Wayne County, NC - Heritage Series Reprinted with permission of the Mount Olive Tribune and cannot be reproduced without permission. 100 Attend Merritt Family Reunion "Our Heritage" By Claude Moore The 38th annual reunion of the Merritt family of Sampson and Duplin Counties was held at Old Trinity Methodist Church near Waycross in Sampson County on Sunday, April 20. With more than a hundred members attending, it was an inspiring occasion. This was the appropriate place for this reunion since the Merritts were among the founders of this church in 1885 and many are buried in the church yard cemetery. Many others are buried in early family cemeteries in the neighborhood and at old Oak Plain Presbyterian Church (organized 1859) nearby. It was a beautfiul spring day and after the program a delectable picnic dinner was spread on tables in the grove. Mrs. George A. Merritt Jr., the presideht of the clan was master of ceremonies. I had been invited to make the address. I was happy to do this since the Merritts had been among my good friends as well as loyal school patrons during the years. The Merritts came from an ancient family in Somerset, England, to Virginia as early as 1637, and generations later to Chowan, Bertie, and Edgecombe Counties in North Carolina. As early as 1757 we find Captain Robert Merritt with a land grant on Stewart's Creek in what is now Sampson County. He and his brothers, William, Absolom, and Charles Merritt received other land grants later in the same vicinity. The records show that Captain Robert Merritt and six of his sons, Robert Jr., Jacob, Nathial, Frederick, Daniel, and David served the patriotic cause during the American Revolution. Several members of this family migrated to Georgia and others remained here and became the forebears of literally thousands in southeastern North Carolina. The numerous daughters married and founded tribes with names such as Pearson, Carter, Register, Gore, Robinson, Peterson, Herring, Benton, Matthews, Watson, Page, and Johnson. Six other members of this family served in the American Revolution, two served in the War of 1812, and thirty-seven served in the Confederate Army. Persons attending family reunions are usually those who like to identify with the old concept of the extended family and with the traditions and love which goes along with old Southern families who had a leading role in founding and building our nation. Among the members attending were Mr. and Mrs. W. I. McLamb of Clear Run, who lives in her father's handsome old home overlooking Black River. Mrs.McLamb's own father, the late A.J. Johnson, was a Confederate soldier which makes her a real Daughter of the Confederacy. Mr. Johnson operated a steamboat between Clear Run and Wilmington in olden days. As part of the program, the Trinity Church Choir sang several familiar old hymns. The Duff family of Carlton's Chapel Church near Warsaw rendered a short program of sacred music accompanied by the guitar. Officers were elected for another year and plans were already underway to make the 1987 reunion interesting and to attract new active members. ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Guy Potts ==============================================================