RELICS PRESENTED TO COLLEGE

Professor John Merrill Poor has presented to the College for safe keeping among its other memorials, a Greek Testament and a medal of the Society of Social Friends both at one time the property of John Merrill of the class of 1800, Dartmouth College, who however died in .Hanover, August 21, 1797. Professor Poor is a grand nephew of the original owner of these articles and submits the following facts regarding John Merrill: He prepared for Dartmouth at 'Atkinson Academy and entered college in 1796 with a view to studying for the ministry. According to family tradition he died during his first year in college from an attack of "cholera" which appears really to have been a severe case of dysentery, a wave of which seems to have attacked the community at this time. He is buried in the Hanover cemetery directly west of the grave of the elder Wheelock.

The Testament seems to have been purchased by Merrill just previous to his entering Dartmouth, since his autograph contained therein was dated Atkinson, April, 1796. The badge of the Society of Social Friends has his initials, J. M.