Do any of these names match your "Merritts"? In the 1830 Sevier County census is a William Merritt family. In the 1840 Sevier County census are two William Merritt families. William T. Merritt[1813-1903] in 1850 Sevier County Census. William T.[37] is listed with his household: Margaret[27], Minton[12], Mary[11], Elisabeth[9], Sarah[7], Amanda[6] William[2], and William[96]. The William[96] is listed as birth place, New Jersey. All the rest born in Tennessee. There is also a neighbor listed, Anna Merrit[80],birthplace-Ireland. There is also oral history that William T. served during the Indian Removal and that his brother married a Cherokee girl. I do not know the brother's name or where he settled. The only other Merritt in the unit with William is Alexander Merritt. Listed in the 1860 Sevier County census is William T. Merritt [45], and household; Elizabeth [40], Lafayette [11], Samuel [9], John [7], Esther [?], Martha [4], Julia [4], Malinda [2] James [31/2] Listed in the 1870 census is William T. Merritt[55], Elizabeth L.[45], Samuel[19], John A.[16], Hester A.[17], Julia A.[13], Martha A.[13], Matilda A.[11], James[10], and Eliza{4]. Listed in the 1880 Sevier County census is William T. Merritt's son, John Merritt. John A.[27], Elizabeth[28], Mary A.[9], Samuel H.[5], George W.[3], and William L.[11/2]. William T. Merritt's son, William L., had a son, Frank Lafayette Merritt, who is my grandfather.