Sharon, I too descend from Ben Merritt b. abt 1794 NC. The Sarah E. Godwin you asked about was married to his son James Robert Merritt. Her parents were Wm M. Godwin II b. 8 Apr 1807 GA d 5 May 1897 Pollard, Escambia Co. AL and Elizabeth McCabe Brewton b 20 Jan 1813 d 15 Sep 1876 Esc. Co. AL. Elizabeth's parents were Joseph Brewton and Elizabeth Pringle. Good Luck, Judi