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Johnson Merriam was born July 30 1788 in Wallingford CN. USA. He came with his parents John and Suzannah Merriam to Northumberland Co. Upper Canada in 1792 where they started a bush farm. In 1802 Johnson's father died and he helped his mother with the farm until she sold it four years later, when she married Samuel Sherwood. Johnson taught school, having been tutored by his parents, and did farm work during the summer.
In August 1810 Johnson bought back his fathers farm conc. 2 Lot 20 & conc. 1 lot 21 Percy Twp Northumberland Co. On November 10 1810 Johnson Merriam married Elizabeth Massey daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Kelly) Massey. It was hard times for the Merriam's as they started their family. Then two years after their marriage the war of 1812 broke out between the United States and Britain. By the first part of 1814 nearly all the able men in Upper Canada ( Ontario) were drafted and taken from their homes to be soldiers to protect the country. Johnson was taken to Kingston, leaving his wife who was expecting at the time. Johnson a Drummer was taught the art of war and did not like it very well. In the fall, he with a company of men was sent with a brigade of boats to take supplies to York ( Toronto). They were six weeks making the journey, sailing and rowing as required. They got to York Dec. 24th pretty well used up.
When war closed in 1815, he returned to his family, and now had a new daughter Almira. Times were very bad and the next two summers were very cold and crops did not mature. There was great want and starvation but the third year was good and the country prospered.
In 1828 Johnson's mother, and wife Elizabeth died at age 33 of pneumonia., leaving him with six children. He continued to teach school and do carpentry and farming in the summer. With the help of Almira and Susanna, the oldest children he kept the family together, except for Lucy Swain Merriam who was taken by a Massey to New York State to live.
April 1838 Johnson bought Lots 1/2 4 conc.2 Alnwick twp This was sold in 1851 and he was found living at cons. 5 lot 18N near Jerry Lapp and the Merril Cemetery. In 1841 Johnson married Thankful Towne, 31 years his junior. They had a son Zimron Blodgett Merriam. It was not a happy union and she left him and after Johnson died in 1853 went to New York state.
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