Thread: looking to get merrrit family

hi my name is Todd Merritt i have been stuck on how to get info for my grandfather born august 17 1904 in London from here in Colorado i can't afford travel at all. i found him at the lds church family history center on the social security death index and from there got a photo copy of his app for that. when he filled for his number he was 32 in Detroit working for Chrysler corporation Chrysler plant and he states his father is James Merritt and mother Martha Walker. He died June 3 1993 in Alaska i can not get a copy of his death certificate from the state because he has to be dead like 50 years before they will do so for anything other then legal actions where you provide proof of the need. I'm mainly looking for good info on how to start without what part of London and such any help at all would be greatly appreciated

HI ...You don't say what your grandfathers name was ...









James Charles Merritt

Year of Registration: 1896



Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun



District: West Ham



County: Essex, Greater London



Volume: 4a



Page: 365



THe only other name seems to be MARTHA ANN WALKER

So this could possibly be his parents marriage.





Maybe someone could find them as couple on the 1901 census

as far as any middle names go my grandfather didn't put them on his social security application and i have found no other documentation saying he lived anywhere other then born in London his own hand writing and living in Detroit at time and sorry i left out the name is William Thomas Merritt at birth and at time of death William Thomas Merritt Sr again sorry for the leaving name out by mistake it does make it hard to find him lol

Hey Todd



Have found some immigration records which may help you with your search – strangely though it looks as if your Great Grandmother Martha ventures out to the US via Canada once in 1910 on her own to join her husband James and then leaves him to return to the UK only later to travel back to Canada in 1912 with her sons Albert Edward Merritt 10 and William Thomas 8.



Details of her 1910 journey:-



There is a border crossing record for her passing through to the US from Montreal in June 1910 – she is on her own (describes herself as a domestic) and travelling to meet with her husband James who is living (kinda blurry but address looks like) 298 La Layette Ave Detroit – she gives the details of her father as Harry Walker, 130, Charmont Rd, London England.



Details of her 1912 journey:-



There is a border crossing record for her passing through to the US from Montreal in February 1912 – she is with her sons as above and states that they are travelling to be with her husband James 166 Abbott Street, Detroit – the details of her father are as above.



So this looks like the Birth Index records for your Grandfather and his brother:-



Name: Albert Edward Merritt

Year of Registration: 1902

Quarter of Registration: Apr-May-Jun

District: WestHamCounty: Essex, Greater London

Volume: 4a Page: 387



Name: William Thomas Merritt

Year of Registration: 1904

Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep

District: West Ham

County: Essex, Greater London

Volume: 4a Page: 113



There are some other immigration records that may suggest that William and Albert (and possibily another sibling) travelled with their father over to Canada in 1908 and 1909 and others that suggest a further “yoyo” of journeys – it’s late here in the UK so will take a closer look tomorrow and try to put together a timeline for you.

lol where would i find those records myself so i can obtain like real print copies from government or print my own from the source. As i stated I've been stuck for like 15 years not even the so called experts in the lds church library for this had any clue how to get me started. Thats great that it gives so much to get me started and hopefully actually be able to help others later

Hey Todd



So there are a number of records for your family but it is taking me a little while to find my way through them – so will do this bit by bit.



I have them on the 1901 England Census



Name: Jas Charles Merritt

Age: 30

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871

Relation: Head

Spouse's Name: Martha Ann

Gender: Male Where born: London, England

Civil parish: Leyton

Ecclesiastical parish: Leyton St Catherine

Town: Leyton

County/Island: Essex

Country: England

Registration district: West Ham

Sub-registration district: North Leyton



Household Members:

Name, Age

Jas Charles Merritt, 30

Martha Ann Merritt, 22 – B: Silverton, Essex

Jas Henry Merritt, 3

Harry Merritt, 1





Going back to the June 1910 border crossing – I now note that Martha is not on her own – her entry is just separated from those of her 4 sons – who appear further down the list.



James 12 – Harry 10 – Albert 8 – William 5



They state that they landed in Canada 5/07 on the SS Kensington, which I thought referred to landing on 7th May 1910, but I couldn’t find a passenger list for the journey.



When I discovered a passenger list for the SS Kensington arriving in Quebec on 13th May 1907 I realised that it had meant 5/1907.



This list shows Jas Merritt 36 arriving with wife Martha 28 and sons Jas 9, Harry 8, Albert 5 and William 3 but it also notes that Jas Snr and the children are to be deported and beside the entry for Martha it states – “Wife deserted husband and went to England.”



I am assuming that these notes were not made at time of entry but at some later date, as there is a UK Incoming Passenger List showing that James Snr, Harry, Albert & William arrived back in Liverpool after being deported from Canada on the "Dominion" 21 Dec 1908.



There is another passenger list which shows 3 of the children travelling alone back to Canada arriving on the “Lake Champlain” on 4th July 1909 – James 12, Albert 9 and William 5. In the column where it usually states how many US$ that they have with them it is simply stamped S. Army – which I presume stands for Salvation Army.

Records for your Great Uncle James Henry Merritt





Birth Index entry:-



Name: James Henry Merritt

Year of Registration: 1897

Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep

District: West Ham

County: Essex, Greater London

Volume: 4a Page: 210a



There is a WW1 draft registration him which gives his birthdate as 23 July 1897 West Ham England. He is working for the Ford Motor Company, Highland Park, Mich. when he signs up on 21 August 1918. The social security index gives his death as Feb 1972 and there is a Florida death index record for him - 5th February 1972 in Palm Beach, Florida.

Records for your Great Uncle Harry Merritt



Births Sep 1899



Merritt Harry W. Ham Vol: 4a Page: 361



His WW1 draft registration gives his birthdate as 13 August 1899. He became a US citizen by his father’s naturalization before he reached age of majority. He is employed as a general office worker for Dodge Brothers, DetroitMich. when he signs up on 12 September 1918. The social security index gives his death as July 1966 but no State of death specified. There is an Ohio death index record that “MAY” be him



Name: Harry Merritt

Birth Date: Est. 1900

Gender: Male Race: White

ResidenceCounty: Williams

ResidenceState: Ohio

Residence Country: United States

Death Date: 22 Jul 1966

Hospital of Death: Home

City of Death: WilliamsCounty

County of Death: Williams

Certificate: 57731

Age at Death: 66

Marital Status: Married

And for your Great Uncle Albert Edward



1930 US Census



Name: Albert E Merritt

Home in 1930: Roseville, Macomb, Michigan

Age: 28

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1902

Birthplace: England

Relation to Head of House: Head

Spouse's Name: Viola Race: White

Occupation: Toolmaker in Auto Factory

Age at first marriage: 22

Parents' birthplace: England

Household Members:



Name, Age

Albert E Merritt, 28

Viola Merritt, 23

Albert Merritt, 4 3/12

Luella Merritt, 4/12

This is the US Census for 1920



Name: James Merritt

Home in 1920: Detroit Ward 19, Wayne, Michigan

Age: 51 years

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869

Birthplace: England

Relation to Head of House: Head

Father's Birth Place: England

Mother's Birth Place: England

Marital Status: Married

Race: White

Sex: Male

Home owned: Rent



Household Members:

Name, Age

James Merritt, 51 - Boiler maker

Harry Merritt, 20

Albert Merritt, 18

William Merritt, 16

Mary Jabywille, 42 – Housekeeper



There are border crossings for 4 people with the surname Merritt - all giving the same address in Detroit and go through on 23rd Sept 1920 to Windsor Ontario - they state that they are going to their homestead, Peace River. 2 of them are your Grandfather William and his brother Albert but the other 2 records are a bit muddled.