Amongst my collection of old photographs are pictures of my grandparents when they were in high school in Franklin, New Hampshire.
Pup, officially known as Frederic Carroll Merrill, was born in Franklin on 10 December 1884, the fourth of eight children born to Gilbert Samuel Merrill, a Yankee who at the time, was a foreman at the Winnipesaukee Paper Mill, and his wife Maggie Carroll. Maggie was only 14 years old when she immigrated to Franklin in 1875. Some of Maggie’s aunts, uncles, and cousins had already arrived in Franklin. This included the Cunningham, Cushing, and Sullivan families of Franklin. Maggie's parents and siblings started arriving in Franklin years later, but not long after Fred's birth. I am sure that they were not too happy about Maggie marrying a non-Catholic.
Mary Elizabeth Fitzgerald, my grandmother, was born on 20 September 1886, the second of seven children born to James E. Fitzgerald and Jenny McCormick. Jim and Jenny had a farm in Andover on the shores of Bradley Lake. [Years later, their farm morphed into Camp Marlyn, then into the Owl's Nest, and then into Bluewater Farm.] Mary worked in Franklin for the librarian in exchange for room and board, enabling her to go to high school. And there she met Fred. Fred and Mary became high school sweethearts, marrying on the Fitzgerald's farm on 31 October 1906. It wasn't until I was writing this post that I realized that my grandparents were married on Halloween. Who does that?
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| Fred and Mary played on the basketball teams for Franklin High School [Fred is the rightmost young man in the middle row, and Mary is the leftmost young woman in the front row.] |
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| Franklin High School, Class of 1902 [Fred is the rightmost person in the middle row.] |
Pup, officially known as Frederic Carroll Merrill, was born in Franklin on 10 December 1884, the fourth of eight children born to Gilbert Samuel Merrill, a Yankee who at the time, was a foreman at the Winnipesaukee Paper Mill, and his wife Maggie Carroll. Maggie was only 14 years old when she immigrated to Franklin in 1875. Some of Maggie’s aunts, uncles, and cousins had already arrived in Franklin. This included the Cunningham, Cushing, and Sullivan families of Franklin. Maggie's parents and siblings started arriving in Franklin years later, but not long after Fred's birth. I am sure that they were not too happy about Maggie marrying a non-Catholic.
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| Franklin High School Class of 1905 [Mary is sitting below the leftmost young man.] |
Mary Elizabeth Fitzgerald, my grandmother, was born on 20 September 1886, the second of seven children born to James E. Fitzgerald and Jenny McCormick. Jim and Jenny had a farm in Andover on the shores of Bradley Lake. [Years later, their farm morphed into Camp Marlyn, then into the Owl's Nest, and then into Bluewater Farm.] Mary worked in Franklin for the librarian in exchange for room and board, enabling her to go to high school. And there she met Fred. Fred and Mary became high school sweethearts, marrying on the Fitzgerald's farm on 31 October 1906. It wasn't until I was writing this post that I realized that my grandparents were married on Halloween. Who does that?
Thanks to my cousin, Brian Clogston, I have a transcript of Fred and Mary's wedding announcement which appeared in The Journal Transcript on Friday, November 1, 1906:
"Fred Merrill of this City and Miss Mary Elizabeth Fitzgerald of Andover were united in marriage yesterday forenoon. The ceremony was performed by Reverend Fr. Lennon of Enfield and took place at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Fitzgerald. The bride was attended by Miss Mamie Lorden of Andover and the best man was Edward Clark of Franklin. About 40 relatives and friends were present including Harry E. Merrill and Charles Merrill, brothers of the groom, Mrs. Barron Shirley, Mrs. W. F. Howard Newton and Miss Aglea Vallier of this City. Both the bride and groom are graduates of the Franklin High School, Mr. Merrill being a member of the Class of 1902 and his bride a member of 1905. They were both active in basketball during their course, he being manager of the boys' team and Mrs. Merrill manager of the girls' team. Mr. Merrill is employed in the office of Sulloway Mills. After a wedding trip to Boston and vicinity they will reside in Franklin, making their home for the present at Mr. Merrill's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Merrill."
After their marriage, Mary and Fred lived in Franklin for nine years. They had three children, and Fred worked as a clerk. In 1915, Fred was appointed Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service. The family moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire where Fred started his new job. Their fourth and last child was born in Portsmouth.
In 1918, Mary became a victim of the Spanish Influenza, whose ferocity was a hideous byproduct of World War I.
Fred relocated his family to Nashua in 1924. In 1927, he moved the family again, this time to Brooklyn, New York. Fred's zest for life died with his wife. He continued to grieve the loss of Mary until his own death in 1965.
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| Fred and Mary with their children, c. 1918 |
After their marriage, Mary and Fred lived in Franklin for nine years. They had three children, and Fred worked as a clerk. In 1915, Fred was appointed Deputy Collector for the Internal Revenue Service. The family moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire where Fred started his new job. Their fourth and last child was born in Portsmouth.
In 1918, Mary became a victim of the Spanish Influenza, whose ferocity was a hideous byproduct of World War I.
Fred relocated his family to Nashua in 1924. In 1927, he moved the family again, this time to Brooklyn, New York. Fred's zest for life died with his wife. He continued to grieve the loss of Mary until his own death in 1965.
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