Subject: Re: Merrill family - Micajah Merrell
Date: Mon, September 5, 2011 12:30p

Question: Linda Adkins Learn wrote:

 I am looking for the parents of a Micajah Merrell b in Indiana about 1827. He enlisted in Civil War 3 different times. I believe that married Jane Adams from Mercer co Ky after the Civil War. Mary M Merrell married Squire Newton Underwood in 1878. I believe that Frances Belle Merrell is also his daughter. She married Hardin Underwood 1893. The Underwood men are related. Frances Belle is my husband's great great Grandmother. I cannot find a census after 1860 for the family. I believe they stayed in Central Ky. There is a headstone next to Frances that is hard to read but I believe is Micajah! I can't PROVE that he was her FATHER!

Your work is amazing thanks in advance for anyhelp you could offer.

Linda

Answer: Linda:

Your Micajah Merrell is in our lineage unknown file. We don't know who his parents were. We think we found him in 1850 living in a hotel in Covington, Kenton, KY age 24, KY, a blacksmith. We have that he m. 1847 Oct 20, (Mrs ) Susan Kirkpatrick in Lexington. But if we found him in 1850, she was no longer with him. From the IGI he had Mary M 1859 Mar 10 with Jane Adams. From the 1860 census, Jane [ b. Ky ca 1838] also had Sarah C b. KY ca 1858. So that means he and Jane were m. ca 1857 or before [not after the Civil War]. When was your Frances Belle b.? When did she d.? We found Hardin Underwood, 23, in the 1880 census with his parents Rowell and Polly Underwood in Posey, Madison KY, but were unable to find Hardin and Frances Belle in either 1900 or 1910. We think we found Hardin in 1920 with son Ross or Roas, daughter-in-law Myrtle and grandson, Hardin. Hardin Sr was 62 and widowed.

Could you make out anything on the gravestone you think may be Micajah's? Dates? Any other Merrills nearby? Where was he buried?

The KY Marriages list another m. for a Micajah, 1866 Mar 26 to a Mary Margaret Christison. We don't know if this is the same Micajah, but he is the only one in our files. A World family Tree family lists this m. and gives a d. of ca 1867. We can't confirm that, but it would explain why we can't find him in 1870 or 80.

Sorry we couldn't give you Micajah's parents or confirm Frances as his daughter.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Benjamin Merrill Plantation
Date: Tue, September 6, 2011 10:40a

Question: Dave Boylan wrote:

 Hello Howard and Jean,

I am helping a lady who would like information about the plantation, called Belvedere, owned by Benjamin Merrell/Merrill, in Lexington, Kentucky. He reportedly lived in Lexington from about 1805 until his death in 1837. You had responded to a question about Benjamin Merrill last year, submitted by Ginger Merrill Menefee, who was looking for information about Benjamin's parents. By the information I'm looking for is: Does the Belvedere Plantation house still exist? Is there a slave cemetery associated with this place? Who took over the plantation following Benjamin's death in 1837, or the death of his wife, Mary Baker Hart, if the plantation had been left to her? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards, Dave Boylan

Answer: Dave:

We are sorry that we do not have any of the information you requested. With a database of over 60,000 Merrills plus their wives and daughters, we don't have time or space to store such information on individual Merrills. The probate court in Lexington might have Benjamin's will. The local Historical Society may have information on the Plantation and on the house if it still exists.

Sorry we could not help you,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Christopher Louis Merrill
Date: Thu, September 8, 2011 8:50a

Question: Sally Merrill wrote:

 I am researching the Merril line from Burlington, Chittendon Vermont. My grandfather Christopher Louis Merrill (1893-1953) son of William Henry Merrill (1859-1897) son of Andrew Jackson Merrill 1815-1895 then there are some gaps and I need help..there is anArad Merrill in the lineage. How do I find what family of Merrills we are decendants of.

Answer: Sally:

We didn't have your Christopher in our database, primarily because we hadn't yet read the 1900 census for this family, and we probably would not have connected him with his parents had you not said his father was William Henry who d. in 1897.  The Henry really threw us.  From the VT birth records, we have William H as William Horace, b. 1859 Sep 1 in Colchester.  Did he change his name?  Do you have a source for his middle name being Henry?  Christopher was listed as Christy in the 1900 census.

Christopher's lineage is Christopher L (10), William H (9), Andrew J (8), Arad (7), John (6), Obediah (5), Nathaniel (4,3,2,1). Immigrant Nathaniel (1) [1601-1655] came to Newbury, MA ca 1639.  More details on this lineage are available.

Let us introduce ourselves. We are Howard and Jean Merrill.  For thirty 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 a 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 very interested in the details of William H's Merrill surname descendants down to the present day.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Roswell Merrill
Date: Thu, September 15, 2011 9:12p

Question: Crystal Martin wrote:

 Search for info on Roswell Merrill born abt 1816 in Vermont His wifes name was Harriet Burnham 1821-1897 their children were Edward-brn 1845 Rush-brn 1848 Died 1902 David brn 1852 died 1930 & Don Juan brn 1857 Died 1929. Havent been able to find any info on his family. There are other Roswell Merrills born 1801 & in late 1700's but no relation... Anyone have any info on this line of Merrills? Rush married and had 2 sons Charles and Frank I have info on them and families but cant find out abt the past.

Answer: Crystal:

We have your Roswell, ca 1816, VT in our Lineage Unknown file. Like you the earliest we find him is in the 18950 census. We do have that his wife, Harriet Burnham, was b. in Northfield, Washington, VT 1821 May 25, so you might expect that Roswell might have lived close by. There are no Merrills in Northfield in 1830 and 40, but Roxbury is less than 10 miles away. In 1840 the only Merrill in Roxbury is a Calvin (7), but he m. too late to be Roswell's father. In 1830, however, there is a Roswell Merrill, aged [40-50], in Roxbury. He has three son, 1-[5-10], 1-[15-20] and 1-[20-30] and 4 daughters. We believe your Roswell may be the 15 year old. .By 1840 they have moved to Lincoln, Addison, VT. His mother Phebe, d. Lincoln, 1841 Apr 1. Roswell Jr may have met Harriet before they moved and went back to marry her in 1842. All this is highly speculative. And even it were all true, it doesn't help much, because we don't know who Roswell Sr's parents were.

Let us introduce our selves. We are Howard and Jean Merrill. For thirty 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 a 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.

You mention you have data on the families of Rush's two sons. We would be very interested in data on these sons and their Merrill descendants down to the present day. Are there any living male Merrill surname descendants. The reason we are asking is that there are two immigrant Merrill lines with Merrills in VT in the early 1800s. Descendants of Nathaniel of Newbury MA and those of Thomas of Saybrook CT. The y-DNA patterns of these two lines are completely different. The DNA associated with the male y-chromosome is passed from father to son, essentially unchanged over many, many generations [tens or hundreds], so should follow the surname. While the DNA test, run on a simple saliva swap, can't tell who Roswell's father was, it should tell you from which immigrant line you are descended.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - William Washington Merrill
Date: Wed, September 21, 2011 5:18a

Question: Diane Carter wrote:

I am trying to find out my relations to William Washington Merrill. My Grandfathers name is Merrill Dees. My grandmother was Ruby Mae Dennis. My great grandfather was Ransford Franklyn Dees

Answer: Diane:

If you are related to William Washington Merrill, 1815-1900, then a daughter, granddaughter, or great granddaughter, etc, somewhere along the line must have m. a Dees. We have no record of a Merrill female marrying a Dees. We only follow the female line until the daughter marries and changes her name. We don't try to follow the Merrill daughter's children. Our database strictly follows the Merrill surname.

Sorry we couldn't help you,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Katherine R Merrill
Date: Wed, September 24, 2011 5:30a

Question: Diane Carter wrote:

I began searching our family history for a project for my young son in school I have found that my great grandfather was Lansford Dees and was married to Katherine Merrell a daughter of George Washington Merrel. I have gone back as far as Captain Benjamin Merrell. I have read about him being part of the regulators and did read the history on this. This was very interesting to know that our family was actually such a big part of the Freedom for our country. If there is any more information you can give me I would appreciate it. I would like to read the book about Captain Benjamin if you know where I can find this. Thank you

Answer: Diane:

We had Katherine R, 1877 Mar 6, d/o George Washington Merrill and Kate Embry in our database, but we didn't have who she m. Do you have when she m. Lansford Dees and when and where she d.?

If you are interested in having a copy of the book on Captain Benjamin, we have a xerox copy and can make you a copy for $15 copying and mailing costs [109 pages]. Our snail mail address is 5045 Sequoia Drive, Baton Rouge LA 70814. If you are interested we need your mailing address.

The book has only a couple of errors that we are aware of. Captain Benjamin's grandfather William, ca 1652 was the immigrant ancestor of this line. He was the brother or cousin, not the son of immigrant Richard of Staten Island. Both Richard and william came to Staten Island ca 1680. William served on jury duty in 1681 and bought land in 1683 which he sold in 1687 before moving to NJ. Richard (1) did have a son William, bapt 1668 in Tysoe Warwickshiire, England, which means he was too young to have served on jury duty in 1681 or bought land in 1683. This makes Katherine R (8)'s lineage George W (7), William W (6), Benjamin S (5), John (4), Capt Benjamin (3), William (2,1).

The other error involves your Benjamin Smith (5)'s brother John (5). who the book has m. Jemima Batton of WV. That is incorrect. That John and Jemima are in WV in the 1820 and 30 census at the same time that John (5) in listed in Caldwell Co KY. John and Jemima are believed to be descendants of Richard (1).

Howard and Jean Merrill