William Merrick UEL (1763 - 1844)

Born 30 Apr 1763 in Springfield, Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Sylvia (Comstock) Merrick — married 1788 in Luenburg, Stormont, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Died 5 Jul 1844 at age 81 in Mirricks Mills, Canada West

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jackie Merrick [send private message]

Biography

William Merrick was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:
Date:

The Merrick family prospered. William’s house was substantial and smacked of affluence. The Aaron Merrick house, which was built later by Samuel Langford, is still one of the outstanding stone houses built in Eastern Ontario. The Merricks had seven children. Charlotte, the eldest, was born in 1791 and married Elisha Collar of Merrickville; William Jr, my ancestor, was born on March 28, 1793, and married Judith Roche the William Roche Merrick & wife Jane c 1870 daughter of William and Ann Roche of County Cork Ireland; . Charles born on January 10, 1796, moved to Carleton Place, and then lost contact with other members of the family; Aaron born on October 1, 1800, married Mary Burritt of Easton Corners; Lavinia born on August 20, 1803, married Abel Ward of Smiths Falls, a town originally called Wardsville; Stephen, born on June 4, 1807, married Margaret Ardele; and Terrance born on July 11, 1813, married Amelia Sherwood of Brockville. According to my count, William and Sylvia had forty-five grandchildren which, on its own, was a substantial contribution.^[1]

Captain William Merrick was a United Empire Loyalist from Massachusetts who received a Crown Grant. He acquired a sawmill from Rogers Stephens on the Rideau River in 1793. A small community called Merrick's Mills (also called Mirick's or Mirrick's Mills) grew up around the existing mill and the new ones he built. A post office named Merrickville was opened in 1829. William passed away in 1844. ^[2][3]

Sources

1. ↑ Jackie Merrick, firsthand knowledge.
2. ↑ Founding of Merrickville
3. ↑ Wikipedia

1803 Return of Inhabitants of the River Rideau

Including the townships of Wolford, Oxford, Marlborough & Montague (Upper Canada).

William Merrick - age 40

William junior Merrick - age 10

Charles Merrick - age 7

Aaron Merrick - age 3

Silvia Merrick - age 30

Mabel Merrick - age 22

Charlotte Merrick - age 12

Parmelia Merrick - age 5

Moses Merrick - age 30

"A true return of the River Rideau for the year 1803" signed by Daniel Burritt Jun, Town Clerk.

Lists of Inhabitants were also done in 1802, 1804, 1805, 1806 & 1807 but not all years had the ages.

Accessed at the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society library, Regina, Sask.

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