Ferrand F. Merrill

Ferrand Fassett Merrill (October 24, 1814 – May 2, 1859) was a Vermont attorney and Whig politician who served as Secretary of State of Vermont and in other offices.

Biography

Ferrand Fassett Merrill was born in Montpelier, Vermont on October 24, 1814.[1] His mother was Clara Fassett Merrill, and his father Timothy Merrill served as Secretary of State from 1831 to 1836.[1][2]

Merrill studied law and worked as his father's deputy while he was Clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives and Secretary of State.[3][4] Ferrand Merrill was state librarian in 1832 to 1833.[5] He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and practiced in Montpelier.[6] From 1838 to 1849 he served as Clerk of the Vermont House.[7] From 1849 to 1853, he was Vermont's Secretary of State.[6] In 1847, he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the University of Vermont.[8]

From 1854 to 1856, Merrill was state's attorney of Washington County.[9] In 1856 and 1857 he served as a member of the Vermont House.[10] Among the prospective attorneys who studied under Merrill was Charles Herbert Joyce, who attained admission to the bar in 1852, and succeeded Merrill as state's attorney.[9][11]

Merrill died at his office in Montpelier on May 2, 1859.[4][12] He had been ill at home during the days leading up to his death, but decided on May 2 to keep an appointment to discuss forming a law partnership with Whitman G. Ferrin.[4] He began to suffer chest pains at his office, and a doctor was summoned.[4] Shortly afterwards, Merrill died, probably from the effects of a stroke.[4] Merrill was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.[13]

His name sometimes appears in records as "Farrand".[14]

Family

In 1844, Merrill married Eliza Maria Wright of Montpelier.[15][16] They were the parents of three children: Chester W., Charlotte H., and Mary A. Merrill.[17]

Ferrand F. Merrill was the nephew of Orsamus Cook Merrill, who served as a member of Congress from Vermont.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Birth Record for Ferrand F. Merrill".
  2. ↑ The Vermont Historical Gazetteer 1882, p. 437.
  3. ↑ Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Death of Hon. F. F. Merrill".
  5. ↑ "Vermont Department of Libraries Biennial Report" (PDF). Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 The Vermont Historical Gazetteer 1882, p. 273.
  7. ↑ "Clerks of the Vermont House of Representatives, 1778-1993".
  8. ↑ General Catalogue of the University of Vermont.
  9. 1 2 The Vermont Historical Gazetteer 1882, p. 274.
  10. ↑ The Vermont Historical Gazetteer 1882, p. 272.
  11. ↑ Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont.
  12. ↑ "Death Record for Ferrand F. Merrill".
  13. ↑ "Hon. F. F. Merrill".
  14. 1 2 The Vermont Historical Gazetteer 1882, p. 438.
  15. ↑ The Vermont Historical Gazetteer 1882, p. 390.
  16. ↑ "Marriage Record for Ferrand F. Merrill and Eliza M. Wright".
  17. ↑ "Biographical Notes, Ferrand F. Merrill".

Sources

Books

Internet

Newspapers

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