Benjamin Merrill

Captain Benjamin Merrill (c. 1731 – June 19, 1771) was an American military officer, gunsmith and planter who served in the militia of Rowan County, North Carolina.

At first, the colonial governments did little to intercede; but by early 1771, North Carolina Governor Tryon had had enough, now viewing the perpetrators as full fledged rebels.

At this time, Captain Merrill had also rallied a company of three hundred men, most of whom were Baptists,[1] from the Jersey Settlement (in what is now Davidson County).

He was within an easy day's march of the place of meeting (Battle of Alamance) with three hundred men under his command, when he heard of the defeat; and if he had got there in time the result would have been different.

He met the forces of the insurgents at Alamance Creek and defeated them, thereby bringing open opposition of the Regulators to an end.

[2] In a letter from Governor Tryon to Lord Hillsborough, Tryon asked for consideration to be given to the widow Merrill and her children:[7] "Benjamin Merrill a Captain of the militia, at the hour of his execution, left it in charge of the officers to solicit me to petition His Majesty to grant his plantation and estate to his wife and eight children.

His Majesty's indulgence to this request would, I am persuaded, be dutifully and affectionatley [sic] received by his unhappy widow and children."