Brief Life History of Harrison
When Harrison Merrill was born on 16 September 1822, in Groton, Grafton, New Hampshire, United States, his father, Jesse Merrill, was 34 and his mother, Esther L. Putney, was 30. He married Sarah Smith on 30 September 1852, in Somerville, Somerville, Lincoln, Massachusetts, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in California, United States in 1870 and Grass Valley, Nevada, California, United States in 1880.
Photos and Memories (0)
Do you know Harrison? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (12)
- Harrison Merrill, "Massachusetts State Census, 1855"
- Harrison Merrill, "New Hampshire Birth Records, Early to 1900"
- Harrison Mirrell, "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915"
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
Siblings (13)
+8 More Children
World Events (8)
1825 · The Crimes Act
The Crimes Act was made to provide a clearer punishment of certain crimes against the United States. Part of it includes: Changing the maximum sentence of imprisonment to be increased from seven to ten years and changing the maximum fine from $5,000 to $10,000.
1848 · The California Gold Rush
On January 24, 1848, gold was found at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California, which began the California gold rush. In December of that same year, U.S. President James Polk announced the news to Congress. The news of gold lured thousands of “forty-niners” seeking fortune to California during 1849. Approximately 300,000 people relocated to California from all over the world during the gold rush years. It is estimated that the mined gold was worth tens of billions in today’s U.S. dollars.
1857 · 7.9 Earthquake In Fort Tejon
The Fort Tejon earthquake, on January 9, 1857, registered at 7.9, making it one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in the United States. Only two people were killed, largely due to the sparse population in the area where the earthquake occurred. As a result of the large scale shaking, the Kern River was turned upstream and fish were stranded miles from Tulare Lake as the waters were rocked so far from its banks.
Name Meaning
Welsh and English: from a female personal name of Celtic origin, found in Welsh as Meriel and Meryl and in Irish as Muirgheal, earlier Muirgel (‘sea-bright’).
English: habitational name from one or more of the many places whose names derive from Middle English mirie, merie, murie ‘merry, pleasant’ (Old English myrge) + hill, hell, hull ‘hill’ (Old English hyll), including two places called Merry Hill in Staffordshire and a third in Hertfordshire.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Possible Related Names
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.