This is the main page from which  all of the subsequent generations are linked.
(See Gilbert's Will below)
See my Photo album page for Gilbert of Carmel

    Emmett P. Merritt's Notes on Gilbert of Carmel (written 1979):

    "Gilbert Merritt, was born in 1753 or 1754, he died March 4, 1824, at age 70 years. He is buried in the "Old Baptist Cemetery" in the Village of Carmel, NY. Gilbert's Will (see below) is recorded in the office of the Putnam County Clerk at Carmel under Liber "B", pages 164 to 167. It was made on March 1, 1824 and was probated on March 8th, 1824, by Surrogate Jeremiah Hine. The living children mentioned in the will are as follows- William, Cornbury, Betsy, Polly, Jane, Tamer, Deborah, and a deceased daughter unnamed that married a Cronkite. Gilbert's wife's name was given as Elizabeth (Green?)
    Gilbert Merritt was first mentioned in the Town of Patterson in 1777, the area was known then as the Precinct of Frederickstown. He owned one acre at the foregoing date of 1777.  
    On August 6, 1811 Gilbert Merritt bought from Frederick Philips and Wife 89 acres and 2 rods of land.  In total Gilbert owned five and 89 acres of land in the town known as South East, this land lying in lot number eight of the Philipse Patent.(see map on photo album page) 
    Following Gilberts death, On March 23, 1825, for the sum of two thousand one hundred fifty dollars and seventy five cents,  Gilbert Merritt's lands consisting of three parcels of land comprising a total of 106 acres, 6 rods and 6 perches with the buildings was sold to Nathaniel Travis. The deed concerning the foregoing property transfer was recorded on the 4th of April 1825, in the Putnam County Clerks office at Carmel.
    The Personal estate of Gilbert Merritt as inventoried amounted to $675.18 on March 12, 1824. 
    Note- It is unknown what Gilbert's wife's maiden name was or where she is buried. It is thought by some to have been Green.  On his plot in the "old Baptist cemetery" there was a plain field stone marking someone's resting place on my first visit, but the stone has been removed since" 

Children of Gilbert Merritt  

1 Gilbert Merritt b: Abt. 1753 d: Mar 04, 1824 in Carmel, NY, Putnam County
. +Elizabeth Green
2 Cornbury Merritt b: Jul 29, 1780 d: Nov 22, 1853 in Buried in Cornwallville Methodist Cem, Green County NY
.... +[1] Permelia Jones b: Abt. 1778 in Of The Town of Franklin, Dutchess Co. Ny d: Mar 28, 1867 in Buried in Cornwallville Cem, Green County NY
*2nd Wife of Cornbury Merritt:
.... +[1] Permelia Jones b: Abt. 1778 in Of The Town of Franklin, Dutchess Co. Ny d: Mar 28, 1867 in Buried in Cornwallville Cem, Green County NY
2 William Merritt b: in Paterson, NY d: Apr 25, 1842
.... +Charity Pierce
2 Elizabeth (Betsy) Merritt
.... +William Evans
2 Phebe Merritt b: Jan 25, 1789 d: Sep 03, 1859 in Carmel, Putnam County NY
.... +Ira Terry b: Feb 03, 1785 d: Aug 14, 1863
2 Polly (Mary) Merritt b: 1803 d: Jan 20, 1883
.... +Henry Brown
2 Jane Merritt Williams
.... +Thomas Williams
2 Tamer Merritt b: 1783 d: Sep 27, 1819 in age 35, buried with father at Carmel Baptist Church Cem
.... +Isaac Ferguson
2 (Daughter) Merritt d: Bef. Mar 24, 1824
.... +Cronkite
2 Deborah Merritt b: Abt. 1781 d: Jun 23, 1821 in Age 39, buried with father at Carmel Baptist Church Cem
.... +Abraham Townsend

Will of Gilbert Merritt of Carmel

Will in Putnam County clerk's office Liber B p 164-7
Will executed March 8, 1824
The last will and testament of Gilbert Merritt of the town of Patterson in the county of Putnam and State of New York, I Gilbert Merritt considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, blessed by Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say,
Firstly I resign my soul unto the hands of Almighty God hoping and believing in a remission of sins by the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ and my body at my decease, I commit to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executor hereafter named, and my worldly estate, I devise as follows, towit,
I order and direct that my executor dispose of all my personal property (excepting one bed an bedding and the one equal half of my furniture) to satisfy my debts, funeral charges and all contingent expenses and if my personal property should be insufficient to satisfy the same, in that case, I order and direct that my executor sell and dispose of so much of my real estate as will be sufficient to pay the same.
Item, I give and devise unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth Merritt, one bed and bedding and one equal half of my household furniture and one equal third of all my real estate after the debts and charges are satisfied--- in lieu of dower during her natural life. Item, I give and devise unto my grandson Gilbert Townsend his heris and assigns $20.00 more than my grandson Nathan Townsend and to Nathan Townsend and Gilbert above mentioned, I give as much as I give to each one of my daughters, excepting ten dollars which I give to my grandaughter Hannah Townsend and her heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my two sons the sum of fifty dollars each to be taken out of my estate after debts etc. are satisfied--- All the rest and residue of my estate I give, devise and order to be divided as follows amongst my children or to their legitimate children and heirs forever, to wit, one fourteenth part of the same to my two grandchildren, Viz, James Cronkite and Mary Cronkite, and to their heirs forever. Item, one fourteenth part to my two grandchildren, Viz, Meritt Forgason and Elizabeth Forgason, and to their heirs forever. Item, all the rest of my estate, I give in equal proportions amongst my six children, that is each one to share alike in the division except my daughter Besty Evans, wife of William Evans and the said Betsy is to have the use of her proportion during her husband's life, if she should outlive him and at her husband's decease, I give and bequeath her equal proportion as above stated to her, the said Betsy and to her heirs forever. Item, I give to my son William Meritt, his equal proportion and to his heirs forever. Item, I give to my son Cornbury Merritt his equal proportion and to his heirs forever. Item, I give to my daughter Phebe Terry her equal proportion and to her heirs forever. Item, I give to my daughter Polly Meritt her equal proportion and to her heirs forever. Item, I give to my daughter Jane Williams her equal proportion and to her heirs forever, And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Danierl Kent of the said town of Patterson, My sole executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other former Wills by me made, In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the first day of September in the year of our Lord on thousand eight hundred and twenty three.
Gilbert Merritt LS
In the presents of Philinda Kent, Laura Kent, Samuel Kent.

This is a codicil or act of my last will and testament, I hereby order and direct my executor to sell and convery all my freehold or real estate which I am now possesed of and in possession of and divide the avails thereof in the same proportion as is described in my last will and testament. Sealed with my seal Dated this first day of March the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.
his
Gilbert X Merritt LS
mark
Witnesses present Gilbert Townsend, Eliza Terry, Nathan Townsend, Russil Stephins, Azubah Dykeman, Sally R Dykeman