Merritt Wooldridge

Posted 12Apr18, by Marvin Loyd Welborn, 3rd Great Grandson of Merritt WOOLDRIDGE.

Merritt WOOLDRIDGE was born abt 1832 in Woodford Co., Kentucky, and he died on 27 Nov 1876 in Pope Co., Illinois.

Merritt WOOLDRIDGE married America B. Johnson, Dec 13, 1857. Minister: I.A.Ramer. Page 494, Golconda Court House. Chesley Wooldridge family came from Chesterfield Co. VA. to Woodford Co., KY in 1820. Chesley brought his wife and two sons, Edward and Green. His wife, Elizabeth Johnson Wooldridge, died in cir. 1821, and Chesley remarried Agnes LaFrance (or LaForce) in 1822. They had one son together: Merritt Wooldridge, who was born in 1832.

In the early 1840's, the three sons came down the Ohio River on a flat-boat loaded with grain, and landed at Smithland, KY. Edward established his home on the land between Smithland and the mouth of the Cumberland river, near Rurna, KY. There he soon became a prosperous land owner and later worked as a captain on a steamboat which plied the Ohio River. Green Wooldridge crossed the Ohio River and established him home in Pope Co., IL. near Hamletsburg, IL. He married and had two daughters, but he moved to KY and almost all trace of him was lost. When Edward Wooldridge went to work on the steamboat, he left his wife in charge of the plantation, slaves, and his small half-brother, Merritt. But Merritt stole away and became a stowaway on a steamboat other than that which Edward worked. The Captain of this boat knew Edward, but Merritt persuaded the Captain to conceal his whereabouts, and worked on the steamboat in menial positions. (There is more...see file) Proof of Death.

• Reference: MyHeritage Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 10 2018, 15:05:17 UTC

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• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 11 2018, 15:51:49 UTC

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• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: May 11 2022, 12:49:51 UTC