A Lucky Find!

Last semester, I was trying to document marriage records for the Merrill family. Unfortunately, marriage records were rarely kept in Utah before 1887, which was too late for my research subjects. However, I was able to find a book on familysearch.org titled, Marriages in Utah Territory 1850-1884 from the Deseret News 1850-1872 and the Elias Smith Journals 1850-1884. In this record, I found an entry for Elthura Merrill and Reuben Collet’s marriage. It reads, “At Smithfield, Cache Co., Jan. 7., 1861, by Bishop John G. Smith, Mr. REUBEN COLLETT and Miss ELTHURA R. MERRILL, all of that place.”[1]

I was not able to find anymore entries for the rest of the Merrill family; nevertheless, it was special to find Elthura in this book because she is my direct ancestor. 

---

[1] Hansen, Judith W and Norman Lundberg. Marriages in Utah Territory 1850-1884 from the Deseret News 1850-1872 and the Elias Smith Journals 1850-1884. pg 40. familysearch. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Genealogical Association, 1998. (Online) https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1039394&from=fhd: accessed April 7, 2015).

Photo Courtesy: familysearch.org, as contributed by Dale Clarence Hansen.

Orrin Jackson Merrill Podcast

This week, I had the opportunity to create a podcast. The podcast highlights Orrin Jackson Merrill and his early years in Utah. Orrin Jackson Merrill was the son of Samuel Bemis and Elizabeth Merrill and was born in Millcreek, Utah. 

The following information is in regards to the podcast music.

Composer: Luigi Boccherini

Work: String Quintet op 10 n 5 G269 Mvmt 3 Allegretto

Performed and Recorded by Jacques Lochet

Author: User: Quinbrid

Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BOCCHERINI_Op10n%C2%B05_G269_Mvt3_Allegretto_-_Jacques_Lochet_violin_and_synthesizer.ogg

The speaking in the podcast was a direct quote from:

"Orrin Jackson Merrill" By Geraldine Jacobs. Contributed by: Loni Hackworth. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [LDS}. Database. FamilySearch/FamilyTree https://familysearch.org/photos/stories/5289913: Accessed 26 March 2015.

Reuben Collett Affidavit

While I was working on a Google Alert assignment, I found several affidavits regarding Reuben Collett and his service during the Salmon River Expedition in 1868. I knew from his obituary that Reuben had been involved with the expedition; however, that was the extent of my knowledge. It was really intersting to find some official documents regarding his service. The following are some excerpts from one of the documents:

“Rubin Collett, being first duly sworn, upon his oath says: I am a resident of Smithfield, Cach County, Utah and have been such resident for 53 years last past, and am of 73 years of age. I served in the Salmon River Expedition Expedition under Capt Thomas Smith”

The document goes on to say, “This company was sent to settle the salmon river county and driven away by Indians”[1]

Click on the URL below to see the digital image of the record.

---

[1] Cache County, Utah, Commissioner of Indian War Records, Indian War Affidavits, Box 1 Folder 13, Ruben Collett, 1907; 1908; 1909, Utah State Archives; Digital Image, archives.utah.gov, (http://images.archives.utah.gov/cdm/ref/collection/2217/id/16519: Accessed 5 October 2015).

Learning About Samuel Bemis Merrill through United States Censuses

              Samuel Bemis Merrill was born in New York State on January 4, 1814. He was an early member and pioneer of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and migrated to Utah in 1850. While doing an extensive search in the United States Census Collection, I discovered some interesting tidbits concerning Samuel Bemis. In the 1880 census, he suffered from Rheumatism and he was crippled as a result of that illness. I also discovered in the 1880 census that Samuel’s son and grandchildren lived with him and helped him with his farm.[1]

 Another interesting detail is that while I was searching in the 1870 Census I could not locate Samuel Bemis anywhere. Finally, I searched for his wife Elizabeth Gardner and found her and her children with a Thomas Merrill. Through analysis, I concluded that the census taker made a mistake and incorrectly recorded Samuel Bemis as Thomas.[2]

---

[1] 1880 U.S. census, Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory, population schedule (1st enumeration), enumeration district (ED) 12, p. 209C (stamped), p. 12 (penned), family 110, Samuel B Merrill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 Feb 2015) citing National Archives microfilm publication T9 roll 1336.

[2] 1870 U.S. census, Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory, population schedule, p. 166 (stamped) front, dwelling 45, family 44, Thomas Merrill; digital image, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 February 2015); citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 1610.