Farrand F. Merrill (October 24, 1814 – May 2, 1859) was a Vermont attorney and Whig politician who served as Secretary of State of Vermont and in other offices.

Biography

Farrand Fassett Merrill was born in Montpelier, Vermont on October 24, 1814. His mother was Clara Fassett Merrill, and his father

Timothy Merrill Timothy Merrill (March 16, 1781 – July 27, 1836) was an American lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of State of Vermont. Biography Timothy Merrill was born in Farmington, Connecticut on March 16, 1781, the son of James Merrill and Je ...

served as Secretary of State from 1831 to 1836. Farrand Merrill studied law and worked as his father's deputy while

was Clerk of the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives ar ...

and Secretary of State. He was admitted to the bar in 1836, and practiced in Montpelier. From 1838 to 1849 he served as Clerk of the Vermont House. From 1849 to 1853, he was Vermont's Secretary of State. In 1847, he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the University of Vermont. From 1854 to 1856, Merrill was

state's attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a loc ...

of Washington County. In 1856 and 1857 he served as a member of the Vermont House. Among the prospective attorneys who studied under Merrill was Charles Herbert Joyce, who attained admission to the bar in 1852, and succeeded Merrill as state's attorney. Merrill died at his office in Montpelier on May 2, 1859. He had been ill at home during the days leading up to his death, but decided on May 2 to keep an appointment to discuss forming a law partnership with

Whitman G. Ferrin Whitman G. Ferrin (July 9, 1818 – June 1, 1896) was a Vermont attorney and politician who served as State Auditor. Biography Whitman G. Ferrin was born in Croydon, New Hampshire on July 9, 1818. He was raised in Morrisville and Montpelie ...

. He began to suffer chest pains at his office, and a doctor was summoned. Shortly afterwards, Merrill died, probably from the effects of a stroke. Merrill was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier. His name sometimes appears in records as "Ferrand".

Family

In 1844, Merrill married Eliza Maria Wright of Montpelier. They were the parents of three children: Chester W., Charlotte H., and Mary A. Merrill. Farrand F. Merrill was the nephew of

Orsamus Cook Merrill Orsamus Cook Merrill (June 18, 1775April 12, 1865) was a U.S. Representative from Vermont. Early life Merrill was born in Farmington in the Connecticut Colony to James and Jerusha Seymour Merrill. He completed his preparatory studies in Farmingt ...

, who served as a member of Congress from Vermont.

References

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* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Merrill, Farrand F. 1814 births 1859 deaths People from Montpelier, Vermont Vermont lawyers Vermont Whigs Members of the Vermont House of Representatives Secretaries of state of Vermont State's attorneys in Vermont Burials at Green Mount Cemetery (Montpelier, Vermont) 19th-century American lawyers