

Kathryn Sorenson's email is <--------->

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Valentine (6) Merrill
Date: Mon, June 22, 2009 8:21p

Question: Jessi Merrill wrote:

Hello Howard & Jean,

I am hoping you can help me find out if my gggg grand father Valentine Merrill(b.1783) was born in New York and died in Connecticut or was born in Conn and died in NY. Family info I have states he was born in Southold, Long Island NY. But a census I have found from NY 1850 says Valentin Merrill was born in Connecticut.I believe he died in 1854 & his wife Lydia died in Conn in 1852 so that doesnt give them long to re establish himself in Conn. If you have any information that could clear this up for me I'd be glad to hear of it.

Thanks for your help!

Answer: Jessi:

Valentine (6) Merrill was b.1873 Jan 30 in West Hartford, CT and d. 1854 Sep 23 in a train accident in Norwalk, CT. In 1810 and 1820 and again in 1840 and 1850 he was listed tn Southhold, Long Island, NY, but in 1830 he was in Norwalk. At least two of his sons lived in Norwalk He was a potter in partnership with his son and his brother Marvin in Norwalk. His lineage is Titus (5), Thomas (4), Abel (3), John (2), immigrant Nathaniel (1).

How do you descend from Valentine?

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Asaph (6) Merrill
Date: Tue, June 23, 2009 10:06p

Question: Christina wrote:

I am looking for more info on Asaph Merrill. Do you have actual documents that Asaph is Authors dad? I would be happy to share my family history if your still looking for lines down from Arthur H Merrill. :) And if you would like it where do i send it to?

Thanks, Christina

Answer: Christina __?__:

Our source on Asaph is primarily "A Merrill Memorial", page 514, by Samuel Merrill, which states that he had Asaph Jr. and Arthur Humphrey who was b. Unity NH 1793 May 17 and d.1856 Feb. 8 in Peru, Clinton, NY.

Asaph m. 1785 Mar 10, Abigail Humphrey in Newport [NH vital records].

Asaph is listed in Unity, Cheshire, NH in 1800 with two sons, 1 under 10, 1 10-16, consistent with Arthur and Asaph Jr.

Asaph, 45+, is listed in Unity in 1820, Asaph Jr., now m. is listed separately in 1830 with is family. In 1820, Arthur H is in Chesterfield, Essex, NY with wife and two sons under 10

In 1830, in Unity, now Sullivan Co, Asaph Sr, 70-80 is living with Asaph Jr. and family.
In 1830, 40, and 50 Arthur H, b NH, is in Peru, Clinton, NY. Widow Rhoda (Stearns) is still there in 1860.

Samuel Merrill, author of "AMM" corresponded, in 1901, with Rev Eddy G Merrill, grandson of Arthur H and got much info on the family which is included in a supplement to "AMM" which is on file at NEHGS in Boston where we copied the info in the early 1980's.

As far as actual birth certificates, which probably don't exist in this time period, we don't even try to find or make copies if they do exist. With info on over 60,000 Merrill males plus wives and daughters, we don't have time, finances, or storage space to get physical documentation on each event for each individual Merrill.

We would be interested in what you have on the Merrill surname descendants of Arthur Hmphrey down to the present day. Just the basics to start with, then we can ask for details we don't have. Send to our email address above.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Richard Merrill, 1767
Date: Wed, June 24, 2009 9:48p

Question: Cindy Ross wrote:

Hi -

I have some Merrills in my family tree starting with my GGGGGrandmother, Sevena Merrill 1837-1877. Her parents are William Merrill and Sarah Wallace. William's parents are Richard Merrill (1767-1850) and Mary Fitz Randolph. According to Henry W Merrill biography published in 1903 (! in Historic Homes ... Lehigh Valley p 137), Richard and two brothers came from Normandy, France to fight in the revolutionary war. One brother settled in the west, one in the east, and Richard in New Jersey. Their father was William. Richard's tombstone says that he was "born in France." I also found a reference of six Merrells, Richard, John, Jyon, Lambert, Thomas, and William, swearing allegience in 1776 in NY (SCOTT, KENNETH, and KENN STRYKER-RODDA. Denizations, Naturalizations, and Oaths of Allegiance in Colonial New York. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1975. 120p. - Pgs 95, 97, and 98), which seems to tie in with this story. I have not yet researched the original records. I was wondering if you already saw these records and know which Merrills these six are and if you know of another wave of Merrill migration to the US. Any info is appreciated.

Answer: Cindy:

First off, we have not been able to determine the exact lineage of Richard, 1767-1850, but we believe he is descended from one of two brothers, Richard and William who came to Staten Island NY ca 1680. William later moved to Hopewell NJ. Most of Richard's family stayed on Staten Island, but some also moved to NJ. The six Merrells you mentioned swearing allegiance were all on Staten Island, descendants of Richard. [Spelling was not a big deal and Merrill and Merrell seem to be used interchangeably] Some Merrills appear early in Sussex and Warren Co NJ and we are not sure whether they were descended from Richard of Staten Island or William of Hopewell, but we are pretty sure it was one or the other. NJ records are very sparse and NJ census records don't exist till 1830, whereas other states start in 1790.

We really question some of the statements given. Obviously your Richard who m. could not have come from France to fight in the Rev. war. He was only 8 years old when the war started. He was, however, a vet of the war of 1812. We doubt he was b. in France. The Staten Island Merrills came from Tysoe, Warwickshire, England and there were Merrills recorded there for several generations prior to their immigration. One of our correspondents states that your Richard was b. 1767 Jun 25 in Stewartsville, Sussex [now Warren], NJ. Unfortunately your Richard d. early in 1850, before the census was taken. The 1850 census was the first to record the names of all members in the family and also give their birthplace. In the 1880 census Richard's son William said his father was b. PA. In 1880, Richard Nye Merrill, Richard's son by his 2nd wife, said his father was b. NJ. So we definitely think Your Richard was NOT b. France, regardless of what his tombstone says. Neither of his sons thought he was b. France.

There is a Myth, repeated so many times that some take it as fact, but proven to be unsubstantiated, that the Merrills were French Huguenots who fled the St. Bartholomew's day Massacre in 1572. Both the Staten Island line and Newbury MA line [not related] were in England well before the Massacre.

What really needs to happen is for a living Merrill male descendant of your Richard to be DNA tested to see if his pattern matches that of other descendants of the Staten Island line. The DNA associated with the male Y-chromosome is passed from father to son essentially unchanged over many many , tens or hundreds, of generations. So the DNA of all male Merrill descendants of the immigrant brothers, Richard and William should match, barring an adoption or other non-parental event. We have found that some merrills belong to this Staten Island line, even though we have not gotten all the intermediate linkages.

Howard and Jean Merrill