Subject: Re: Merrill family Ruby Merrill
Date: Wed, July 16, 2008 5:09a

Question: Michael Berry wrote:

I am the son of Ruby Merrill, a 10 generation Merrill. I have a copy of William Merrill's book Captain Benjamin Merrill. My question concerns whether there is an update to this book? And, if not how we can update it?

Answer: Michael:

Thank you for writing. The answer to your question, depends on what edition of "Captain Benjamin" you have. The original book was written in 1935. There was a supplement written in 1951, and the book was republished including the 1951 supplement in 1977. There has been no further update of the book We have collected additional information on this family from correspondents and vital records and census records. We will gladly share any information we have on your specific branch of the family, if you will share what you have on that branch, particularly on the recent generations. We do not know if we have your mother, Ruby, in our database or not since you didn't give any specific information on her. We have thirteen Rubys in our database on this line, almost any one of which might be her.

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.

We would be very interested in your Merrill line as you know it right down to the present.

Howard and Jean Merrill

Subject: Re: Merrill family A Question of Heraldry
Date: Tue, July 22, 2008 7:55p

Question: Reggie Merrill wrote:

Would you happen to know the colors on the Merrill coat of arms located on this website? I know it is not my shield but I am just curious. Thanks.

Answer: Reggie:

If you read the article "A Question of Heraldry" on the website, it is a chapter from "A MERRILL MEMORIAL" which deals with Coats of Arms claimed by various descendants of Nathaniel Merrill of Newbury, MA.  Whether any are legitimate is open to question.  The first one given may have some basis in fact. The color of the shield is gold [Or], the bar or barrulet across the shield is blue [Azure] and the peacocks heads their natural color.

The one with "by the name of Merrill" is almost certainly fake, but the shield is gold, the chevron blue and the leopards heads red.

Let us introduce ourselves. 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 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 what you know of your Merrill lineage. Perhaps we could help fill in some blanks or push your lineage back a few generations.

Howard and Jean Merrill