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Pliny Merrick

Pliny T. Merrick (August 2, 1794 – January 31, 1867) was an American attorney and politician from Massachusetts. He served as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Pliny Merrick
Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
In office
1853–1864
Appointed byJohn H. Clifford
Preceded byCaleb Cushing
Succeeded byTheron Metcalf
Personal details
Born(1794-08-02)August 2, 1794
Brookfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJanuary 31, 1867(1867-01-31) (aged 72)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyAnti-Masonic Party
Whig Party
SpouseRebecca Thomas Merrick
Parent(s)Pliny Merrick
Ruth (Cutler) Merrick
Alma materHarvard Law School
ProfessionAttorney
Politician

Early life edit

Merrick was born in Brookfield, Massachusetts, the son of Honorable Pliny Merrick and Ruth (Cutler) Merrick.[1][2] He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1814, and was admitted to the Worcester bar in 1817. He began the practice of law in Worcester, before moving to Charlton, Swansea and Taunton to practice law. In June, 1824, he returned to Worcester and served as Worcester County's district attorney from 1824 to 1843. In 1826, Merrick was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.[3]

Judicial career edit

In 1844 he was Judge of the Municipal Court, and in 1843 he was named a judge of the Massachusetts Courts of Common Pleas. He resigned this appointment in 1848, and was reappointed in 1851.

From 1849 to 1850, he was senior defense counsel (co-counsel with Edward Dexter Sohier) in the trial of Harvard University Professor John White Webster, accused of murdering Harvard patron Dr. George Parkman. The prosecutors for the trial were John H. Clifford, then Massachusetts Attorney-General and the prosecutor of all capital murder cases, and George Bemis, Esq, and independent attorney. In 1853, Merrick was promoted to the bench of the Supreme Judicial Court by the same John H. Clifford, now Governor of Massachusetts. Merrick received the degree of LL.D. from Harvard in 1853. He served on the bench of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court until 1864.[1][4]

He was a representative of Worcester County in both branches of the state legislature. He was an Overseer of Harvard University from 1852 to 1856. He also served for two years as president of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad. In 1855 Merrick moved to Boston and lived there until his death in 1867.[1][4]

John White Webster Trial edit

From 1849 to 1850 Merrick was senior defense counsel in the Parkman-Webster murder case. The gruesome murder drew national attention and although Merrick lost the case, he received much notoriety for the case.

The Boston Globe reported Merrick's response, that upon the verdict, "In a moment or two, his senior counsel, Judge Merrick, to the dock, and addressed a few words to the prisoner, to which, so far as we could judge, he replied.— Judge Merrick was deeply affected, and so agitated that he could hardly stand."[5]

Anti-Masonic Movement edit

Merrick was an active promoter of the Anti-Masonic Party. The party developed in the early nineteenth century, opposing political leaders who were members of secretive Masonic brotherhoods. Masonic members held political views on the role of the government and how the country should expand. The Anti-Masonic Party opposed those views as moving away from the original founding fathers intent. Merrick renounced Free Masonry in 1832.[6] The party was the precursor to the Whig Party.[7]

Death edit

Merrick died of paralysis in Boston on January 31, 1867, in his 73rd year. His obituary in the New York Times (2/4/1867) stated: "In 1864 an attack of paralysis obliged him to resign his seat on the Bench. His mind, however, had remained unclouded until a second and fatal attack..."[8] He bequeathed a fund for the establishment of schools of high grade in Worcester.

Family life edit

On May 23, 1827, Merrick married Rebecca Thomas, daughter of Isaiah Thomas, Jr. of Worcester; she died June 17, 1859. They had no children.[4]

His niece Alice Miller Rice married U.S. Congressman William W. Rice.[9][10]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c [Merrick, George B. Genealogy of the Merrick-Mirick-Myrick Family 1636 - 1902, Tracy, Gibbs & Company, Madison, Wis.1902. pg 301.]
  2. ^ Tracy, Gibbs & Company (1902). Genealogy of the Merrick-Mirick-Myrick Family of Massachusetts, 1636-1902. Tracy, Gibbs & Company. p. 301.
  3. ^ American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  4. ^ a b c [ History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Comprehensive History of the County from its First Settlement to the Present Time, C. F. Jewett and Company, Boston, 1879, Volume II, Chapter XII, pgs 633-4.]
  5. ^ [The Trial of Prof. John W. Webster Indicted for the Murder of Dr. George Parkman, Reported for the Boston Journal, Redding & Company, Boston, MA 1850, pg.55.]
  6. ^ [Merrick, Pliny T. Renunciation of Free Masonry, Worcester, MA 1871.]
  7. ^ [Holt, Michael F. "The Antimasonic and Know Nothing Parties," in History of U.S. Political Parties, ed. Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (1999), p. 231.]
  8. ^ [Obituary, New York Times, February 4, 1867.]
  9. ^ Merrick, George B. Genealogy of the Merrick-Mirick-Myrick Family 1636-1902. Madison, WI: Tracy, Gibbs & Co.,1902, p. 283.]
  10. ^ Alice Miller Rice, privately printed commemorative pamphlet, ca. 1900.

Further reading edit

  • "A Dictionary of Freemasonry" by Robert Macoy, published by Mercy Books, NY. 2000.
  • "The Disappearance of Dr. Parkman" by Judge Pliny T. Merrick, published by Robert Sullivan, Little, Brown and Company, Boston 1971.

External links edit

  • History and Purpose of the Freemasons and other Secret Societies


Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
1853-1864
Succeeded by

pliny, merrick, pliny, merrick, august, 1794, january, 1867, american, attorney, politician, from, massachusetts, served, associate, justice, massachusetts, supreme, judicial, court, associate, justice, massachusetts, supreme, judicial, courtin, office, 1853, . Pliny T Merrick August 2 1794 January 31 1867 was an American attorney and politician from Massachusetts He served as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Pliny MerrickAssociate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial CourtIn office 1853 1864Appointed byJohn H CliffordPreceded byCaleb CushingSucceeded byTheron MetcalfPersonal detailsBorn 1794 08 02 August 2 1794Brookfield Massachusetts U S DiedJanuary 31 1867 1867 01 31 aged 72 Boston Massachusetts U S Political partyAnti Masonic PartyWhig PartySpouseRebecca Thomas MerrickParent s Pliny MerrickRuth Cutler MerrickAlma materHarvard Law SchoolProfessionAttorneyPolitician Contents 1 Early life 2 Judicial career 3 John White Webster Trial 4 Anti Masonic Movement 5 Death 6 Family life 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksEarly life editMerrick was born in Brookfield Massachusetts the son of Honorable Pliny Merrick and Ruth Cutler Merrick 1 2 He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1814 and was admitted to the Worcester bar in 1817 He began the practice of law in Worcester before moving to Charlton Swansea and Taunton to practice law In June 1824 he returned to Worcester and served as Worcester County s district attorney from 1824 to 1843 In 1826 Merrick was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society 3 Judicial career editIn 1844 he was Judge of the Municipal Court and in 1843 he was named a judge of the Massachusetts Courts of Common Pleas He resigned this appointment in 1848 and was reappointed in 1851 From 1849 to 1850 he was senior defense counsel co counsel with Edward Dexter Sohier in the trial of Harvard University Professor John White Webster accused of murdering Harvard patron Dr George Parkman The prosecutors for the trial were John H Clifford then Massachusetts Attorney General and the prosecutor of all capital murder cases and George Bemis Esq and independent attorney In 1853 Merrick was promoted to the bench of the Supreme Judicial Court by the same John H Clifford now Governor of Massachusetts Merrick received the degree of LL D from Harvard in 1853 He served on the bench of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court until 1864 1 4 He was a representative of Worcester County in both branches of the state legislature He was an Overseer of Harvard University from 1852 to 1856 He also served for two years as president of the Worcester and Nashua Railroad In 1855 Merrick moved to Boston and lived there until his death in 1867 1 4 John White Webster Trial editFrom 1849 to 1850 Merrick was senior defense counsel in the Parkman Webster murder case The gruesome murder drew national attention and although Merrick lost the case he received much notoriety for the case The Boston Globe reported Merrick s response that upon the verdict In a moment or two his senior counsel Judge Merrick to the dock and addressed a few words to the prisoner to which so far as we could judge he replied Judge Merrick was deeply affected and so agitated that he could hardly stand 5 Anti Masonic Movement editMerrick was an active promoter of the Anti Masonic Party The party developed in the early nineteenth century opposing political leaders who were members of secretive Masonic brotherhoods Masonic members held political views on the role of the government and how the country should expand The Anti Masonic Party opposed those views as moving away from the original founding fathers intent Merrick renounced Free Masonry in 1832 6 The party was the precursor to the Whig Party 7 Death editMerrick died of paralysis in Boston on January 31 1867 in his 73rd year His obituary in the New York Times 2 4 1867 stated In 1864 an attack of paralysis obliged him to resign his seat on the Bench His mind however had remained unclouded until a second and fatal attack 8 He bequeathed a fund for the establishment of schools of high grade in Worcester Family life editOn May 23 1827 Merrick married Rebecca Thomas daughter of Isaiah Thomas Jr of Worcester she died June 17 1859 They had no children 4 His niece Alice Miller Rice married U S Congressman William W Rice 9 10 References edit a b c Merrick George B Genealogy of the Merrick Mirick Myrick Family 1636 1902 Tracy Gibbs amp Company Madison Wis 1902 pg 301 Tracy Gibbs amp Company 1902 Genealogy of the Merrick Mirick Myrick Family of Massachusetts 1636 1902 Tracy Gibbs amp Company p 301 American Antiquarian Society Members Directory a b c History of Worcester County Massachusetts Comprehensive History of the County from its First Settlement to the Present Time C F Jewett and Company Boston 1879 Volume II Chapter XII pgs 633 4 The Trial of Prof John W Webster Indicted for the Murder of Dr George Parkman Reported for the Boston Journal Redding amp Company Boston MA 1850 pg 55 Merrick Pliny T Renunciation of Free Masonry Worcester MA 1871 Holt Michael F The Antimasonic and Know Nothing Parties in History of U S Political Parties ed Arthur M Schlesinger Jr 1999 p 231 Obituary New York Times February 4 1867 Merrick George B Genealogy of the Merrick Mirick Myrick Family 1636 1902 Madison WI Tracy Gibbs amp Co 1902 p 283 Alice Miller Rice privately printed commemorative pamphlet ca 1900 Further reading edit A Dictionary of Freemasonry by Robert Macoy published by Mercy Books NY 2000 The Disappearance of Dr Parkman by Judge Pliny T Merrick published by Robert Sullivan Little Brown and Company Boston 1971 External links editHistory and Purpose of the Freemasons and other Secret Societies Legal officesPreceded byCaleb Cushing Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court1853 1864 Succeeded byHorace Gray Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pliny Merrick amp oldid 1151324281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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