Person Page - 171

     Sarah Miller was born on 2 September 1749 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT. She was the daughter of Ichabod Miller and Sarah Holcombe. Sarah Miller married John Merritt, son of James Merritt and Katherine Rogers, on 24 August 1769 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT.

Waller references Simsbury CT/Town records, Vol 3, pages 184 and 199, in the Barbour Collection; Brown, A Genealogy History of West Simsbury Hartford, 1856.

TAG Vol. 54. page 49 says Sarah Miller who married John Merritt is "probably" the daughter of Ichabod Miller and Sarah Holcomb.

     John Merritt was born on 4 June 1748 at Killingworth, CT. He was the son of James Merritt and Katherine Rogers.² John Merritt married Sarah Miller, daughter of Ichabod Miller and Sarah Holcombe, on 24 August 1769 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. John Merritt died in 1830 at probably Barkhamsted.

John bought land in Barkhamsted from his brother-in-law Phillip Priest in 1769 (from Barkhamsted/Proprietor records on Microfilm at the Connecticut State Library). Births are recorded in Barkhamsted CT/Vital Records in the Barbour Collection.

     James Merritt was born at England. Tradition says James was "perhaps Jaques maurite, a Huguenot, time of Louis XIV" but if there is truth to this, it was probably his father or grandfather who left France for England after the revocation of the Edict of nantes in 1685. Like his father, James was a clothier; Katherine was a seamstress. He married Katherine Rogers, daughter of Adam Rogers and Katherine Jones, on 20 October 1737 at New London, CT.² James Merritt died in 1769 at Killingworth, CT.

     Katherine Rogers was born on 15 May 1712 at New London, CT. She was the daughter of Adam Rogers and Katherine Jones. Katherine Rogers married James Merritt on 20 October 1737 at New London, CT.² Katherine Rogers died on 12 November 1799 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT, at age 87.²

     John Merritt was born on 9 May 1770 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. He was the son of John Merritt and Sarah Miller. John Merritt married Lucy Mills, daughter of Col. Amasa Mills and Lucy Curtis, on 20 September 1793 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. John Merritt died on 14 December 1806 at perhaps Onondago Co., NY, at age 36.

Waller references Barkhamsted CT/Vital reocrds Vol 1, page 111, from the Barbour Collection.

     Lucy Mills was born on 2 August 1772 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT. She was the daughter of Col. Amasa Mills and Lucy Curtis. Lucy Mills married John Merritt, son of John Merritt and Sarah Miller, on 20 September 1793 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. Lucy Mills married David Stockwell, son of Levi Stockwell, on 14 December 1806. Lucy Mills died on 1 January 1842 at Canton at age 69.

     In 1810 David and Lucy were living in CAto, Cayuga County, NY, but by 1827 had returned to Canton. David Stockwell was born in 1764. He was the son of Levi Stockwell. David Stockwell married Lucy Mills, daughter of Col. Amasa Mills and Lucy Curtis, on 14 December 1806.

     Although Sarah joined the Barkhamsted Congregatinal Church in 1807, she was dropped from membership in 1820 and they probably became Methodists. Sarah Merritt was born on 25 October 1772 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. She was the daughter of John Merritt and Sarah Miller. Sarah Merritt married Zeben Case, son of Eli Case and Athilred Reed, on 5 November 1795 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. Sarah Merritt died on 3 March 1870 at age 97.

     Zabad Case was born on 4 April 1772 at Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT. He was the son of Eli Case and Atheldred Curtis. Zabad Case died on 21 October 1836 at age 64.

     Ruth Cost Duncan cites the Simsbury Vital Records and Canton Congregational Church records in naming Athelred's "(Reed) Curtiss, daughter of Dr. Phillip Reed."

Bowman cites Goodwin, page 288 "daughter of Peter Curtiss".

     Sabra Merritt was born on 1 June 1776 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. She was the daughter of John Merritt and Sarah Miller. Sabra Merritt married Harris Emmons on 2 October 1794 at Hartland.

     Probably son of Jonathan Emmons of Barkhamsted, he operated a dish mill in Barkhamsted and they left for Ohio in 1825. They perhaps lived in Granville MA in 1813; in 1819 he was elected the first treasurer of his local school district in Barkhamsted. Harris Emmons married Sabra Merritt, daughter of John Merritt and Sarah Miller, on 2 October 1794 at Hartland.

     Jerusha Merritt was born on 13 June 1779 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. He was the son of John Merritt and Sarah Miller.

     Naomi Merritt was born on 27 July 1781 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. She was the daughter of John Merritt and Sarah Miller. Naomi Merritt married Joseph Hurlburt on 27 August 1809 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT.

     In 1814 he was "of Suffield Ct, in 1820 they lived in Barkhamsted. They perhaps moved to Chatham, Columbia County, NY, but more likely moved to southern Ohio in 1841. Joseph was called "clergy" in 1824. Joseph Hurlburt married Naomi Merritt, daughter of John Merritt and Sarah Miller, on 27 August 1809 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT.

     Oliver boiught a small dish mill and farm in Claridon, Geauga Coiunty, OH, in 1815. Oliver Merritt was born on 4 August 1784 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. He was the son of John Merritt and Sarah Miller. Oliver Merritt married Pamela Bushnell, daughter of Martin Bushnell and Lucy Bates, on 19 March 1806 at Hartland.

     Pamela Bushnell was baptized on 19 June 1785. She was the daughter of Martin Bushnell and Lucy Bates. Pamela Bushnell married Oliver Merritt, son of John Merritt and Sarah Miller, on 19 March 1806 at Hartland.

     Freeman Merritt was born in 1787 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. He was the son of John Merritt and Sarah Miller. Freeman Merritt married Patty Carrington on 26 November 1805 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. Freeman Merritt died after 8 October 1821.

     Patty Carrington was born on 26 April 1787 at Wallingford, New Haven Co., CT. She married Freeman Merritt, son of John Merritt and Sarah Miller, on 26 November 1805 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT.

     Freedom Merritt was born on 18 October 1792 at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., CT. She was the daughter of John Merritt and Sarah Miller.

     Adam Rogers married Katherine Jones.

     Katherine Jones married Adam Rogers.

     Alvin A. Holcombe was born circa 1807.¹ He was the son of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

Alvin is recorded as farmer with family in 1850 census of Putnam Twp., Livingston Co., MI. ²

     Lucy Holcombe was born circa 1815.¹ She was the daughter of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

     Leaman Holcombe was born circa 1818.¹ He was the son of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

     Almira Holcombe was the daughter of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

McPherson says she was killed.

     Lovinia Holcombe was the daughter of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

     Benoni Holcombe was born on 18 December 1812 at NY. He was the son of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb. Benoni Holcombe married Lucy A. Wedge, daughter of Moses Wedge and Mary A. Draper, in 1843. Benoni Holcombe died at Ionia Co., MI.²

Benoni and Lucy were enumerated in the 1850 Easton Twp., Ionia Co., MI, federal census. He was a farmer age 37, she was 27. Children in the household were Jesse 5, William 3, and Lucy 1.


Benoni and Lucy were enumerated in the 1860 Easton Twp., Ionia Co., MI, federal census. He was a farmer, age 49, she was 37. Children in the household were Jesse 15, William 13, Lucy 11, Sanford 7, and Lizzie 3.


He moved from Salem, Washington Co., NY to Easton Twp. in 1845; worked as a young man on Erie Canal; settled in forest of large Mich trees, which he cleared to make a farm; burned timber into charcoal; manufactured "saleratus" for baking purposes; hauled his farm and other products by ox team 40 miles to Grand Rapids, MI, market. ³

     Aditha Holcombe married Daniel Bates.¹ Aditha Holcombe was the daughter of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

     Lovisca Holcombe married Aaron Bemis.¹ Lovisca Holcombe was the daughter of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

     Jesse Holcombe II was born in 1819 at NY.² He was the son of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb. Jesse Holcombe II married Amorintha Kimball.

Jesse moved overland from Salem, Washington Co., NY to Easton, Ionia Co., MI, where he established a woolen mill and tailor shop, which trades he had learned from his father who had lived previoulsy in VT and CT.

Jesse and Amorintha were enumerated in the 1850 Easton Twp., Ionia Co., MI, federal census, dwelling 212, household 220. He was a farmer age 31, she was 35. Childlren in the household were Amelia 10, William 10, Samantha 8, George 7, Albert 2, and Francis 10/12.


Jesse and Amorintha were enumerated in the 1860 Ionia, Ionia Co., MI, federal census, page 86. He was a farmer, age illegible, she was 44. Childlren in the household were Amelia, age 20 a teacher, William H. 19 a farmer, Samantha 17, George 15, Albert 13, Frank 11, Amorintha 8, Alice 6, Rosina 4, and Ferris 2. Amelia was also enumerated on page 93 in the household of William Kitts as a teacher age 20.


Amorintha was enumerated in the 1870 Ionia Township, Ionia Co., MI, federal census, page 20. She was a widow age 55. Children in the household were Amelia 30, George 23, Frank 20, Alice 16, Rosia 14 and Ferris 12. It appears that daughter Amorintha is in the household as the wife of Amos Worden(?) a laborer age 24, she was 18 and they had a 2 year-old daughter Effa. Living next door is another Worden family.

     Amorinthe Holcombe was the daughter of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb.

     Alvin Holcombe was born circa 1836 at MI.¹ He was the son of Alvin A. Holcombe and Ann (?)

     Lucy A. Wedge was born on 29 June 1823 at CT.¹ She was the daughter of Moses Wedge and Mary A. Draper. Lucy A. Wedge married Benoni Holcombe, son of Jesse Holcombe and Lucy Webb, in 1843. Lucy A. Wedge died at Ionia Co., MI.²

     Moses Wedge married Mary A. Draper.

     Mary A. Draper married Moses Wedge.

     Jesse S. Holcombe was born on 25 December 1844 at MI. He was the son of Benoni Holcombe and Lucy A. Wedge. Jesse S. Holcombe married Mary Ann Clifford in 1866. Jesse S. Holcombe died at Stanton, Montcalm Co., MI.²

Jesse is recorded in the 1860 Census of Ionia Co., MI, in the household of James H. Post. as farm laborer; gained the consent of his parents and enlisted in Co. D 21st Mich. Inf., Aug. 15, 1862 for 3 years, at Ionia, Mich., age 18 years; mustered Sept. 10, 1862; corporal, Dec. 2, 1862; mustered out, Washington, D.C. (Detroit, Mich.?), June 8, 1865. ³


Jesse S. and Mary Ann were enumerated in the 1910 Stanton, Montcalm Co., MI, federal census. He was 66, she was 62. Children in the household were nephew Benoni Holcombe 17, and granddaughter Mary E. Holcombe 12, and another granddaughter 14.

Jesse S. and Mary A. were enumerated in the 1920 Stanton, Montcalm Co., MI, federal census, district 141. He was 75, she was 71. Brother William, widowed age 72, was also in the household.


Jesse and Mary were enumerated in the 1930 Stanton, Montcalm Co., MI, federal census. He was 85, she was 80. There were no children at home, but granddaughter Mary (Holcombe) Williams lived next door.


Jesse moved to Stanton, Montcalm Co., Mich. in 1871, where he remained until his death, Nov. 30, 1830(sic). ³

     William E. Holcombe was born on 29 March 1847 at Macomb Co., MI.² He was the son of Benoni Holcombe and Lucy A. Wedge. William E. Holcombe married Sarah S. Draper, daughter of John B. Draper and Carline Britain, on 18 March 1877 at Orleans, Ionia Co., MI. William E. Holcombe died on 7 April 1921 at Stanton, Montcalm Co., MI, at age 74.

     Lucy Ann Holcombe was born on 28 January 1849 at Ionia Co., MI.¹ She was the daughter of Benoni Holcombe and Lucy A. Wedge. Lucy Ann Holcombe died on 8 April 1921 at age 72.²

     Sanford P. Holcombe was born on 28 February 1854 at Ionia Co., MI.¹ He was the son of Benoni Holcombe and Lucy A. Wedge. Sanford P. Holcombe married Florence E. (?) circa 1880; no issue.² Sanford P. Holcombe died on 11 February 1937 at age 82.

Sanford married but had no children. He adopted and reared a neice, Nellie Cunningham. ³


Sanford and Florence were enumerated in the 1920 Ithica, Gratiiot Co., MI, federal census, ED 41. He was retired, age 65, she was 58.


Sanford and Florence were enumerated in the 1930 Ithica, Gratiot Co. MI, federal census, ED 14. He was 76, she was 68. There was no one else in the household.

     Melissa M. Holcombe was born on 20 March 1857 at Ionia Co., MI.¹ She was the daughter of Benoni Holcombe and Lucy A. Wedge. Melissa M. Holcombe died on 12 May 1892 at Stanton, Montcalm Co., MI, at age 35.²