The Merritt Family Genealogy Line
compiled originally
by Rev. Peter Lauriston Merritt
[Peter's first page states ]
The Merritt Line
This history compiled by
Rev. Peter L. Merritt 1998
Please maintain and upgrade this Merritt history and see that it is passed on
to caring hearts and hands for future generations to know their roots.
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The Merritt Line
Forward
There are those who claim to trace their ancestry back to Adam. But such pedigrees do not contain appropriate documentation from contemporary documents.
With reasonable accuracy, it is possible to trace one's origins to 1066 when William the Conqueror invaded England. This is because at that time he mandated what was known as The Doomsday Book, dreaded by the population. For the first time an accounting was made of commoners for the purpose of being taxed.
Such medieval data in The Doomsday Book can be of some minor assistance in establishing ancestors in this time-frame. One can do their European research and reasonably trace roots to this era. Some may also be able to trace to the time of the Menovingean Kings [AD 450-AD752]
Earlier than this, proper documentation is virtually impossible. Pedigrees that attempt to go back further attempt to base their claims on legends and questionable traditions--this makes such claims vague and without evidence. Perhaps ancient records of documentation will be discovered and translated. Frequently if one tries to research prior to 1500 they simply re-trace the steps of others and are forced to draw similar and sometimes erroneous conclusions.
[More current generations have been sporadically added by me, Karyn Hannigan, as received from kinfolk.]