Subject: Re: Merrill family Leverett Merrill
Date: Fri, Apr 14, 2006 14:45

Question: Meryl Hayes wrote:

My gg-grandmother Fanny Branch, was married on Aug.16, 1829 to Leverett Merrill who died April 28, 1882. They lived in Livonia, NY. Fanny was born in Orange,VT, Dec 3, 1811 and I have been trying to find out the lineage of Leverett Merrill. I do not know anything about him or where he w! as born. I would appreciate any information you might be able to give me.

Answer: Meryl:

We do not know Leverett's lineage, but we will tell you what we have discovered about him and his family.  

In the 1880 census in Genesco, Livingston, NY, we found what we are pretty sure was Leverett [indexed as Severett], 76, b. CT, parents b. CT, as a laborer at the insane asylum. We do not know if he was an inmate or not.  In the same census in Livonia, Livingston, NY, we found Fanny, 66, b. NH, parents b. NH, with granddaughter, Grace Fitzgerald, 12, b. NY.

In the 1870 census, we did not find Leverett, but did find Fanny, 58, b. NH; Frank, 18, b. NY; Mary, 20, b. NY, living with Roger Marvin, 28, Fanny [Merrill] Marvin, 24, Charles Marvin, 1. Next door was George Fitzgerald, 40; Ann [Merrill] Fitzgerald, 24; and Grace Fitzgerald, 2. We did not search to see if the inmates at the insane asylum in Genesco were listed by name, but Leverett's name did not come in a search.

We did not find the family in Livingston Co in 1860.

In 1850, we found in Livonia what we are pretty sure is the same family, but the head of household is Levi N, 48, b. NY, nurseryman; Fanny, 39, b. NY;  Charles, 17; Leverett, 15; George, 10; Porter, 8; Fanny, 7; Ann, 5; Mary, 2, all b. NY.  We didn't find a listing for Leverett (or Levi N) in the 1840 NY census.

We don't place a lot of significance in the discrepancies in the birthplaces or ages.  Your data about Fanny's bp in Orange Co VT, it is right across the CT river from NH

We are trying to database the Merrill family from the earliest immigrant down to the present day for all Merrill lines. So far we have info on over 60,000 Merrill/Merrell males plus their wives and daughters. Be assured that our database is not internet searchable and we don't give out info on living individuals, but refer anyone asking, back to the person who gave us the info.  We would be very interested in any info you have on the Merrill surname descendants of Leverett down to the present day.

Sorry we don't know Leverett's lineage,

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family Merrill Genealogy
Date: Tue, Apr 18, 2006 12:54 pm

Question: Janet Merrill Hencely wrote:

Hello Howard and Jean, I haven't responded in several years, but I see that the Merrill name is florishing. Are there ahy newfound family members of interest? Thanks, Jan

Answer: Jan:

We are continuing to collect info on Merrills and are up to over 60,000 Merrill male plus wives and daughters in our files.  We don't have anything new to report on the Merrills in your line. There is a new project going on trying to get Merrill males tested for DNA and trying to establish typical patterns for each of the Merrill lines. Several descendants of Capt. Benjamin have already been tested.

Howard and Jean Merrill
 

Subject: Re: Merrill family Merrill Genealogy
Date: Thu, Apr 20, 2006 9:18 am

Question: From John Miles,

re: The Old Guide's Story I've completed production for a new edition of the OGS, written by Charles E. Merrill. If you're unfamiliar, this is the story of 3 generations of Merrills that settled at Chateaugay Lake (Paul and his brother, Cyrus Merrill, who were from Gilmantown, NH in the early 1820s). In gather materials for the new edition, which will feature many unpublished photos from the mid 1800s and early 1900s, I've come across some photos for which I need more positive ID, if possible. The images are posted here: http://malonecivilwar.blogspot.com/2006/04/darius-merrill-from-wayne-and-lorinda.html The top image was found inside an old album that belonged to Wayne and Lorinda Walbridge; their daughter married Darius Merrill, son of Paul and Hannah Merrill. I think that this is an early photo of Darius, but am unsure. The second image, is probably his wife, Sarah Ann Walbridge Merrill. Actually I have the entire Wayne Walbridge family album right now on my desk, although there are only a few images with names written on them. Wayne had 9 children: 5 boys, 4 girls, and most of the images look like peas from a pod. However, comparing this woman with the other known photo of Sarah, it's a very strong resemblance. Finally, the third image, was photographed from a charcoal sketch. The sketch was behind another sketch of Darius Merrill, that was owned by Reggie Merrill, the boatbuilder from Chateaugay Lake who just passed away about a year ago or so. I think the person is Wesley Merrill, son of Paul and Hannah, and brother of Darius. Paul and Cyrus Merrill had beards, but no mustaches, common for that generation. This man has a full beard, but the hairline and eyes strongly resemble that of Cyrus, as well as of Paul. Also, the next generation of men did not wear beards. Therefore, all the evidence leads me to believe that the two images were of brother Darius and Wesley Merrill. I showed this to Louann Merrill, of Chateaugay, and she immediately said it looked just like her grandfather, meaning that there is a family resemblance; Louann is descended not from Paul Merrill, but rather, from Paul's brother, Cyrus, mentioned above. If you need some more dates, I have a few, as well as some of the other names. Finally, I've been unsuccessful finding any photos of David "Shep" Merrill, or Minnie (and husband Leland Stone) son of Darius and Sarah, and brother of Charles (The Old Guide), Watson, and Minnie Merrill. If I can find some good quality scans--at least 300 dpi, preferably TIFF format but jpeg is acceptable, before, let's say, Wednesday, April 26, I'll definitely include these in the publication. However, this will definitely go to press by the 28th of this month! I know this is last minute, but someone just gave me this website address this morning. Thank you, John Miles, production manager TEACH Services, Inc. 518.358.3494

Subject: Re: Merrill family pictures
Date: Thu, Apr 27, 2006 16:10

Question: John Miles wrote:

re: The Old Guide's Story I've completed production for a new edition of the OGS, written by Charles E. Merrill. If you're unfamiliar, this is the story of 3 generations of Merrills that settled at Chateaugay Lake (Paul and his brother, Cyrus Merrill, who were from Gilmantown, NH in the early 1820s). In gather materials for the new edition, which will feature many unpublished photos from the mid 1800s and early 1900s, I've come across some photos for which I need more positive ID, if possible. The images are posted here: http://malonecivilwar.blogspot.com/2006/04/darius-merrill-from-wayne-and-lorinda.html The top image was found inside an old album that belonged to Wayne and Lorinda Walbridge; their daughter married Darius Merrill, son of Paul and Hannah Merrill. I think that this is an early photo of Darius, but am unsure. The second image, is probably his wife, Sarah Ann Walbridge Merrill. Actually I have the entire Wayne Walbridge family album right now on my desk, although there are only a few images with names written on them. Wayne had 9 children: 5 boys, 4 girls, and most of the images look like peas from a pod. However, comparing this woman with the other known photo of Sarah, it's a very strong resemblance. Finally, the third image, was photographed from a charcoal sketch. The sketch was behind another sketch of Darius Merrill, that was owned by Reggie Merrill, the boatbuilder from Chateaugay Lake who just passed away about a year ago or so. I think the person is Wesley Merrill, son of Paul and Hannah, and brother of Darius. Paul and Cyrus Merrill had beards, but no mustaches, common for that generation. This man has a full beard, but the hairline and eyes strongly resemble that of Cyrus, as well as of Paul. Also, the next generation of men did not wear beards. Therefore, all the evidence leads me to believe that the two images were of brother Darius and Wesley Merrill. I showed this to Louann Merrill, of Chateaugay, and she immediately said it looked just like her grandfather, meaning that there is a family resemblance; Louann is descended not from Paul Merrill, but rather, from Paul's brother, Cyrus, mentioned above. If you need some more dates, I have a few, as well as some of the other names. Finally, I've been unsuccessful finding any photos of David "Shep" Merrill, or Minnie (and husband Leland Stone) son of Darius and Sarah, and brother of Charles (The Old Guide), Watson, and Minnie Merrill. If I can find some good quality scans--at least 300 dpi, preferably TIFF format but jpeg is acceptable, before, let's say, Wednesday, April 26, I'll definitely include these in the publication. However, this will definitely go to press by the 28th of this month! I know this is last minute, but someone just gave me this website address this morning. Thank you, John Miles, production manager TEACH Services, Inc. 518.358.3494

Answer: John:

The only pictures of this family that we have are those published in Chateaugay Lakes by Herman and Ruth Walen in 1997. They sent us a compilmentary copy. It includes sketches of Paul and wife and photos of Darius, Paul Joseph, Dame, Florence, Pauline, and Reg. you are probably familiar with this work.

We are trying to Database the Merrill family in the US from the original immigrants down to the present for all Merrill lines. We have info on over 60,000 Merrill males plus wives and daughters, but have very little in the way of pictures, and with that many wouldn't have space to store them.

Sorry we couldn't help identify your pictures,

Howard and Jean Merrill