Hello list, I believe I have found enough information to make a pretty good assumption of my Merritt family tree. I want to share it here just in case it can help anyone now or in the future. Hezekiah Merritt, Sr. born between 1700 and 1755 had child: Hezekiah, Jr. born between 1755 and 1775 (probably NC) had child: (or was sibling of:) James born between 1785 and 1795 in NC had child: John born between 1810 and 1820 in NC.* *John Merritt married Miranda Murphy** in Jones County, NC between 1835 and 1840. They had children: Caroline, Sarah, Elizabeth, John and George. They moved to Pike County, Alabama and began acquiring land there in 1850. They appeared on the Pike County, AL census in 1860. He appears as John A. Marratt, age 46, born in NC. **Miranda Murphy was born around 1825. Her parents were Thomas and Mary (Clark) Murphy. Miranda's brother was William Clark Murphy. William C. Murphy is living next door to John and Miranda Merritt on the 1840 Jones County, NC census. William C. Murphy is also living near them in Pike County, AL in 1860. He is on the 1860 Pike County, AL census at age 45, born in NC. He was granted land there in 1858 in the same township as John Merritt. That is a brief summary of my assumption. Below are some recent facts I found to put this together. There are more facts (and random details I've gathered) that I have not listed here including neighbors found for both families through the father and son generations such as "McDaniel" and "Ward." Also, LDS has a James Merritt as father of John but without details. Also, LDS has a Miranda Murphy as being the daughter of Thomas and Mary Murphy in Jones County, North Carolina. Also, there are Jones County estate records online listing these families with will/death? dates. Please share/post, on this list, if you can to build a more solid tree. Thanks. Sherry Sheridan some research: In North Carolina Census 1784-1787 Caswell District, page 4 Thomas Murphy, Sr. (born between 1755/1775)(died before 1810) 1 male 21-60 4 males under 20 or over 60 3 females no slaves Jones County, page 18 Hezekiah Merrit, Sr. (born between 1700/1755)(died 1805 Jones County, NC) 1 male 21-60 3 males under 21, or over 60 5 females 1 slave age 12-50 1 slave under 21 or over 50 NC Census 1790 Newbern District, Pitt County, page 148 Thomas Murphy, Sr. (born 1755/1775)(died before 1810) 1 male over 16 3 males under 16 6 females no slaves Newbern District, Jones County, page 144 Hezekiah Merritt, Sr. (born between 1700/1755)(died 1805 Jones County, NC) 2 males over 16 2 males under 16 7 females 5 slaves NC Census 1800 Jones County, page 803 Thomas Murphy, Sr. (born 1755/1775)(died before 1810) 1 male 16-26 (Thomas Jr. born 1778) 1 male 26-45 0 females 9 slaves Jones County, page 783 Hezekiah Merrit, Jr. (born between 1755/1775) 3 males age 10 and under 1 male 26-45 1 female 16-26 1 slave Jones County, page 783 Hezekiah Merrit, Sr. (born between 1700/1755)(died 1805 Jones County, NC) 1 male 10-16 1 male 16-26 1 male 45 or older 2 females under 10 1 female 10-16 1 female 16-26 3 slaves NC Census 1810 Jones County, page 301 Thomas Murphy, Jr. (born about 1778)(married Mary Clark 1803 Craven) 1 male 26-45 3 females under 10 2 females 16-26 17 slaves Jones County, page 301 James Merrit (born between 1785/1795)(died 1849 Jones County, NC) 1 male 10-16 1 male 16-26 1 female 16-26 6 slaves NC 1820 Jones County, page 177 James Merit, Master Jones County, page 178 Thomas Murphy, Master NC 1830 Jones County, page 148 Mary Murphy (Maiden name Clark)(born between 1770/1790)(died before 1840 Jones Co. NC) 1 male 15-20 1 male 40-50 1 female under 5 1 female 5-10 1 female 40-50 1 female 50-60 1 male slave 24-36 3 female slaves under 10 2 female slaves 10-25 1 female slave 24-36 Jones County, page 148 James Merritt (born between 1780/1790) (died 1849 Jones Co. NC) 2 males 10-15 2 males 15-20 1 male 40-50 1 female under 5 1 female 15-20 1 female 30-40 slaves: 3 males 10-25 1 male 36-55 6 females under 10 2 females 10-24 4 females 24-36 1 female over 100 total: 30 NC 1840 Jones County, page 279 James Merritt (born between 1780/1790) (died 1849 Jones Co. NC) 2 males 20-30 1 male 50-60 1 female 10-15 1 female 40-60 slaves: 4 males under 10 5 males 10-24 3 males 24-36 1 male 36-55 5 females under 10 3 females 10-24 4 females 24-36 1 female 36-55 total: 31 and 14 agriculture Jones County page 282 John Merritt (born between 1810/1820) (died before 1880 in Alabama) 1 male 20-30 1 male under 5 1 female 15-20 (born between1820/1825)(died after 1880 in Alabama) slaves: 1 male under 5 1 female under 10 1 female 24-36 Jones County page 282 William C. Murphy (born between 1810/1820)(died after 1860 in Alabama) 1 male 10-15 1 male 20-30 0 females 1 free black male 24-36 slaves: 1 male under 10 1 male 10-24 1 male 24-36 1 male 36-55 2 females under 10 3 females 10-24 1 female 24-36 total: 18, 6 agriculture