Upper Level: William Merry 1728 and Martha East 1729-1787

Sunday, January 16, 2022

William Merry 1728 and Martha East 1729-1787

NOTE: there are TWO William and Martha families in Steeple Morden AND they named their children very much alike.

William Merry
Parents William Merry and Elizabeth Shardelow
Born abt 1728 Orwell, Cambridge, England
Christening 16 February 1728 Orwell, Cambridge, England

Married Martha East 17 Oct 1753 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

William and Martha marriage record

Died February 1794
Buried 23 February 1794 Cambridgeshire, England

William's Burial Record
Transcription: Burials in 1794
Febry 23d William Merry a Pauper

Sources
Christening: England and Wales Christening Index

Marriage: Marriages for Steeple Morden - Image #482 on FHL Film # 008048580 which is evidently on the same roll as FHL Film #990377

Burial: England, Cambridgeshire Bishop's Transcripts

Family Search
ancestry.com
Martha East (-M- 6th great grand aunt)
Parents: Ralph East and Martha Dover
Christening 25 Jan 1729 Bassingbourne, Cambridge, England
Died 1787
Buried 4 Sep 1787 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Martha East Merry Burial record

Sources
Christened: England, Select Birth and Christenings

Death Record from Steeple Morden Cambridgeshire Burial Records

Family Search
ancestry.com

CHILDREN

-M- 1st cousins 7x's removed

William Merry

Christening 12 July 1755 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Not Married, no children
Died before 20 June 1761 - when the next William was born
Buried
Sources
Christening: England Birth and Christenings for Steeple Morden - Image #431 on FHL Film # 008048580 which is evidently on the same roll as FHL Film #990377

Family Search
ancestry.com

Martha Merry

Christening 5 Dec 1757 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Married Aaron Wade 15 Oct 1786 Abington Piggotts, Cambridge, England

Aaron Wade and Martha Merry marriage record

Children: William, Mary

Died June 1830 Abington Piggotts, Cambridge, England

Buried 25 June 1830 Abington juxta Shengay, Cambridge, England

Martha's burial information

Sources

Christening: England Birth and Christenings for Steeple Morden - Image #431 on FHL Film # 008048580 which is evidently on the same roll as FHL Film #990377

Marriage Registers for Abington Piggotts page 116 Image #346 on FHL Film # 007812076

Burial:

Family Search
ancestry.com

William Merry

Christening 20 June 1761 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

William's Christening

Married Elizabeth Howard 2 April 1787 Litlington, Cambridge, England

William Merry and Elizabeth Howard marriage record
Transcription: William Merry, Bachelor and Elizabeth Howard, Spinster,
married by banns in this church 2 April 1787

Children: Elizabeth, Susannah, William, MaryAnn
Died 1807 Litlington, Cambridge, England
Buried
Sources
Christening: England Birth and Christenings for Steeple Morden - Image #432 on FHL Film # 008048580 which is evidently on the same roll as FHL Film #990377

Family Search
ancestry.com

John Merry
Born 1763
Christening 14 Oct 1763 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

John Merry Christening

Married Sarah Robinson 15 Oct 1787 Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, England (age 24)

John and Sarah's marriage record

Children: Sarah, William, Susan, Mary, Sarah, John, Henry, Robert, Thomas, David
Died May 1827 Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, England

Buried 31 May 1827 Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, England (age 63)

John Merry burial record

Sources
Christening Record

Marriage Record

Burial Record

Family Search
ancestry.com
Ann Merry (twin to Mary)
Born 1765
Christening 20 Oct 1765 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Ann and Mary's Christening

Married William Horsely 12 Oct 1785 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Ann Merry and William Horsely
Note: William and Ann, according to this were both
from the Steeple Morden Parish. But, I can't find William
anywhere in the christenings. He may have just moved there.

Children: Richard, Mary, Sarah, Joseph, Thomas, John, William

Died
Buried
Sources
Christening Records for Steeple Morden - Image #433 on FHL Film # 008048580 which is evidently on the same roll as FHL Film #990377

Marriages for Steeple Morden - Image #490 on FHL Film # 008048580 which is evidently on the same roll as FHL Film #990377

Family Search

ancestry.com
Mary Merry (twin to Ann)
Born 1765
Christening 20 Oct 1765 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Mary and Ann's Christening

Married John Miller 2 Jan 1792 Abington Piggots, Cambridge, England

Marriage record part 1 page 118 (at the bottom)

Marriage record part 2 page 119 (at top)
Note that Aaron Wade (brother-in-law to Mary) was a witness

Children: William, Mary, Elizabeth, Richard, James, Thomas, Mary
Died Nov 1805 Abington Piggots, Cambridge, England
Buried 21 Nov 1805 Abington Piggots, Cambridge, England
Sources
Christening Records for Steeple Morden - Image #433 on FHL Film # 008048580 which is evidently on the same roll as FHL Film #990377

Marriage Registers for Abington Piggotts Image #347 on FHL Film # 007812076

Family Search
ancestry.com
Richard Merry
Born 1768
Christening 24 July 1768 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Richard's Christening

Married Elizabeth Harne 28 Oct 1794 Arrington, Cambridge, England

Richard Merry and Elizabeth Harne marriage record
Note: I have seen a Richard Merry whose father is Thomas Merry on
ancestry.com who is also married to Elizabeth. However, in 1851 UK Census Richard
is a widower/pauper living with Catherine Wade and her grandson.

Children:

Died
Buried
Sources
1851 UK Census (Age 80, pauper, living with Catherine Wade and her grandson - possible daughter-in-law of his oldest sister, Mary)

Family Search
ancestry.com
Thomas Merry
Born 1770
Christening 27 May 1770 Steeple Morden, Cambridge, England

Thomas's Christening

Married Elizabeth Grant 2 Aug 1796 Barrington, Cambridge, England

Thomas Merry and Elizabeth Grant marriage record

Children: Did not find any
Died
Buried
Sources
Family Search
ancestry.com

No comments:

From a Funeral Program

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little - but not for too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone

It's all part of the Master's plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart

Go to the hills we know

And bury your sorrow among the trees

Miss me, but let me go.

The Line

Every minute someone leaves this world behind.
We are all in “the line” without knowing it.
We never know how many people are before us.
We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.

So while we wait in line -

Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make love.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.

I'm My Own Grandpa

Many, many years ago when I was 23,
I got married to a widow
who was as pretty as could be.
She had a grown up daughter
who had a hair of red.
My father fell in love with her
and soon the two were wed.
This made my dad my son-in-law
And changed my very life.
My daughter was my mother,
for she was my father's wife.
To complicate the matters worse,
although it brought me joy,
I soon became the father
of a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then became a brother -in-law to dad
and so became my uncle though it made me very sad.
For if he was my uncle,
then that also made him brother to the widow's grown-up- daughter,
who of course, was my stepmother.
Father's wife then had a son,
who kept them on the run.
And he became my grandson, for he was my daughter's son.
My wife is now my mother's mother
and it makes me blue.
Because, although she is my wife,
she's my grandma too.
If my wife is my grandmother,
then I am her grandchild.
and every time I think of it,
it simply makes me wild.
For now I have become the strangest case you ever saw.
As the husband of my grandmother,
I am my own grandpa!

Quotes from the Prophets

President Gordon B Hinckley: "It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world, but out of whose dreams and early plans so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for us all, for each of us is a pioneer in his own life."

President Spencer W Kimball: "I hope to see us dissolve the artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and genealogical work, because it is the same great redemptive work!"

President Joseph Fielding Smith: " The responsibility on behalf of our kindred dead rests with equal force on all, according to our individual ability and opportunities...the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead."

The Passing of the Pot (Chamber Pot)

As far back in childhood
As memory may go
One household vessel greets me
That wasn't made for show
Beneath the bed twas anchored
Where only few could see
But served the entire family
With equal privacy
Some called the critter Peggy
And some the thundermug
And others called it badger
A few called it jug
To bring it in at evening
Was bad enough no doubt
But heaven help the person
Who had to take it out
Our big one was enormous
And would accomodate
A watermelon party
Composed of six or eight
When nights were dark and rainy
It was a useful urn
On icy winter mornings
The cold rim seemed to burn
At times when things were rushing
And business extra good
Each took his turn a waiting
Or did the best he could
Sometimes when in a hurry
To our disgust and shame
We fumbled in the darkness
And slightly missed our aim
The special one for company
Was decorated well
But just the same it rendered
That old familiar smell
Today this modernism
Relieves me a lot
And only in my vision
I see that homely pot.
(author unknown)

Poem about ancestors

Though steep is the path I follow today,
The footprints of time will show me the way.
For many have traveled a smiliar road,
And carried an equal of heavier load.

No troubles I face are new to this earth,
That man has not faced from time of his birth.
The route has been charted and roads have been paved
By legions before me who were stalwart and brave.

Their steps never faltered nor courage grew dim,
For they trusted the Lord and let Him led them.
If my faith and my trust remain steadfast and true,
God will guide and protect me in all that I do.
- Dolores Karides

The Elusive Ancestor

I went searching for an ancestor.
I cannot find him still.
He moved around from place to place
and did not leave a will.
He married where a courthouse burned.
He mended all his fences.
He avoided any man who came to
take the US census

He always kept his luggage packed,
This man who had no fame,
and every 20 years or so,
This rascal changed his name.
No one else inthis world is
searching for this elusive man,
so I play "Gene-solitaire"
To find him, if I can!

I'm told he's buried in a plot,
with tombstone he was blessed;
but the weather took engravings,
and some vandals took the rest.
He died before the county clerks
were appointed to keep records
No family Bible has emerged -
In spite of all my efforts.

To top it off, this elusive ancestor
who has caused me many groans -
left me even one more challenge:
He brothed a lady,
by the name of "Jones"!
(Got this from a publication
put out by the DUP organization
that names the author: Merrell Kenworthy)

Poem: Heaven's Door

If I should go before you,

If life on earth were through;

I'll stop just inside Heaven's door,

and there I'll wait for you.

You've but to look 'cross star filled skies,

Past the moon and then beyond;

To know my leaving could never break,

This heart's undying bond.

And if you should go before me,

If your journey on earth were through;

You know I will be close behind,

I'll never be far from you.

Across the span of time and space,

This love will reach this far;

For you'll always carry a bit of my heart,

No matter where you are.

Allison Chambers Coxsey©1995 ~ All Rights Reserved

Which Shall It Be? by Adelaide Proctor

Which shall it be?

"Which shall it be? Which shall it be?
I looked at John and John looked at me,
And when I found that I must speak,
My voice seemed strangely low and weak:
˜Tell me again what Robert said,"
And then I, listening, bent my head.
This is his letter:˜I will give
A house and land while you shall live,
If, in return, from out your seven,
One child to me for aye is given."

I looked at John's old garments worn;
I thought of all that he had borne
Of poverty, and work, and care,
Which I, though willing, could not share;
I thought of seven young mouths to feed,
Of seven little children's need,
And then of this.

˜Come, John,said I,
We'll choose among them as they lie
Asleep. So, walking hand in hand,
Dear John and I surveyed our band:
First to the cradle lightly stepped,
Where Lilian, the baby, slept.
Softly the father stooped to lay
His rough hand down in a loving way,
When dream or whisper made her stir,
And huskily he said: ˜Not her!"

We stooped beside the trundle bed,
And one long ray of twilight shed
Athwart the boyish faces there,
In sleep so beautiful and fair;
I saw on James rough, red cheek
A tear undried. E'er John could speak,
He's but a baby, too," said I,
And kissed him as we hurried by.

Pale, patient, Robbie's angel face
Still in his sleep bore suffering's trace.
˜No, for a thousand crowns, not him!"
He whispered, while our eyes were dim.
Poor Dick! bad Dick! our wayward son”
Turbulent, restless, idle one”
Could he be spared?
Nay, He who gave
Bade us befriend him to the grave;
Only a mother's heart could be
Patient enough for such as he;
˜And so," said John, ˜I would not dare
To take him from her bedside prayer."

Then stole we softly up above,
And knelt by Mary, child of love;
˜Perhaps for her ˜twould better be,"
I said to John. Quite silently
He lifted up a curl that lay
Across her cheek in a wilful way,
And shook his head: ˜Nay, love, not thee,
The while my heart beat audibly.

Only one more, our eldest lad,
Trusty and truthful, good and glad,
So like his father. ˜No, John, no!
I cannot, will not, let him go."

And so we wrote, in courteous way,
We could not give one child away;
And afterward toil lighter seemed,
Thinking of that of which we dreamed,
Happy in truth that not one face
Was missed from its accustomed place;
Thankful to work for all the seven,
Trusting the rest to One in heaven."

Sunday, January 16, 2022

William Merry 1728 and Martha East 1729-1787

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