|
This cemetery is on land not owned by family and is grown up. The elders state that it was not on family-owned property, but on a plot that a local family had given to the Merritts for burial. This was not uncommon.
The graveyard is in the Currie/Grady community of Pender County. The closest address is 6640 Malpass Corner Road. Google Maps lists it as 'Lamb Cemetery'. https://goo.gl/maps/cvVycv5RyZfG6cpr7
The last person to be buried there was Julia Jacobs Messick Merritt in 1965. Julia Merritt's death certificate and family history state that she is buried in Merritt Cemetery. It is logical to conclude that her husband, Oscar Merritt, who died ten years prior was buried there as well. If Oscar's second wife is in Old Merritt Cemetery, it is safe to assume that his first wife, Minnie Jacobs (Julia's aunt) is also.
Oscar's father, Joe Louis Merritt, also lies there. His death certificate says that burial was "near Currie". His wives -- Minerva Walker and Blanche Jacobs -- are expected to be interred in Merritt Cemetery, also.
Dock Merritt (brother of Oscar, son of Joe Louis) died in 1920 in his early thirties He was married to Annie Jacobs, sister of Julia Jacobs Merritt. Annie remarried and was interred in the 1970s on Cypress Creek. Dock was laid to rest here in the Old Merritt Cemetery, according to his daughter Lottie Merritt Glover. Lottie also confirmed that Dock's brother, Joe L. 'Buddy" Merritt, and sister, Katie Merritt Hayes, are there. Buddy Merritt's death certificate states "Merritt Cemetery".
Joe Louis Merritt's parents, Malvin Merritt and Sarah Jane Williams Merritt died in Pender County sometime between 1880 and 1900. Depending on how old the cemetery is, they may rest there too. Lastly, more research will be needed amongst the descendants of Joe Louis Merritt's other children. It is likely that others are interred in Merritt Cemetery.
(For more explanation of this family's relationships see An Analysis of Marriage Patterns in PenderROCK)
|