Merrick, Tilly, 1755-1836

Tilly Merrick, storekeeper of Concord, Mass., was Treasurer of the Union Turnpike Corporation. He owned Union Turnpike shares No. 206-215. The Corporation was formed in 1804 to build a turnpike (a predecessor of Route 2) from Concord to Leominster, connecting the Cambridge and Concord Turnpike and the Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike. Petitions were entered with the courts of Worcester and Middlesex counties and the road laid out in Worcester in 1805, in Concord in 1806. (The road became free in Worcester County in 1829, in Middlesex County in 1830.).

Storekeeper of Concord, Mass. Born (Jan. 29, 1755) and died (June 8, 1836) in Concord. Son of Tilly Merrick (d. 1768) and Mary Minot Merrick. (Brothers: Stephen Wilder, b. 1757; Augustus, 1759-1788; John, 1761-1797.) Stepson of Tory Duncan Ingraham. Graduate of Harvard (1773). Described in Memoirs of Members of the Social Circle in Concord as (during Revolution) "connected with the embassy of John Adams to France and Holland, as an attache, and ... secretary while abroad ... " Twice captured by British while crossing Atlantic (the second time taken to Halifax, N.S.,

(cont.) where his exchange was effected by Sir Archibald Campbell, who had become acquainted with Merrick while held in Concord as prisoner of war). Involved in firm of Sigourney, Ingraham, & Co. in Amsterdam (the Ingraham of the firm his stepbrother). Following war, became partner in wholesale shipping firm (Merrick & Course) in Charleston, S.C. Plantation- and slave-owner in S.C. Merrick & Course having dissolved, continued business under his own name. Suffering financial reversal, returned in 1798 to Concord. Opened general store and married Sally Minot.

(cont.) (Children: Francis John, b. 1799; Mary, b. 1801, who became second wife of Concord lawyer Nathan Brooks; Sarah, 1805-1806; Augustus, b. 1810.) Representative in Mass. legislature, 1809, 1810, 1813, 1815. Treasurer of Union Turnpike Corporation. Merrick sold his never-profitable Concord store to Phineas How around 1822.

Storekeeper of Concord, Mass. Born (1755) and died (1836) in Concord. Son of Tilly Merrick and Mary Minot Merrick. (Brothers: Stephen Wilder; Augustus; John.) Stepson of Tory Duncan Ingraham. Graduate of Harvard (1773). Described in Memoirs of Members of the Social Circle in Concord as (during Revolution) "connected with the embassy of John Adams to France and Holland, as an attache, and ... secretary while abroad ..."

(Cont.) Involved in firm of Sigourney, Ingraham, & Co. in Amsterdam (the Ingraham of the firm his stepbrother). Following war, became partner in wholesale shipping firm (Merrick & Course) in Charleston, S.C. Plantation- and slave-owner in S.C. Merrick & Course having dissolved, continued business under his own name. Suffering financial reversal, returned in 1798 to Concord. Opened general store and married Sally Minot.

(Cont.) (Children: Francis John; Mary, who became second wife of Concord lawyer Nathan Brooks; Sarah; Augustus.) Representative in Mass. legislature, 1809, 1810, 1813, 1815. Treasurer of Union Turnpike Corporation. Merrick sold his never-profitable Concord store to Phineas How around 1822.