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In 1792 James Johnson Merriam left Wallingford Conn. with his brother John to settle in Percy Twp. Northumberland Co Upper Canada. James born in 1772 was 20 at the time. His father had died the year before. James probably helped John and his family cut a farm from the bush. Percy was an unbroken forest of Oak, Maple and pine inhabited by animals and roving bands of Indian hunters.
The closest mill or store was 20 miles away. They had to go that distance by Ox team to have grain ground, buy tea & get mail.
They pounded their corn in a mortar which was made by heating a stone & burning a hole in the top of a stump. They would sift it the resulting meal and make porridge with the course part and corn bread & use the finer meal as flour to make bread.
The first town to develop near them was Norham. In 1795 the population of Percy Twp. was 920.
About 1801 James married Sarah Youmans the only single white woman in the area. Sarah was from Utica ,NY.
The 1803 census shows them living on Lot 22, Conc. 3 Percy Twp. Northumberland Co. James was a farmer and blacksmith.
James Johnson Merriam was appointed a constable for the county of Northumberland ( Percy) Apr. 14 1802. He was also a Juryman for the County of York Oct. 13, 1801.
Their first child was Archibald born Oct. 12, 1801. Archibald married Polly Roohall in Champion NY. He may have met her while visiting his Aunt Eleanor (Merriam) Mix. Eleanor and her husband Joel were instrumental in starting the town of Champion.
In Sept. 15, 1804 Burradge Barrie was born. He married Betsy Comstock in 1832 and had 15 children.
Hannah came next on Apr. 20 1807. She married Joseph Robinson.
Permille was born in Nov. 17, 1808 and married John Free in 1834. They had 13 children. The Free family still live in Northumberland Co.
Jesse R Merriam born in 1810 and is thought to have been married twice. Once to Margaret Elizabeth Clarke and then Mary Ann Smith.
Joseph was born in 1813 and had 13 children with Margery Stanbury.
Burradge, Joseph and Jesse were listed in the Northumberland Militia 6th Percy Division in 1825.
Mary born in July 12, 1814 was married to William Matthew's.
Sylvia Ann born May 17, 1815 married Jesse Rosebush. They had 13 children and later moved to Bay City MI.
Esther born in Apr. 30, 1818 married Isaac Stanton Blair. Huldah Sophia was born Jan. 11, 1820 and married John Baptiste Sequire.
James Patrick born March 17, 1821 married Sara Jane Lytle. And John Merriam born Oct 20 1823 married Sarah Stone. John and James had descendentsliving near Norwood to at least 1917
James and Sarah's last child, Lucy was born in Apr 9, 1824 and married John Garone
James Johnson Merriam who was born June 20 1772 lived nearly 100 years dying in Norham Ontario Feb 20 1862. Sarah predeceased him June 28 1849. They are buried in Warkworth cemetery. The stone was placed there by grandson Charles James Merriam.
By Kit Cutting
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