Subject: Re: Merrill family - Charles Henry Merrill, ca 1828
Date: Fri, May 18, 2012 8:25a

Question: Mary Lodge wrote:

Hello Howard and Jean.

I've started researching my great-graandmother Rhea Merrill born in Delaware about 1895. Her father was Harvey Merrill born 1870-1932(married Kate D Still). His father is Charles Henry Merrill(1828?)(married Susan Hart) and this is where I get stuck. On some documents(death cert.) he lists birth in Vermont. On others, New Hampshire. Looks like he may have been in Tioga, New york ( I think this may be where ha marries Susan Hart). Just can't be sure I have the right Charles Henry without knowing for certain his place of birth.Also, find civil war records for this name, not sure if I have the right man. Hoping you can help!

Thank you, thank you thank you,

Mary Lodge

Answer: Mary:

Thank you for your query. Your Charles Henry ca 1828 was not in our file, not even in our "Lineage unknown" file, so we have had to do a lot of looking, Charles and his family have not been very consistent in giving ages and places of birth, but I guess you have already noticed that. You must remember that the head of household often is not the one to give the census taker the info on the family. We even have record of the 1930 census taker gathering info from children at elementary school - you can imagine how accurate that was. But in earlier times, it could easily be the wife or child giving the info.

Depending on the record, Charles was reported to be b. in NH, PA, MA, ME and VT. VT certainly seems to be the consistent place, coming from several different records. The most reliable record, data almost certainly provided by Charles or at least Susan, is the Wilmington, DE birth record of son William H, 1875 Mar 2, which Charles states that he was b. in Burlington VT, and Susan was b. in Akron PA. .

That doesn't really help us in determining who his parents were. The only Merrill in Burlington VT in 1830 was a William D, [40-50] and he doesn't have a son [under 5] which is the age bracket where Charles would fit, if 1828 is correct. The only other Merrill in Chittenden Co VT in 1830 is Arad (6), 1871, in Colechester, and while he does have a son [under 5], that son is known to be Cornelius H [1827-1830 Aug 18].

There is a 22 year old Charles in Shorham, Addison, VT in 1850, a carpenter, but we have no way of knowing if this is your Charles. That occupation doesn't jive with his later jobs for the RR.

Sorry we were not able to connect Charles with his parents or his immigrant ancestor. We added a lot of info on Charles's Merrill descendants to our "lineage Unknown" file.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Burr Merrill
Date: Mon, May 28, 2012 6:06p

Question: Carol Merrill wrote:

I am researching my husband's family tree. His name is Michael Eugene Merrill. His father is Kenneth Eugene Merrill. Grandfather is John Ramer Merrill. Great grandfather is Tazwell Cleon Merrill. GG grandfather is Burr Merrill. That is as far back as I have been able to research. Tazwell and Burr were born in either VA or WV. Do you have any of these name in your database?

Thanks for your help.

Answer: Carol:

We are so excited to get your query. We do indeed have your line in our database.  Your husband is Michael Eugene (9), Kenneth E (8), John R (7), Tazwell C (6), Burr (5), Joseph (4), Nicholas (3), Philip (2), Immigrant Richard (1). Richard came to Staten Island, NY ca 1680 from Tysoe, Warwickshire, England.  More details are available.

One of the reasons we are so excited is that Michael is the first male Merrill descendant of Joseph (4) and Elizabeth Batton that we have had contact with. Joseph's brother (?) John  m. Elizabeth's triplet sister Jemima Batton.  We have a descendant of John and Jemima who has been DNA tested and those results confirm his descent from immigrant Richard. The DNA associated with the male Y-chromosome is passed from father to son, essentially unchanged over many, many [tens or hundreds ] generations.  Barring an adoption or other non-parental event, it should follow the surname, so all male Merrill descendants of Richard should share the same DNA pattern.

Let us introduce our selves. We are Howard and Jean Merrill.  We are co-coordinators of the Merrill DNA Genealogy Group. 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 also use our database to support the work of the Merrill-DNA-Genealogy Group. The cc address above <info@genmerrill.com> sends copies to all the co-coordinators of the Group so we stay on the same page.

We would be very interested in the details of your line from John Ramer (7) down to the present day. The latest data we have is from the 1930 census. 

We also hope that Michael will consider being DNA tested to confirm his descent from Richard. The cost for the 37 marker Y-DNA test from Family Tree DNA is $149 for members of the Merrill DNA Project [regularly $169].  From time to time FTDNA has offered special reductions to $119.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family - Samuel Merrill, 1793
Date: Wed, May 30, 2012 10:47a

Question: Richard Mahaffey wrote:

Registrar for Saramana, FL SAR. Need proof of Samuel Merrill B Sept 1793 Cumberland, Me was the son of Edmund & Abigal Lord Merrill b1754 W Falmouth. State has said A Merrill Memorial is unacceptable and need better documentation. Thanks for any help you can give-where to get some kind of proof.

Answer: Richard:

I don't understand what the State [ I'm assuming Maine] has to do with verifying records. In Maine, records were not required to be sent to the state until 1892, so they can verify very few records prior to that time. If SAR requires a state to verify records to be eligible for membership you are, off the top, eliminating most of the early records.

We have been doing Merrill research for over 30 years, and have information on over 60,000 Merrill males of known lineage and probably an equal number whose lineage is unknown. In our research, "A Merrill Memorial" has been an excellent source. We have found less than a half dozen errors.

We do not have proof that Samuel Merrill, 1763, was the son of Edmond (5) and Abigail Lord. However, the 1800 and 1810 Cumberland, ME census are entirely consistent with their children described in "A Merrill Memorial", page 354. Granted the census prior to 1850 do not give children's names, but the age brackets of children can be considered as confirmatory evidence.

In order to get information on early vital records in ME and elsewhere, you have to go to the individual town records, and get permission and cooperation of the town clerk to even see the records, much less to copy them. The late Virginia Merrill of Solon, ME. a well known, and published Me Merrill researcher did just that for many towns in ME. Cumberland, ME was one of the towns she visited and abstracted the Merrill birth records. The dates covered range from 1739 to 1890. While the records are labeled Cumberland ME there seem to be many North Yarmouth records included, so possibly some are Cumberland Co ME records. We visited Virginia several times, and she made us Xerox copies of her handwritten data sheets, 10 pages. Unfortunately there seems to be a page missing, covering the time period from 1780 to the early 1800s, just the time when Edmond and Abigail's children were b. None of their children are listed in the records we have. Children of Edmond's children, Samuel and Ebenezer are listed. Note the Samuel 1793, named children ABIGAIL and Nathan LORD, suggesting a close connection with Abigail Lord, his Mother.

Sorry we couldn't be more help. The Cumberland Town records would be our suggestion as where to look. I'm well aware how hard it is to do long distance research from Sanford, FL or from Baton Rouge LA, where we live. Perhaps a ME SAR member in the Cumberland area could look for you. Good Luck,

Howard and Jean Merrill