Person:William Merriman (3)

Obituary (As Posted on Find A Grave)

This extract is from the obituary of Judson J. Merriman 1856-1903 son of John McCoy Merriman 1819–1903 and Harriet Gaddis 1829–1905

"Referring to a history of the Merriman family, we find that while the colonies were young, two Merriman brothers came to cast their lot in the new world. One was lost to descendants, but the other, William Merriman, settled in Baltimore, and from him descended the family of Merrimans, which is now one of the large ones of the United States. Upon recent reunions hundreds have gathered together, all tracing their lineage back to the gentleman mentioned. To this William Merriman, four sons and two daughters were born, William, George, Delilah, Kesiah, Nicholas, and Micaiah. It is believed others were in the family, but the record shows only those mentioned. To William, who is designated as the second, and who is the immediate great-grandfather of our subject, eight children were born, John, Daniel, William, known as the third, Elijah, Micaiah, Elisha, Sarah, and Elizabeth. William, the second, was born in Baltimore, in 1756 and died in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1844. He had married Elizabeth Goodin and went to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he was widely known as a wise money maker. Later, about 1815, he took his family to Wayne county, Ohio. He was a vigorous man until his death. Elijah Merriman, the son of William the Second, and the grandfather of our subject, married Miss Mary McCoy, and they became the parents of eleven children, Mahalah, Sarah, James M., William B., John M., Thomas, Elijah Merriman, the son of William the sec- John M., the father of Judson J. Merriman, married Harriet Geddis and their children are mentioned in the earlier portion of this article. Harriet Geddis came from a strong Scotch family and her father served in the Mexican war. The Merriman family has always been one of farmers and mechanics and professional men. None have sought public life or personal preferment in politics, but they are known as stanch and substantial people of worth and integrity. Our subject has followed in the lines of his ancestors and is a pioneer, having assisted materially in opening this part of Washington. He has good repute of all and is a descendant of the old Merriman stock of which all may be proud, and has kept untarnished the name of his forefathers as they bequeathed it to him."

He (William) secured a license to have and operate a tavern in Union town in 1802. In 1815 he began selling the properties he had acquired there and migrated with the families of his married children and with other relatives and neighbors to virgin lands which they bought from the federal government. William was able to buy 640 acres in Wayne County, in East Union and Salt Creek Twps, Ohio and this he divided equally giving 80 acres to each of his children. He had the misfortune to lose his wife in 1830. After her death his unmarried daughter Sarah (Sally) kept house for him until his death in 1844 - age 88.

His children:

John Merriman 1780–1858 (findagrave has birth 1772) m. Mary Stitt 1780–1852

Daniel Merriman 1782–1868 m. Margaret Cox 1793–1850

William Merriman 1784–1854 m. Patience Foster 1787-

ELIJAH MERRIMAN 1788–1834 * my 3rd grand father* m. Mary N. McCoy 1792-1870

Micaiah Merriman 1788–1827 m. Anna McCoy 1796–1870

Elisha Merriman 1791–1869 m. Penelope Emerson 1790–1861

Sarah " Sally" Merriman 1792–1865 never married

Elizabeth Merriman 1806–1877 m. Jacob Emerson 1801–1866

Military : Revolutionary Patriot MERRIMAN, WILLIAM JR Ancestor #: A078096 Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank: PRIVATE Birth: 1756 BALTIMORE-NEAR MARYLAND Death: (ANTE) 3 Jun 1844 WAYNE CO, OHIO Service Description: 1) CAPTS STOKELY & BRADY,COL BRODHEAD 2) FAYETTE

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} William Merriman II, in Find A Grave.