James Merritt (1743 - 1837)

Born 1 Mar 1743 in Edgecombe Co., North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Scutchens) Merritt — married 30 Jan 1768 in Edgecombe Co., North Carolina

Descendants

Died 28 May 1837 at age 94 in Williamson, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Charlie Rathbun [send private message]

Biography

James was born in 1743. He was the son of Thomas Merritt and Mary Merritt and was named in his father’s 1757 will in Edgecombe Co., North Carolina.

James died 20 Mar 1837 and 28 Jun 1837 according to court documents contesting his will. (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4297343:9176?tid=&pid=&queryId=59d5ec393abfc5b4728f045ab1739178&_phsrc=hnR96&_phstart=successSource)

James Merritt deeded a lot to his son Thomas Merritt of Nash Co., NC stating that James was already in Williamson Co., TN. Thomas remained in Nash Co., NC a few years before moving to Williamson Co., TN as did James Merritt’s sons Samuel and Benjamin Merritt.

Sources

• 1768 Marriage: "North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979," database
  citing FHL microfilm: 418145; Record number: 215;
  FamilySearch Record: Q296-MQCL (accessed 19 April 2023)
  James Merritt marriage to Mary Scutchins on 30 Jan 1768 in Edgecombe, North Carolina.

• 1790 Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
  The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Edgecombe, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 387; Family History Library Film: 0568147
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5058 #167788 (accessed 10 June 2023)
  James Merritt in Edgecombe, North Carolina.

• 1801; Stephen Bradley Jr, abstractor; Edgecombe County, North Carolina Deeds, Vol 6, 1798- 1802; pg 85; 3 Nov 1801, James Merritt of Williamson Co, TN to (his son) Thomas Merritt of Nash Co, NC for $100, lot 28 in Tarbourgh.

• 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
  Fourth Census of the United States, 1820; Census Place: Franklin, Williamson, Tennessee; Page: 16; NARA Roll: M33_125; Image: 134
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #1203557 (accessed 10 June 2023)
  James Merrit in Franklin, Williamson, Tennessee, USA.

• 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1830; Census Place: Williamson, Tennessee; Series: M19; Roll: 182; Page: 243; Family History Library Film: 0024540
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #766663 (accessed 10 June 2023)
  James Merit in Williamson, Tennessee.

• 1836 Tax Record: "Tennessee, U.S., Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895"
  The Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tax Lists of Tennessee
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2883 #159886 (accessed 10 June 2023)
  Name: James Merritt; Residence Date: 1836; Residence Place: Williamson, Tennessee, USA.

• Father's 'Probate': "North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998," database with images
  Wills, 1663-1978; Estate Papers, 1748-1917 (Edgecombe County, North Carolina); Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History; Probate Place: Edgecombe, North Carolina
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9061 #529821 (accessed 19 April 2023)
  Thomas Merritt probate in 1768 in Edgecombe, North Carolina, USA.

• Probate: "Tennessee, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008," database with images
  Probate, Divorce and Original Wills Records, 1800-1899; Author: Tennessee County Court (Williamson County); Probate Place: Williamson, Tennessee
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9176 #3689634 (accessed 19 April 2023)
  James Merritt probate on 20 Mar 1837 in Williamson, Tennessee, USA.

• 1837 Probate, 1800-1965: "Tennessee, U.S., Divorce and Other Records, 1800-1965"
  Tennessee. County records. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm roll numbers 99 to 108, 115, 336 to 337, 428 to 431, 519, A-4098, A-5278, B-1 to B-9, B-44 to B-127, B-314, B-441 to B-445, B-471 to B-473, B-1607 to B-1613, and B-1781 to B-1789; Roll: B-50
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1237 #7945 (accessed 10 June 2023)
  in Williamson, Tennessee, USA. Lists all children.

• 1837 - 1861 extensive litigation of James Merritt's probate including contested will, lawsuits, inventory, guardian bond, guardian settlement; lists children and grandchildren; names slaves. Williamson Co, TN; https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4297343:9176?tid=&pid=&queryId=59d5ec393abfc5b4728f045ab1739178&_phsrc=hnR96&_phstart=successSource

• Merritt Families of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, Vol II, 1700-1850 Lynn Turner Salt Lake City, Utah: L.S. Turner, 1989