Robert Merritt
Robert Merritt
Robert Merritt, born 31/10/1731 in Rye, NY, married Elizabeth Robinson born circa 1731 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland in 1762 in Hempstead LI, NY. Their children [and spouses] were:
Annie, born c. 1750 in Hempstead, LI, NY, married John Golding[Golden?], born 1760 in Hempstead LI,NY. Annie died ?1788;.
Mary, born c. 1760 in Hempstead LI,NY, married Philip Huestis,. [Note?] first in St John, then Queens Co. [?where married?] Mary died after 1826.
Robert, Jr, born c. 1762 in Hempstead LI, NY, married Effie Palmer.
Caleb, born c 1763 in Hempstead LI, NY, married Mary Perley. They had no children that lived. Caleb was a founding member of Freemason’s Lodge; occupation was a merchant, and formerly a tailor. He died 8/3/1821 in St John, NB and is interred in the Old Burial Ground in St John.
Gilbert Robinson, born 11/16/1765 in Hempstead LI, NY, married Phoebe Birdsill in Gagetown, NB on 7/18/1789. He died on 10/16/1846? Age 74, and is interred in Merritt-Slipp Cemetery in Hampstead, Queens Co, NB.
“[Notes]: Loyalist. Sons’ Caleb & Abraham moved to western Canada.
Israel, born c 1762 in Westchester, NY, married first wife, Mary Ann Peters, in 1790and second wife, Isabella Catherine Watson., on 12/8/1806 in Hampstead, NB. He died 4/4/1826 in Portland, St John, NB. [does this mean he died in Portland ME and was buried in St John?]
NOTES: Robert Merritt was a Loyalist. He was a member of Peter Hugeford’s civilian militia, Company 7. He was a carpenter; was on the ship Montague with Craft-Golding-Wetmore {names of people in family?] and was one year in Shelbourne, NS., Canada. He was buried in 1802 in the Merritt Cemetery in Hampstead, Queens, NB; will was probated on 12/8/1802. Elizabeth is referred to in Robert’s will of 1801.
Robert Merritt’s will:
Parish of Hampstead, Queens Co, will dated 11/10/1801, proved 12/8/1802.
My feme covert Elizabeth all real and personal estate for life. Son Caleb, 10 shillings. If granddaughter, Anna Huestis marries before my feme covert’s decease, she is to have a cow, three sheep, a bedstead and bedding, six chairs, one pot, one kettle, table, six knives and forks and spoons. Residue of estate at feme covert’s decease to be divided among my three sons and two daughters with the provision that grandchildren Jno. And Elizabeth Morrell each be paid 6 pounds 10 shillings. John Golding, Esq, and my sons Gilbert and Israel Merritt, executors. Witnesses: Stephen Golding, Thomas Golding, Alexander Kevand.
Inventory filed 12/7/1802, valued at 21 pounds by Robert Smith and Stephen Golding.
PERSONAL NOTES
Robert Merritt, Sr and his wife, Elizabeth, lived and raised their 6 children in Hampstead, LI NY. After the Revolutionary War the British government offered to transport all Loyalists to Canada and gave them tracts of land. Robert of Westchester Co, NY left early in 1783 with his brother and his own wife and their 6 children along with 10,000 other Loyalists to Port Roseway [now Shelborne], Nova Scotia. They were transported and given land by the British government and Robert filed land claims on the mainland and McNutt Island. Dissatisfied, 8000 of the 9000 Loyalists, including Robert, moved to NB in 1784. It was a harsh and very cold winter and the soil was not suited for farming. Until 8/8/1784, NB was part of Nova Scotia. At this date the new province of New Brunswick was established with Fredricton as its capital. Robert Merritt took a land grand 40 miles up the St John River on the west side. This land is called ‘Long Reach”, which is between were the Bellisle and Kennebecosis rivers empty into the St John River. Later his district became Hampstead and the surrounding county, Queens County. Some Loyalists went to Halifax, a few to Digby, but most went to Parr Town [now St John] and up the river to farms assigned to them by the British government. Robert lived at Long Reach, NB. Robert, from Queen’s County, NY, listed in “the returns of derelict property within the British lines assigned or leased by His Excellency, Lt. Gen. Robertson, for His Majesty’s use or for the relief of his loyal subjects driven from their habitations by the rebels”. –“The King’s Loyal Americans: The Canadian Fact” passenger lists, by B Wood-Holt [1991], p. 291.
Robert Merritt died 12/1/1802 in Hampstead, NB; probate, 1801 [abstract]:
Robert Merritt of the parish of Hampstead, in the county of Queens and province of New Brunswick, after the payment of all my just debts and funeral charges, I give to my wife Elizabeth, the whole of my lands, cows, sheep, hogs, house and household furniture during her natural life. To my son, Caleb, the sum of ten shillings. To my granddaughter Anna ____, one cow and three sheep and one bed and bedding and six chairs, one pot and one kettle and six knives and forks and six spoons and whatever may remain of my estate after my time comes shall be equally divided among my three sons and five daughters only, with the provision that here shall be paid to my grandson and granddaughter ___ ____and Elizabeth Merritt the sum of six pounds five shillings each, hereby ordain John Golding Esq and my sons Gilbert and Joreal [spelling unsure] executors. Witnesses: Stephen Golding and Thomas Golding.
[It is clear to me that this translation was done by someone else? –as the other above will uses the language of the time and gets the names correct. Not sure why Peter put this version in…unless to indicate that someone coming across only this latter version might then know that the first version would be the true reference point? -KH]