I am new to this, so hope I am doing it right. While I have no family connection to Reverend Richard James Merrin and his Wife Sophia White Spunner, the names were mentioned by my late Grandmother, Bridget Leonard who was their Servant when Reverend Merrin was Rector of Ballivor, County Meath. The 1911 Census contains the names of the family, and then my Grandmother. Would there have been a photograph of Rev. Richard and Sophia? I would love to see it, or any photos of them and / or their children. I do not know how long my Grandmother worked there, I do know she worked there when she married Michael Glennon who was Groom at the local Parkstown House, Ballivor. So they obviously met while she worked for the Merrins. In fact the local Parish Priest objected to her working for "Protestants" but she said that if he paid her the same wages as Reverend Merrin, that she would gladly work for him!! I have no photograph of my Grandmother as a young Lady, but although its a long shot, strange things can happen in Genealogy and maybe she is on a photograph with the Merrins, who knows!! Thank you for taking the time to read this. Kindest Regards, Sheila Shanley.
