Martha Watts (Paddock) Merkel (1846 - 1915)

Born Feb 1846 in Belchalwell, Dorset, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Jonathan Charles Bentley — married 12 Jul 1870 in Brighton, Macoupin, Illinois, United States

Wife of John Merkel — married 8 Feb 1887 in Carlinville, Macoupin, Illinois, United States

Descendants

Died 1915 at about age 68 in Macoupin, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Martha Watts Paddock was born in February 1846 in Belchalwell, Dorset, England, United Kingdom. She was the daughter of James Paddock, labourer, and Unity Harding. Martha was baptised on March 8 1846 in St Mary's, Beaminster, Dorset, England.^[1]

When she was two years old she immigrated with her parents and two older brothers to North America. They arrived in New Orleans on April 2, 1849 on the ship Medemsah.^[2]

In the 1850 census Martha (age 4) was living with her parents and brothers in Woodburn, Macoupin, Illinois, United States. Her father was employed as a bricklayer.^[3]

In the 1860 census Martha (age 14) was living with her parents in Township 7 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois. Her father was employed as a bricklayer.^[4]

In the 1870 census Martha (age 24) was a teacher. She lived with her mother, brother and sister-in-law on Township 7 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois.^[5]

Martha married Charles H. Bentley on 12 July 1870 in Macoupin, Illinois, United States.^[6] Together they had at least 4 children before his death in 1883.

1. Jonathan Charles Bentley (1871–1932)
2. Spencer H Bentley (1872–1943)
3. Oscar James Bentley (1874–1936)
4. Norman Roy Bentley (1876–1941)

In the 1880 census Martha (age 34) was living with her husband, 4 children and her husbands family in Brighton, Macoupin, Illinois, United States.^[7]

Mattie married John Merkel on 8 February 1887 in Macoupin, Illinois, United States.^[8] Together they had one daughter who died in infancy.

In the 1900 census Martha (age 54) was living with her husband and 2 children in Brighton, Macoupin, Illinois, United States.^[9]

In the 1910 census Martha (age 64) was living with her husband and son Spencer in Brighton, Macoupin, Illinois, United States.^[10]

Martha Watts Merkel died (age 68) in 1915 in Macoupin, Illinois, United States. She was buried at Brighton City Cemetery in Brighton, Macoupin County. ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Dorset, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906"
   Dorset History Centre; Dorchester, England; Reference: PE/BEL
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2162 #4929965 (accessed 1 April 2022)
   Martha Watts Paddock baptism on 8 Mar 1846, child of James & Emily, in Belchalwell, Dorset, England.
2. ↑ Passenger List: "New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., Passenger Lists, 1813-1963"
   The National Archives At Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At New Orleans, Louisiana, 1820-1902; NAI Number: 2824927; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Record Group Number: 85
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7484 #196313 (accessed 31 March 2022)
   Name: Jas Paddick; Gender: Male; Arrival Age: 25; Birth Date: abt 1824; Port of Departure: Liverpool, England; Arrival Date: 2 Apr 1849; Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana; Ship Name: Medemsah.
3. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1850; Census Place: Woodburn, Macoupin, Illinois; Roll: 118; Page: 291a
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #16424611 (accessed 31 March 2022)
   Martha Paddock (4) in Woodburn, Macoupin, Illinois, USA. Born in England.
4. ↑ 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1860; Census Place: Township 7 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois; Roll: M653_206; Page: 439; Family History Library Film: 803206
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #36650631 (accessed 31 March 2022)
   Martha Paddock (14) in Township 7 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois. Born in England.
5. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 7 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois; Roll: M593_250; Page: 345A
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #17354566 (accessed 1 April 2022)
   Martha Paddock (24), Teacher, in Township 7 Range 9, Macoupin, Illinois. Born in England.
6. ↑ Marriage: "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935"
   Citing FHL microfilm: 1320491;
   FamilySearch Record: V2P3-XFB (accessed 1 April 2022)
   Martha W Paddock marriage to Charles H. Bentley on 12 Jul 1870 in Macoupin, Illinois, United States.
7. ↑ 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880"
   Citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
   FamilySearch Record: MXV2-SGF (accessed 1 April 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBH-9WY8 Image number 00076
   Martha Bentley (34), wife, in household of Charles Bentley (37) in Brighton, Macoupin, Illinois, United States. Born in Illinois, United States.
8. ↑ Marriage: "Illinois, U.S., Marriage Index, 1860-1920"
   Ancestry Record 60984 #1834638 (accessed 1 April 2022)
   Mattie Bentley marriage to John Merkel on 8 Feb 1887 in Macoupin, Illinois, USA.
9. ↑ 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900"
   Citing Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 17; FHL microfilm: 1240324; Record number: 17238;
   FamilySearch Record: MS4D-BVG (accessed 1 April 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6QY3-1KC Image number 00360
   Martha W Merkel (54), wife, in household of John Merkel in Brighton, Macoupin, Illinois, United States.
10. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910"
    Citing enumeration district (ED) ED 35, sheet 1B, family 27, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 308; FHL microfilm 1,374,321.
    FamilySearch Record: MK6F-ZWL (accessed 1 April 2022)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RVZ-J9Y Image number 00784
    Martha W Merkel (64), wife, in household of John Merkel (58) in Brighton, Macoupin, Illinois, United States. Born in England.
11. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95653335/martha-watts-bentley : accessed 01 April 2022), memorial page for Martha Watts Paddock Bentley (Feb 1846–1915), Find A Grave: Memorial #95653335, citing Brighton City Cemetery, Brighton, Macoupin County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Jo Ann (contributor 46924894).