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- Details provided by Randy Wall on the "Find A Grave" website. Randy's profile is https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/47039958
The Merritt family saga as of September 2009 with all the updated material included!
George Merritt, English spelling Marriott, and Jane Newmarch were married on July 1st, 1794. Here is the actual record: "George Marriott of this parish, a Blacksmith and Jane Newmarch of this parish, a Spinster were married in this church by banns this first day of July in the year 1794 by me John Dixon Minister. This Marriage was solemnized between us - George Marrit - Jane Newmarch (X) her mark. In the presence of Jane West and Richard Jackson in 1794 at St Augustine Church, in Hedon, Yorkshire County, England." Banns of Marriage between George Marriott the younger and Jane Newmarsh were published the 15th, 22nd & 29th of June (1794) by John Dixon, Minister." George was baptism on April 9th, 1769. His parents were George Marritt and Elizabeth Robinson. Actual record: George Marriott son of George, a labourer baptised April 9th, 1769 at Hedon. Mother: Elizabeth Robinson. We found on the IGI this marriage record: George Marritt and Elizabeth Robinson, married on June 25th, 1766 at Hedon.
Also found this birth record possible of their daughter: Ann Marriott (Wall), Birth: Dec 21st, 1806. Christening: Jan 4th, 1807 at the Old Chapel on Saint Peters Street (Wesleyan Methodist), town of Leeds, Yorkshire County, England. Parents: George Marritt and Jane (no surname listed for mother).
George and Jane with their family, emigrant from England on the sailing vessel Maria, which arrived at the port of Quebec on Aug. 7th, 1817 (It took 76 days for the ship to arrive at Quebec, Ontario, Canada from England, with 121 settlers on board). The family first located on Sept. 17, 1817 to Bathurst Township, in Lanark County, Ontario, to section C4 SW 13. The family located later to 100 acres at Beckwith Township, Lanark County, to Concession 4, Northeast 1/2 Lot 14. Settling duties had been performed by December 1822 (improvements to the land was required by the government). In the 1820, 1821 and 1822 census of Beckwith Township the family is there. In 1823 we found a petition to the King of England, to have a church built in Frankstown in Beckwith Twp. In this application are many of our ancestors' names: George Marriott, William Marriott, Baker Castle, Charles Stewart, Moses Wall and James Wall. The last known record of any kind of George Merritt is in May of 1837. His name is on an application for establishing a public fair in the village of Frankstown in Beckwith Twp.
There is nothing more at the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa Archives on George and Jane Merritt. NOTHING! There is no marked grave for them either in the Franktown Cemetery.
The Merritt children that we found for George and Jane in various records in Canada are: Jane (1798), Elizabeth (1799), William (1805) and Ann (1806). Possible baptismal/birth records for these children are listed below: (These are notes from the IGI Mormon records on-line)
ELIZABETH MARRIOT; Christening: Jan 24th, 1797 Skeffling, Yorkshire, England. Father: GEORGE MARRIOT (No mother listed)
JANE MARRITT Christening: June 3rd, 1798, Cathedral, Manchester, Lancashire, England. Father: GEORGE MARRITT. Mother: JANE (No surname listed). (This is almost positively the family written about here for this IGI record. It states in her death notice she was born in 1798 and at Manchester.)
JOHN MARRIT (was there a John in this family group?)
Christening: January 29th, 1804, Saint Peter, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Father: GEORGE MARRIT (no mother listed)
WILLIAM MARRET--Christening: April 21st, 1805, Saint Peter, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. Father: GEORGE MARRET (No mother listed)
Found marriage record at First Presbyterian Church at Perth, Beckwith Twp, Lanark Co, Ontario: a double wedding on Nov 5th, 1817. Elisabeth Marritt married Baker Castle and Jane Marritt married Charles Stewart. Some notes on the couples: Elisabeth Marritt was born 1799 England and died after 1881 in Goulbourn Twp, Carlton Co, Ontario. Her husband, Baker Castle, James might be first name, born England and died 1846 Goulbourn Twp. Jane Marritt, born 1798 England and her husband, Charles Stewart, born 1794 England, are both in the 1861 census of Montague Twp, Lanark Co. Ontario.
Also found the marriage record for Moses and Ann: Moses Wall and Anne Merritt marriage record: Franktown Anglican, Perth, Lanark County, Ontario. Marriage Register-Married on Monday February 17th, 1823 Moses Wall and Ann Marriott. Witnesses: John Marriott and Charles Stuart (Charles Stuart/Stewart could be Jane Marriott's husband). The record was checked twice and it does say JOHN not Jane in the hand written record. So a John Marriott did exist in Beckwith Township back in 1820's.
Children of Jane Merritt and Charles Stewart that we found: Charles, George, Joseph, Jane & Caroline (twins) and William Henry. Found marriage record for: William Henry Stewart, 30, farmer, born Montague, living at Warwick, Lambton Co, Ontario, son of Charles Stewart & Jane Merritt, married Ann Jane Phillips on June 4th, 1872 at Merrickville. Also found a marriage record at Lambton Co. Ontario for Caroline Stewart, 25, born at Montague Twp, Lanark Co, living at Warwick Twp, d/o Charles Stewart & Jane Merritt and William Francis Phillips, 25, farmer, Watford Twp, same, s/o Christ. & Ann married witnesses: William H. & Jane Stewart (brother to the bride with his wife) of Warwick Twp, April 14th, 1870 at Forest (near Sarnia).
After the 1861 Montague census Charles and Jane moved west in Ontario, settling at Warwick, Lambton County with some of their children. Charles Stewart died in Warwick, Lambton Co, on Dec 5th, 1877 at age 83 years and 4 months. His son William Henry Stewart was the informant on his death record and says that his father was born in Norfolk, England. Jane Stewart died on July 31st, 1884 at age 86. Her son was the informant. He said Jane was born in Manchester, England in 1798. Charles and Jane (Merritt) Stewart and their daughter Jane, are all buried at St. Mary's Anglican Church Cemetery in Warwick, Lambton County, Ontario.
Children of Elisabeth Merritt and Baker Castle (sometimes spelled Cassell(s), Castles, Casel) we found 8 children:
-James (history below in text).
-Rachel married William West.
-Charles (married on April 3rd, 1873 to Elizabeth Budd at Perth, more below).
-William born 1822.
-James born Feb. 14, 1824 and died Sept. 9, 1909, Smiths Falls, buried at Prospect Anglican Cemetery. He married Mary Ann Simpson.
-Henry born 1837.
-Elizabeth (married James Dowdall. Notes on her life at the end of this article).
-Robert (Robert married Mary Allen. Robert Cassells was killed instantly on Feb 21st, 1901 while driving his one-horse open sleigh with 10-yr-old son Albert and daughters, Adelaide 13 and Catherine 15. Just before his sleigh ran into a train, he threw his 3 children out to safety, but he and his horse were both killed instantly. The story is in the Perth Courier of Feb 22nd, 1901 on page 5.
George Merritt received as a Crown Grant, the property of 100 acres of Beckwith Concession (Con) 4 lot 14 on May 19th, 1824 and got the final deed on Oct 16th, 1826. Of that, he sold 50 acres to William Merritt (his son) for 10 pounds. Then on Mar 13th, 1832, George Merritt turned around and sold his property of 50 acres to James Burrows for 50 Pounds. Then on Aug 1st, 1832, George Merritt bought in Beckwith Con 3 lot 10 for 5 pounds and registered it on Mar 7th, 1836. Then William Merritt sold his property in Beckwith Con 6 lot 15 on Jan 10th, 1841. Footnote: on the land that George Merritt had in 1836 Beckwith, Con 3 lot 10, we find it in the 1842 census as sold off in lots; to a doctor, to a shoemaker and the postmaster. This area was the south west edge of Franktown. So his land was developed into commercial real estate for a major city of the day (late 1830's). Found on front page of the Perth Newspaper, April 8th, 1845, Wm Marriott, owing a fine of 1 pound that occurred on Sept. 29th, 1840. Not paid yet in 1845. After reading other newspaper pages from that era, we found out that the fine could have been from most anything. You were even fined for swearing in public, let alone fighting. There were so many miscellaneous charges.
William Newmarch Merritt was born 1803, at Sheffield, Yorkshire Co, England and died Dec 2nd, 1883 Kincardine, Bruce Co, Ontario. Age at death; 80 years and 9 months. He married Margaret Salter on July 18th, 1826 at Richmond, Goulbourn Twp, Carleton Co, Ontario and they settled in Beckwith Twp, Lanark Co, Ontario. Margaret was born on April 18th, 1805, Co Wexford, Ireland and died on Jan. 13th, 1893 at Kincardine. The family in 1839 moved to Merrickville, Wolford Township, Grenville County (later Leeds & Grenville County) Ontario, Canada. They are there listed in the 1840 Wolford Township Census. In 1853 they moved to Kincardine, Bruce Co, Ontario. Their children were: Rachel (born on Oct. 10th, 1830, married Joseph Carley on Jan. 13th, 1848, New Dublin, Leeds County, Ontario. She died on Jan. 31st, 1905 and is buried at Union Cemetery, Merrickville), William (Maria Robinson), George (Sophia Baldrow), Jane (Thomas Stewart), Elizabeth, Margaret (George Publow), Mary Ann (John Sellery), John (Sarah Anderson) and Alice (Oliver Cole).
JOHN MERRITT--There was another death registration for a John Merritt who also died on Dec 2nd, 1883 in Kincardine that was registered the following APRIL by George Merritt (William Merritt's son). This one gives his age as 87 born in England (1796?) and the doctor was the same Dr. Secord but the religion is listed as Episcopalian, and in the one registered in 1883 for William, the religion was Anglican. Anglican and Episcopal are the same thing -- it's just called Episcopal in North America sometimes. Could this John and William Newmarch Merritt be the same person or what? They could have gotten the death date wrong for this John because it was filed four months from time of his death.
"The saga of Miss Elizabeth Castle"
-Lost in many discrepancies of records and here say-
I wanted to set the record straight! I needed to do this.
Elizabeth was born to Baker Castle and Elizabeth Merritt, both from England, on June 7th (my birthday) 1837 in Goulbourn Township at the family farm. Of course we know that her parent's names have several different spellings; Castle, Cassells, Casel and Merritt, Marriott, Maritt, etc. Her father sometimes is called James Baker but mainly the records tell us his first name was Baker. BAKER CASTLE and ELIZABETH MERRITT-the official spelling of the names!
Here is where the problem started in this marriage record:
James Dowdall, 56, widower, farmer, born at Bathurst Township Lanark Co, Ontario, living at Bathurst s/o Samuel Dowdall & Mary Green married Elizabeth Merritt Castles, 53, born at Goulbourn Township, Carlton Co, Ontario, living at Goulbourn, daughter of James Baker Castles & Elizabeth Merritt. (In this record they use James for a first name for Baker.) On December 28th, 1892 at St. John's Church in Smiths Falls, Lanark Co. Why married so late after they had several children? A few theories; one the first wife was ill and/or insane and was living away from the family farm. Then Elizabeth and James meet and started a new life together. Two: maybe they never actually married and just proceeded to have children until they finally tied the knot in 1892 because of wills and estate papers. You need proof of marriage for these things for a husband and wife. Or the first wife actually died then by 1892 from being committed?
James Dowdall was on born Feb. 5th, 1831. He was first married to Sarah Eliza McWilliams (born 1831 Ireland) on May 16th, 1853. James was the son of Samuel Dowdall (born England in late 1700's) and Mary Green (born Quebec). James died on April 7th, 1912.
Now there is a record at the Diocese of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada of a Sarah ANN Dowdall age 34, of Bathurst Township, being buried, from St Paul's Church, Lanark (town), Lanark Township, Lanark Co, on January 5th, 1864 (Register 19, page 261). I recognize that this is not Sarah Eliza McWilliams, but it is the only entry that fits the information. Is this the first wife? I was told by Shirley Somerville, "You must remember Randy, that back then, there were no highways or gravelled roads, maybe some mud soaked paths in some cases. If she was buried in Lanark Township, she must have already been there. Why was she there? (At a special place for sick people?) Where you died is where you were buried. She was next door in the next Township because she was ill of some kind? Physically or mentally. Sarah's oldest son, James Alexander Dowdall, named his first daughter after her; Sarah Ann McWilliams Dowdall. (This Sarah Ann McWilliams Dowdall, was born on Dec 14th, 1878, and married on Sept 22nd, 1898 in Carleton County, to George Alfred Garland. Should her middle name have been Eliza? Do we have the right burial record for Sarah Dowdall in 1864?)
The 1861 Bathurst census shows James Dowdell, age 30, Church of England, Sarah (McWilliams) 30, James A. 7, Samuel 5, Mary J. 2.
The 1871 Bathurst Twp census shows James Dowdall, 38, as widower, with children: James, 16; Samuel, 14; Mary Jane, 12; Annie M, 10; Henry, 6; Edward, 4; Thomas, five months old (born Oct. 27th, 1870). Where is a wife listed for him? Sarah must be deceased, for he is listed as a widower but where is Elizabeth? Living somewhere else or gone at the time that the census taker came around?
The 1881 Census for Bathurst Twp shows James Dowdall, 48, Elizabeth 38 (This is Elizabeth Cassells/Castle), Annie 18, Henry 16, Edward 14, Thomas 11, George 9, John 6, and Mary Elizabeth 2 (died young).
The 1891 Census for Bathurst Twp shows James Dowdall 60, Elizabeth 52, Edward 23, Thomas 20, George 18, John 16, Albert 9, and Jemina 5.
These census records tell us that Elizabeth became part of the family before 1881. Now we feel she became part of this family back in 1863, after the 1861 Bathurst census. We are going to place the children born after 1864 to James Dowdall and Elizabeth Cassell. These children listed on the birth and death records that their mother was Elizabeth Cassell. So the theory that the first wife had mental issues sounds logical or was very ill for some time. Either T.B./Tuberoses, consumption or even postpartum depression from her last child, Annie in 1861/62.
Children of Elizabeth and James Dowdall:
-Henry Baker Dowdall, born June 7th, 1864. Baker was the name of Elizabeth's father. It does fit for the name to be Elizabeth's child.
-Edward James Dowdall, born Feb 3rd, 1868.
-George Merritt Dowdall, born Apr 8th, 1873, married Maud Ackers (daughter of Thomas Ackers and Laura Anne Catrina) on Dec. 26th, 1893 in Perth, Lanark Co, Ontario. The "George Merritt" part of the name is taken from Elizabeth's Grandfather George Merritt on her mother's side. George and Maude are buried in St. Stephen's Cemetery, Brooke, Bathurst Twp, Lanark Co, Ontario, in Con 6, at Lot 7 (with other Dowdall family members).
His stone maker: "George Marritt Dowdall 1873-1949"
Other children of Elizabeth Castle/Cassell and James Dowdall family:
-John Dowdall was born on Nov 29th, 1874.
-Mary Elizabeth Dowdall was born on Dec 25th, 1879.
-Albert Dowdall was born on Feb 1st, 1882 - Oct 8th, 1901 (never married).
-Jemima May Dowdall was born on May 7th, 1885, married George Dixon (son of John Dixon and Elizabeth Ketchum) in April 4th, 1906 in Lanark.
Elizabeth's son Henry Baker Dowdall (born June 7th, 1864) married her niece. Henry married on June 22nd, 1889 at Perth, Sarah Cassells (born July 10th, 1864), daughter of Elizabeth's brother James Cassells and his wife, Mary Simpson. This is a case of first cousins marrying. (A little history on Sarah's parents: James Castle/Cassells was born Feb 14th, 1824 and died in Smith's Falls Sept 9th, 1909. His wife Mary (Molly) Simpson, died on Mar 18th, 1908. She was born about 1829 in Ireland and immigrated to Canada in 1838.) ]
A stepson to Elizabeth from her husband's first marriage with Sarah Eliza (Ann?) McWilliams was James Alexander Dowdall (born Mar 26th, 1856). He married Mary Ann Cassells (born July 12th, 1861). Mary Ann was also a niece to Elizabeth from her brother James Cassells and Mary Simpson family. James died on July 28th, 1938 and Mary Ann Dowdall died on May 29th, 1920 and both are buried in St. Augustine Anglican Church Cemetery, Prospect, Beckwith Township, Lanark Co, just over the border from Goulbourn Township. So two Cassell sisters married two Dowdall half brothers. The men were Elizabeth's son and stepson and both of the women were her nieces.
I found a sad story that I uncovered. Charles Cassells, brother to Elizabeth (Cassells-Dowdall) and James (Cassells), killed himself (suicide by hanging) on March 18th, 1884, in Goulbourn Twp (on the family farm). His wife found him and reported it. His mother, Elizabeth (Merritt) Castle, could have still been living. We have her alive up to the 1881 Goulbourn Twp census. Three known children of Charles and Elizabeth (Budd) Cassells were: George Merritt Cassels (born 1875, married Esther Adeline Green on Oct 4th, 1899); Mary Ann (born 1879); and Ellen (born 1880). In different records Castle is spelled Casel, Cassels, Cassell, Cassells and so on. Which way is right? It seems that the first generation of these folks, Baker used the surname of CASTLE. Then his children used Cassell. In many census records and vital records (birth, marriage and death) it is spelled so many different ways. Even on gravestones you will find various spellings for the same family!
Edward James Dowdall, born Feb 3rd, 1868, son of James Dowdall and Elizabeth Cassell, married Alice Caroline Dowdall, daughter of John Dowdall and Jane Fournier, in 1889. This was first cousins marrying each other, again in the family. Their fathers were brothers. Found a daughter of this couple: Elizabeth Jane Dowdall, born on March 3rd, 1890, Bathurst and died on Oct. 26th, 1975, Smith Falls. She married William Tansley Dixon (son of Samuel Dixon and Harriett Bolton) on Feb. 5th, 1919 at Perth. Because this couple, Edward and Alice, were living with James and Elizabeth Dowdall (Edwards's parents) in the 1891 Bathurst census, researchers got the child confuse with either one of the couples because of the way it is listed in the census. So Elizabeth Jane was placed in the family group sheet of her grandparents many times in these genealogy studies. The 1891 Census for Bathurst, Lanark Co. Ontario: Dowdall, James 60, Elizabeth 52, Edward 23, Thomas 20, George 18, John 16, Albert 9, Jemina 5, Alice C., Elizabeth 1.
The way it is listed above is confusing for family group separations.
It should read: Dowdall, James-age 60, his wife Elizabeth (Cassell) 52, Edward 23, his wife Alice C. Dowdall (maiden name was also Dowdall), Elizabeth 1, Thomas 20, George 18, John 16, Albert 9, and Jemina 5. -Alice should have been listed by Edward but they didn't do that in this line up. Elizabeth age 1, is Edward and Alice's child. Footnote: James Dowdall and Elizabeth Cassell, were married the following year after this census, in 1892.
Now on to Elizabeth's death certificate from January 26th, 1828. More errors. It list her father was Edward and we know it was Baker Castle. Her son Edward James Dowdall was listed as the informant. So either he didn't know or the person taking the information (coroner?) copied down the son Edward's name by mistake.
Next her newspaper obituary; She passed away on January 26th, 1928 at her daughters' home, Mrs. George Dixon (Jemima), Brooke, (Brooke is located in Bathurst Twp, Lanark Co. Ontario). The obituary states here parents were Mr and Mrs John Cassel of Goulbourn. (Her parents were Baker and Elizabeth (Merritt) Castle. Sometimes Baker was known as James. We know the name John and James gets inter- twined.)
Left to mourn their mother was one daughter: Mrs. George Dixon (Jemima), and four sons: Edward Dowdall of Bathurst, Thomas Dowdall of Carlton Place (He married Sarah Matilda Lackey on Nov 24th, 1897), George Merritt Dowdall of Hungerford, and John Dowdall of Kingsford. One daughter and two sons preceded her: (Mary) Elizabeth, Henry (married Elizabeth's niece Sarah Castle/Cassells) and Albert.
Also states in the obituary four step children are living at this time (1928):
-Sam Dowdall of Bathurst (Samuel Nelson Dowdall born 1858 and died May 18th, 1934. He is buried at St. Stephen's Cemetery at Brooke, Bathurst Twp, Ontario. He never married. He is buried there with his siblings).
-James Alexander Dowdall of Goulbourn (married Elizabeth's niece, Mary Ann Castle/Cassells*).
-Mrs. William Truelove (Mary Jane Dowdall, born Oct. 2nd, 1861 and married on August 20th, 1887) of Brooke.
-Mrs. George Walter King (Annie Maude Dowdall born March 24th, 1863? and married on March 25th, 1892) of Perth.
"Elizabeth Merritt (Castles) Dowdall" is buried at Brooke Cemetery in Bathurst Twp. I do not know if her grave is marked. But her full name even tells a story. It has all the historic surnames of her family tree.
*Children of James Alexander Dowdall and Mary Ann Cassells: Sarah Ann McWilliams, Samuel, Mary Elizabeth, James Edward, Robert Ernest, and Edith Gertrude (Lola Nesbitt).
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