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Hi Chistine
 Yes, i have dyslexia and so does my son. I was labeled backwards at school, but things moved on and my son was diagnosed early and had help, he also has dyspraxia. I was labeled clumsy. I have four children, three girls and a boy. They all have short term memory problems but are intelligent. My son was labeled disruptive at school before he was diagnosed, he also had frontal lobe  epilepsy but grew out of it. let be know if i can be of help in your research. If you go to rugby advertiser and search FAMILY RESEACH FINDS TRAGIC STORY, you can read what happened to Merrick.
                                          Regards Julie

Hi christine,  Arebella sewell was one of four childen. Lois, John and sarah, all born in little kimble bucks. There father was Edward and mother rebeca. Edward was a farm labourer, and rebeca was a turnpike gate keeper. Lois sewell was john meads second wife. They had twelve children. Bye the way Thomas Beecham was seventy and Elizebeth was twenty two went they had an afair, just after he got rid of his third wife. There was another illiegitmate child born to Thomas, a girl violet roberts born when Thomas was 80 years old. I have spoken to emma beecham Thomas beechams great great grandfather . She put me on to a book written by one of old toms great grandaughers, A guinea a box by anne francis. It is all about the beecham family, with a lot of family photos. Thomas was a terrible womaniser, emma new of the illiegitmate children, she said Thomas took care of them, he liked children. Is it possible there could be an old picture of merrick as a child with any of the bates family.
                                                             Regards julie

Hi christine, We are a very nautical family. Merrick means strong ruler of the sea. Is there any info you could share with me. Are the bates family aware of Merricks existence.
                                          Regards Julie

Hi,
No. Idon't know those details. However, it seems my grandfather's grandparents were William and Arabella Bates of Fenny Sratford if that helps. They lived on a farm there called Yard's End. I think this William was born at Drayton Parslow. Arabella's maiden name may have been Mead because they also brought up Arabella's nephew called Merrick Mead who was possibly the illigitimate son of one of the Beecham family from Mursley (pill maker and also father of Sir Thomas Beecham). Mother was a maid at the Beecham family residence. The child was well provided for by somebody at any rate - more than could be accounted for by a servant's wages.

Thanks,

Christine Thompson.