Ellen Merritt1

#2677, b. December 1883
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
Birth*December 1883Alabama, USA1 
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Thomas William Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; Thomas W. Merritt household:
Thomas, head, age 48, farmer, born Georgia;
"Lucy A" wife age 49, born Alabama, married 31 years, 11 children;
"Spicey" daughter age 20;
"Thomas" son age 18;
"Ellen" daughter age 16;
"Jeremiah" son age 14;
"Esther" daughter age 7.
Immediate neighbor was Henry Merritt and family (brother) and down the road was brother James B. Merritt and family.1 

Citations

  1. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Elly May Merritt1

#2672, b. circa 1894
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
NicknameElla2 
Birth*circa 1894Alabama, USA1 
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, age 46, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Cathrine", wife age 37, married 23 years, 10 children, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Harriett", daughter age 22;
"Mitchell", son age 20;
"John", son age 18;
"Ava", daughter age 16;
"Cordelia", daughter age 14;
"Etta", daughter age 11;
"Marvin", son age 10;
"Ella", daughter age 7;
"Franklin", son age 5;
"Malcom", son age 2.
Immediate neighbors were Henry's brother Thomas W. Merritt age 48 and wife Lucy age 49; two census pages away were their brother James B. Merritt age 43 and wife Elizabeth age 42.2 
(Resident) Census19 April 1910(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Precinct 3, Malvern, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "H L Merritt", head, male age 55, born Georgia, parents born Georgia, farmer;
"Mrs C E Merritt", wife age 48, married 33 years, born Alabama, parents born Alabama; Children, all born Alabama:
Michel, son age 30;
John, son age 28;
Marvin, son age 18,;
Ellie May, daughter age 16;
Frank, son age 14;
Malcom, son age 11;
Moody, son age 9.
Neighbor J. B. age 52 and Elizabeth Merritt and family.1 

Citations

  1. [S300] Census, U.S. of 1910, Enumeration District 96, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Esther Merritt1

#2680, b. January 1893
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
Birth*January 1893Alabama, USA1 
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Thomas William Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; Thomas W. Merritt household:
Thomas, head, age 48, farmer, born Georgia;
"Lucy A" wife age 49, born Alabama, married 31 years, 11 children;
"Spicey" daughter age 20;
"Thomas" son age 18;
"Ellen" daughter age 16;
"Jeremiah" son age 14;
"Esther" daughter age 7.
Immediate neighbor was Henry Merritt and family (brother) and down the road was brother James B. Merritt and family.1 

Citations

  1. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Franklin Merritt1

#2673, b. January 1895
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
NicknameFrank 
Birth*January 1895Alabama, USA1,2 
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, age 46, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Cathrine", wife age 37, married 23 years, 10 children, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Harriett", daughter age 22;
"Mitchell", son age 20;
"John", son age 18;
"Ava", daughter age 16;
"Cordelia", daughter age 14;
"Etta", daughter age 11;
"Marvin", son age 10;
"Ella", daughter age 7;
"Franklin", son age 5;
"Malcom", son age 2.
Immediate neighbors were Henry's brother Thomas W. Merritt age 48 and wife Lucy age 49; two census pages away were their brother James B. Merritt age 43 and wife Elizabeth age 42.2 
(Resident) Census19 April 1910(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Precinct 3, Malvern, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "H L Merritt", head, male age 55, born Georgia, parents born Georgia, farmer;
"Mrs C E Merritt", wife age 48, married 33 years, born Alabama, parents born Alabama; Children, all born Alabama:
Michel, son age 30;
John, son age 28;
Marvin, son age 18,;
Ellie May, daughter age 16;
Frank, son age 14;
Malcom, son age 11;
Moody, son age 9.
Neighbor J. B. age 52 and Elizabeth Merritt and family.1 

Citations

  1. [S300] Census, U.S. of 1910, Enumeration District 96, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Frederick Merritt1

#2514, b. 1783
Last Edited31 Oct 2015
Birth*1783Sampson County, North Carolina, USA1,2 
Cen-Head*1810Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Frederick Merret", head, males 2 u10, 1 26-44 (Frederick), females 2 u10, 1 26-44, 1 slave. Census page 16. Neighbors Burrell Merritt, Sam Merritt, Sam Merritt, Levy Merritt, Gabriel Merritt, Absalom Merritt.1 
Cen-Head1820Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Frederick Merritt", head, males 1 u10, 2 10-16, 1 45+, females 3 u10, 2 10-16, 1 26-44. Census page 2. In neighborhood with Balkcoms and many Merritts.3 
Migration*circa 1825Irwin County, Georgia, USA; brothers Burrell and Frederick moved to Georgia at about the same time.4 
Progeny* 

Citations

  1. [S172] Census, U.S. of 1810, Sampson County, North Carolina, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S402] Edward Merritt and Leora Hiatt McEachern, compiler, The Merritts of Sampson and Duplin Counties North Carolina (North Carolina: Self Published, 1968). Hereinafter cited as The Merritts of Sampson and Duplin Counties North Carolina.
  3. [S144] Census, U.S. of 1820, Sampson County, North Carolina, Capt Mathis District, Maryland Historical Society.
  4. [S187] Folks Huxford, compiler, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia (P. O. Box 595, Homerville, GA 31634: Huxford Genealogy Society, Inc., 1960), Part 2, page 200. Hereinafter cited as Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia.

Frederick Merritt1

#2548, b. say 1810
Last Edited31 Oct 2015
Birth*say 1810Sampson County, North Carolina, USA1 
Marriage*4 January 1828Elizabeth Merritt; Irwin County, Georgia, USA; Burrell Merritt's son Frederick married his brother Frederick's daughter Elizabeth2 

Citations

  1. [S402] Edward Merritt and Leora Hiatt McEachern, compiler, The Merritts of Sampson and Duplin Counties North Carolina (North Carolina: Self Published, 1968). Hereinafter cited as The Merritts of Sampson and Duplin Counties North Carolina.
  2. [S187] Folks Huxford, compiler, Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia (P. O. Box 595, Homerville, GA 31634: Huxford Genealogy Society, Inc., 1960). Hereinafter cited as Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia.

Frederick Merritt1

#2550, b. 1758, d. before 1805
Last Edited3 Feb 2017
Birth*17581,2 
(Neighbor) Census1790Nathial Merritt; Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Nothiel Merrett", head. 1 male 16+ (Nothial), 2 males u16 (probably Gabriel and Patrick), 4 females (say wife, Sally, and daughters Treecy, Unity, and Ann).3 
Cen-Head*1790Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Frederick Merritt", head, male over 16, with 1 male u16, 4 females, and 1 slave.3 
Death*before 18052 

Citations

  1. [S402] Edward Merritt and Leora Hiatt McEachern, compiler, The Merritts of Sampson and Duplin Counties North Carolina (North Carolina: Self Published, 1968). Hereinafter cited as The Merritts of Sampson and Duplin Counties North Carolina.
  2. [S444] Sampson County Historical Society, Huckleberry Historian (, Volume XXV, Number 4 .. 1 January 2004, "The Patriot", by Jerome Tew.
  3. [S173] Census, U.S. of 1790, Sampson County, North Carolina, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Gabriel Merritt1

#2516, b. before 1765, d. circa 1820
Last Edited21 Dec 2021
Birth*before 1765Birth date is based on the 1810 census where Gabriel was reported as head, and the oldest male in the family was over 45. It's possible that Gabriel was the male age 26-44 in the household. This seems more likely given Gabriel's service in the War of 1812 and also his marriage to 15-16 year old Sally in around 1815.1 
Cen-Head*1810Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Gabriel Merret", head, age 45+, with males 1 10-15, 1 16-25, 1 26-44, 1 45+ (Gabriel?), females 1 26-44, 1 45+, 2 slaves. Census page 16. Neighbors Frederick, Burrell, Sam, and Levi Merritt.1 
Military*say 1812Served in Maj. Cameron's Command, North Carolina Militia, Private2 
(Groom) Marriage*say 1815(Bride) Sarah (?); marriage proof by Gabriel's will, estimated date based on birth date of son Wright3 
(Heir) Will18 August 1819Nathial Merritt; Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; see attached copy. Nathial Merritt's will names sons Gabriel and Patrick, and daughters Treecy Merritt, Unity Merritt, and Ann Merritt. Son Patrick and friend John Bryan were named executors. Witnessed by John Bryan, David S. Merritt, and Lewis Bowen.4
(Testator) Will*3 June 1820Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; Gabriel Merritt's will names his wife Sally, son Wright, daughter Tempy Jane. Brother Patrick is named executor. Witnessed by John Bryan and David Merritt. In a petition to the court in February 1821, after Gabriel's death, wife Sally declared that the amount provided her (165 acres, goods, and a slave) was insufficient and that she was entitled to dower, identifying specific land.3 
Witness: John Bryan
Witness: David Merritt
Executor: Patrick Merritt
Heir: Wright Merritt
Heir: Tempy Jane Merritt
Heir: Sarah (?)
(Deceased) Death*circa 1820Sampson County, North Carolina, USA3 

Citations

  1. [S172] Census, U.S. of 1810, Sampson County, North Carolina, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S190] Index to the Compiled Military Service Records for the Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the War of 1812, National Archives and Records Administration, Roll Box 143, Microfilm M602, Ancestry.com.
  3. [S418] Record of Wills, 1782-1965, Sampson County, North Carolina, Will of Gabriel Merritt, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  4. [S418] Record of Wills, 1782-1965, Sampson County, North Carolina, Will of Nathial Merritt, Ancestry.com.

Garrison Merritt1

#2610, b. circa 1833
Last Edited1 Aug 2016
(Related) SummarySarah (?); On the Origins of Sarah Merritt and sons Henry and Garrison Merritt:

Sarah Merritt of Baker County Georgia in 1850 was the widow of Gabriel Merritt (born possibly <1765, died 1820) of Sampson County North Carolina. In Gabriel's will she was named as Sally. In the 1850 census of Baker County Sarah Merritt was listed as age 50 and head of a household that included Henry Merritt (b1830) and Garrison Merritt (b1833) along with others. Henry was a son of Sarah (see Bastardy Bond), and Garrison is assumed as a son. Both in public trees are usually identified as sons of Gabriel Merritt. However, Gabriel died in 1820, proven by Sampson County estate papers, and so Henry and Garrison are not his sons. Gabriel and Sarah's son Wright Merritt, with family, are neighbors, as are Sarah's son David Merritt and family. A Lewis Bowen was a neighbor, who along with the Merritts was reported born in Sampson County.

DNA test results reported on the Merritt Family Y-DNA Project include tests of male descendants of Henry Merritt and one of Garrison Merritt, the presumed brothers. Neither of these descendants matches any other Merritt descendants including the more than a dozen testers who report themselves as descendants of the known Sampson County Merritt lines, among them the Capt Robert Merritt line. Assuming that the testers have accurately traced their Merritt lines and correctly identified their earliest known Merritt male ancestor, then Henry and Garrison are not related to the other known Sampson County Merritts, nor are they related to any tested Merritts. Further, Henry and Garrison Merritt are not matches to each other and so had different fathers.

A Sampson County Bastardy Bond identifies a Henry Irwin as Henry's father.

Y-DNA test results show that the Henry Merritt descendant, while not a match to any other Merritts, is a match to a Bowen descendant, a Balkcom descendant (this researcher), a Russell descendant, and a Henderson descendant. In North Carolina between 1790 and 1830 Merritt families, Bowens, and Balkcoms were close neighbors in southeast Sampson County and southwest Duplin County.

With some confidence, it can be concluded that Henry Merritt and Garrison Merritt do not have the same father, and their fathers were not Merritts. Caveats are however in order. One is that Henry and Garrison are correctly identified as the earliest known ancestors of the two current-day Y-DNA testers. The other is that all the Sampson County Merritts are represented by at least one present-day tester.
2 
Birth*circa 1833Sampson County, North Carolina, USA1 
(Resident) Census16 December 1850(Head of Household) Sarah (?); household 14, District 3, census page 3, Baker County, Georgia, USA; "Sarah Merritt", head, age 50, real estate value $900, born Sampson Co NC;
"Henry Merritt", age 20, farmer, born Sampson Co NC;
"Garrison Merritt", age 17, farmer, born Sampson Co NC;
"Catherine Tipton", age 12, born Baker Co Ga;
"Susan Tipton", age 10, born Baker Co Ga;
"Thomas Tipton", age 40, born Burke Co Ga;
"Nancy Durence" age 34, born Bulloch Co Ga;
"Angeline Woodcock" age 15, born Bulloch Co GA (Henry Merritt and Angeline Woodcock married within the year);
"Cordelia Smith" age 3, born Early Co Ga.

Neighbors: Wright Merritt (b1816) and family born Sampson County; Kitty Ann Tipton (b1828) and family of Sampson County; David Merritt (b1824) and family of Sampson County, Lewis Bowen (b. 1815) of Sampson County.1 
(Neighbor) Census16 December 1850(Head of Household) Lewis Bowen; Baker County, Georgia, USA; "Lewis Boring", male age 35, farmer, born Sampson County, North Carolina, no others in household.3 

Citations

  1. [S14] Census, U.S. of 1850, Baker County, Georgia, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S445] Y-DNA Marriott Family Project, www.worldfamilies.net, Merritt Family Y-DNA Project. Hereinafter cited as Y-DNA Marriott Family Project.
  3. [S14] Census, U.S. of 1850, Third District, Baker County, Georgia, Ancestry.com.

Harriett Elizabeth Merritt1

#2618, b. February 1878, d. 1960
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
Birth*February 1878Alabama, USA1,2 
Married NameHarrell1 
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, age 46, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Cathrine", wife age 37, married 23 years, 10 children, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Harriett", daughter age 22;
"Mitchell", son age 20;
"John", son age 18;
"Ava", daughter age 16;
"Cordelia", daughter age 14;
"Etta", daughter age 11;
"Marvin", son age 10;
"Ella", daughter age 7;
"Franklin", son age 5;
"Malcom", son age 2.
Immediate neighbors were Henry's brother Thomas W. Merritt age 48 and wife Lucy age 49; two census pages away were their brother James B. Merritt age 43 and wife Elizabeth age 42.2 
Death*19601 

Citations

  1. [S425] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Submitter Elma Ruediger Tew Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.
  2. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Haywood Merritt1

#2498, b. between 1800 and 1810
Last Edited14 Oct 2015
Birth*between 1800 and 18102 
Cen-Head*1830Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Haywood Merritt", head male 20-30, with a male under 5, female 20-30. Lived near Hester Balkcom2 

Citations

  1. [S15] Census, U.S. of 1840, Sampson County, NC ancestry.com image pg 29, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S241] Census, U.S. of 1830, Sampson County, NC ancestry.com image pg 29, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Henrietta Merritt1

#2624, b. 22 June 1888, d. 26 April 1961
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
NicknameEtta2 
Birth*22 June 1888Geneva County, Alabama, USA; Per tombstone inscription1,2 
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, age 46, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Cathrine", wife age 37, married 23 years, 10 children, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Harriett", daughter age 22;
"Mitchell", son age 20;
"John", son age 18;
"Ava", daughter age 16;
"Cordelia", daughter age 14;
"Etta", daughter age 11;
"Marvin", son age 10;
"Ella", daughter age 7;
"Franklin", son age 5;
"Malcom", son age 2.
Immediate neighbors were Henry's brother Thomas W. Merritt age 48 and wife Lucy age 49; two census pages away were their brother James B. Merritt age 43 and wife Elizabeth age 42.2 
Married NameTew1 
(Bride) Marriage*(Groom) Lovard Alto Tew1 
(Bride) Marriage*20 April 1919(Groom) Christopher Columbus Wilson; Alabama, USA1 
Married NameWilson1 
Death*26 April 1961Dothan, Houston County, Alabama, USA1 
Burial*Rehobeth Cemetery, Dothan, Houston County, Alabama, USA; per tombstone -
"Henrietta M. Wilson"1 

Citations

  1. [S425] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Submitter Elma Ruediger Tew Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.
  2. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Henry Merritt1

#2518, b. before 1775
Last Edited15 Oct 2015
Birth*before 17751 
Cen-Head*1820Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, males 1 10-16, 2 16-26, 1 45+ (Henry), females 1 u10, 1 26-44, 1 45+. Census page 2 of 3. In neighborhood with Balkcoms and other Merritts1 

Citations

  1. [S144] Census, U.S. of 1820, Sampson County, North Carolina, Capt Mathis District, Maryland Historical Society.

Henry Merritt1

#2681, b. June 1880
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
Birth*June 1880Alabama, USA1 
(Resident) Census8 June 1900(Head of Household) James B. Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; James B. Merritt household:
James age 43, born Georgia, father born North Carolina, mother Georgia;
"Elizabeth" wife age 42;
"Henry" son age 19;
"Permilla" daughter age 18;
"William" son age 17;
"Sarah" daughter age 15;
"Anna" daughter age 13;
"Mary" daughter age 11;
"Pearl" daughter age 2.
James' brothers Thomas William and Henry Lenton Merritt lived nearby.1 

Citations

  1. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Henry Lenton Merritt1,2,3

#2605, b. 6 September 1854, d. 27 January 1936
Last Edited17 Feb 2018
Birth*6 September 1854Georgia, USA; Angeline Merritt in her Widow's Pension application lists her children and birth dates.4,1,5 
(Resident) Census9 June 1860(Head of Household) Jacob Henry Merritt; Calhoun County, Georgia, USA;
"Henry Merritt" age 29, farm laborer, born North Carolina;
"Angeline Merritt" age 24, born Georgia;
"William T. Merritt" age 8, born Georgia;
"Henry L. Merritt" age 6, born Georgia;
"James B. Merritt" age 3, born Georgia

Households of Wright Merritt (age 43), Peggy Merritt (age 40), and Lewis Bowen (age 38) all of Sampson Co NC were within 2 census pages.1 
(Resident) Census27 July 1870Wiley Balkcom, Esther M. Mashburn; Beat No 4, Newton, Dale County, Alabama, USA; "Wiley Balkcum", age 71, farmer, born North Carolina,real estate of $300. and personal property of $300., read/write no;
"Hester Balkcum" (assume wife Esther), age 61, born North Carolina (note this age is inconsistent with 1860 census);
"Victoria Balkcum", age 34, born in Georgia;
"Harriet Balkcum", age 29, born in Georgia;
"M. M. Balkcum", female age 18, born in Alabama
"H. S. Merritt", male age 16, farm laborer, born GA.

M. L Balkcom lived on a nearby farm, likely son Madison L. Balkcom.6 
(Groom) Marriage*circa 1877(Bride) Catherine Elizabeth Baxley; marriage inferred from shared tombstone and burial plots, confirmed by census record 1910 stating married to H. L. Merritt for 33 years.7,8 
(Neighbor) Census8 June 1900(Head of Household) James B. Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; James B. Merritt household:
James age 43, born Georgia, father born North Carolina, mother Georgia;
"Elizabeth" wife age 42;
"Henry" son age 19;
"Permilla" daughter age 18;
"William" son age 17;
"Sarah" daughter age 15;
"Anna" daughter age 13;
"Mary" daughter age 11;
"Pearl" daughter age 2.
James' brothers Thomas William and Henry Lenton Merritt lived nearby.5 
(Neighbor) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Thomas William Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; Thomas W. Merritt household:
Thomas, head, age 48, farmer, born Georgia;
"Lucy A" wife age 49, born Alabama, married 31 years, 11 children;
"Spicey" daughter age 20;
"Thomas" son age 18;
"Ellen" daughter age 16;
"Jeremiah" son age 14;
"Esther" daughter age 7.
Immediate neighbor was Henry Merritt and family (brother) and down the road was brother James B. Merritt and family.5 
(Head of Household) Census*9 June 1900Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, age 46, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Cathrine", wife age 37, married 23 years, 10 children, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Harriett", daughter age 22;
"Mitchell", son age 20;
"John", son age 18;
"Ava", daughter age 16;
"Cordelia", daughter age 14;
"Etta", daughter age 11;
"Marvin", son age 10;
"Ella", daughter age 7;
"Franklin", son age 5;
"Malcom", son age 2.
Immediate neighbors were Henry's brother Thomas W. Merritt age 48 and wife Lucy age 49; two census pages away were their brother James B. Merritt age 43 and wife Elizabeth age 42.5 
Resident: Catherine Elizabeth Baxley
Resident: Mitchell Garfield Merritt
Resident: John Linton Merritt
Resident: James Malcomb Merritt
Resident: Marvin Merritt
Resident: Elly May Merritt
Resident: Franklin Merritt
Resident: Sara Cordelia Merritt
Resident: Henrietta Merritt
Resident: Ava Merritt
Resident: Harriett Elizabeth Merritt
Neighbor: Thomas William Merritt
Neighbor: James B. Merritt
(Head of Household) Census19 April 1910Precinct 3, Malvern, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "H L Merritt", head, male age 55, born Georgia, parents born Georgia, farmer;
"Mrs C E Merritt", wife age 48, married 33 years, born Alabama, parents born Alabama; Children, all born Alabama:
Michel, son age 30;
John, son age 28;
Marvin, son age 18,;
Ellie May, daughter age 16;
Frank, son age 14;
Malcom, son age 11;
Moody, son age 9.
Neighbor J. B. age 52 and Elizabeth Merritt and family.8 
Resident: Catherine Elizabeth Baxley
Resident: Mitchell Garfield Merritt
Resident: John Linton Merritt
Resident: Marvin Merritt
Resident: Elly May Merritt
Resident: Franklin Merritt
Resident: James Malcomb Merritt
Resident: Moody Merritt
(Head of Household) Census*5 January 1920(Resident) Catherine Elizabeth Baxley; Mehern, Geneva County, Alabama, USA;
"Henry L. Merritt", head, age 65, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Catherine Merritt", wife age 58, born Alabama, father born Georgia, mother born Alabama;
"Moody Merritt", son age 18, born Alabama, father born Georgia, mother born Alabama.9 
Resident: Moody Merritt
Neighbor: Mitchell Garfield Merritt
(Head of Household) Census30 April 1930(Resident) Catherine Elizabeth Baxley; Geneva County, Alabama, USA;
"Henry L. Merritt", head, male age 75, farmer, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Cathrine Merritt", wife, age 63, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Jauneda Merritt", granddaughter age 13;
"Odell Merritt", grandson age 11.

Neighbors were Wright Merritt age 44, Tomas Merritt age 52, Mitchell G. Merritt age 50, Marvin M. Merritt age 38.10 
Death*27 January 1936Geneva County, Alabama, USA3 
Burial*Rehobeth Cemetery, Houston County, Alabama, USA3 

Citations

  1. [S13] Census, U.S. of 1860, Calhoun County, Georgia, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S416] Ancestry Database, ancestry.com, user sms36526. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry Database.
  3. [S425] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Tombstone inscription, "Henry Lenton Merritt, Sept 6, 1854; Jan 27, 1936" Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.
  4. [S469] "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Veterans Who Served in the Army and Navy Mainly in the Civil War and The War With Spain", Record Group 15; National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, DC, USA, Widow's Pension Application (#454842) by Angeline Woodcock Merritt based on service of Henry Merritt. Hereinafter cited as "Civil War Pension Appplications for Union Soldiers."
  5. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  6. [S11] Census, U.S. of 1870, AL, Dale Co, page 214, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  7. [S425] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com
  8. [S300] Census, U.S. of 1910, Enumeration District 96, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  9. [S195] Census, U.S. of 1920, Mehern, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  10. [S293] Census, U.S. of 1930, Malvern Precinct, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Jacob Merritt1

#2512, b. before 1755, d. 30 March 1815
Last Edited3 Feb 2017
Birth*before 17551,2 
(Neighbor) Census1790Nathial Merritt; Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Nothiel Merrett", head. 1 male 16+ (Nothial), 2 males u16 (probably Gabriel and Patrick), 4 females (say wife, Sally, and daughters Treecy, Unity, and Ann).3 
Cen-Head1790Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; ""Jacob Merrett", head, age over 16, with 1 male under 16 and 2 females.3 
Cen-Head*1800Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Jacob Merit", head, males 1 16-25, 1 45+ (Jacob), females 1 u10, 1 10-15, 1 26-45. Census page 44. Neighbors Daniel Merritt and Burrel Merritt.1 
Cen-Head1810Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; "Jacob Marret", head. males 1 26-44, 1 45+ (Jacob), female 1 45+, 2 slaves. Census page 15. Neighbors Absalom Merritt, Michael Merrtt.4 
Death*30 March 18152 

Citations

  1. [S118] Census, U.S. of 1800, Sampson County, North Carolina, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S444] Sampson County Historical Society, Huckleberry Historian (, Volume XXV, Number 4 .. 1 January 2004, "The Patriot", by Jerome Tew.
  3. [S173] Census, U.S. of 1790, Sampson County, North Carolina, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  4. [S172] Census, U.S. of 1810, Sampson County, North Carolina, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.

Jacob Merritt1

#2611, b. circa 1795
Last Edited19 Jun 2016
Birth*circa 17951 

Citations

  1. [S444] Sampson County Historical Society, Huckleberry Historian (, Volume XXV, Number 4 .. 1 January 2004, "The Patriot", by Jerome Tew.

Jacob Henry Merritt1

#2528, b. 22 June 1830, d. 15 August 1864
Last Edited17 Feb 2018
DNA Match*Members of the Balkcom family of southwest Oklahoma are Y-DNA matches to a Merritt tester who reported Jacob Henry Merritt of Sampson County, North Carolina, as his earliest known ancestor.2 
(Related) SummarySarah (?); On the Origins of Sarah Merritt and sons Henry and Garrison Merritt:

Sarah Merritt of Baker County Georgia in 1850 was the widow of Gabriel Merritt (born possibly <1765, died 1820) of Sampson County North Carolina. In Gabriel's will she was named as Sally. In the 1850 census of Baker County Sarah Merritt was listed as age 50 and head of a household that included Henry Merritt (b1830) and Garrison Merritt (b1833) along with others. Henry was a son of Sarah (see Bastardy Bond), and Garrison is assumed as a son. Both in public trees are usually identified as sons of Gabriel Merritt. However, Gabriel died in 1820, proven by Sampson County estate papers, and so Henry and Garrison are not his sons. Gabriel and Sarah's son Wright Merritt, with family, are neighbors, as are Sarah's son David Merritt and family. A Lewis Bowen was a neighbor, who along with the Merritts was reported born in Sampson County.

DNA test results reported on the Merritt Family Y-DNA Project include tests of male descendants of Henry Merritt and one of Garrison Merritt, the presumed brothers. Neither of these descendants matches any other Merritt descendants including the more than a dozen testers who report themselves as descendants of the known Sampson County Merritt lines, among them the Capt Robert Merritt line. Assuming that the testers have accurately traced their Merritt lines and correctly identified their earliest known Merritt male ancestor, then Henry and Garrison are not related to the other known Sampson County Merritts, nor are they related to any tested Merritts. Further, Henry and Garrison Merritt are not matches to each other and so had different fathers.

A Sampson County Bastardy Bond identifies a Henry Irwin as Henry's father.

Y-DNA test results show that the Henry Merritt descendant, while not a match to any other Merritts, is a match to a Bowen descendant, a Balkcom descendant (this researcher), a Russell descendant, and a Henderson descendant. In North Carolina between 1790 and 1830 Merritt families, Bowens, and Balkcoms were close neighbors in southeast Sampson County and southwest Duplin County.

With some confidence, it can be concluded that Henry Merritt and Garrison Merritt do not have the same father, and their fathers were not Merritts. Caveats are however in order. One is that Henry and Garrison are correctly identified as the earliest known ancestors of the two current-day Y-DNA testers. The other is that all the Sampson County Merritts are represented by at least one present-day tester.
3 
Birth*22 June 1830Sampson County, North Carolina, USA; birthdate and name are reported by a Y-DNA match who lists this individual as his earliest known Merritt ancestor. Birthdate supported by reported age of 33 when Henry Merritt enlisted in the Union Army in December1863.4,5 
(Resident) Census16 December 1850(Head of Household) Sarah (?); household 14, District 3, census page 3, Baker County, Georgia, USA; "Sarah Merritt", head, age 50, real estate value $900, born Sampson Co NC;
"Henry Merritt", age 20, farmer, born Sampson Co NC;
"Garrison Merritt", age 17, farmer, born Sampson Co NC;
"Catherine Tipton", age 12, born Baker Co Ga;
"Susan Tipton", age 10, born Baker Co Ga;
"Thomas Tipton", age 40, born Burke Co Ga;
"Nancy Durence" age 34, born Bulloch Co Ga;
"Angeline Woodcock" age 15, born Bulloch Co GA (Henry Merritt and Angeline Woodcock married within the year);
"Cordelia Smith" age 3, born Early Co Ga.

Neighbors: Wright Merritt (b1816) and family born Sampson County; Kitty Ann Tipton (b1828) and family of Sampson County; David Merritt (b1824) and family of Sampson County, Lewis Bowen (b. 1815) of Sampson County.6 
(Neighbor) Census16 December 1850Wright Merritt; 3d District, Baker County, Georgia, USA; "Wright Merrit", male age 36, farmer, born Sampson Co NC;
"Mary Merrit", age 37, born Twiggs Co Ga;
"Tempa Merrit", female age 7, born Baker Co Ga;
"Mary E Merrit", female age 4, born Baker Co Ga;
"Jesse Merrit", male age 2, born Baker Co Ga;
"Benjamin Merrit", male age 4 months, born Baker Co Ga. 
(Neighbor) Census16 December 1850David Merritt; 3d District, Baker County, Georgia, USA; "David Merrit", age 26, farmer, born Sampson Co NC;
"Elizabeth Merrit", age 25, born Emanuel Co Ga;
"Sarah C Merrit", age 4, born Baker Co GA;
"Robert Merrit", age 2, born Baker Co Ga;
a 1 year not named;
"Everette Mathis", male age 20,born Sampson Co NC, married within the year.6 
(Neighbor) Census16 December 1850(Head of Household) Lewis Bowen; Baker County, Georgia, USA; "Lewis Boring", male age 35, farmer, born Sampson County, North Carolina, no others in household.7 
(Bride) Marriage*before 1852(Groom) Angeline Woodcock; Baker County, Georgia, USA; Papers in a Civil War Widow's Pension application by Angeline (Woodcock) Merritt include affidavits (first dated Oct 18, 1875) supporting proof of marriage Henry Merritt to Rebecca A. C. Woodcock. The marriage date was stated by Angeline and others as variously 25 July, 1849, 25 July, 1850, and before 1852. Married at the house of Mr. David Merritt in Baker County (formerly) now Calhoun County, Georgia.
[If the date was actually 1849 or 1850 then the 1850 census was incorrect in listing Angeline's last name as Woodcock. Henry Merrritt and Angeline Woodcock lived in the same household in the 1850 census, under those names, and had their own household in the 1860 census in Calhoun County, Georgia.]8,9 
Witness: David Merritt
(Neighbor) Census6 June 1860Wright Merritt; Calhoun County, Georgia, USA; "Wright Merritt", age 43, farmer, born North Carolina;
"Mary Merritt", age 44, born Georgia;
"Tempy J. Merritt", female age 17, born Georgia;
"Mary E. Merritt", age 14, born Georgia;
"Jesse Merritt", male age 12, born Georgia;
"Benj C. Merritt", age 11, born Georgia;
"Kitty E. Merritt", age 7, born Georgia.9 
(Head of Household) Census*9 June 1860Calhoun County, Georgia, USA;
"Henry Merritt" age 29, farm laborer, born North Carolina;
"Angeline Merritt" age 24, born Georgia;
"William T. Merritt" age 8, born Georgia;
"Henry L. Merritt" age 6, born Georgia;
"James B. Merritt" age 3, born Georgia

Households of Wright Merritt (age 43), Peggy Merritt (age 40), and Lewis Bowen (age 38) all of Sampson Co NC were within 2 census pages.9 
Resident: Angeline Woodcock
Resident: Thomas William Merritt
Resident: Henry Lenton Merritt
Resident: James B. Merritt
Neighbor: Wright Merritt
Occupation*1863Dale County, Alabama, USA; identified as a farmer5 
Military*30 December 1863Ft. Barrrancas, Escambia County, Florida, USA; from the Company Muster-in and Descriptive Roll of Company D, 1 Regiment Florida Cavalry:
Henry Merrett, born in Sampson County, North Carolina, enlisted as a volunteer in the Union Army at Ft. Barrancas for a 3 year period. Henry received an enlistment bounty of $25, with an additional $275 to be paid on discharge. The bounty was credited to the quota of Dale County, Alabama, 8th Congr. Dist., town of Newton. He mustered in to begin service on March 27, 1864 at Ft. Barrancas. In August 1864 he died of typhoid fever in the Regimental Hospital at Ft. Barrancas.5 
Death*15 August 1864Ft. Barrrancas, Escambia County, Florida, USA; according to Henry Merrett's Civil War service records, he died in the Regimental Hospital at Barrancas, Florida of Typhoid Fever. Pay records have his death date as shown, while the Company Descriptive Book has it as July 16, 1864. Final accounting of pay records show that $53 was to be deducted from pay due his widow for sundry items including uniform.5 
(Deceased) Military27 June 1874Angeline Woodcock; Geneva County, Alabama, USA; Angeline Merritt applied as widow for pension based on her husband Henry Merritt's Civil War Union Army service in Company D, 1st Regiment, Fla. Cav, application # 216151. The record on fold3.com and ancestry.com has only the index card and no other information. Per NARA Atlanta, National Archives DC has the full application package, original copies, and no one else holds microfilm or copies. On NPS Solders and Sailors and on Fold3 the information is under "Henry Merrett".10,11 

Citations

  1. [S419] Family Tree DNA, Y-DNA Matches (https://www.familytreedna.com: Gene by Gene, Ltd., Test Date March 20, 2015), Match with unnamed Y-DNA tester. Hereinafter cited as Y-DNA Matches.
  2. [S419] Family Tree DNA, Y-DNA Matches, Y-DNA match at 37 markers, genetic distance 2, between Oklahoma Balkcom family members and private Merritt tester.
  3. [S445] Y-DNA Marriott Family Project, www.worldfamilies.net, Merritt Family Y-DNA Project. Hereinafter cited as Y-DNA Marriott Family Project.
  4. [S419] Family Tree DNA, Y-DNA Matches, match between J Balkcom and (unnamed), www.worldfamilies.net/surnames/m/merritt.
  5. [S450] Civil War Compiled Service Records of Union Soldiers and Sailors, Service Records of Henry Merrett, online at www.fold3.com, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, USA.
  6. [S14] Census, U.S. of 1850, Baker County, Georgia, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  7. [S14] Census, U.S. of 1850, Third District, Baker County, Georgia, Ancestry.com.
  8. [S469] "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Veterans Who Served in the Army and Navy Mainly in the Civil War and The War With Spain", Record Group 15; National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, DC, USA, Widow's Pension Application (#454842) by Angeline Woodcock Merritt based on service of Henry Merritt. Hereinafter cited as "Civil War Pension Appplications for Union Soldiers."
  9. [S13] Census, U.S. of 1860, Calhoun County, Georgia, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  10. [S443] Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, Pension Application by Angeline Merritt, widow of Henry Merritt, Company D 1 Fla. Cav., online at www.ancestry.com.
  11. [S449] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, Civil War Pensions - NARA Publication Number T289. Pension applications for service in the US Army between 1861 and 1900. NARA Catalog ID 2588825, online at www.fold3.com, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, USA.

James B. Merritt1,2

#2606, b. 18 January 1857, d. 4 November 1944
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
Birth*18 January 1857Georgia, USA; dates per census and tombstone inscription1,3 
(Resident) Census9 June 1860(Head of Household) Jacob Henry Merritt; Calhoun County, Georgia, USA;
"Henry Merritt" age 29, farm laborer, born North Carolina;
"Angeline Merritt" age 24, born Georgia;
"William T. Merritt" age 8, born Georgia;
"Henry L. Merritt" age 6, born Georgia;
"James B. Merritt" age 3, born Georgia

Households of Wright Merritt (age 43), Peggy Merritt (age 40), and Lewis Bowen (age 38) all of Sampson Co NC were within 2 census pages.1 
(Groom) Marriage*circa 1879(Bride) Elizabeth Skipper3 
(Head of Household) Census*8 June 1900Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; James B. Merritt household:
James age 43, born Georgia, father born North Carolina, mother Georgia;
"Elizabeth" wife age 42;
"Henry" son age 19;
"Permilla" daughter age 18;
"William" son age 17;
"Sarah" daughter age 15;
"Anna" daughter age 13;
"Mary" daughter age 11;
"Pearl" daughter age 2.
James' brothers Thomas William and Henry Lenton Merritt lived nearby.4 
Resident: Elizabeth Skipper
Resident: Henry Merritt
Resident: Permilla Merritt
Resident: William Merritt
Resident: Sarah Merritt
Resident: Ann Merritt
Resident: Mary Merritt
Resident: Pearl Merritt
Neighbor: Henry Lenton Merritt
Neighbor: Thomas William Merritt
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Thomas William Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; Thomas W. Merritt household:
Thomas, head, age 48, farmer, born Georgia;
"Lucy A" wife age 49, born Alabama, married 31 years, 11 children;
"Spicey" daughter age 20;
"Thomas" son age 18;
"Ellen" daughter age 16;
"Jeremiah" son age 14;
"Esther" daughter age 7.
Immediate neighbor was Henry Merritt and family (brother) and down the road was brother James B. Merritt and family.4 
(Neighbor) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, age 46, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Cathrine", wife age 37, married 23 years, 10 children, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Harriett", daughter age 22;
"Mitchell", son age 20;
"John", son age 18;
"Ava", daughter age 16;
"Cordelia", daughter age 14;
"Etta", daughter age 11;
"Marvin", son age 10;
"Ella", daughter age 7;
"Franklin", son age 5;
"Malcom", son age 2.
Immediate neighbors were Henry's brother Thomas W. Merritt age 48 and wife Lucy age 49; two census pages away were their brother James B. Merritt age 43 and wife Elizabeth age 42.4 
Death*4 November 1944Alabama, USA; tombstone inscription5 
(Interred) Burial*Rehobeth Cemetery, Houston County, Alabama, USA3 

Citations

  1. [S13] Census, U.S. of 1860, Calhoun County, Georgia, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  2. [S416] Ancestry Database, ancestry.com, user sms36526. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry Database.
  3. [S425] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Submitter Elma Ruediger Tew Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.
  4. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  5. [S425] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com

James Malcomb Merritt1

#2626, b. July 1897, d. 1980
Last Edited18 Oct 2017
Birth*July 1897Alabama, USA1,2 
(Resident) Census9 June 1900(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Center, Precinct #3, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "Henry Merritt", head, age 46, farmer, born Georgia, parents born Georgia;
"Cathrine", wife age 37, married 23 years, 10 children, born Alabama, parents born Alabama;
"Harriett", daughter age 22;
"Mitchell", son age 20;
"John", son age 18;
"Ava", daughter age 16;
"Cordelia", daughter age 14;
"Etta", daughter age 11;
"Marvin", son age 10;
"Ella", daughter age 7;
"Franklin", son age 5;
"Malcom", son age 2.
Immediate neighbors were Henry's brother Thomas W. Merritt age 48 and wife Lucy age 49; two census pages away were their brother James B. Merritt age 43 and wife Elizabeth age 42.2 
(Resident) Census19 April 1910(Head of Household) Henry Lenton Merritt; Precinct 3, Malvern, Geneva County, Alabama, USA; "H L Merritt", head, male age 55, born Georgia, parents born Georgia, farmer;
"Mrs C E Merritt", wife age 48, married 33 years, born Alabama, parents born Alabama; Children, all born Alabama:
Michel, son age 30;
John, son age 28;
Marvin, son age 18,;
Ellie May, daughter age 16;
Frank, son age 14;
Malcom, son age 11;
Moody, son age 9.
Neighbor J. B. age 52 and Elizabeth Merritt and family.3 
Death*19801 
Burial*Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery, Holmes County, Florida, USA1 

Citations

  1. [S425] Find A Grave, http://www.findagrave.com, Submitter Elma Ruediger Tew Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.
  2. [S77] Census, U.S. of 1900, Enumeration District 71, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.
  3. [S300] Census, U.S. of 1910, Enumeration District 96, Geneva County, Alabama, Ancestry.com, Provo, Utah.