John and Prudence Merrell
John MERRELL - The will of John Merrell, yeoman of Wherstead, dated Dec. 2, 34th year of Elizabeth (1600), is recorded at Ipswich, Suffolk, England. In it he names wife Prudence, sons John Michael, Nathaniel and Thomas, and grandchildren: Marie, Martha, and John children of Nathaniel; Thomas and Anne children of Thomas. Registers of Wherstead and Belstead, south of Ipswich, confirm that the named children and grandchildren were the only descendants born and living at the date of the will. A copy of the will of 1600, the church records, a description of Wherstead, and other interesting details are found in A Merrill Memorial, by Samuel Merrill (1917-1928, reprinted 1983).
Prudence - bur. Dec. 22, 1609, Belstead, Suffolk, England.
Nathaniel MERRELL - bur. Mar. 17, 1626/7, Wherstead, Suffolk. Married Feb. 28, 1592/3, Belstead, Suffolk.
Mary BLACKSOLL - bur. May 1, 1624, Wherstead, Suffolk.
See Notable Cousins for line to: Richard Bruce 'Dick' CHENEY
John and Nathaniel MERRILL, probable sons of Nathaniel and Mary (BLACKSOLL) MERRELL of Wherstead, arrived in America in the mid 1630s, residing a year or so at Ipswich, MA prior to moving to Newbury before 1638. The following extract from Cutter's New York Families, pages 856-857, summarizes the descent from Nathaniel MERRILL of England and Newbury, MA to Elizabeth MERRILL, wife of Elijah Mason MOREY.
The first of this name <MERRILL> which was originally Merle and signifies "black bird" was a native, or at least a resident of France, and took his name from the figure of a blackbird displayed on a sign over his door. The earliest generation of the family in France used a seal on which is displayed three blackbirds. In the persecutions following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, a Merle, being a Protestant, fled to England to save his life and cast in his lot with the Puritans. Some of the family still remain in France, the most distinguished member in recent years being Merle D'Aubigne, the historian. As the Huguenots were of the best blood of France so their descendants in England and America have been regarded.
(I) Nathaniel Merrill, emigrant ancestor of the Merrills of Cattaraugus county, New York, was born in England, 1610 <sic>, died in Newbury, Massachusetts, March 16, 1655. With his brother John he emigrated from England and came to America, settling at Ipswich, Massachusetts, about 1633. In 1635 he removed to Newbury, at the first settlement of the town, and settled on land at the junction of the Parker and Plum rivers, which until recently was owned by a descendant, Tyler Merrill. In his will dated March 8, 1655, he gives his farm to his eldest son upon payment by him of five pounds each to his brothers, and furnishing a residence for his mother and sister. He married Susannah Wellerton, also spelled Wilterton. She survived him and married (second) Stephen Jordan or Jourdain. She died January 25, 1673. Children: John, Abraham, Nathaniel, Susannah, Daniel, Abel. These children all grew to years of maturity, married and reared familes. Among their descendants are many ministers and men of mark in every walk of life.
(II) John, son of Nathaniel Merrill, went when young to Hartford, Connecticut, where he was taken into the family and legally adopted by Gregory Wilterton. He married Sarah Watson. At the death of his benefactor it was found he had left his entire estate to his adopted son. Children: Nathaniel, John, Sarah, Abraham, David, Wilterton, of whom further; Susanna, Abel, Isaac, Jacob.
(III) Wilterton, son of John Merrill, married (first) Ruth Pratt; (second) Hannah Watts. Child, Gideon.
(IV) Gideon, son of Wilterton Merrill, married Mary Bigelow. Son, Nathaniel.
(V) Nathaniel, son of Gideon Merrill, married Hannah Belden. Children: Nathaniel, Hannah, Truman, Samuel, James, Allen, died young, Allen (2), Mary, Asher, Ebenezer, Ethan, Perry, Charles, Dorothy, Candace, died young, Candace (2).
(VI) Allen, son of Nathaniel Merrill, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. Early in life he settled in Litchfield, New York. He married Tammy, daughter of Simeon Smith. Children: Maria, died aged nineteen; Amanda, married and left issue; Leonard Smith, married and left issue; Lyman B., died in Chautauqua county, New York; Alton; Minerva, married Dennis Dye; Smith, of whom further; William B., married Calista Loomis; Caroline, married Charles Sentill; Mason F., twice married; Elizabeth, married <Elijah> Mason Morey; Wallace.
(VII) Smith, son of Allen Merrill, was born at Johnstown, Montgomery county, New York, October 16, 1810. He settled in Yorkshire, Cattaraugus county, 1835. He was a tailor and engaged in merchant tailoring in the village of Franklinville. In 1859 he removed to a farm in Farmersville, which he cultivated until 1881, also farming in Great Valley. He married, 1838, Melinda, daughter of John Howe, who settled in Yorkshire, in 1832. Children: 1. Henry, born June 5, 1839, died July 10, 1902, buried at Little Valley, New York; married, February 12, 1866, Harriet F. Persons, born July 23, 1844, died August 10, 1895; children: Ernest Warren, Harriet Esther, Charles Persons, Mertie Melinda. 2. John Burdett, born June 22, 1841; enlisted in Company D, Sixty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks, June 1, 1862. 3. Ernest W., born April 24, 1843; enlist4ed in Company B, Twenty-third Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, serving without injury until the close of the war; returned home and was accidentally killed December 12, 1866. 4. Perry E., born June 30, 1845; married, January 9, 1878, Mercy I. Loomis; children: Eugene L., Floyd S., Esther H., Shirley. 5. Adelaide E., born June 14, 1847, died February 28, 1873. 6. Helen Loraine, born June 17, 1849; married (first) Hiram Steele, who died November 25, 1899; married (second) Elvin E. Johnson. 7. William Wallace, born September 21, 1851; married, January 5, 1876, Julia E. Tarbell; children: Rena, Edna, Frances, Anna, Winfield. 8. Mary Emma, born September 2, 1856; married, 1887, Allan E. Hayes. 9. Theodore Grove, born June 16, 1858. 10. Frank Merton, of whom further.
(VIII) Frank Merton, youngest child of Smith Merrill, was born in Farmersville, Cattaraugus county, New York, June 6, 1860. He was educated in the public school and Ten Broeck Academy. He began his business life in Freedom, New York, in association with his brother conducting dental offices and a drug store. In 1889 he settled in Little Valley, taking a position as recording clerk in the office of the county clerk. He remained in this position one and one-half years, when he was appointed deputy county clerk, which office he now holds. He moved to Sandusky, New York, in 1880, where he has been town clerk for ten years. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the First Congregational church. He is a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. He married (first) July 3, 1884, Martha Williams, born 1861, died April 30, 1899, daughter of Peter and Adelia (Howlett) Williams. Childrre: 1. Marie E., born April 22, 1887; now a teacher in Olean, New York. 2. Emmons M., born March 20, 1892. 3. Bernard W., born January 19, 1899. He married (second) August 10, 1903, Minnie M. (Cobb) Wade.
Note: A number of names and some details for the family of Smith MERRILL (generation VII) are in error; see the family of Allen MERRILL for the corrected information. Details of the family of Frank Merton MERRILL have not been verified.
Nathaniel MERRILL - bap. May 4, 1601, Wherstead, Suffolk; d. Mar. 16, 1654/5, Newbury, Essex Co., MA. Son of Nathaniel MERRELL and Mary BLACKSOLL and grandson of John MERRELL and Prudence. Nathaniel has been said to have arrived at Ipswich, MA about 1633 and remained there with brother John a year or more before moving to Newbury, MA. However, no evidence of any kind has been seen that placed Nathaniel in MA prior to the birth of his son Daniel at Newbury in 1642. A Merrill Memorial states that there is no evidence that Nathaniel arrived in MA in 1633 and only conjectures that he was a proprietor at Newbury, MA in 1638. It is probable that Nathaniel did not arrive in America until between 1639 and 1641 and settled at Newbury, Essex Co., MA, joining his brother John, who had lived there for some time. Nathaniel's will dated Mar. 8, 1654/5 and proved Mar. 27, 1655 names wife Susanna, daughter Susanna, and five sons, all children except Nathaniel being under age 21. The estate inventory of Mar. 23, 1654/5 indicated he was a man of modest means, with 13 acres of land, 14 head of cattle and common farming and household implements. A debt of £5 for rent to John Cutting indicates Nathaniel leased his dwelling. Married probably in England.
Susanna - d. Jan. 25, 1672/3, Newbury, Essex Co., MA. Although son John was executor and major legate of Gregory WOLTERTON, Susanna was not the sister of Gregory, a tanner of Hartford, CT. Susanna's surname is not known. The birth of her first four children are reported in Lawrence I. Shepard's "In Search of English Origins: Edward Shepard Part II," Heritage Quest, No. 24, page 38. Susanna married second Stephen JORDAN (d. Feb. 8, 1669/70, Newbury, MA) who had two daughters by a prior marriage.
1634 Nathaneel, the sonne of Nathaneele Merrelle and Susan his wife was baptized May 25.
1635 John the son of Nathaneel Merrle and Susan his wife was baptized Mar 13.
1637 Abraham the sonne of Nathaneel Merriles and Susan his wife was baptized Apr 9.
1638 Susan the daughter of Nathaneel Merreles and Susan his wife was baptized Dec 12.
See Notable Cousins for line to: Nathaniel CURRIER, Jr., Robert Lee FROST, William Pierson MERRILL, DD, and Franklin PIERCE
Margaret SMITH - d. 1683, West Hartford, CT. Will dated Mar. 1683, and proved Sep. 6, 1683. <Tradition is that Peggy SMITH fell overboard enroute to America, and the John WATSON saved her. They subsequently married.>
The last Will & Testament of Margaret Watson, who deceased March last past, did declare her Mind & Will as followeth concerning her Estate, & how she would have it disposed of, as she did declare it to Sarah Watson & John Merrells sen: She bequeathd to her daughter Sarah Merrells her red cloth Petticoat. She gave her searge petticoat and her Penny stone Peticoat to her daughter Mary Seamore. She gave to her gr. child Sarah Merrells 1 Pillow beere & one sheet & a white apron. She gave to her gr. Child She gave to her gr. child Susannah Merrells 1 Sheet & 1 Pillow beere. She gave her gr. child Mary Seamor 1 Sheet & 1 blankett & her green apron. She gave to her gr. child Margaret Seamor 1 Sheet & 1 blankett & a Neck Handkercheire. She gave to her gr. Child John Watson 1 great pewter Platter & a Porringer. She did desire that her daughters, Sarah Merrells & Mary Seamor, should have 5 pounds paid to each of them, that was bequeathed to them by their Father's Will. Also she did desire that the now wife of her son John Watson may have the use of the House & Homsted if it should please God that my son John should die before her, for her lifetime.
Sarah X Watson
Taken May 1683 by John Coale, Stephen Hosmer.
John MERRILL - bap. Mar. 13, 1635/6, Lawford, Essex,
England; d. Jul. 18, 1712, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT. An undocumented
source gives his birth date as Feb. 16, 1635/6. Son of Nathaniel
MERRILL and Susanna. Was in Hartford, CT by 1657, and may
have been there earlier under the care of Gregory WILTERTON, who
willed in Jul. 1674 a large portion of his estate to John. Admitted
as freeman May 20, 1658, and worked as a tanner. Removed to West
Hartford about 1683 and active in town affairs and a deacon of
Second Church. Married Sep. 23, 1663, Hartford, CT.
Sarah WATSON - b. 1641, Hartford, CT. Daughter of John WATSON and Margaret SMITH.
See Notable Cousins for line to: Solomon ANDREWS and Charles CURTIS
Modified: 3/31/07