ENG-AUS: MERRIFIELD family from Tavistock, Devon 1800s
Dear FamilyTreeCircle Members, Whilst the MERRIFIELD family weren't my ancestors, I just happened to research them over time due to connections with my family tree.
William MERRIFIELD born 1804 Tavistock, Devon, England, parents names unknown at this stage. He married Ann unknown born 1806 St.Petherwin, Cornwall. Marriage date unknown - C1832.
The couple had 6 children:-
1. Samuel MERRIFIELD born 1833 Tavistock, Devon
2. John MERRIFIELD born 1835 Peter Tavy, Devon
3. William MERRIFIELD born 1836 Tavistock, Devon
4. Richard MERRIFIELD born 1838 Tavistock, Devon
5. George MERRIFIELD born 1840 Tavistock, Devon
6. Mary MERRIFIELD born 1844 Tavistock, Devon
Census data following:-
1841 CENSUS
HO107/249/13 5 5
Tavistock, Devon
Besford Square
William Merrifield, 37, Librarian
Ann, 35
Samuel, 8
John, 6
William, 5
Richard, 3
George, 1
All born in county
1851 CENSUS
HO107/1883 562 9
Tavistock, Devon
Abbey Place
William Merrifield, head, 47, Librarian, b. Tavistock
Ann, wife, 50, b. St Petherwin? Cornwall
Samuel, son, 19?, Carpenter, b. Petertavy
John, son, 16, Pupil Teacher, b. do.
William, son, 14, Carpenter, b. do.
Richard S, son, 12, Tailor, b. Tavistock
George, son, 10, Errand boy, b. do.
Mary, dau, 7, scholar, b. do.
Hugh Doney, lodger, unm, 24, Ironite? Mason, b. do.
1861 CENSUS
RG9/1463 84 26
Marytavy, Devon
Village
John Merrifield, head, 26, Schoolmaster, b. Petertavy
Mary A, wife, 30, b. Tavistock
Willie V?, son, 1, b. Marytavy
John MERRIFIELD married Mary A. VENNER born 1830 Tavistock, Devon. The couple had 4 children:-
1. Willie MERRIFIELD born 1860 Mary Tavy, Devon
2. Sydney Sergent MERRIFIELD born 1861 Tavistock, Devon, died 1935 Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia
3. Minnie MERRIFIELD born 1864 Plymouth, Devon
4. Mary MERRIFIELD born 1865 Plymouth, Devon
More information about Sydney Sergent MERRIFIELD and his family:
BIRTH: Sydney Sergent Merrifield
Birth Registered: July/September 1861
District: Tavistock, Devon
Index no: 5b 363. {Source: ancestry.com lookup}
DEATH: Deaths:
Sydney S Merrifield.
Died: 1935.
At Ryde. Sydney.
Father: John Merriield (sic)
Mother: Mary A Unknown.
Reg Num: 2715.
1871 CENSUS
RG10/2115/23/39
13 1/2 Gascoyne Place
Plymouth, Devon
MERRIFIELD
John Head Mar 36 LLD PHD Teacher of Mathematics Devon, Peter Tavy
Mary A Wife Mar 41 Devon, Tavistock
Willie Son 11 Scholar Devon, Mary Tavy
Sydney Son 9 Scholar Devon, Mary Tavy
Minnie Daur 7 Scholar Devon, Plymouth
Mary Daur 6 Scholar Devon, Plymouth
Eliza J EASTON Serv Un 18 Cook Devon, Plymouth
Elizabeth FRIEND Serv Un 21 House Maid Devon, Mary Tavy
Grace CROSS Serv Un 19 Nurse Maid Devon, Mary Tavy
EMIGRATION: Dr. SS Merrifield arrived Victoria, Australia 1885.
BIOGRAPHY: I have found reference to an "S S MERRIFIELD" in the index of the following book:
A Social and Cultural History of Medicine in NSW - The Southern Tablelands and Cooma Monaro, Edited and Published by A J Proust, 10/38 National Circuit, Forrest ACT 2603
This book should be available in public libraries.
BAPTISMS:
Baptism:
John: 29 May 1902 at Bombala.
Brenda Mary :7 Sep 1904 at Bombala.
Alice Vinner: 7 Jan 1891 at Bombala.
Bessie: 18 Jan 1888 at Bombala.
Dr Sydney Sergent MERRIFIELD married in 1887 Victoria, Australia to Sarah Elizabeth CROUCH born abt 1870 location unknown. Her parents names were: Daniel CROUCH and Sarah. She died 1951 Chatswood, Sydney NSW Australia.
Sydney and Sarah MERRIFIELD had 5 children:-
1. Bessie MERRIFIELD born 1887 Bombala NSW, died 1913 Sydney NSW Australia
2.Annie (Alice) Vinner MERRIFIELD born 1890 Bombala NSW, died 1920 Inverell NSW Australia
3.Minnie Minhinnick MERRIFIELD born 1895 Bombala NSW, died 1959 Chatswood NSW Australia
married 1921 Sydney NSW to John P. AUSTIN born 1895 Grafton NSW. His parents names: James J. AUSTIN and Abina unknown.
4.John MERRIFIELD born 4 Aug 1901 Bombala NSW,
married in 1931 at Randwick NSW to Sussannah HOLLERAN.
5.Branda (Brenda) Mary MERRIFIELD born 1904 Bombala NSW
Alison QLD Australia.
Comments
Alison,
If the Merrifield family still interests you, try webrarian.co.uk for a short biog of William, together with some related material.
Regards,
Jonathan.
I am a Merrifield decendant, my father and uncle carried the merrifield name as their middle names, both noe deceased, my father was son of Minnie Beer Doidge nee Merrifield her father was George Merrifield one of William Merrifields sons a Viginia Noonan who lives in Melbourne Ausrallia descendat of Samuel Merrifield who emigrated to Australlia is researching the Meriifield family tree and has visited Devon twice, when I met her and showed her places that I know about to do with the family.We looked in William Merrifields' house when he was librairian now the entrance to Tavistock museum. I have a sundial which was made by a Merrifield in slate. The cottage where William lived at one time in Kilworthy hill,Tavistock was bought from the Duke of Bedfords estate in 1912 (I have the original deeds) the cottage remauned in the family until 2010 whe my sister and I had to sell as executors to my uncles will. William George Doidge, Plymouth,Denvon England
Hi,
I'm not a Merrifield decendant, but I am the current owner of Laurel Cottage, on Kilworthy Hill Tavistock, where William Merrifield lived. I love the cottage and would like to know its history so was delighted when a neighbour gave me a post-card 2 days ago with a photograph of William Merrifield and Ann his wife, in front of it. I had no idea such an interesting person had lived here! The cottage has a warm happy feel, with good vibes.
I have no 'deeds' for the cottage and note from the above post that they remain in your family. Could I possibly have a copy? It looks as though the house has been 'modernised' many times over the years. Can you tell me when it was built?
Thank you.
hi Jessica01,
allycat left this site 8 years ago but I can tell you Laurel Cottage was built about 1875