Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Daniel MERRITT (1800-1870)

and Sarah MERCER (1800-?)

Alfred Merritt and Ann Quaite married by banns on 24 January 1852 in Storrington, Sussex.  He was then a bachelor and cordwainer and she was a spinster.  They were both minors.  Their fathers were named as Daniel Merritt a labourer and Edmund Quaite a miller.  The witnesses to their marriage were John Battcock and George Fuller.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Alfred Merritt was baptised on 6 April 1834 in Wiston, Sussex.  He was the son of Daniel Merrit (1800-1870) and Sarah Mercer (1800-?).  He was 7 years old in 1841.  In 1851 he was a 17 year old shoemaker.  He may have died in 1899.

Anne Quaite was baptised on 14 July 1833 in Storrington, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Edmund Quaite (1803-1874) and Mary Ann Wagstaff (1802-1855).  The baptism register noted that her father was a miller.

In 1861 Alfred was a 27 year old shoemaker and he and his 28 year old wife Anna and 3 children were living with his father in Clapham.  Alfred's place of birth was given as Wiston and Anna as Storrington.

When the 1871 census was recorded Alfred Merriett was a 37 year old married shoemaker and living in a common lodging house at 15-18 Chesterfield Street in the St. Peter's district of Brighton.  His wife 38 year old Annie Merrett or Merritt was living at 42 Chapel Street, Worthing.  With her was her son James and 2 boarders, nameley Charles Taskins an unmarried 43 year old excavator from Broadwater and 41 year old married Harriet Holden from Billingshurst.

Alfred Merritt and Ann Quaite had 4 known children:

1. Albert Merrett was baptised on 16 June 1852 in Storrington.  The baptism register noted that his father was a cordwainer.

2. Mary Merritt was baptised on 5 November 1854 in Storrington.  The baptism register noted that her father was a cordwainer.  She was a 6 year old scholar in 1861.

3. James Meritt was baptised on 3 January 1858 in Clapham.  The baptism register noted that his father was a shoemaker.  He was 3 years old in 1861.  In 1871 he was a 13 year old labourer and living with his mother.

   James married Sarah possibly Sarah Payne in the fourth quarter of 1880 in the Battle registration district.

   In 1881 they were living at 100 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne.  James gave his place of birth as Storrington and he was a fisherman.  Sarah was from Penhurst, Sussex and they were both aged 23 years, i.e. born about 1858.

   The 1891 census recorded the couple and young son were living at 21 Cornwall Road, Bexhill, Sussex.  They were both 33 years old.  James was a fisherman from Clapham and Sarah from Penshurst.  Also with the family was the family of Charles Golding.

   James and Sarah had the following son:

   1. Alfred Edward P. Merritt was born in the second quarter of 1886 in Eastbourne.  He was a 4 year old scholar in 1891.  Alfred married Eliza M. Moore in the second quarter of 1911 in the Battle registration district.  Alfred and Eliza had the following children:

      1. Laurence E. J. Merritt was born in the second quarter of 1912 in the Battle registration district.

      2. Joan L. Merritt was born in the second quarter of 1916 in the Battle registration district.

4. Daniel Meritt was baptised on 8 January 1860 in Clapham.  The baptism register noted that his father was a shoemaker.  H was a year old in 1861.

MERRITT          QUAITE