Person Page - 88

     Ida Delle was born in 1900 at Elkhart, Texas. She married Alvin G. Temple a 1930. Ida Delle was buried at Palestine, Texas.

     John Cannon was born on 2 Dec 1769. He was the son of Barnaby Purnell Cannon.

     Tina Wiggins was born a 1952. She married Thomas 'Tim' Edward Winslett II, son of Thomas 'Tom' Edward Winslett and Betty Howard, a 1975 at Birmingham, Alabama. Tina Wiggins and Thomas 'Tim' Edward Winslett II were divorced on 8 Oct 1976.

     Michael Steven McClendon was born a 1969. He was the son of Steve Randall McClendon and Drenda Kaye Winslett. Michael Steven McClendon died in 2017.

     Matthew Wesley Painter was born on 8 Apr 1981. He was the son of Willie Ed Painter and Drenda Kaye Winslett.

     Christopher Brian Riddle was born on 18 May 1982. He was the son of Larry Wade Riddle and Cheri Dianne Winslett.

     Michael Stephen Parsons was born on 23 Feb 1983. He was the son of Charles Stephen Parsons and Brenda Joyce Winslett.

     Rachael Elizabeth Winslett was born on 15 Sep 1981. She was the daughter of Stanley Clyde Winslett and Janis Gayle Mackin.

     John Thomas Wheat was born c 1849 at Georgia. He was the son of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt. John Thomas Wheat married Janey Abbott in 1882.

     Janey Abbott was born a 1862. She married John Thomas Wheat, son of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt, in 1882.

     Judge William "Bill" Hendrix Wheat was born c 1859 at Georgia. He was the son of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt. Judge William "Bill" Hendrix Wheat married Georgia Lily Askew, daughter of William Askew and Nancy Merritt, c 1881. Judge William "Bill" Hendrix Wheat died on 12 Jul 1914 at Greensboro, Greene Co, Georgia. He was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery, Veazey, Greene Co, Georgia.

     Nancy Ellen Wheat was born on 7 Sep 1854 at Georgia. She was the daughter of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt. Nancy Ellen Wheat married Ronnie Robertson a 1869. Nancy Ellen Wheat married SGT William "Bill" Elisha Millender I on 26 Dec 1872 at Talladega Co, Alabama. Nancy Ellen Wheat died on 28 Oct 1893 at Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 39. She was buried at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Nancy Ellen Wheat's marriage to Ronnie Robertson was reported to this researcher by Jonathan and Elizabeth's granddaughter Amanda Ola Weathers; she would have had direct knowledge because Ellen was her aunt, who likely was living in the same county.

     SGT William "Bill" Elisha Millender I was born on 27 Jan 1841 at Talladega, Talladega Co, Alabama. He married Nancy Ellen Wheat, daughter of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt, on 26 Dec 1872 at Talladega Co, Alabama. SGT William "Bill" Elisha Millender I died on 23 Nov 1925 at Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 84. He was buried at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      William Elisha Millender was, fittingly, a grist miller. He served in Company A, 8th Regiment, Wade's Confederate Cavalry, Confederate States Army.

     Ronald Lee Wilks II is the son of Ronald Lee Wilks I and Kathryn Anne Gunn. Ronald Lee Wilks II married Whitney Ogden, daughter of Louis Ogden, a 2005.

     Ronnie Robertson was born a 1843. He married Nancy Ellen Wheat, daughter of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt, a 1869.

      Ronnie Robertson may be the R. R. Robertson, age one, on the 1860 census in Shelby Co, AL.

     Woodruff "Ruff" Albert Wheat was born c 17 Mar 1868 at Alabama. He was the son of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt. Woodruff "Ruff" Albert Wheat married Paralee Jane Bates, daughter of David M. Bates and Parolee (Unknown), c 1890. Woodruff "Ruff" Albert Wheat died on 12 Feb 1950 at Mississippi Co, Arkansas. He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Blytheville, Mississippi Co, Arkansas.

      James Albert Woodruff "Ruff" Wheat was renting a farm in Wren, Monroe Co, MS in 1910 where he lived with his family; all of his older children worked on the farm.

By 1920 Woodruff had relocated to a farm he rented on Burdette Road, Clear Lake, Mississippi Co, AR. Renting the farm next door was J. F. Wheat age 25 [born circa 1895 so likely his son James Franklin] with his wife Rubie and daughter Earnestine. Woodruff was still renting there in 1930 with his wife. Living three doors away in 1930 was was James F. Wheat, age 38 [born circa 1892]and his wife Ruby Lee with their children Earnestine and twin sons Carless and Harless.

In 1940 Woodruff and Parilee owned their own farm on New Honty Road, Clear Lake, Mississippi Co, AR where they had lived at least since 1935. Woodruff reported he had completed 8th grade and that he no longer worked.

     Paralee Jane Bates was born on 8 Jun 1866 at Alabama. She was the daughter of David M. Bates and Parolee (Unknown). Paralee Jane Bates married Woodruff "Ruff" Albert Wheat, son of Jonathon "John" Wheat and Elizabeth "Beth" Merritt, c 1890. Paralee Jane Bates died on 22 Jun 1941 at Mississippi Co, Arkansas, at age 75. She was buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Blytheville, Mississippi Co, Arkansas.

     Thomas Merritt was born c 1787 at Halifax Co, North Carolina. He was the son of John Merritt and Elizabeth (Unknown). Thomas Merritt married Martha "Patsy" Rowland, daughter of Hiram Rowland and Rhoda Atkinson, on 28 Feb 1815 at Greene Co, Georgia. Thomas Merritt died on 1 Feb 1860 at Greensboro, Greene Co, Georgia. His estate was probated on 6 Feb 1860 at Greene Co, Georgia. His estate was probated on 27 Mar 1860 at Talladega Co, Alabama.

      Thomas Merritt's inconsistently stated age in official records, even for the same year, was confusing, however his slave ownership and consistent reporting of his children in the censuses was used to track Thomas' life in Greene Co, GA. The 1850 census indicated Thomas Merritt senior was born in 1795 meaning he was age 20 at marriage but his 1860 death record indicated a 1787 birth which would have been more logical, indicating he was age 28 when he married Martha Rowland.

Thomas Merritt was a very common name throughout the South during this era as well as within this family, so care must be taken in drawing conclusions. The heirs of a Thomas Merritt received a War of 1812 military bounty land warrant; it is unknown if this warrant was on behalf of our Thomas because there were other contemporary Thomas Merritts in Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, etc.

Thomas was enumerated on 1820 Capt. Slaughten's District, Greene Co, GA census with his wife, 2 children and 1 slave. His household also had 5 "other persons except Indians not taxed" who were not whites, foreigners, or free people of color or they would have been enumerated as such and thus have presumed to have been Indians. On this 1820 census Thomas was born between 1776 and 1794.

Thomas was on the property tax list in Capt. Cullen Credille's district in Greene Co, GA in 1827 and in Capt. Elkanah Talley's district in 1828 with areas of land both years in Early and Irwin counties in Georgia, and two tracts of land in Greene Co, GA.

Thomas was enumerated in Greene Co in 1830 as Thomas Merrell (transcribed as Thomas Stennell) with a total family of 9, likely including his wife Martha, daughters Nancy and Elizabeth, and sons Benjamin, John, James, Crease and an unknown son likely born in 1825. The household now had 7 slaves and it was unclear if this included the 5 Indians from 1820. In previous generations, derivations of the name Creasey, thought to be diminutive for Lucretia, were given to daughters but Crease in Thomas' family was enumerated as a son.

Thomas, listed as age 50-59 (born 1781-1790), still resided in Greene Co in 1840 with his wife Martha and nine of his children, his oldest daughter having married and left home. Note there were no young females under age 5 on this census as discussed further below. His household had 15 slaves, including 7 under age 10.

On 12 Nov 1845 Thomas purchased a colt, saddle, bridle, kitchen implements, tools including blacksmith tools and fodder from the estate sale of his father-in-law Hiram Rowland in Greene Co, GA. At Hiram's 2 Dec 1845 estate sale Thomas purchased a slave named Mariah and her two children. In 1846 when Thomas signed for his portion of his father-in-law's estate he was unable to sign his name.

Thomas, listed as age 55 (born 1795), and his two older sons Thomas and Franklin were farming real estate valued at $5,000 in 1850 in Greene Co, GA. Thomas and his wife Martha were noted as not being able to read or write. Their 15-year-old son Albert was a student, whereas often males of that age were farmers or laborers. On the 1850 slave schedule Thomas listed as age 50 (born 1800) was shown with 32 slaves with 17 age 10 or less, so his slave holdings doubled in a decade. Thomas resided next door to his son-in-law Jonathan Wheat who had a sizable farm in his own right and five slaves. By the time of the 1860 census his wife Martha, age 63, was listed as a widow in Greene Co.

That Thomas' daughter Elizabeth Merritt came from a life of privilege was a family tradition recounted to this researcher by Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett, Elizabeth's great granddaughter. Thomas Merritt certainly had the means to provide well for his family and many in the Merritt and intermarried Rowland families were land and slave owners. Amanda specifically reported Thomas owned "extensive" lands in Mississippi; this could not be verified and may possibly refer to the bounty land warrant noted above or to land owned in Alabama, but there were also Merrit families living in Mississippi. A different Thomas Merritt, a slave owner age 54, lived in Monroe Co, MS in 1850 with his wife Sibley age 56, five Merritt children, and a Mary Hood with her 2 daughters. Amanda also reported her great grandfather was named Thomas Edward Merritt; other sources for his middle name have not been found, although historian Ray Rowland noted his middle initial as W.

Thomas' death record stated he died from palsy after a year of illness in 1860 and was noted as age 73 - born about 1787. A Greene Co, GA newspaper clipping reported: "Thursday, 02 February 1860 Fatal Accident. We regret to learn the death of Mr. Thomas Merritt, Sr., one of the oldest citizens of this county. He fell from his buggy while returning home from this city on Tuesday evening and received injuries from which he died early the next morning. We have not been informed of the particulars connected with his death, but understand it was occasioned by a fit of apoplexy, of which the deceased has had his apprehensions." Apoplexy was unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke. Thus, Thomas' accident was on 31 Jan and he died on 1 Feb 1860, although it was not reported until the next day.

Thomas' 5 May 1854 will gave his wife his home, household and kitchen furniture, as much land as she wanted to cultivate, two horses, four cows and calves, and five negroes for the duration of her life. He bequeathed to his daughters Nancy Askew and Elizabeth Wheat and sons Benjamin, James, Thomas, Franklin, Albert and Henry Merritt. He left land for the benefit of the children of his son John, to be managed by his son Benjamin, although his son John was still alive, so he carefully wrote John out of his will. No mention was made of his two apparent sons shown on the 1830 - 1840 censuses, one of whom according to unsourced data was named Crease. Thomas included a provision in his will that his negroes could not be sold. Sons Benjamin and James Merritt were appointed executors. Witnesses were Isaac R. Hall, William T. Doster and David J. Holt. Thomas was unable to sign his will. Of note, many of Thomas' children have the same names as those of the children of his brother Lovett Merritt.

In a turn about, Thomas' children went to Greene Co court on 27 Dec 1860 and agreed that their brother James administer the estate and that "all the property of said deceased be distributed equally among the heirs at law of said Thomas Merrit ... without any regard to the said last will and testament." So the siblings agreed to include their brother John in the estate distribution and posted a $15,000 bond to adhere to this agreement. They agreed to divide the negro property with the exception of Emanuel because he was "severely stabbed." They agreed their mother Martha was to have the household and kitchen furniture, the 2 horses and 4 cows and calves, and as her dower Martha was to have all the lands of the said deceased's home place known as the Winfield Place and a part of the 590 acre Lawrence tract. The agreement was signed by Martha Merritt (her mark), Nancy Askew (her mark), Johnathan Wheat, and Benj, James, Thomas, Franklin, Albert, H. C. (Henry), and John Merritt. (Green Co, GA, Journal G, p. 463) Nothing implied Martha was the mother of some and step-mother of others, so Martha was the first and only wife. The estate settlement appeared to be agreed upon within the year of Thomas' death. Although our Thomas was born in North Carolina, he lived most of his life in Greene Co, GA, which has numerous wills and estate records for Merritts in the generations before and after his.

In Dec 1860 in Green Co, GA, James Merritt, executor, notified the heirs the negroes would be divided according to his father's will. All legatees signed the court document agreeing to the division. William Bryan, Jefferson F. Wright and William Rowland, Martha Rowland Merritt's brother, were appointed to divise a method of dispersal of the negroes. Ten numbers were placed in one hat representing the heirs and ten numbers were placed in another hat representing the negroes. A number was drawn from the 'heir hat,' and then a number from the 'property hat.' Each heir was to also receive $4,100 in property value.

In Dec 1860 Henry Merritt, on a credit to 4 Dec 1861, purchased 405.5 acres from his mother. This was recorded 23 Mar 1861 in the Court of Ordinary, Greene Co, GA.

On 8 Nov 1867, James Merritt petitioned the Greene Co Court of Ordinary to sell the property of Martha Merritt, deceased.

Thomas Merritt senior also owned property in Talladega Co, AL where half of his children had moved, so his estate was probated in that Alabama as well, but the execution was not by equal division as in Georgia but was according to the will. The executor Thomas' son Benjamin inventoried two horses, a mule, a cow and calf, a wagon, farming equipment, kitchen furniture, about 50 barrels of corn, and cotton and cotton seeds to be sold on behalf of the heirs. The estate included land where Benjamin and his brother Albert were residing on acreage lying on the Chockolocco Creek in the upper part of Talladega Co and the tract where Thomas junior lived on the Coosa River in the lower part of Talladega Co. Estate lands later sold by the executor totaled 858 acres.

At that time, siblings Benjamin, Albert, Thomas, John and Elizabeth were all residing in Talladega Co, AL and siblings James, Franklin, Henry and Nancy were living in Greene Co, GA. It was during the first year after Thomas' death that his son John, who was specifically excluded from his father's will, moved his family from Greene Co, GA to Talladega Co, AL. (Talladega Co, AL Minute Book E, pg 694 - 696, 31 Jul 1860, plus continued filings) and shortly after Franklin moved to the county as well.

The 28 Apr 1860 Alabama estate appraisal listed hoes, axes, 3 plows, food, road wagon and harness, mule, 2 horses, a cow and calf, a 665 tract of land, and negro men Emanuel, Ellick and Willis, boy Jim, and girls Juna and Ruth, coming to a total estate value in Alabama of $14,157, equivalent to about $451,800 in 2021. The 665 acres is partially explained by 332 and 309 acres later sold but about 25 acres appeared to disappear during the real estate sale to the family.

On 15 Dec 1860 the first farm personal property sale garnering $520 occurred on 12 months credit but the second page of the items is missing from the probate documents. On 2 Feb 1861 Benjamin reported the results of a farming personal property sale which included small items sold to himself, his brother John, L. G. Mattison, John Talhort, and the majority of items going to his brother Albert.

On 31 Jul 1860 Benjamin petitioned the court to sell the real estate; the sheriff notified the heirs, and the heirs contested the sale. On 15 Sep 1860 Benjamin brought a suit against his siblings and their heirs to sell the real estate. The sale sought by Benjamin was opposed by Thomas Merritt et. al of full age and by W. W. Knox, the guardian for the minor Martha Merritt, et al, the underage children of Benjamin's brother John. The guardian believed the interrogatory witnesses testifying about the scope of the various land tracts failed to establish the full acreage of the estate, which said witnesses stated they could not testify to, and Benjamin's sibings apparently agreed. However, the court allowed Benjamin to proceed with the public sale. Based on reading extensive probated documents there did not appear to be an effort by Benjamin to hide assets or under count the real estate, although the original plats were not examined for verification.

On 3 Dec 1860 Benjamin reported to the court that on 5 Nov 1860 after repeated advertising in the local newspaper, a public sale of the real estate was held at the courthouse. The estate sold 309 acres for $3,090 on 12 months credit to his brother-in-law Jonathan Wheat, who executed a note with Benjamin Merritt and Dorch Newsom as sureties. Another 332 acres was sold for $3,320 on Choccolocco Creek to his brother Franklin, who executed a note with his brother Albert Merritt and Dorch Newsom as sureties. Benjamin "bid off" the remaining 51, 53, 33, 40 and 40 acre tracts for $1,100. The total real estate sales reported were $7,510. These funds were not further traceable in the estate.

In the 1870 Talladega Co agricultural census, Benjamin Merritt only reported owning 260 acres and Jonathan Wheat 50 acres, although they could have sold the land after the war to make ends meet.

Benjamin, managing the Alabama portion of the estate, began making estate tax payments and accounting reports to the Talladega Co court in 1860. His 1860 - 1861 estate accounting noted payments of food and board for six negroes; the overseer salary to Wily Brown?; to himself for meat; and $1850 to Samuel Davis to pay off a note. Income to the estate included cotton crop sales on 14 Dec 1860 and 2 Feb 1861 totaling $185; "$542 personal property sale on 15 Dec 1861," $7510 real estate sale on 5 Nov "1861;" and his expenses as administrator of $205. This was the last estate accounting in the probate file although the estate was not settled until 1897 and this income to the estate appears to have disappeared.

On 17 Nov 1863 Benjamin filed that he sold "132 acres for $3,320 of the Chocolocco Creek property to his brother Franklin on 5 Dec 1861" -- not 332 acres and not in November as originally documented, after which Franklin transferred his purchase and certificate to William Luttrell who now needed to receive a title from the court. From the documentation it is unstated exactly how much of the land sold to Franklin was transferred to William Luttrell and it may indeed have been that Franklin transferred only 132 out of the 332 acres.

Benjamin appeared in probate court on 2 Aug 1864 to try to settle the estate and noted his brothers Albert, Thomas, James, John, Franklin and Henry were serving in the Confederate Army at that time. What is missing from the voluminous probate records was an accounting for where the 1861 estate funds went after the 1861 report to the court.

The Alabama estate settlement dragged on for decades. By Sep 1870 Benjamin either did not want to continue as as executor or was unable -- Benjamin died within a year -- and James the alternate executor was residing in Georgia. Upon the 29 Aug 1870 request of James, on 2 Sep 1870 the Talladega Co court appointed Marcus Cruikshank, administrator de bonis non with the will annexed of the estate of Thomas Merritt. In other words Cruikshank was appointed to complete the probate, and James Merritt, one of the original executors, witnessed that document.

On 20 Apr 1872 Marcus Cruikshank reported to the court that after a diligent search he was unable to find any goods, chattels or personal property belonging to Thomas Merritt's estate and thus could not file a return with the court. Cruikshank further stated the estate did include 309 and 332 acres which were supposed to have been sold under an 1860 court decree but "certain (unnamed) parties are now claiming said lands under a pretended purchase from one Benjamin Merritt ... and he is advised that said pretended sale if made was of no validity, no confirmation of the same having been made by any court."

So Cruikshand was saying the 5 Nov 1860 real estate sales to the family members were a sham. Cruikshank advised it would be necessary to bring suits to recover the lands from parties claiming to have title. That the original executor reported to the court in 1860 that he garnered over $7000 from the real estate sales if he did not have the funds to disperse to the heirs is illogical, and no recourse was found in the probate records, so this may have been Cruikshank's own diversion to not explain what had happened to accounts received by the previous executor and turned over to him. Throughout the 37 years of this Alabama estate probate, no successful disbursements to the heirs were recorded.

On 17 Sep 1875 William C. Luttrell filed a petition in court stating Benjamin Merritt had filed a 17 Nov 1863 report with the court stating he sold his brother Franklin Merritt 332 acres on 5 Dec 1860 for $3320 which Franklin assigned to William C. Luttrell, but the wording for the proposed title was incorrect and needed amendment. Marcus Cruikshank died in Oct 1881 and on 26 Nov 1881 George Cruikshank was appointed as the successor administrator at which time he stated there was $4000 or less left in the estate. Cruishank won a lawsuit funded separately on 11 Sep 1885 by James Merritt in the Supreme Court against the estate of William C. Luttrell, garnering Thomas' estate $2025 -- almost half of which was 11 years interest. After payment of the lawyers and the settlement service, $1012 remained in the estate; the $4000 figure was never mentioned again as additive.

James Merritt's attorneys represented him in court 2 Nov 1895 claiming Cruikshank had taken possession of the estate assets and failed to take action to settle the estate. The court agreed and issue a decree; on 15 Nov 1895 to Cruikshank who appeared in court and had James' motion overruled because James was a resident of Georgia. Thereafter final settlement of the estate was continuously postponed in court.

On 6 Mar 1897 Cruikshand filed a final estate settlement petition with the court with notice for the heirs to contest anything in court on 1 Apr 1897. The settlement was continued to 10 Apr 1897 with the court noting there was proof the administrator received $2025 estate funds and expended $1012, leaving $1012 for distribution; again no accounting was presented for the funds shepherded forward from Benjamin Merritt. The court decreed the remaining $1012 be divided into 7 equal shares, overlooking it was supposed to be 8 parts for 8 siblings and their heirs inheriting under the will, with the children of John and the children of Franklin to receive two of the parts.

Court orders were issued to the Talladega Co sheriff on 15 Apr 1897 to recover assets from the estate to pay $126 each to the siblings Thomas, Albert, James, Henry, Nancy Askew, and Elizabeth Wheat; $31 each to the children of Franklin: Mrs. Altasca Walker, Mrs. E. Bidwell, Mrs. Addie Bass, Mrs. Ida Cola; and $21 each to the children of John: Martha Clemens, Alice, Annette, Sarah, Mary, James and Thomas Merritt, all of whom were of legal age. That does add to eight equal parts, not seven, bringing the total to disperse to $1027 versus the $1012 available. The Talladega Co sheriff noted on every one of the 17 court orders on 14 Oct 1897 that "no property (was) found in my county out of which to make this judgment nor any part thereof." There is no indication as to how the Merritt estate settlement saga ended in Alabama: whether the real estate sales actually garnered funds and what happened to said funds, and if there were ever disbursements from the Supreme Court settlement.

Disambiguation:
Thomas did not marry a second time on 22 Aug 1823 to Martha Byrd. No record among his numerous probate records supports that theory. (http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/greene/bios/merritt.txt)

If Thomas and Martha had daughters named Mary and Martha, those girls did not survive to adulthood and are not among the many women named Mary and Martha Merritt who married in the southeast. Martha and Mary were never included on a census or in Thomas' will, indicating they died quite young or did not exist. Martha having a namesake child is quite logical and there are childbirth gaps right after she married in 1816 as well as 1819, 1831 and 1839, so daughters Martha and Mary could have been born in this family but not to grow to adulthood as depicted in online trees. Although there is a childbirth gap in 1825, the 1830 census included an unknown boy, indicating this boy was likely born in 1825.
--Some trees show a Mary Adeline Merritt born 11 Nov 1825, and although the census taker could have accidentally marked a son on the 1830 census instead of a daughter, no daughter born in 1825 appears on the 1840 census, and Mary Adeline married in 1842 Thomas Atkinson, who had a niece named Mary Adeline Merritt.
--Genealogist Ray Rowland stated Martha and Mary were born in 1825 and 1827 respectively, but then shows Mary as surviving to marry John Hollingsworth on 9 Feb 1847 in Greene Co, GA. The Mary Merritt who married John Hollingsworth married in Habersham Co, GA, far from where Thomas and Martha lived with their family so this Mary was not in Thomas Merritt's family.
--Most online trees show Martha and Mary as the last two children born in the family. Thomas' wife Martha was about 41 years old when their son Henry was born in 1837, no young daughters were in the 1840 census, and Henry was the youngest named child in the family on the 1850 census. Thus, trees noting a daughter Mary was born in 1839 and died before 1853 may be partially correct if a Mary was born in 1839 and died before the 1840 census or was born after the 1840 census and died before the 1850 census was taken, but there is no proof of that.
--Additionally, that a daughter Martha was born into this family in 1853 in North Carolina is incorrect because this was after Thomas and Martha could have children, the family always resided in Georgia, and this Martha survived to marry in 1871.
Furthermore, neither a Mary nor a Martha were among the named children in Thomas' comprehensive 1854 will and innumerable probate records, strongly indicating any daughters named Mary or Martha did not survive to adulthood because even children excluded from the will were specifically named. Thus for this family, no daughters Martha or Mary were included although they could have been born and died during early childhood.

     Thomas J. Merritt was born in Feb 1832 at Greene Co, Georgia. He was the son of Thomas Merritt and Martha "Patsy" Rowland. Thomas J. Merritt married Caroline A. Heath on 26 Apr 1855 at Greene Co, Georgia. Thomas J. Merritt married Elizabeth "Liza" J. (Unknown) c 1869. Thomas J. Merritt married Eliza "Liza" Keifer on 22 Jan 1899 at Shelby Co, Alabama. Thomas J. Merritt died at Alabama.

      Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett stated her grandmother Elizabeth Merritt had a brother named Thomas. Elizabeth Merritt and her husband arrived in Talladega Co, AL from Greene Co, GA in time for the 1860 census. In 1860 a T. Merrit, a farmer age 28 born in Georgia, was living in Talladega Co where he owned $1125 in real estate and $3000 in personal property; this was a lot of real estate for a young man to own. He was residing with his wife age 18 born in 1842 in Georgia enumerated with the initial "S" and their two daughters: "W" age 4 and "P" age 2. Also in the household was a B. Bishop, an 18 year old male also born in Georgia.

Thomas was reported in unproven data to have married Caroline A. Heath in Greene Co, GA in 1855; because Thomas' daughter was named Caroline and the 1855 marriage date was when Thomas would have married in order to have two children by 1860, the woman reported as "S" on the 1860 census is presumed to be Caroline Heath. Of note in 1860 Thomas was living nearby wealthy M. Heath, a 52 year old farmer and his family with $2400 in real estate and $4275 in personal property. Also Thomas' brother Benjamin married a Susan Heath.

By about 1863 when Thomas' daughter Harriett was born the family had moved to Alabama. After the Civil War and property devaluation, in 1870 the Thomas Merritt shown in Shelby Co, AL is presumed to be the same man. Thomas, age 38, was shown on the Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL census with his wife Elizabeth born in 1843 and his children; his real estate was valued at $750 and his personal property at $235. Because of the almost seven year gap in the children's births, Elizabeth is presumed to be a second wife, although her age matches that of the wife in the previous census. Also in the household is Terrell Gaddy, a 12 year-old farm laborer.

In 1880 Thomas was shown as age 49 living in Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL with his family. He stated his parents were both born in Georgia. Also living in the household is a black 18-year-old male servant apparently named Merritt Merritt. Living next door is his widowed sister Elizabeth Wheat with her family.

By 1900 Thomas, now age 68, was still living in Shelby Co with his wife Elizabeth and youngest children. Thomas reported he was born Feb 1832 although unproven sources stated he was born 20 Dec 1830. Living next door was his son John Thomas with his wife Minnie and daughter Esther.

Thomas was reported in unproven data to have married Mary J. Burke in 1854, however that marriage is suspect because his next marriage was within the year.

     Presley McDuffie Beam was born on 4 Feb 1851 at Cherokee Co, Alabama. He was the son of Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) and Roseanne Glenn. Presley McDuffie Beam married Susan "Susie" Elizabeth Young in 1874 at Alabama. Presley McDuffie Beam died on 11 Jan 1933 at Scott Co, Arkansas, at age 81.

      In 1880 Presley Beam and his family resided next door to his brother William and his two nephews William and Hiram Weathers in Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL. Presley was employed as a carpenter. Living with Presley was his mother noted as Rosana Beam age 73, his wife Susan and his three sons John P., James A., and George M. all under age 7.

By 1900 Presley had joined his brothers in Hon, Scott Co, AR with his wife and four sons, now adding son Joseph T. Beam. In 1910 Presley was enumerated as Pressly Beam age 59 farming with his wife Susie age 61 at the same location. By 1920 he was farming in Denton, Scott Co, AR and was listed as Preley M. Beorn age 68 living with his wife Susie and a 43-year-old Jones A. Beorn, who was most likely his son James Beam. In 1930 Presley and Susan were living with their son John P. Beam and his wife Annie in Black Fork, Scott Co, AR.

     Susan "Susie" Elizabeth Young was born on 27 Jul 1848 at Alabama. She married Presley McDuffie Beam, son of Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) and Roseanne Glenn, in 1874 at Alabama. Susan "Susie" Elizabeth Young died on 30 Aug 1935 at Scott Co, Arkansas, at age 87.

     PVT John Whitfield "Whitt" Beam I was born in Aug 1849 at Cherokee Co, Alabama. He was the son of Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) and Roseanne Glenn. PVT John Whitfield "Whitt" Beam I married Mary J. Birchfield on 10 Dec 1872 at Shelby Co, Alabama. PVT John Whitfield "Whitt" Beam I married Parlee D. Barnard on 13 Oct 1908 at Scott Co, Arkansas. PVT John Whitfield "Whitt" Beam I died on 24 Sep 1910 at Hon, Scott Co, Arkansas, at age 61.

      In his obituary, John Whitfield Beam was noted as born in Cherokee County in the part which later became known as Etowah Co, AL. When he was living at Shelby Springs, AL, John enlisted in Selma, AL on 30 Aug 1864 as Whitfield Beam in his brother Hiram's unit -- Company A, 48th Alabama Regiment, Alabama Infantry. As it was nearing the end of the war he only participated in engagements at Fort Harrison, Darbytown 1864/10/07, Darbytown Road 1864/10/23, and Williamsburg Road 1864/10/27. John likely falsified his age to join the military in 1864 when he stated he was age 18, adding as much as four years, because after his service he consistently reported his birth date as about 1850.

In 1880 John W. Beam noted as age 30 was farming in Hickman, Scott Co, AR with his wife Mary J. and his four children age 7 and under. By 1900 John age 50 and his wife were farming with their two youngest children in Hon, Scott Co, AR.

In 1908 when his wife Mary died, John remarried Parlee, a 16-year-old girl, noting his age as 50 when he was actually 56. In 1910 John and his wife, now noted as Pallie, still farmed in Hon, Scott Co, AR and they had a new baby. Living next door was John's son Frank Beam age 33 and nearby was his son Robert Beam age 31. A Joseph Beam age 29 living near Robert is most likely John's nephew, the son of Presley.

Wes Evans noted John died from injuries suffered by a stroke from a tobacco knife in the hands of C. or O. L. Bird on 3 Sep 1910 and was buried with Masonic honors being a member of Cauthron Lodge No. 385. The death of J. W. Beam was reported in the 30 Sep 1910 issue of The Advance Reporter: "J. W. Beam who was injured in a difficulty with C. L. Bird at Hon about three weeks ago, died last Saturday morning. Great hope had been entertained for Mr. Beam's recovery by his many friends, and he made a hard struggle against his infliction. He was buried Saturday afternoon with Masonic honors."

     Roseanne "Rosa" "Ann" Beam was born in 1838 at South Carolina. She was the daughter of Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) and Roseanne Glenn. Roseanne "Rosa" "Ann" Beam married Sidney G. Green c 1863.

      Roseanne Beam's husband was most likely the Sidney Beam, age 37 and born about 1813 in Virginia, who was working as a tanner in 1850 in Shelby Co, AL with his presumed wife Catherine age 40, 4 children and Virginia A. Patton age 19 and Margaret Patton age 16 born in Virginia, who were likely Sidney or Catherine's relatives. Also of interest in that household, was his daughter Lucy Green then age 8 born in 1842; Roseanne's brother Hiram later married a Lucy Green.

Sidney was enumerated as a soldier and farmer age 50-60 on the 1866 Shelby Co, AL census with 1 male under 10 and 2 females 20-30, one of whom would be his new wife Roseanne and one would likely be his daughter Ann because his daughter Lucy married in 1865. Sidney was listed on the 1867 Shelby Co, AL voter registration list. Because there were several other male and female Sidney Greens in the area it is impossible to tell if the military, land records and agricultural records are his.

Roseanne Beam was in the 1870 Shelby Co, AL census listed as Rose age 30 living with Sidney Green age 67 and 3 young children; Sidney's age was changed on the census and was likely incorrect because he was reported as age 62 a decade later. Living 9 households away was widower Isaac Shrader who was soon to marry Roseanne's sister Jane Amanda.

By 1880, enumerated as S. G. and Ann Green ages 62 and 46 respectively, they were living in Harpersville, Shelby Co with their young children, next door to Amanda and Isaac Shrader.

Roseanne's grand niece, Amanda Ola Weathers Winslett (born 1859), stated Roseanne was married to a Green and she believed it was a William Green, but William was Roseanne's son.

Roseanne Beam was frequently confused with her namesake mother and vice versa in online family trees regarding marriage and children.

     Sidney G. Green was born c 1813 at Virginia. He married Catherine (Unknown) c 1838. Sidney G. Green married Roseanne "Rosa" "Ann" Beam, daughter of Ezekiel Beam (of Cherokee Co) and Roseanne Glenn, c 1863.

     George M. Weathers was born on 29 Oct 1861 at Shelby Co, Alabama. He was the son of PVT Thomas "Tom" Weathers and Jane Amandaline "Mandy" Beam. George M. Weathers married Trudy (Unknown) a 1888. George M. Weathers married Martha Bates in 1892. George M. Weathers died on 13 Mar 1933 at Sylacauga, Talladega Co, Alabama, at age 71.

      George M. Weathers was living with his wife Martha in Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL near other family members. In 1900, 1910 and 1920 he owned his own farm and by 1930 he began renting.

In the 1910 Shelby Co, AL census, both George and Martha reported it was their second marriage and she reported she had one child. A family genealogy document showed George had a wife named "Trudy," so this may have been a nick name for Martha or a different marriage.

George and his brother Hiram were non-identical twins. Hiram's death certificate stated he was born in Shelby Co, AL which was established in 1818. George's death certificate stated he was born in Chilton Co, AL, but only Shelby Co existed when the twins were born.

     Martha Bates was born c 1870 at Florida. She married Unknown Berry a 1885. Martha Bates married George M. Weathers, son of PVT Thomas "Tom" Weathers and Jane Amandaline "Mandy" Beam, in 1892. Martha Bates died on 30 Jun 1953 at Birmingham, Jefferson Co, Alabama.

      On the 1900 and 1910 censuses Martha Bates reported she was born in Florida and then in 1920 she reported she was born in Alabama. By 1940 Martha was a widow and had resided with her daughter Elizabeth's family at least since 1935 in Westover, Shelby Co, AL.

     Hiram Floyd Ben Weathers was born on 29 Oct 1861 at Shelby Co, Alabama. He was the son of PVT Thomas "Tom" Weathers and Jane Amandaline "Mandy" Beam. Hiram Floyd Ben Weathers married Sarah Alabama "Bama" Crawford on 19 Jan 1887 at Shelby Co, Alabama. Hiram Floyd Ben Weathers died on 26 Feb 1933 at Mignon, Talladega Co, Alabama, at age 71. He was buried on 27 Feb 1933 at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama.

      Hiram Weathers, noted as Hiraim Weathen, was a farm worker living in the household of his uncle William Beam with his brother William on the 1880 Shelby Co, AL census.

Hiram was on the 1900 Harpersville, Shelby Co, AL census living with his family on a farm he rented. By 1910 he was listed as Ben F. Weathers living with his family in the same county.

By 1920 Hiram had a large family, including a daughter-in-law Mary, age 20 (not marked as a widow or aligned with one of his son's names) and her two children Gladys and Mary D., living in his home which he owned at 1001 10th Street, Sylacauga, Talladega Co, AL. Hiram worked as a layman hip firer at a cotton mill and most of his family worked in the cotton mill as weavers, spoolers, "cleelers," or inspectors; one son worked for a grocery store, driving a low, flat-bed wagon without sides, pulled generally by horses or mules, that was used to transport goods.

In 1930 Hiram, enumerated as Hyran Weathers, resided at the same address with his wife Bama and his widowed son Bennie and Bennie's daughter. Hiram's son Eddie Weathers, a dry goods age, was living 3 doors away with his wife Gertrude, children and a number of boarders.

"Mr Hiram Weathers, a very clever gentleman, died at his home in Mignon.... He was a gentleman well thought of and all who know him regret to hear of his death." (Shelby County Reporter, newspaper, 2 Mar 1933; archived at Columbiana, Shelby Co, AL Court House.)

     Sarah Alabama "Bama" Crawford was born in Jan 1869 at Alabama. She married Hiram Floyd Ben Weathers, son of PVT Thomas "Tom" Weathers and Jane Amandaline "Mandy" Beam, on 19 Jan 1887 at Shelby Co, Alabama. Sarah Alabama "Bama" Crawford died on 3 Jan 1936 at Talladega Co, Alabama.

     Ethel Nalls was born c 1890 at Alabama. She married Thomas 'Tom' Floyd Weathers, son of William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers and Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat, on 21 Nov 1910 at Shelby Co, Alabama.

     Nanny Lydia "Ludie" Weathers was born on 14 Feb 1885 at Alabama. She was the daughter of William "Bill" J. Floyd Weathers and Mary "Betty" Elizabeth "Lizzie" Wheat. Nanny Lydia "Ludie" Weathers married George Henry Lee c 1903. Nanny Lydia "Ludie" Weathers died on 18 Oct 1918 at Shelby Co, Alabama, at age 33. She was buried at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Harpersville, Shelby Co, Alabama.