JOHN MERRITT

John Merritt was convicted as John Marrott, but was also recorded as Marriot and Merriot. He appeared at the Gloucester Lent Assizes on 24 March 1784, charged with breaking and entering and stealing four pieces of printed cotton to the value of five pounds, two pieces of printed linen to the value of 40 shillings and one cotton handkerchief to the value of two shillings. For this offence he was sentenced to be hanged, but was reprieved and given seven years transportation. He came to Australia on Alexander.  

On 31 March 1791, he was sentenced to receive 25 lashes for selling a pair of shoes to Anthony Rope, alleged to have been stolen from John Beasley. The theft was never proven.  

 On 23 December 1792, he married Ann Taylor of Middlesex, who had been sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing and had arrived on Mary Ann in July 1791. 

On 8 January 1794, he was granted 50 acres in the district of Prospect. From this time he prospered, becoming one of the Colony's more successful emancipist farmers. He acquired more land, and with hired help and convicts to assist in cultivation, built up his livestock, owning horses, pigs, cattle and a flock of 230 sheep. In 1806, he and his wife were living on 105 acres at Caddai on the Hawkesbury. They had no children.  
John Merritt died on 7 May 1812, aged 69 years, and was buried at St Matthew's, Windsor.