Tim, might your Merrill Beasley have been Mearill Beazley who witnessed the sale of a negro woman named Luse... to JOhn Beazley from Samson Rentfrow of Franklin Co., Ga Apr 8, 1814 (Deeds of Franklin County, Georgia 1784-1826: Acker; page 314)? This JOhn Beazley appears to connect to me and I haven't seen the name Mearill (?) anywhere else. thanks, David