Nicholas Merryman Parrish was born August 8, 1808, in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Johnson Parrish. On August 20, 1835, in Baltimore, he married Catharine Ann Horton, daughter of James Henry and Elizabeth Diffenderffer Horton. They were the parents of 9 children: William James (died young), Elizabeth Horton, Emma Katherine, Henry Maynard, Eugene Walter, Edgar Merryman, James Horton, Gertrude Horton and Clara Eliza Parrish. There was possibly a tenth child, Smith Parrish, as evidenced by the 1860 census. If he was indeed a son, he passed away by 1870. After their marriage, Nicholas and Catharine moved from Baltimore to Frederick County, Maryland, first settling in Jefferson, and then later moving to Mechanicstown, which is now Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland. Nicholas passed away April 22, 1887, in Thurmont, and was buried on the 25th in Weller's Church Cemetery there.


Marriage notice of Nicholas M. Parrish and Catharine A. Horton from the Baltimore American Newspaper of Saturday, August 22, 1835:

"Married on Thursday evening last by the Rev. Wm. Hamilton, Nicholas Merryman Parrish, to Miss Catharine Ann Horton, eldest daughter of Capt. James Horton of this city."


From the Family Bible of Nicholas Merryman & Catharine Ann (Horton) Parrish:

29 Aug, 1838 Elizabeth Horton Parrish
17 Sep, 1840 Emma Catherine Parrish
02 Jan, 1842 Henry Maynard Parrish
20 Oct, 1844 Eugene Walter Parrish
09 Jan, 1847 Edgar Meryman Parrish
27 May, 1849 James Horton Parrish
25 Aug, 1853 Gertrude Horton Parrish
09 Feb, 1855 Clara Eliza Parrish


Death notice for Nicholas M. Parrish from the Catoctin Clarion Newspaper, Thurmont, Maryland, April, 1887:

"Near this place on the 22nd inst, Mr. Nicholas Merryman Parrish aged 78 years, 8 months, and 14 days."


Obituary for Nicholas M. Parrish from the Catoctin Clarion Newspaper, Thurmont, Maryland, April, 1887:

"DEATH OF N. M. PARRISH--On Friday last at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. John Rouzer, our aged and esteemed citizen, Mr. Nicholas M. Parrish died after an illness of about two months, having nearly completed a four score years span of life. About thirteen months ago his wife died, having been in delicate health for some years. The children of the deceased now living are, Mrs. John Rouzer, Mrs. A. Slick, and Mrs. J. H. Freeze of this place; Mrs. Wm. A. Grimes of Westminster, Mr. Eugene Parrish of Galveston, Texas, Mr. Henry M. Parrish of Springfield, Ohio, and Mr. E. M. Parrish of Cincinnati, Ohio. The funeral took place on Monday, the services were held in the Trinity Reformed Church and the remains were interred in the Hill Cemetery. The deceased was 78 years, 8 months and 14 days old."