All of the above photographs are the property of Craft Bookbinding Company, Clifton, Tennessee and used with permission.
John H. Merville and his wife, Phoebe (Ward), are the “beginning” of the Merville family of Herkimer County, New York, because, at this moment in time, I know nothing of his origins or ancestry other than a vague reference in a 1918 biography of a great grandson, Ernest4 (Euphrates3, Abel2, John1) that “The Mervilles were of French-English descent.” However, it appears that no one else knows either. The first legal document that I've discovered refers to John as a witness to a deed in 1805.
Click here or the image above to view other beginnings.
From page 4 of my copy of Jennie Ward Hoffman's typescript, I’ve transcribed it as she typed it:
“All dead and thier ch, but Grandchildren & Great Grandchildre stil living. I very much desire this record printed before all old Bibles & papers are|lost. I am now 67 years old and relize that Iwill not be here much longer, Iam the Mother of M Gazell Hoffman who is a member of your Soity , Iam not use to using type-writer so you will find many mistakes. but I know if this work is every done i will have to do it.”
Click here or the image above to view more of the Ward Family typescript.
