Putnam County GaArchives Biographies.....Merryman Pound 1760 - 1843
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Linda Ward Meadows
lmeadows@surfsouth.com

Author: Linda Ward Meadows

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/putnam/biographies/poundmer.txt

MERRYMAN POUND              1760-1843             PUTNAM CO., GA

     Merryman  Pound was born in Virginia about 1760, the son  
     of Revolutionary soldier,  Reuben  Pound, who served  with  
     the  GA Continental Line.  Merryman's wife was Clarissa 
     Ladufsia Herndon, daughter of George Herndon, and descendant 
     of William and Catherine Digges Herndon  of  Virginia.  
     Family members have no proof  as to who Merryman's or Clarissa's 
     mother was. 
     
     Hancock  County, Georgia deeds prove that Merryman and  Clarissa  
     were married by 1797. They had the following  known  children, 
     order of birth unknown:

1. Sarah         md. Pelathia Whitehurst  5/6/1813
2. Richard       b. ca 1797  d. Miss.    md. Cynthia Harkness
     6/30/1818 Putnam Co.  
3. John Bohannon b. 5/4/1799 d.4/25/1876 md. 1st Amelia Gay
     12/30/1823 Jones Co.
     2nd Mary Gay Harris (sister of Amelia, &  widow of Ezekiel
     Harris)
4.Ladufsia       b. 4/4/1800 d. GA       md. Irwin Bullock
     8/29/1816 Putnam Co.
5. Merryman, Jr.
6. Frances "Franky"                      md. Abner Champion 
7. Caroline                              md. John Butler 1822 Putnam Co.
8. Newman       b. 1808      d. GA       md. Martha Clara Murphey
9.James Jackson b. 1810      d. Texas    md. Eppsy Ann Veazey
     12/3/1833
10.Catherine                             md. William L. Worrell
     3/24/1825 Putnam Co.
11.Mary Ann    b.1821                  md. Andrew Jackson Bridges 
   2/3/1839
12.Clarissa    b.18__                  md. John Morgan
     
     There are several references to the military involvement  of this 
     Putnam County, Georgia pioneer. His story is an  interesting one 
     relating how a native Virginian came to live in the southwest corner 
     of a Georgia county, carving for himself and his family  a home on 
     the banks of Murder Creek.  His Devil's Half Acre Plantation was on 
     the edge of white settlement, and was probably viewed as an 
     encroachment onto what had rightfully belonged to the Creek Indians.
     Military  records of  Washington County, GA,    dated  1779-1839, 
     show that Private MERRIMAN POUNDS from Rabon's District had one 
     horse and served in Captain Joseph Carson's Troops of militia as a 
     cavalryman.  He served two terms of duty at Rock Landing  on the  
     Oconee  River  while Colonel John McKenzie served  as  fort commandant.   
     A sworn statement from John Mckenzie given  14 May 1833,  stated  that 
     said military service was  around  1793-1795. Due  to old age, 
     McKenzie was unable to recall the  exact  year. MERRY  POUND gave a 
     sworn oath to the same service on  10  August 1833.
     
     His  name is also listed among those filing claims with  the State 
     of Georgia for property losses resulting from actions taken by the 
     Creek Indians in 1799. By that time, he had purchased land in  Hancock 
     and Greene counties.  He participated in the 1805  GA land  Lottery  
     from Greene Co, and was a jury member  in  Greene County in 1806.
     As  an early Putnam County settler, Merryman continued  land and  slave 
     transactions.  By 1826, he owned 669 acres in  Putnam, land for which he 
     paid $3265.  His large family prospered on  the banks of Murder Creek.
    Merryman's  Last Will and Testament was made 3  August  1842, and was 
    proven in open court 22 March 1843.   The  only  child mentioned was 
    Clary Morgan. His wife Clarissa had been deeded 202 1/2  acres,  3 slaves, 
    and other properties on 5 March  1840  for "ten dollars as well as for the 
    love and affection I have for my wife Clary."  Merryman's heirs sold to 
    John Bohannon Pound  their father's estate properties on 9 March 1843.  
    Said  property  was "640 acres more or less."  Heirs were paid $1200 for 
    this property.
    
    On  7  April 1990, descendants and Putnam  County  residents gathered to 
    dedicate a government marker placed to honor Merryman Pound for his service 
    during Georgia's Indian wars. Since that time, descendants have also 
    learned that Merryman Pound was a War of 1812 veteran. Merryman  and his  
    wife, "Clary" Herndon Pound, are buried in the Pound  Family Cemetery just 
    off Highway 212 in southwest Putnam County.

Selected  Sources:Courthouse records in Greene, Putnam, and  Hancock  counties; 
GA Dept. of Archives records; writings  of  Emmie Pound  Holland;  interviews 
with Dr. James  Hannon  Pound,  Sr.; White's Historical Collections of Georgia;
NSDAR records; Colonial Dames of the 17th Century records; and research compiled 
by Cleburne G. Pound and other Pound descendants.

Researched  and compiled by Linda Ward Meadows, 4th  great  grand daughter  
of Merryman and Clarissa Herndon Pound.   

Linda Ward Meadows
lmeadows@surfsouth.com