WFT-Vol. 7, Nos. 1773, 2875, 2876, 4331.
Daniel Merrill was a carpenter as well as a farmer. From Samuel Merrill, A Merrill Memorial, pp. 91-96, we find the following quoted material:
"It is recoreded that 'Daniel Merrill of Newberie took ye oath of ffidelitie unto this government ye 25 of february sixty eight.' In 1678, he took the oath of allegiance, his age being given as 34 years. In 1677, he was chosen 'fence viewer' and, in 1689, was one of four 'way wardens.' In 1688, in a list of 'soldiers under ye command of Capt. Thos. Noyes' is the name of 'Daniel Merell' ...
"At the Registry of Deeds in Salem may be found the record of fifteen conveyances under which Daniel Merrill acquired title to various lots of land in Newbury, Salisbury, and Haverhill. The earliest of these was dated 5 May, 1668, and the latest 27 Feb. 1706/7. Some of the earlier ones were not recorded until after his death.
"...in 1673, (Daniel) jointly with his brother Abel, he bought 56 acres in Haverhill ... the following year the two bought 20 acres adjoining their previous purchase, this being described as situated at 'Hogghill' in Haverhill (in the present town of Atkinson, NH). The consideration for this second purchase was, 'a cow and a Yoke of Oxen and ffive pounds in cloathing in hand payd.'
"John Clough, senior, of Salisbury, in 1686, in consideration of love and good will, gave a deed to, 'my sone Daniell Merrill and Sarah his wife of Nubury,' conveying one-half of all the grantor's land in Haverhill, together with rights of commonage. It was stipulated in the deed that, 'John Merrill ye sone of Sarah Merrill shal be considered and allowed some prehemency in ye aboves lands abov ye rest of ye sd Sarah's children.'
"Daniel Merrill began buying land in Salisbury in 1682, his purchase including two tracts in the 'Barbary' ..., six acres in the 'Higgleda Pigglede lotts' ..., two tracts in the Goodale Swamp Division ..., besides upland at the Great Plain and at Munday's Hill ...."
We do not know when Daniel moved to Salisbury, MA. The tax list of 1688 shows that Daniel owned two houses with 12 acres in Newbury, MA, and he was listed as "of Newbury" when he purchased 40 acres in Salisbury, MA, on 28 Jan. 1696/7. That he continued to own these properties is shown in his will of 10 May 1717, whereby he bequeathed, "... unto Daniel my oldest sone all my homestead housing and land in newberry as also ..., unto John my second son two thirds of my hoge hill lot so called in Haverhill which was given me by my father Clough as also ..., unto my third son Moses Merrill the other third of my hoghill lot together with all my right to ye other lands and meadow ..., unto my youngest son Stephen Merrill .... all my homestead buildings and appertenances together with my land on ye Great plain..." Also, in this will he indicates legacies to be paid out by his son, Daniel, to his daughters including Martha (Merrill) True.
Daniel and his wife Sarah (Clough) Merrill had seven children, all born in Newbury, MA:
Daniel, Jr., b. 8 March 1671/2; d. before 29 Sept. 1725; m. Esther Chase.
John, b. 7 Oct. 1674; d. 17 Jan. 1756; m. Mary Allen.
Sarah, b. 15 Oct. 1677; m. William Morse.
Ruth, b. 7 Feb. 1680/1; m. Onesiphorus Page, Jr.
Twins:
Moses, b. 3 Sept. 1683; d. 17 Jan. 1756 (same date as the death of his brother, John?); m. Mary -----.
Martha, b. 3 Sept. 1683; m. John True.
Stephen, b. 16 Sept. 1688; d. before 4 June 1755; m. (1) Mary Carr; m. (2) Mary Hardy.