Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Spouses
Birth19 October 1774, Sampson Co, NC
FatherJesse Carroll (-<1809)
MotherMary Rachel Gavin (~1751-1811)
Parent-Proof notes for Margaret Merritt
The proof that Frederick Merritt was the father of Margaret, wife of Jesse Carroll Jr. comes from a Sampson County registered deed dated 31 Jan 1806 whereby Bethene (Theny) Merritt deeds certain Negroes to "to Jesse Carroll Jr. husband to my step-daughter Margaret" and to "my daughter Deborah Merritt". These Negroes belonged to the estate of Frederick Merritt deceased.
Research notes for Margaret Merritt
I found a page from “Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia” among the notepapers of Billie McEachern at the Dallas Herring Library in Duplin County -- she was a well known Duplin/Samspon County researcher and one of the families she studied intently was the Merritt family of Duplin County about which she wrote a book.
The page I found was mentioning Jesse Carroll (the soldier) and noted that among his children was Jesse Jr. who the book said married Margaret (Peggy) Merritt, daughter of Robert. Bilie wrote in the margin: “This Margaret must be daughter of Robert Merritt Jr. and sister to Frederick and Burrell.”
In her book, Billie mentions another son of Robert Sr. named Frederick but does not cover him further -- he must have been quite elusive. I am convinced that Peggy was the daughter of Frederick.
The Chesnutt family history says her name was Margaret P Merritt.
The page I found was mentioning Jesse Carroll (the soldier) and noted that among his children was Jesse Jr. who the book said married Margaret (Peggy) Merritt, daughter of Robert. Bilie wrote in the margin: “This Margaret must be daughter of Robert Merritt Jr. and sister to Frederick and Burrell.”
In her book, Billie mentions another son of Robert Sr. named Frederick but does not cover him further -- he must have been quite elusive. I am convinced that Peggy was the daughter of Frederick.
The Chesnutt family history says her name was Margaret P Merritt.
Timeline notes for Margaret Merritt
abt 1780. I would guess that Margaret was born abt 1780 and I would think in Sampson County. Her husband was born in 1774 and they married perhaps about 1805 or so. So 1780 is a ballpark estimate.
bef 31 Jan 1806. Margaret has married Jesse by this date. The proof of her marriage date and that Frederick Merritt was Margaret’s father comes from a Sampson County registered deed dated 31 Jan 1806 whereby Bethene (Theny) Merritt deeds certain Negroes to "to Jesse Carroll Jr. husband to my step-daughter Margaret" and to "my daughter Deborah Merritt". These Negroes belonged to the estate of Frederick Merritt deceased. Theny therefore was Frederick’s second (at least) wife and not Margaret’s mother, whose name as of now is not known.
It s not totally proven though. I found a page from “Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia” among the notepapers of Billie McEachern at the Dallas Herring Library in Duplin County -- she was a well known Duplin/Sampson County researcher and one of the families she studied intently was the Merritt family of Duplin County about which she wrote a book.
The page I found was mentioning Jesse Carroll (the soldier) and noted that among his children was Jesse Jr. who the book said married Margaret (Peggy) Merritt, daughter of Robert. Bilie wrote in the margin: “This Margaret must be daughter of Robert Merritt Jr. and sister to Frederick and Burrell.” So it seems that Billie was able to reason that Peggy was the granddaughter of Robert Merritt Sr., but wasn’t able to totally determine which of his sons was her father. I think the Theny Merritt deed makes it clear.
In her book, Billie mentions another son of Robert Sr. named Frederick but does not cover him further -- he must have been quite elusive.
abt 1818. It is said this is when she died.
Not much else is known about Margaret.
bef 31 Jan 1806. Margaret has married Jesse by this date. The proof of her marriage date and that Frederick Merritt was Margaret’s father comes from a Sampson County registered deed dated 31 Jan 1806 whereby Bethene (Theny) Merritt deeds certain Negroes to "to Jesse Carroll Jr. husband to my step-daughter Margaret" and to "my daughter Deborah Merritt". These Negroes belonged to the estate of Frederick Merritt deceased. Theny therefore was Frederick’s second (at least) wife and not Margaret’s mother, whose name as of now is not known.
It s not totally proven though. I found a page from “Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia” among the notepapers of Billie McEachern at the Dallas Herring Library in Duplin County -- she was a well known Duplin/Sampson County researcher and one of the families she studied intently was the Merritt family of Duplin County about which she wrote a book.
The page I found was mentioning Jesse Carroll (the soldier) and noted that among his children was Jesse Jr. who the book said married Margaret (Peggy) Merritt, daughter of Robert. Bilie wrote in the margin: “This Margaret must be daughter of Robert Merritt Jr. and sister to Frederick and Burrell.” So it seems that Billie was able to reason that Peggy was the granddaughter of Robert Merritt Sr., but wasn’t able to totally determine which of his sons was her father. I think the Theny Merritt deed makes it clear.
In her book, Billie mentions another son of Robert Sr. named Frederick but does not cover him further -- he must have been quite elusive.
abt 1818. It is said this is when she died.
Not much else is known about Margaret.
My Comments notes for Margaret Merritt
Margaret may have been the granddaughter of Captain Robert Merritt of Sampson and Duplin Counties. He was a light horseman in the Revolutionary War and served in the war with six sons. Not much is known about his descendants and what is known basically only tracks the males of the family. Some of his grandsons, though, were born in the 1770’s and certainly had sisters though the names of the sisters are, so far, not known. Margaret could well have been one of them.
An 1806 deed from Thene (Thena?) Merritt to Jesse Carroll gives credence to the idea that Jesse married a Merritt.
An 1806 deed from Thene (Thena?) Merritt to Jesse Carroll gives credence to the idea that Jesse married a Merritt.
Census History notes for Jesse (Spouse 1)
1810. Jess and wife, both 26-44, live in Sampson County ith one son and two daughers.
My Comments notes for Jesse (Spouse 1)
We know Jesse Jr. son of Jesse the soldier from all the various sources covering the life of Jesse Sr. and most importantly was named in his father's will.
According to these various sources, Jesse Jr. was born 19 Oct 1774. He married Margaret ”Peggy” Merritt. They were the parents of Lewis Carroll.
SUMMARY OF SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Sampson County Revolutionary War Records says that Jesse Jr. was born 19 Oct 1774 and married Margaret "Peggy" Merritt.
He is listed as a son of Jesse Sr. and Mary Rachel Gavin by the Sampson County Heritage book in its write-up of Amma Bass Carroll who was said to be the son of Jesse Carroll Jr. and Margaret Merritt.
The Chestnutt Family book lists Jesse Jr. (1774-1813) as the son of Jesse Sr. and Mary Rachel Gavin. Jesse Jr. married Margaret P Merritt and their children included Priscilla, Mary (Polly) and Lewis.
Sampson County court minutes show that on 18 May 1813, Margaret Carroll and Captain John Carroll sought administration of the estate of Jesse Carroll deceased. I have not found a will for Jesse Jr. but there is an estate file. It shows that John Carroll was the guardian for Jesse's three children, all of whom were apparently minors upon Jesse's death: Polly (Mary), Priscilla and Lewis. The earliest expenditure was in Nov 1816. The accounting spans the years 1817-1825.
There are some very confusing notations in these files but my sense is from reading them that Jesse's widow died sometime during the administration of the estate.
Jesse Jr. can be accounted for in his father's household in the 1790 and 1800 Census and then appears as head of household in 1810 with his entire family as we know it.
Land deeds. On 23 Jan 1828 the report was filed dividing the lands and Negroes of Jesse Carroll between Lewis Carroll and Priscilla Smith, daughter Mary apparently having received her share earlier. The land was all on Six Runs, 100 acres to Lewis and 125 acres to Priscilla.
JESSE CARROLL, JR.
There does not seem to be much by way of discrepancy as to the details of the life of Jesse Carroll Jr.
I do not know the source of his birth date but it is consistently given in several places. That doesn't make it true as many of these build upon previous works and misinformation does seem to propagate. Nor do I have any reason to question it.
I believe the date of his death was not long before the May 1813 request to administer his estate.
I believe Jesse Jr. lived his entire life upon the banks of Six Runs in what is now Sampson County. Technically, the area was still Duplin County at the time of his birth.
I know the names of his children from court records and estate files. Lewis Carroll is most certainly one of them.
I believe Jesse married Margaret "Peggy" Merritt daughter of Frederick.
According to these various sources, Jesse Jr. was born 19 Oct 1774. He married Margaret ”Peggy” Merritt. They were the parents of Lewis Carroll.
SUMMARY OF SOURCE DOCUMENTS
Sampson County Revolutionary War Records says that Jesse Jr. was born 19 Oct 1774 and married Margaret "Peggy" Merritt.
He is listed as a son of Jesse Sr. and Mary Rachel Gavin by the Sampson County Heritage book in its write-up of Amma Bass Carroll who was said to be the son of Jesse Carroll Jr. and Margaret Merritt.
The Chestnutt Family book lists Jesse Jr. (1774-1813) as the son of Jesse Sr. and Mary Rachel Gavin. Jesse Jr. married Margaret P Merritt and their children included Priscilla, Mary (Polly) and Lewis.
Sampson County court minutes show that on 18 May 1813, Margaret Carroll and Captain John Carroll sought administration of the estate of Jesse Carroll deceased. I have not found a will for Jesse Jr. but there is an estate file. It shows that John Carroll was the guardian for Jesse's three children, all of whom were apparently minors upon Jesse's death: Polly (Mary), Priscilla and Lewis. The earliest expenditure was in Nov 1816. The accounting spans the years 1817-1825.
There are some very confusing notations in these files but my sense is from reading them that Jesse's widow died sometime during the administration of the estate.
Jesse Jr. can be accounted for in his father's household in the 1790 and 1800 Census and then appears as head of household in 1810 with his entire family as we know it.
Land deeds. On 23 Jan 1828 the report was filed dividing the lands and Negroes of Jesse Carroll between Lewis Carroll and Priscilla Smith, daughter Mary apparently having received her share earlier. The land was all on Six Runs, 100 acres to Lewis and 125 acres to Priscilla.
JESSE CARROLL, JR.
There does not seem to be much by way of discrepancy as to the details of the life of Jesse Carroll Jr.
I do not know the source of his birth date but it is consistently given in several places. That doesn't make it true as many of these build upon previous works and misinformation does seem to propagate. Nor do I have any reason to question it.
I believe the date of his death was not long before the May 1813 request to administer his estate.
I believe Jesse Jr. lived his entire life upon the banks of Six Runs in what is now Sampson County. Technically, the area was still Duplin County at the time of his birth.
I know the names of his children from court records and estate files. Lewis Carroll is most certainly one of them.
I believe Jesse married Margaret "Peggy" Merritt daughter of Frederick.