My grandfather Dexter Merrihew's grandmother was Melissa Watson. The marriage record for Dexter's father Thomas shows that she was born in Grand Isle, Vermont, abt. 1824. Thomas was born in Chazy, Clinton County, NY in 1846. That is all that I know for certain. Census records show that a Zuriel Watson lived in Grand Isle, VT in 1820. Zuriel Watson was listed in Chazy, NY in 1830. This appears to make Zuriel a possibility for being Melissa's father. Further information on this Zuriel Watson has provided nothing. However, there was a Zuriel Watson that married Phoebe Granger on August 21, 1760. The marriage is listed in records for both Stockbridge and Sheffield, MA, both being located in Berkshire County. This Zuriel died January 6, 1776, while serving as a soldier during the American Revolution. The rarity of the name Zuriel, however certainly suggests a connection. Another clue here is that my grandfather Dexter claimed that he was part American Indian. His facial features certainly gave credence to this claim. None of the other family lines has revealed an Indian heritage. Stockbridge, MA was the site of an Indian mission and home of the "Stockbridge Indians" which raises the possibility that a child of Zuriel and Phoebe had a son that married an Indian woman. The Zuriel Watson that married in 1760 was very likely the son of Robert Watson and Mehitable Dexter. To my knowledge a birth record has not been found for this Zuriel, however Mehitable Dexter had a brother named Zuriel, and her grandfather was named Zuriel Hall. Once again the name Zuriel suggests a connection. Now the name Dexter (Mehitable's maiden name) also enters the picture. As I stated above, my grandfather's first name was Dexter. Recently I came across a new piece of information that tends to tie things together. I had not been able to find any records for children of Zuriel and Phoebe until a probate record was found that reads; Zurial Watson Stock-ch Dexter G <1772 .David Wainright GTB. Chosen by D apt gddn 7/2/1786. The assumed meaning is that David Wainright of nearby Great Barrington, MA was chosen as guardian by Dexter Watson on July 2, 1786. This corresponds to the information that Zuriel died in 1776 and suggests that Phoebe either died sometime around 1786 or was unable to care for her son. Further research shows that David Wainright was the husband of a Ruby Younglove. No birth record has been found that ties Phoebe Granger to the Granger family that was located in Sheffield, MA, and descended from Lancelot Granger, the patriarch of the Granger family in America. However, George Granger, son of Lancelot and father of several Granger children that lived in Sheffield, MA was the husband of Lydia Younglove. This would suggest a family tie of Dexter Watson to Ruby Younglove through Dexter's mother. My theory is that Dexter G. Watson was the father of the Zuriel Watson that resided in Grand Isle, VT and later Chazy, NY and that Dexter could have married an Indian woman from the nearby Stockbridge tribe. Melissa Watson passed down the name of her grandfather Dexter to a son Dexter Merrihew for whom my grandfather Dexter was named. There are a lot of assumptions here as documented proof is scarce. There is, however, a lot of information that seems to make sense. Any available information would be greatly appreciated. Harry Merrihew mactavishll@comcast.net