USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Durham > History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes, Volume 2 > Part 10
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
foundation in fact, since then as now people passed easily to and fro between southern England and the Channel Islands. The ways in which Eli Demeritt's name was phonetically spelled in old deeds would suggest that he and others knew the French, or Norman, origin of the surname .* The Meryet, Maryet, Meritt, Mariott, Marriot, Marriott families of England all have the same coat of arms, "Barry of six, or and sa," that is, a shield crossed horizontally by six alternate bars of gold and black. This shows a common origin of the families, and the simplicity of the armorial device is the proof of its antiquity.t
"Eli Demrey" had a grant of forty acres in Dover, II April 1694, on the northwest side of James Derry's land. It was laid out the same year to "Eli Demeret." October II, 1704, Francis Pitman sold to "Elie Marrett" of Dover forty acres "on the north- west side of Logg hill, on the northwest side of the path going to Mad berries." [N. H. Prov. Deeds, XII, 115.]
Dec. 14, 1725, Eli Demiret and wife, Hope, and William Worm- wood, all of Dover, sold to Stephen Harding "right to estate of our uncle, John Reynolds, deceased, in Arundel." [See York Deeds, XI, 248.] This shows that he married Hope, or Hopestill, Reynolds, called also Runnels, probably daughter of Job Rey- nolds of Cape Porpoise, Me., and granddaughter of William Reynolds. [See Runnels family.] The name is sometimes written De Merit in old records. Eli Demeritt died about 1747. The fact that he was married about 1695, before the Reynolds family were driven by the Indians from Maine to New Hampshire, may indicate that Eli Demeritt lived for a while in Arundel before settling in Dover. There is no evidence, as some have supposed, that he belonged to a company of Huguenot refugees.
2. ELI b. I March 1696; m. Tabitha Pitman.
3. JOHN b. 19 June 1698; m. Margaret Buzzell.
4. JOB b. 29 March 1705; m. Mary Buzzell.
BENJAMIN b. 29 Nov. 1708; sold right in common land, I736. Unm.
ยท WILLIAM m. 13 March 1730, Abigail Pitman. Had dau. Annie bapt. in Dover, 31 March 1742, who m. her cousin, Solomon Demeritt.
ANNIE d. unm.
*Visitation of Devonshire, by Lieut .- Col. J. L. Vivian, p. 519. Cf. Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis, London, 1840. A thorough search of the English State Papers would, doubtless, reveal much more about this family.
tBurke's General Armory.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
2. Eli Demeritt (Eli), born I March 1696, married Tabitha, daughter of Nathaniel and Deliverance Pitman. He was select- man of Dover, 1736-1753, and of Madbury, 1755-58. Owned a mill on the Bellamy River. He died 5 May 1774. His will is dated 10 Jan. 1758.
5. SAMUEL b. 8 May 1723; m. Elizabeth Randall.
6. EBENEZER b. 20 Apr. 1726; m. Hannah Thompson.
SARAH b. 3 April 1736; m. 5 May 1764, Daniel Meserve.
3. John Demeritt (Eli), born 19 June 1698, married, I Jan. 1724/5, Margaret Buzzell, daughter of John and Sarah. She was born 5 July 1698 and died in 1777. His will, 15 Feb. 1773- 13 Oct. 1773, names wife, Margaret, and children:
ELIZABETH bapt. 16 April 1727; m. Benjamin Drew, prob. DEBORAH bapt. 28 July 1734; m. William Drew, Jr., prob. PAUL bapt. 15 May 1737. Not named in will.
7. JOSEPH bapt. 17 June 1741; m. Susan Runnels.
8. JOHN b. 29 Dec. 1728; m. Elizabeth Cate. MARY m. Ebenezer Tasker. SARAH m. Solomon Emerson.
4. Job Demeritt (Eli), born 29 March 1705, married Mary Buzzell, daughter of John and Sarah, March 1734. He died 7 Aug. 1772, leaving wife, Mary, and the following children:
JOB bapt. 13 July 1735; m. Sarah Buzzell, 2 Nov. 1758. 4 ch., Robert m. 26 Oct. 1786, Deborah Twombly and had ch; James m. Betsey Demeritt; Sophia m. 16 Nov. 1828 Nathan Brown; Betsey, unm.
ELI bapt. 2 July 1738; m. Marshall of Dover. Ch., Andrew, Thomas, Moses, John, Daniel, Eli, Margaret and Betsey.
ABIGAIL bapt. 9 Aug. 1741; d. unm.
MARY born 28 Nov. 1743; m. Zechariah Boodey.
SOLOMON m. Annie, dau. of William Demeritt. 9. JAMES m. Betsey Demeritt; d.s.p. 1814.
THIRD GENERATION
5. Capt. Samuel Demeritt (Eli2, Eli1), born 8 May 1723, married (1) Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel and Mary (Hodgdon) Randall, who was born 9 Oct. 1727 and died 20 June 1767. He married (2) 2 June 1768, Bridget Williams, perhaps daughter of Ensign John and Bridget (Tibbetts) Williams. He died 22 Oct. 1770, and his widow married -
Kelsey. He was commissioned quartermaster, 29 Sept. 1755, and was efficient
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
in raising and equiping men for the Seven Years' War; commis- sioned captain of Seventh Troop of Horse, 5 April 1765, and raised a company of gentleman troopers in Durham and vicinity
SAMUEL b. 22 July 1747; d. 5 Feb. 1749.
BETSEY b. 17 July 1749; m. James Demeritt; d.s.p.
IO. NATHANIEL b. 26 Oct. 1751; m. Mary McCrillis.
II. ISRAEL b. 6 March 1754; m. Lois Demeritt.
12. SAMUEL b. 17 June 1756; m. Sally Tibbetts. DEBORAH b. 26 Nov. 1758; m. Jonathan Demeritt. LOIS b. 26 Jan. 1761; d. Oct. 1783.
ANNA b. 16 July 1763; d. 24 July 1763.
STEPHEN b. 16 July 1764; d. in Madbury. Unm.
13. ANDREW b. 24 May 1767; m. Mary Emerson.
Children by second marriage :
JONATHAN b. 3 Sept. 1769; m. Aug. 1791, Sally Leathers. L. in Maine.
ELIZABETH b. May 1771; m. Oct. 1789, Thomas Glass of Nottingham.
6. Ebenezer Demeritt (Eli2, Eli1), born 20 April 1726, married, 25 May 1749, Hannah, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Burnham) Thompson, who was born I Nov. 1728 and died 10 May 1806. He died 21 April 1776. Children baptized in Dover. Will, 7 Aug. 1773-12 June 1776.
LYDIA bapt. 7 Nov. 1750; m. 1I Nov. 1773, Timothy Young. SUSANNA bapt. 26 June 1752; m. I April 1779, Ezra Young.
14. JONATHAN b. 20 Aug. 1753; m. Deborah Demeritt.
15. EBENEZER b. 15 Feb. 1759; m. Elizabeth Young. DANIEL bapt. 12 Oct. 1760; m. Dec. 1780, Sarah Hayes. HANNAH bapt. 21 Nov. 1762; m. Nov. 1784. Samuel Hayes. SARAH bapt. 12 July 1767; m. 8 Sept. 1787, Ezra Clark. JEREMY bapt. 18 June 1769.
ELIZABETH bapt. 26 Sept. 1773; m. 8 March 1814, Solomon Dinsmore.
7. Joseph Demeritt (John2, Eli1), born 17 June 1741, married, about 1764, Sarah Runnels, daughter of Job and Sarah. He died Sept. 1822, aged 82. She died 20 Jan. 1807, aged 61.
16. MOSES b. abt. 1765; m. Lydia Odell, 24 May 1789. SALLY b. 1767; m. Simeon Johnson of Northfield. BETSEY b. 31 May 1768; m. (I) Joseph Priest, (2) Clark of Barnstead. She d. 1858.
17. JOSEPH b. abt. 1771; m. Rebecca March; d. at Greenland, from wounds received in War of 1812.
PAUL b. abt. 1774; m. Martha Woodman. Ch., Eunice b. 23 March 1799, m. (1) George Seward of Strafford, (2)
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Gilman Johnson; Samuel b. 1801; Betsey b. 1804, d. 1817; Susan b. 22 Dec. 1806, m. Gen. Alfred Hoitt, 26 Oct. 1827; Calvin, Edward, George, Betsey Jane and Rhoda who m. Beales.
18. JOHN b. 30 Jan. 1777; m. Abigail Hill.
LOIS b. 1783; m. Jacob Welch; s. in Lyndon, Vt.
SUSAN b. 4 Oct. 1789; m. 5 March 1808, Samuel Bennett of Northwood; d. 23 Sept. 1858. He was b. 13 Feb. 1787 and d. 25 April 1852.
HANNAH b. 23 Aug. 1793; m. 15 April 1816, William Batch- elder of Nottingham. She d. 14 May 1837. He was b. 27 April 1788 and m. (2) Mrs. Mary Randall.
8. Major John Demeritt (John2, Eli1), born 29 Dec. 1728, married, 5 May 1756, Elizabeth Cate of Barrington, who was born 4 April 1725 and died 17 March 1762, (2) Widow Elizabeth (Davis) Davis, widow of Moses Davis of Lee. She was born 1728 and died 29 Oct. 1827. He died 7 Jan. 1826. The old farm is one of the most attractive in Madbury. The spot is pointed out where the gunpowder was stored under the barn, whence a train of powder connected with the cellar of the house, so that it could be readily fired if the British came in force to capture it. Here it remained from December till June and then was carried by ox-team to Bunker Hill.
PAUL m. 20 Dec. 1779, Betsey, dau. of Moses and Elizabeth (Davis) Davis, and rem. to Farmington. Ch., Hannah m. Daniel Chesley, Susan m. Benj. Libbey, Lois m. Joseph Hayes, Mark m. Abigail Leighton.
Lors b. 16 Aug. 1758; m. Israel Demeritt.
19. JOHN b. 9 March 1762; m. Elizabeth Davis.
9. Solomon Demeritt (Job2, Eli1) married Annie, only daughter of William and Abigail (Pitman) Demeritt, and had children as. follows:
SOLOMON m. Kezia Hall, 24 May 1801; dau. of Isaac and Elizabeth (Willey) Hall. Ch., Mary, who m.
Burnham of Madbury, William who m. - Hill, and John who d. unm. in the Civil War. SAMUEL m. Hannah Hall. No ch.
WILLIAM unm.
20. ELI m. Deborah Bunker, 19 Jan. 1800.
ANNE, DOLLY and MOLLY, all unm.
BETSEY m. (I) - Hardy, (2) Wigglesworth.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
FOURTH GENERATION
IO. Lieut. Nathaniel Demeritt (Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), born 26 Oct. 1751, married, 19 June 1783, Mary McCrillis of Notting- ham, daughter of William and Jean (Kelsey). She was born 9 April 1756 and died 3 Sept. 1847. He died 18 Jan. 1827.
BETSEY b. 12 Apr. 1784; m. Andrew Emerson.
21. WILLIAM b. 15 Sept. 1786; m. Mary Chapman.
MARY b. I March 1789; d. 19 July 1870. Unm. Avis b. 15 Jan. 1792; d. 22 Oct. 1800. JANE b. 12 Nov. 1794; m. Ebenezer Thompson.
SUSAN b. 21 Dec. 1798; m. 22 Feb. 1827, James Philbrick of Andover, N. H .; d. 10 Jan. 1873. He was b. 10 June 1792 and d. 15 May 1870.
II. Israel Demeritt (Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), born 6 March 1754, married Lois, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Cate) Demeritt, who was born 16 Aug. 1758 and died 9 Oct. 1838. He died 7 Nov. 1827.
BETTY b. 30 Dec. 1776; d. 29 Aug. 1778.
ELIZABETH b. 14 Oct. 1778; m. 8 April 1804, Moses Hale of Rochester; d. 26 May 1852.
GRANVILLE JONES -; m. Ruth Furber; had sons, Israel and Granville.
ABIGAIL b. -; m. 6 May 1819, John Glass of Nottingham. LOIS b. 22 Feb. 1784; m. 18 Feb. 1802, Jeremiah Emerson. SARAH b. 30 Aug. 1787; m. 4 April 1839, Robert M. Read; d. 15 Aug. 1854.
22. STEPHEN b. 10 Dec. 1806; m. Nancy P. Chesley.
23. GEN. SAMUEL m. Sarah Torr.
I2. Samuel Demeritt (Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), born 17 June 1756, married (I) Sally Tibbetts and lived in New Durham, (2) Annie, daughter of Samuel Kelly, born in Dover, 5 Dec. 1770. He settled on a farm at Wednesday hill, in Lee, where he died I Nov. 1801. His widow married Joseph Clark of Holderness and had nine children, dying at the age of 90. Samuel Demeritt was a Revolutionary soldier. He was buried in the William Kelly lot, Pine Hill cemetery, Dover.
EDMUND m. 1809, Lois, dau. of Andrew Demeritt; l. in Woodstock and Tuftonboro. Had sons, William and Samuel E., who 1. in Lee, and dau. Sarah, Elizabeth, Elvira, and Louisa.
SALLY b. I April 1790; m. Jan. 1808, Eli Demeritt.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
Children by second marriage:
JOHN d. young.
PAMELIA m. William Kelly; d. 14 Nov. 1877, aged 81- 2- 10
CLARISSA m. Merrill of Holderness.
13. Andrew Demeritt (Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), born 24 May 1767, married, 20 Aug. 1789, Mary, daughter of Smith and Han- nah (Thompson) Emerson. She died II May 1837, aged 69. He died 16 Jan. 1830.
LoIs b. 13 Dec. 1790; m. Edmund Demeritt; d. 23 Jan. 1867. SUSAN b. 24 Sept. 1792; m. 1810, Thomas Hoitt; d. 16 Oct. 1834. He rem. from Wolfeboro to the West.
HANNAH b. 5 Oct. 1894; m. 7 Sept. 1815, Andrew McDaniel of Barrington, who rem. to Durham. He was b. 10 Nov. 1876 and d. 29 Oct. 1862. Ch., Andrew Demeritt McDaniel b. II Oct. 1816, representative to the legis- lature, and Maria McDaniel who was b. II Dec. 1818 and d. 3 July 1845.
MARY b. 12 Aug. 1896; m. Paul Chesley; d. 4 Feb. 1843. CAPT. ANDREW EMERSON b. 31 Aug. 1804; m. Hannah Cart- land of Lee; d. 15 Jan. 1862.
SAMUEL b. 14 June 1807; d. 25 Aug. 1862; m. 3 April 1816, Olive H. Pierce. 3 ch.
ELIZABETH, twin to Samuel; m. 13 June 1832, Warren P. Sherburne.
I4. Jonathan Demeritt (Ebenezer3, Eli2, Eli1), born 30 Aug. 1753, married Deborah, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Randall) Demeritt, who was born 26 Nov. 1758 and died 28 April 1846. He died in Madbury 31 Aug. 1833.
JONATHAN b. 15 June 1776; m. Sarah Gerrish; d. 29 Dec. 1859. A dau., Eliza m. : 28 June 1829, William P. Drew of Dover.
ELIZABETH b. 21 Oct. 1779.
HANNAH b. I Sept. 1781.
LoIs b. 10 April 1784.
ELI b. 21 Jan. 1787; m. Jan. 1808, Sarah, dau. of Samuel Demeritt. Ch., Charles, Nancy who m. Aaron Kenney, Sarah Ann who m. Charles Tibbetts, Lavina, Betsey, Edmund, Woodbury (the last three d. young) and Frank, who l. in Madbury.
SAMUEL b. 30 Sept. 1789; m. Alice Locke. Ch., Elizabeth who m. Sherman, Maria who m. Wilson, Mary Jane who m. 17 April 1841, Oliver Burleigh, Emeline who d. young, Deborah who m. William H. Felker and
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
had a son, who became Gov. Samuel DeMeritt Felker LL.D., and 1. in Rochester, Alice who m. Charles Bickford, and Samuel who d. young.
24. EBENEZER THOMPSON b. 7 April 1792: in Hannah Thomp- son.
DEBORAH b. 5 March 1795.
SUSANNA b. 27 March 1799.
MARY ANN b. 26 March 1802.
15. Ebenezer Demeritt (Ebenezer3, Eli2, Eli1), born 15 Feb. 1759, married, 25 May 1780, Elizabeth Young, (Nathaniel3, Jonathan2, Thomas1) who was born 22 Oct. 1760 and died in 1822. He died in 1808. Children were:
JAMES YOUNG m. Matilda Roe. Ch., James Young, Jr., who m. Martha Ward of Dover and had son, Fred; and Laura unm.
CLARISSA m. Jonathan Young of Littleworth.
MARY d. unm.
HANNAH THOMPSON b. 5 Feb. 1787; m. Ebenezer Thompson Demeritt.
HENRY m. Mary (Davidson) Hovey. Ch., Elizabeth who m. - Nichols of Nashua, and Sarah P., who m. Henry Holt of Nashua.
JACOB m. Martha Barron of North Woodstock. Ch., James Alaric, who m. Hannah Hayes of Durham and had daughter, Hannah, who m. Lester Gage; Hiram unm .; Elizabeth who m. Jonathan Thompson Young of Little- worth; Oliver Cromwell, who m. Sarah Ann Hayes of Mad- bury and has daughter, Ellen Elizabeth, besides Elvira who d. unm.
16. Children of Moses and Lydia (Odell) Demeritt:
BETSEY m. Thomas Furber, (2) Samuel Bean of Deerfield. MOSES ODELL b. 8 Nov. 1793; m. Sarah Ann Meserve of Newfield, 10 April 1820, b. 30 May 1802. He died 28 Feb. 1856. Had son, Bracket Johnson, b. 12 Nov. 1821, who m. 12 April 1843, Finett Welch.
SALLY m. Jarvis Knowlton, (2) Benjamin Hoyt.
GORDON m. Lavina Sanborn. Ch., Addison, Alma, Hayden. THOMAS m. Mary Clark of Barnstead. Ch., Clark, Jane, Maria.
NANCY m. Miles Knowlton.
NATHANIEL m. and rem. to Philadelphia.
DORCAS m. John Batchelder, of Sanbornton.
17. Children of Joseph and Rebecca (March) Demeritt: POLLY m. Ebenezer Chase, Jr., of Sanbornton.
MEHITABLE m. 25 Sept. 1825, Samuel Chesley.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
ELEANOR m. 17 April 1825, George Kimball of Dover. HARRY drowned at Dover.
JOHN 1. at Dover, Philadelphia, and Manchester.
SUSAN m. 20 March 1836, Andrew Tuttle of Dover.
18. John Demeritt (Joseph3, John2, Eli1), born 29 Jan. 1777, married, 29 Aug. 1799, Abigail, daughter of Robert Hill, and lived in Nottingham. They died within ten days of each other. She was born 13 May 1778 and died 27 July 1847. [See records of Nottingham.]
JACOB b. 8 July 1800.
JOSEPH b. II Nov. 1802; m. 17 Oct. 1825, Sally, dau. of Benjamin Colcord. Ch., Benjamin Willard b. 5 April 1827, m. Eleanor Mills; Joseph Edward b. 9 May 1836, m. Nancy B. Tuttle; John Leonard b. 10 Oct. 1840, d. 14 Jan. 1873; Eliza Ann b. 16 Aug. 1832, m. Byron D. Hoyt; Sarah Ann b. II Apr. 1838, d. 28 May 1868.
SOPHIA b. 8 Jan. 1804; m. 4 Jan. 1823, Pelatiah Jones of Lee. JOHN b. 20 April 1806; went to Gilead, Mich.
TIMOTHY b. 23 May 1808; m. 20 Aug. 1830, Deborah Emer- son, (2) Hannah (Clay), widow of Richard Pinkham; 1. in Nottingham; 12 ch. by first marriage, 4 by second. Six sons were in the Civil War.
MEHITABLE b. 18 March 1810; m. 27 May 1832, Henry P. Daniels.
DANIEL b. 2 July 1812; m. 3 July 1842, Lorinda P. Batch- elder. 5 ch.
SAMUEL D. b. 29 May 1814; d. in Mexican War.
SALLY J. b. 24 Dec. 1815; m. 4 July 1842, Levi White at Malden, Mass.
MARY ANN b. 18 March 1818; m. John W. Joy of Manches- ter; d. Aug. 1857.
ANDREW JACKSON b. 7 Sept. 1821 ; d. Aug. 1852. ABIGAIL F. b. 12 Jan. 1825.
19. Major John Demeritt (Major John3, John2, Eli1), born 9 March 1762, married 5 June 1785, Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Davis) Davis, who was born in 1766 and died 20 Oct. 1786. He married (2) 7 May 1789, Deborah, daugh- ter of Col. Ebenezer and Eunice (Torr) Meserve, who was born I March 1772 and died 29 Nov. 1844. He died 19 March 1846.
DAVIS b. 20 Oct. 1786; m. 23 June 1805, Abigail, dau. of Solomon and Elizabeth (Smith) Emerson and rem. to Montpelier, Vt .; d. 1860.
JOHN d. 14 Dec. 1806, aged 17 yrs.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
CAPT. HOPLEY b. 9 Nov. 1792, m. 22 Nov. 1820, Abigail, dau. of John and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Snell of Lee, who was b. 22 Nov. 1794 and d. 3 Aug. 1885. He d. 24 Dec. 1834. He was commissioned captain 22 April 1824. Ch., Elizabeth Ann b. 20 Jan. 1824, who m. 5 Feb. 1862 John C. Hanson of Dover and d. 27 Oct. 1911; Louisa Maria b. 16 Jan. 1826, who m. 30 May 1855 Ezra Edric, son of Ebenezer Thompson Demeritt, and d. 17 April 1910; John Washington b. 25 Dec. 1827, d. 12 March 1830; and Abbie Jane b. 15 Aug. 1831, d. I Oct. 1904, unm.
ISAAC b. 1799; d. 18 July 1825; m. 7 June 1821, Eunice Meserve of Durham. Ch., John Francis, and Oliver. The latter d. July 1863 having dau. Olivia P. Widow Eunice Demeritt m. 8 Feb. 1826 David Davis. John Francis m. Miles and had John, Charles, Clarabel, Etta, Martha, Josephine and Ella.
CURTIS C. b. 14 Feb. 1807; d. 15 July 1833; m. Elizabeth, dau. of John Snell of Lee, about 1823. Ch., Love b. Feb. 1824, m. Lewis McDuffee of Rochester and d. April 1905, leaving children, Lewis, Sarah and Abbie; Sophia b. 26 Oct. 1826, who m. Charles Lane of Lee and d. 18 April 1880, having children, Martha Lane b. 16 Oct. 1856, m. William Caldwell of Lee, Lydia Lane b. 18 June 1858, Charles F. Lane b. 17 June 1860, Ambrose Lane b. 19 Dec. 1862, and Amanda Lane b. 18 Aug. 1870; Sarah b. 17 April 1832, who m. (1) Andrew Pierce of Barrington, and (2) Daniel Emerson of Madbury and d.s.p. 21 Jan. 1903; Mary E. b. 1831 and d. 3 April 1842.
ELIZABETH m. 12 Feb. 1815, Solomon Emerson of Madbury. 20. Eli Demeritt (Solomon3, Job2, Eli1) married, 19 Jan. 1800, Deborah, daughter of Zechariah and Mary (Bean) Bunker and lived in Durham.
CLARA m. Stephen Davis and 1. in Worcester, Mass.
ANN b. 23 May 1803; m. 28 June 1831, Valentine Willey and 1. in Newmarket. She d. 2 May 1885.
TIMOTHY b. 7 May 1805; m. (1) 22 Aug. 1830, Deborah Emer- son, (2) 24 July 1836, Clarissa Lee, who was b. 2 July 1802. Ch., Ann b. 21 Aug. 1838, m. Samuel Smith and had daus. Mary and Cora; the latter m. Clarence I. Smart; Laeti- tia Amanda b. II June 1843, m. Charles Place and had dau., Rosa A. Place, who m. George E. Fielding (?); Mel- vina Ellen b. 5 Jan. 1845, m. Moses Langley and d. in Haverhill, Mass., 1887, leaving dau., Georgie M. Langley. EBENEZER b. 9 May 1808; m. 5 Sept. 1828, Sally Stokes, who was b. 12 April 1808. He d. 7 Sept. 1838. She d. 9 April 1879. Ch., Sarah Adeline b. 5 Sept. 1829, m. James H. Peaslee and d. 15 Oct. 1885, having son, Charles Peaslee, b.
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HISTORY OF DURHAM
24 July 1860, who m. Emma Sutcliffe of Lawrence, Mass .; Martha Rosina b. 30 Aug. 1830, d. Sept. 1831; Deborah Abigail b. 20 Feb. 1832, d. 7 Sept. 1834; Ebenezer Franklin b. 22 Jan. 1834, m. Lottie A. Flood, 5 July 1869. He served in the Civil War and lost a leg; had ch., Alice May, b. 6 March 1870 and Abbie L. b. 28 Feb. 1873; Martha Abigail b. 14 Jan. 1836, m. David O. Davis of Alton, I March 1853; Augusta Evelyn b. 20 Aug. 1838, m. Balch of Manchester and had ch., Walter A. Balch, b. 21 Jan. 1861, d. 5 March 1880, Fannie Augusta Balch b. 19 May 1867, and Alice E. Balch b. 14 May 1876.
RICHARD b. 10 April 1811 ; m. 18 June 1833, Deborah Follet, who was b. 4 July 1811 and d. in 1884. Ch., Richard Henry b. and d. 1835; Louisa Jane b. 30 May 1837, m. 1861 Joseph Card in Florence, Italy, and 1. in Lynn, Mass .; Mariana Frances b. 1840, d. 1841; Josephine b. and d. 1845; Mary Abby b. 3 June 1842, m. James Ashton and d.s.p. in 1879; Charles Albert b. 24 Feb. 1847, unm. soldier in the Civil War.
LOIS unm.
FIFTH GENERATION
21. Rev. William Demeritt (Nathaniel+, Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), born 10 Sept. 1786, married, 25 Oct. 1812, Mary dau. of Dea. Paul and Nancy (Smart) Chapman of Newmarket. He was a minister of the Christian denomination, one of the principal founders of Durham Academy and the Christian church in Dur- ham, both of which have ceased to be. He was selectman in 1833-34. He died 29 Dec. 1841. His wife was born 2 April 1791 and died 10 April 1819. He married (2) 25 Oct. 1825, Frances Wilson, daughter of the Rev. Nathaniel Wilson of Barn- stead. She was born 31 May 1803 and died 3 May 1888.
NATHANIEL b. 17 March 1814; d. unm.
MARY ANN b. 23 Oct. 1815; m. 7 Jan. 1846, Daniel F. Sawyer of Salisbury. She d. 10 Nov. 1863.
JOHN CHAPMAN b. 29 March 1818; d. 14 March 1896. Unm. Children by second marriage:
WILLIAM WILSON b. 9 March 1827; m. 26 May 1857, Mary Elizabeth Barnes of Waverly, N. Y., b. Nov. 1838. He d. 5 June 1877. She d. 25 Aug. 1871. Daughter, Fanny Elizabeth b. 2 Dec. 1862, m. 18 Nov. 1901, Charles Francis Chaffee of Waverly, N. Y.
25. DAVID ALBERT, 13 July 1829; m. Diantha Eliza Burnett. FRANCIS LAETITIA b. 8 May 1837; m. 20 Oct. 1864, John Winslow Allard; d. 31 Dec. 1886. He d. 3 Jan. 1905.
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IIISTORY OF DURHAM
Dau. Elizabeth Laetitia Allard, b. 26 Oct. 1871, teacher in Orange, N. J.
26. GEORGE P. b. 15 Sept. 1841; m. Augusta A. Hersey, (2) Frances E. Jasper.
22. Hon. Stephen DeMeritt (Israel4, Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), born 19 Dec. 1806, married, 1I May 1840, Nancy P., daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Perkins) Chesley, who was born 31 Oct. 1810 and died 23 Aug. 1894. He died 27 Jan. 1867. [See biographical sketch and portrait.]
MARTHA J. b. 31 Oct. 1841; m. Edwin Gage of Bradford, Mass.
CHARLES b. 5 April 1844; m. Mary L. Gooch of Exeter; d. 23 Aug. 1881 at Kansas City, Mo. Ch., Minnie b. 9 April 1868, Frank b. 6 Sept. 1876, William Arthur b. 4 April 1878, d. 4 July 1878, Albert Lawrence b. 2 May 1879. EDWIN b. 3 March 1846; Dartmouth, '69. Has a private school in Boston. M. Frances A. Norton of Portsmouth. Ch., Florence, George E. and Mabel.
FRANK P. b. 5 Nov. 1847; d. 3 Nov. 1874 at French Guiana. Unm. Dartmouth, '70.
27. ALBERT b. 26 Aug. 1851; m. Elizabeth P. Thompson. GRACE A. b. 27 Aug. 1855; m. John M. Dunlea. Ch., Nancy and Dorothea.
23. Gen. Samuel Demeritt (Israel4, Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), married Sarah, daughter of Lieut. Andrew and Mary (Jones) Torr, and lived just over the line, in Lee. He was appointed major general in the militia 25 June 1833.
THOMAS JEFFERSON m. Avis Buzzell and rem. to Maine. JAMES MADISON m. twice.
SARAH m. Hiram Plumer.
EMELINE m. Job Thompson.
MARY m. John Randall. CLARA m. Samuel Dow.
JANE m. Frank Hutchinson.
FANNY m. Israel Demeritt.
JOSEPH, ANDREW and CAROLINE.
24. Ebenezer Thompson Demeritt (Jonathan4, Ebenezer3, Eli2, Eli1), born 7 April 1792, married (1) 28 Oct. 1821, Hannah Thompson Demeritt, who was born 5 Feb. 1787 and died 14 March 1830. He married (2) 26 Dec. 1831 Sophia Young of Madbury, who was born 4 Feb. 1794 and died 8 Jan. 1870. He died 24 Sept. 1863. Lived in Madbury.
ALEXANDER b. 23 Oct. 1829; d. 28 Jan. 1830.
I27
HISTORY OF DURHAM
EZRA EDRIC b. 29 Aug. 1824; m. 30 May 1855, Louisa M. Demeritt, dau. of Capt. Hopley and Abigail (Snell) Demeritt, who was b. 16 Jan. 1826 and d. 17 April 1910. He d. 26 June 1890. L. near the site of the old Tasker garrison in Madbury. Ch., Major John DeMeritt b. 8 Aug. 1856 and Jennie Mabelle DeMeritt b. 2 June 1863.
Major John DeMeritt, who is doubly descended from the emigrant, Eli Demeritt, as one may see in lines of ancestry above given, lives in Madbury on a farm, part of which has been ances- tral for six generations. He was educated at Coe's Academy,
MAJOR JOHN DEMERRITT
Northwood, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and New London Literary and Scientific Institution. Beginning as station agent at Madbury he was soon advanced in the service of the Boston & Maine Railroad to city passenger and ticket agent at Boston, Mass. He resigned in 1896 after eighteen years of continuous service with this company.
In 1887 he represented Madbury in the legislature, serving on the committee of finance. In 1897 and 1901 he was sergeant-at- arms of the State senate. He has been justice of the peace since 1887 and postmaster at Madbury, 1883-87 and 1890-98.
128
HISTORY OF DURHAM
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War he was appointed major and paymaster of volunteers in United States Army, being the third person of his name who has held the office of major, as shown in notes above and in the chapter on Military History. He was on duty in Washington, San Francisco, and from August 1898 to February 1899 in Manila, Philippine Islands. Fever obliged him to return to the states and he was mustered out, with other officers, in May 1899, since which time he has made his home on the ancestral estate in Madbury. He has an interest- ing and extensive collection of military weapons, gathered as souvenirs.
SIXTH GENERATION
25. David Albert Demeritt (Rev. William5, Nathaniel4, Samuel3, Eli2, Eli1), born 13 July 1829, lived in Sacramento, Cal., and was captain of a company of Massachusetts Cavalry raised in that city, during the Civil War. He married 12 Sept. 1861, Diantha Eliza Burnett, who was born Oct. 1840 and died 8 Oct. 1904. He died 23 Sept. 1894.
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