Oh Canada, Our Home and Native Land ~ That Only Us Command

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 8 (MIGRATION)

When I first started thinking about the prompt migration I immediately thought about birds.

Maybe I was thinking about spring at the time. 

We live on the WEsT COAST, and our winters are very mild with little snow.

For something different this year February was very cold so the little bit of snow we got stayed quite a while.

In looking at the beautiful snowy mountains surrounding us I wondered if Spring would arrive anytime soon. 

Just before the cold snap our tulips & daffodils had emerged, and I was worried they might not survive even though we added a layer of wood chips to protect them.

I love snow and the sun that shined during our cold snap.

It was a welcome change from the soggy mess we usually get in February.

I took this photo last week:

I was struck by how beautiful the mountain looked with the snow, and the symbolism of the Canadian Flag. 

"O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." 1

We aren't really known as a patriotic country, but recently pride in all things Canadian has surged.

"Watch the moment singer Chantal Kreviazuk changed a lyric in 'O Canada' as a response to U.S. President Trump's 51st state comments at the 4 Nations final." 2

The lyric she changed was that only us command instead of in all of us command in response to the current political climate between the 2 countries.

"Tensions have risen between the neighbours and longtime allies over the past several weeks as Trump since being inaugurated has suggested multiple times that Canada become the 51st U.S. state, in relation to a trade dispute, and threatened a series of tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that will never happen.

The subject of Canada becoming the 51st state was brought up Thursday during a news conference with David McGuinty, Canada’s Public Safety Minister.

“Sounds like President Trump is worried about the outcome of the hockey game,” McGuinty said. “Canada is a sovereign and independent country. It has been for over 150 years and will remain so. This discussion of 51st state is a non-starter.” " 3

This was the first hockey game I have watched in a very long time. It was an amazing game. The players were well matched. 

Canada winning in overtime definitely felt like more than a hockey game.

Not for a minute have I ever wanted to live anywhere except Canada.

I take pride in being Canadian. 

My roots are pretty shallow on 3 of my family lines.

My maternal grandmother's paternal line has been in Canada since before Canada was Canada. 

Going back to my initial Bird & Spring thoughts about Migration I decided to share 11th great grandmother

Prudence Bird

Birth 1548 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death 22 DEC 1606 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England
11th great grandfather John Merrill

Birth 1545 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death ABT 1609 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Their son (10th great grandfather):

Nathaniell Merrill

Birth 1571 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death 1626 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England
10th great grandmother Mary Blacksoll

Birth 1 MAY 1574 • Wherstead, Essex, Suffolk, England

Death 29 APR 1624 • Belstead, Babergh District, Suffolk, England

Their son (9th great grandfather, migrated England to America)

Nathaniel Merrill

Birth 1 MAY 1601 • Wherstead, Babergh District, Suffolk, England

Death 16 MAR 1655 • Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America 
9th great grandmother Susanna Wilterton

Birth 1610 • Wherstead, Suffolk, England

Death 25 JAN 1672 • Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial America

Their son (8th great grandfather)

John Merrill (Deacon)

Birth 13 FEB 1636 • Lawford, Tendring District, Essex, England

Death 18 JUL 1712 • Hartford, Hartford Co, CT

8th great grandmother Sarah Margaret Watson

Birth 16 FEB 1636 • Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, British Colonial America

Death 23 NOV 1687 • Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America

Their son (7th great grandfather)

John Merrill

Birth 7 APR 1669 • Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 9 MAY 1748 • West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
7th great grandmother Sarah Marsh

Birth 16 FEB 1673 • Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 1748 • New Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Their son (6th great grandfather)

Benjamin Merrill

Birth 1 JUN 1716 • West Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 16 APR 1795 • West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

6th great grandmother Mary Webster

Birth 10 DEC 1720 • Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death 1762 • Hartford, Hartford, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Their son (5th great grandfather, migrated America to Canada)

Roger Merrill

Birth 23 AUG 1755 • Hartford County, Colony of Connecticut, British Colonial America

Death APRIL 1851 • Northumberland County, Ontario, Upper Canada

5th great grandmother Chloe Ann Merry

Birth 1773 • New York, British Colonial America

Death 1841 • Percy Township, Ontario, Upper Canada

Their son (4th great grandfather, my 1st Ancestor born in Canada)

Samuel Merrill

Birth 7 FEB 1801 • Northumberland County, Ontario, Upper Canada

Death 13 JAN 1866 • Cramahe Hill, Ontario, Upper Canada

4th great grandmother Phoebe Ann Lothrup

Birth 19 NOV 1807 • New York, USA

Death 18 AUG 1896 • Breckenridge, Wilkin, Minnesota, USA
After the death of her husband Phoebe migrated to the United States to live with son John.

Their daughter (3rd great grandmother)

Artemissa (Artimissia) Merrill

Birth 1 JUN 1842 • Cramahe township, Ontario, Upper Canada

Death 14 NOV 1936 • Cambellford, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada
3rd great grandfather Solomon Bayes

Birth 31 AUG 1845 • Campbellford, Ontario, Upper Canada

Death 16 SEP 1907 • Campbellford Village, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada

In looking at this family line one different decision, and I wouldn't be claiming Canada as my home.

It turns out my Canadian roots are shallow on all 4 of my lines, but my pride in being Canadian is true north strong & free!!!

Now back to that hockey game - all of Canada cheered

"GOTTA SEE IT: Connor McDavid Wins 4 Nations Face-Off For Canada In Overtime" 4

"When they played “O Canada” for the second time, there were no American fans left in the arena to boo.

Instead, the Canadian team stood at the blue line, arm in arm, player and coach, wearing their championship hats while the maple leaf flag was lowered behind the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy and the national anthem reverberated across the Americans' home ice. The fans who remained, many of them in their red Team Canada jerseys, sang along.

Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy." 5

Hockey really is Canada's game. 

“You've got 40 million Canadians sitting at home, and you feel the energy.  Anytime you have the chance to play for our country or get to get the flag on our chest, it's a special, special feeling. It's hockey. That's what we do, right? It brings us together.” ” 6

Our tulips & daffodils survived the unexpected February cold snap.

Tracking the migratory route to PRIDE in Canada!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  National anthem of Canada. Govrenment of Canada. Retrieved February 19th 2025 from 
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthem-canada.html

2 Watch the moment Chantal Kreviazuk changes 'O Canada' lyrics to protest Trump. CTV News. YouTube.  Retrieved February 19th 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryo4rWNrWAc

3 Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarks. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/singer-of-canadian-anthem-at-4-nations-face-off-changes-lyric-to-protest-trumps-51st-state-remarks/

4 GOTTA SEE IT: Connor McDavid Wins 4 Nations Face-Off For Canada In Overtime.  Updated February 21st 2025. SportsNet. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGPdb7uOfow

5 Trudeau takes swipe at Trump after Canada’s 4 Nations victory over the U.S.. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/connor-mcdavid-scores-in-ot-to-give-canada-3-2-win-over-us-in-4-nations-face-off-final/

6 Team Canada delivers win for its country: 'That’s the Canadian way'. Engels, Eric Engels. SportsNet. Originally published February 22nd 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/team-canada-delivers-win-for-their-country-thats-the-canadian-way/

Sources:

A contribution to the genealogy of the Merrill family in America : being a particular record of the ancestry of Edward Henry Merrill / by his son, Cyrus Strong Merrill. HathiTrust. State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Original from the University of Wisconsin,. Digitized by Google. Retrieved February 20th 2025 from
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89061977419&view=1up&seq=1

GOTTA SEE IT: Connor McDavid Wins 4 Nations Face-Off For Canada In Overtime  Updated February 21st 2025. SportsNet. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGPdb7uOfow

'A madness in the air.' Trump's threats unleash patriotic wave among Canadians. The Canadian Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 5th 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/a-madness-in-the-air-trumps-threats-unleash-patriotic-wave-among-canadians/

National anthem of Canada. Govrenment of Canada. Retrieved February 19th 2025 from 
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthem-canada.html

Singer of Canadian anthem at 4 Nations Face-Off changes lyric to protest Trump's 51st state remarks. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/singer-of-canadian-anthem-at-4-nations-face-off-changes-lyric-to-protest-trumps-51st-state-remarks/

Team Canada delivers win for its country: 'That’s the Canadian way'. Engels, Eric Engels. SportsNet. Originally published February 22nd 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/team-canada-delivers-win-for-their-country-thats-the-canadian-way/

Trudeau takes swipe at Trump after Canada’s 4 Nations victory over the U.S.. The Associated Press. CTV News. Originally published: February 20th 2025.  Updated February 21st 2025. Retrieved February 21st 2025 from
https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/connor-mcdavid-scores-in-ot-to-give-canada-3-2-win-over-us-in-4-nations-face-off-final/

Watch the moment Chantal Kreviazuk changes 'O Canada' lyrics to protest Trump. CTV News. YouTube.  Retrieved February 19th 2025 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryo4rWNrWAc

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

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