Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Merritt/ett family

Merritt/ett family (reply)

Jefff — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 23:23:20 +0000

Hi Valerie,
without wishing to step on MPG's toes, I suspect she's enjoying this long-awaited spring sunshine on the golf course at the mo. Yes, what we used to call "gypsies" in certainly since my 70s childhood, we now use the modern UK term "travellers". As she's said essentially travelling workers such as Hawkers, Basket Makers, Tinsmiths and Tinkers etc, not just Romanies. Sadly I don't think there are many of their records still existing beyond the Census' data altho some did use Churches for Baptisms, marriages etc, depending on their faith if any.

I imagine you may have already tried searching the Glos Archives Genealogical database ?. It has many Merritt/ett records including Non Conformists, Canal people, etc. This is a good startpoint for what you might want to look for when you visit the Archives.
http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/genealogy/Search.aspx

Also use this searchengine for the archives generally, again to help plan your visit.
http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/DServe/DServe.exe?dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Index.tcl

Also see http://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/searching

Hope this helps for now, at least until MPG who will undoubtedly answer far better than I can.

Merritt/ett family (reply)

Valeriem — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:46:11 +0000

No MERRETT/BENFIELD marriages on Gloucestershire Marriage CD 1800 to 1837 . There are only 23 Benfield marriages listed.

As Thomas, father of William was a basket maker - this might be a travelling family who were normally, Hawkers, Basket Makers, Tinsmiths and Tinkers. In which case the marriage could have taken place under their own system.

-----

From the Gloucestershire Baptism Index CD (this is the only Thomas & Sarah MERRETT - around that time) - earlier couple in Berkeley.

Baptisms at Glos St Mary de Crypt - parents Thomas & Sarah

Thomas William - 22 September 1824 - residence (Owens) - gardener
David - 21 April 1822 - residence -(Littleworth) - gardener
Charles John - 23 April 1828 - (labourer)
Mary Ann - 17 September 1830 - residence: South Hamlet
William - 11 August 1833 - residence South Hamlet
John - 11 August 1833 - residence South Hamlet - (labourer)
James - 18 September 1836 - residence South Hamlet - (labourer)

? are any of these family names

… the 1841 census you mention at , New Town Glos St Mary De Lobe is this the above children and parents

MERRETT

Thomas - 45
Sarah - 45
Thomas - 15
Charles - 15
Mary - 10
William - 5
John - 5
James - 4
George - 1

This is the family 1851 Census at Barton St Mary, Gloucestershire

MERRETT

Sarah - 52, unmarried labourer, born Glos. Tredington
David - 29 - Gardener, born Glos St Mary
Charles - 23 - Stone Mason - born ditto
John - 17 - Gardener, labourer
William - 17 - labourer for Kipe? maker - born ditto
James - 14
George - 10 (GlosBDM, George Henry - 1840 South Hamlet, mother's maiden name: CLARK)

Thomas MERRETT of Littleworth married Sarah CLARK by banns - 25 November 1821 Littleworth

--------------------------------------------------------
Thank you so much. I have the census results for St Mary de Lode but not the Parish records. I guess these are all the same family and if you say 'Sarah' is Sarah Clark then sadly they are not mine.

By travellers do you mean gypsies. Any records for these??? I did find a Thomas Merritt b. 1803 in Huntly yesterday. This is a possible father for William but I can't find any other records.

NB. William Merritt c1832 was know as Wiliam Charles on his Marriage and death certificates but this may have been due to his upwardly mobile Scottish wife!!! They did well in NZ.

Is there anything special I could look for when I go to the Gloucs record office next month?

Thank you and best wishes Valerie

Merritt/ett family (reply)

MPGriffiths — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 08:16:29 +0000

No MERRETT/BENFIELD marriages on Gloucestershire Marriage CD 1800 to 1837 . There are only 23 Benfield marriages listed.

As Thomas, father of William was a basket maker - this might be a travelling family who were normally, Hawkers, Basket Makers, Tinsmiths and Tinkers. In which case the marriage could have taken place under their own system.

-----

From the Gloucestershire Baptism Index CD (this is the only Thomas & Sarah MERRETT - around that time) - earlier couple in Berkeley.

Baptisms at Glos St Mary de Crypt - parents Thomas & Sarah

Thomas William - 22 September 1824 - residence (Owens) - gardener
David - 21 April 1822 - residence -(Littleworth) - gardener
Charles John - 23 April 1828 - (labourer)
Mary Ann - 17 September 1830 - residence: South Hamlet
William - 11 August 1833 - residence South Hamlet
John - 11 August 1833 - residence South Hamlet - (labourer)
James - 18 September 1836 - residence South Hamlet - (labourer)

? are any of these family names

… the 1841 census you mention at , New Town Glos St Mary De Lobe is this the above children and parents

MERRETT

Thomas - 45
Sarah - 45
Thomas - 15
Charles - 15
Mary - 10
William - 5
John - 5
James - 4
George - 1

This is the family 1851 Census at Barton St Mary, Gloucestershire

MERRETT

Sarah - 52, unmarried labourer, born Glos. Tredington
David - 29 - Gardener, born Glos St Mary
Charles - 23 - Stone Mason - born ditto
John - 17 - Gardener, labourer
William - 17 - labourer for Kipe? maker - born ditto
James - 14
George - 10 (GlosBDM, George Henry - 1840 South Hamlet, mother's maiden name: CLARK)

Thomas MERRETT of Littleworth married Sarah CLARK by banns - 25 November 1821 Littleworth

Merritt/ett family (reply)

Valeriem — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 07:01:42 +0000

The message on Roots web was many years ago.

I have the marriage (Australia) and death certificates (NZ) of William Merritt (2x gt.) Born in Gloucester in c.1832
Parents Thomas Merritt, basket maker and Sarah Merritt (formerley Benfield) Gloucester

The only 'family group' that matches is in the 1841 census for Newtown, St Mary de Lode GLoucester but I can not find anything for this group prior to 1841.

Valerie Martin

Merritt/ett family (reply)

shepway — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:07:14 +0000

The following two entries are taken from GFHS database:

25 October 1809 Thomas MERRITT baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton. Parents: Thomas and Hannah

14 February 1809 Thomas MERRITT married Hannah BIRD at Holy Trinity Church, Minchinhampton.

Mike

Merritt/ett family (reply)

MPGriffiths — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 07:43:10 +0000

More information would be useful i.e.

When did Thomas MERRETT marry Sarah BENFIELD - no Gloucestershire marriage of this couple - or on the Church of Latter Day Saints.

? When did Thomas first appear in New Zealand and what are the children's names? Sometimes middle names can be family surnames + naming patterns

Your message on Rootsweb, say he came alone from San Francisco in the 1850's to Oz - with a mention of Michinhampton.

Merritt/ett family

Valeriem — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 04:45:59 +0000

Does anyone have any Merrett/itt ancestors early 1800's. Have been searching for years without success for Thomas Merrett c. 1800 and his wife Sarah nee Benfield. Yesterday I found a Thomas Merrett b. 1803 in Huntly. Where could I check these records. I am visiting Gloucester from NZ next month and would appreciate assistance.

Valerie Martin (Merritt) Auckland NZ