In late 1782 or early 1783 British soldiers raided the Merrill farm. John and his older brother Benjamin were not home at the time; they were out hunting nearby. The British plundered the farm, helping themselves to anything they wanted. John’s mother, Mary, told them exactly what she thought of them. For this, the British soldiers split the old woman’s tongue. They then picked up John’s father, William, and carried the old man off.
As John and Benjamin returned from hunting, they saw the soldiers’ lantern and heard their father’s voice. They were afraid to fire on the British for fear they might hit their father. He was never seen again and was presumed killed by the soldiers.
Source:
Days gone by...in Fairview
by Bruce Whitaker
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