This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: friarslantern Surnames: Merritt, Wilfley, Lehman Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.california.counties.sonoma/6151.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi - I see you mentioned a Merritt associated with Santa Rosa. As I have a Merritt side who settled in Petaluma, I just thought I'd check to see if there's a connection. John Merritt came here with his father Charles Merritt, and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Wilfley, and his mother, Jemima Lehman, by wagon in the 1850s. Charles and wife settled in Analy Township (now called Sebastopol) and John and his wife settled in Petaluma in a house that's still there at the corner of Stony Point Road and Pepper Road. John and Sarah had John Thomas Merritt (my great great grandfather, whom my mother knew), Edwin B Merritt & Ida Jane Merritt, born in 1856, 1862, and 1869 approximately. The original John (my great great great grandfather) had at least one sibling who came also. John T Merritt settled in Petaluma, traded livestock to San Francisco (by boat down the Petaluma River) and lived until the late 1930s. His children were George Merritt, Lyle Merritt (whom I remember - principal! of Petaluma Intermediate School, I believe), Ruby Merritt, and my great grandmother Ethel Merritt. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.