Hi List. I have a puzzling & sad death certificate. Maybe someone out there who hasn't stared at it for weeks can help me make some sense of it! On the death certificate for Catharine W VAN RIPER, who died Dec 28, 1906, the informant's name is: W.W. Fairlamb & Sons "for Frank MERRILL" 512 Market St. Chester It's marked like that with quotes on the certificate. Question #1 Does anyone know a Frank Merrill from that timeframe and if so, was he a member of the Fairlamb establishment? Catharine was living with her daughter Valaria Worrilow, she being the widow of William Worrilow, in Trainier. Seems like her daughter would be the informant. Question #2 The physician's signature is not legible. Does anyone have the signature of a doctor: J. P _ _ _ _ _ _, M.D Chester There are six other letters after the "P". Any help or speculation would be appreciated! By the way, what is sad about the certificate is how little anyone knew about this woman. She was 75 years old and the words UNKNOWN are filled in for both parents names and their places of birth. Also for her birthday! thanks!!! Tina Culbertson

Tina, Check out www.oldchesterpa.com for info. It's a very good web site mostly used by people to reminisce but there is some good history and also pictures there. I have seen genealogists leave messages on the "guest book/chat room" but i don't think they ever get any answers. I hope this helps. Mary Ann Barrow Villanova, Pa. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Culbertson, Tina" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2003 3:33 PM Subject: Frank Merrill and 2 questions > Hi List. I have a puzzling & sad death certificate. Maybe > someone out there who hasn't stared at it for weeks can help > me make some sense of it! > > On the death certificate for Catharine W VAN RIPER, > who died Dec 28, 1906, the informant's name is: > > W.W. Fairlamb & Sons "for Frank MERRILL" > 512 Market St. Chester > > It's marked like that with quotes on the certificate. > > Question #1 Does anyone know a Frank Merrill > from that timeframe and if so, was he a member > of the Fairlamb establishment? > Catharine was living with her daughter Valaria Worrilow, > she being the widow of William Worrilow, in Trainier. > > Seems like her daughter would be the informant. > > Question #2 The physician's signature is not legible. > Does anyone have the signature of a doctor: > > J. P _ _ _ _ _ _, M.D > Chester > > There are six other letters after the "P". > > Any help or speculation would be appreciated! > > By the way, what is sad about the certificate is how little > anyone knew about this woman. She was 75 years old > and the words UNKNOWN are filled in for both parents > names and their places of birth. Also for her birthday! > > thanks!!! > > Tina Culbertson > > > >

Tina, From the OldChesterPa web site listing undertakers: Funeral Home Owner Current Address History Fairlamb N. Walter Fairlamb No 512 Market St. Chester, PA (1929) One of the two original "undertakers" in the city of Chester, this business was founded in 1844 by cabinet-maker N. Walter Fairlamb. Following his own death, the business was carried on by successive generations of Fairlambs until it was sold to Ray F. Imschweiler in 1932 i did a search for Frank Merrill but came up blank. Hope this is helpful. Mary Ann Barrow Villanova, Pa.