Subject

Hugh Maskelyne Merriman was born on 16 July 1881 at 'Glenthorne', Putney Park Avenue, Putney, the youngest of the six children of Septimus Merriman (1836-1906) and Mary Agnes Merriman née Maskelyne (1847-1926). His father was an underwriter and manager of an insurance company.

His five siblings were: Beatrice Agnes Maskelyne Merriman ( 1873-1953), Edith Caroline Maskelyne Merriman (1874-1914), Mildred Maskelyne Merriman (1876-1876), George Frederick Maskelyne Merriman (1877-1917) and Eveline Maskelyne Merriman (1880-1927).

In the 1891 census he is shown as living at 'Glenthorne', Putney Park Avenue, with his four surviving siblings, a cook, a lady's maid and a parlour-maid. The 1901 census describes him as an insurance clerk residing at 'Whitcombe', Worcester Park, Surrey, with his parents and his sister Edith, together with a cook and a housemaid.

The London Gazette dated 18 June 1901 shows that he was appointed as a Second Lieutenant (Supernumerary) in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment.

On 8 June 1910 he married Vyvien Frances Wix (1887-1960) at St John the Baptist Church, Church Road, Worcester Park, Surrey, where in the marriage register he is recorded as an underwriter living at 'Whitcombe', Worcester Park, whilst his wife's address was recorded as 'Mayfield', Worcester Park. They had three children: Joan Vyvien Merriman (1911-2000), Phyllis Barbara Merriman (1913-2007) and Humphrey Hugh Merriman (1915-2003).

He described himself as a marine underwriter in the 1911 census living with his wife at 'Oak View', Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, together with a monthly nurse, a cook and a house parlour-maid. Electoral registers from 1912 to 1918 show him and his wife still listed there but when he was admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, by redemption, in the Company of Carpenters on 20 January 1920 he gave his address as 'Ashleigh', West Humble, Dorking, Surrey. Electoral registers show him and his wife listed there in 1921 but from 1922 to 1936 they show him and those in his family who were old enough to vote, at "Great Murrey's", on the west side of Agates Lane, Ashtead, Surrey.

Electoral registers for 1938 and 1939 show him, his wife and their two younger children, listed at 30 Agates Lane, Ashtead, Surrey. In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is described as a marine underwriter, residing at 30 Agates Lane with his wife and their son, together with a cook and a house parlour-maid.

He was the Warden of the Carpenters Company in 1956 and electoral registers in 1958 show him, his wife and their younger daughter listed at Ferncroft Cottage, Horsham Road, Dorking, Surrey. The registers for 1959 and 1960 show only him and his wife listed there. His wife died on 2 July 1960 and electoral registers from 1961 show only him at the address.

He died, aged 92 years, on 31 May 1974 at Ferncroft Cottage, Horsham Road, Holmwood, Dorking, RH5 4NG and was buried on 3 June 1974 in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene, Betchetts Green Road, Holmwood, Dorking, RH5 4JY. Probate was granted on 2 December 1974 and his estate was valued at £109,464.