Merriwick Family

The Merriwick family is an ancient family rooted in Middleton. The women in the family are often, correctly, labeled as witches. They can be either admired or shunned for their unique gifts.

History

The Merriwick family came from a farm in England, where three purple bags were filled with soil from the farm.

In the 1700s, Meredith Merriwick and her husband Nathaniel moved to Middleton, a small town that was full of promise. They founded the town starting with the charter, and built a strong community there. They built their family house, Grey House, where she became pregnant with their first daughter, Fortune. An elderly traveler was very ill and had been shunned by the rest of the town, though Meredith took her into Grey House and showed her a kindness that she had never felt before. As the woman lay dying, Meredith clutched her hand and found that she was holding an two amulets. However, as they held hands, the woman transferred her magical gifts to Meredith. Henceforth, Meredith Merriwick, her daughters, and their female descendants, were all magical witches. Their gifts brought a heavy responsibility of using their gifts only for good, to help others in need.

Meredith's two daughters, Patience and Fortune, each grew up in Grey House. When they were ten and eleven respectively, a red-haloed moon appeared in the sky. Meredith prepared her daughters for the impending moon by forging two additional amulets for her daughters. Her daughters wondered why they would ever need to know how to prepare the amulets, to which Meredith simply told her that she wasn't teaching them. Meredith knew that over two-hundred years later, a Merriwick witch would need to forge an amulet to protect her family legacy.

One year, Meredith and Nathaniel were "lost" in a great flood and were never seen or heard from again along with the Middleton Treasure. Many of the family lived in an old mansion donned Grey House. It wasn't until Elizabeth Merriwick took over Grey House that the residents began to notice the magical air that seemed to follow the Merriwick women. Many of the Merriwick ancestors were proposed to in a field that later became the Radford House then, the Pershing House.

Family Members

First Generation

• Meredith and Nathaniel Merriwick: The matriarch and patriarch of the Merriwick family, they were the founders of Middleton and immigrated from England. They signed the town charter on October 12, 1794. They also hid a great treasure in the city, a music box that contained three magnificent gems, the Middleton Treasure. They had two daughters, Patience and Fortune. Meredith took in an elderly traveler who had been shunned by the rest of the town, and the act touched the woman so profoundly that she transferred her magical abilities to Meredith and the rest of her female descendants. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was the first Mayor of Middleton. During a great flood, Nathaniel, Meredith, and the Middleton Treasure, were all lost.

Second Generation

Patience with William

• Patience Merriwick: The youngest daughter of Nathaniel and Meredith, Patience was a vivacious young woman who believed in love above all else. She was the also the mother of Charles and Catherine Merriwick. She was betrothed to Roderick Davenport of Blairsville, though Patience loved another man, William Spry, and they were having a torrid affair. He gifted her the Heart of Middleton, as a symbol of his undying love for her. On October 31, 1818, they were caught by Roderick's family. Proceeding so, William was conscripted into the war. His hasty departure was cleverly orchestrated by the Davenport family. Nathaniel confined Patience to Grey House until her wedding to Roderick. Patience was also close to her older sister Fortune, and returned her amulet to her sister the night before she ran away. Patience disappeared from Middleton on October 31, 1819, the day before her wedding to Roderick. She appears in two portraits that reside in Grey House.
• Fortune Merriwick: Fortune was the first-born daughter of Meredith and Nathaniel, and the sister of Patience. She received her golden amulet when she was eleven. She was twenty-two when Patience ran way with William Spry, though Patience gave Fortune her amulet before she left. Patience knew that their mother would not approve and tried to warn her sister, who wanted to follow her heart.
• Victoria Merriwick: According to Cassie, she lived two hundred years ago and went up to the highest point in Middleton to "chart the constellations" with her friend, Charlotte Posner. Victoria made a wish on a comet - a wish that her sister would find "true love". This wish was unselfish so it came true. Because Charlotte's wish did not come true, she got to name the comet. Victoria also had a son named Frederick.
• Hope Merriwick: Hope appears only on Grace Russell's family tree as an aunt to Catherine Merriwick. She also finds true love as a result of a wish made by her sister, Victoria.

Third Generation

Catherine and her husband, Douglas

• Catherine Merriwick: Catherine was the daughter of Patience Merriwick, the sister of Charles, and the mother of Elizabeth. She was an owner of Grey House, having inherited the house from her mother. Catherine's husband was the Mayor of Middleton in 1886, and therefore, the family was held to a higher societal standard Catherine often pressured her daughter Elizabeth to blend-in, to hide her eccentric nature. Upon her death, she willed the estate to Elizabeth. Catherine's husband was named Douglas and they were married under the Forever Tree.
• Charles Merriwick I: Charles was the brother of Catherine.
• Henrietta Merriwick: Henrietta appears only on Grace Russell's accounting of the family tree, as a cousin to Catherine Merriwick and the daughter of Hope.
• Fredrick Merriwick: The son of Victoria.

Fourth Generation

The official Hallmark family tree begins with this generation of Merriwick family members.

• Elizabeth Merriwick: Elizabeth was born in Middleton to Catherine Merriwick. She is the mother of Laurel and Violet Merriwick. Elizabeth became known throughout as "The Grey Lady" due to her monotone and grey clothing choices. She resided in her family home which was nicknamed Grey House. In 1886, Elizabeth's father was the Mayor of Middleton (Douglas) while Elizabeth remained the manager of Grey House. Elizabeth kept detailed diaries that have been passed down through history to the successive generations of Merriwick women. Her portrait still hangs over the living room fireplace.

Fifth Generation

Isabelle Merriwick is included in this particular section based on the fact that she was getting married in 1926 and the next generation of Merriwick's were born in 1925, a year before Isabelle was married.

• Laurel Merriwick: Cassie, Abigail and Joy’s great grandmother, is the daughter of Elizabeth Merriwick. Born in the early 1900s, Laurel had two daughters, and a son; Anne and Eleanor, who carried on the Merriwick name, and a son named Charles. Laurel was incredibly intituitve and knew that one day her great-granddaughters would reunite under the red-haloed moon and need clues to discovering the Merriwick mystery. She met George O'Hanrahan when she hired him to repaint the Gazebo, and they became close friends. Laurel entrusted him with one day giving the purple satchels to her great-granddaughters, but only when all three were united. Laurel was engaged to Henry Weld and she was thought to have cursed him. Cassie only met her once, when she was five, after which Laurel died around 1984.

• Violet: Violet had a relationship with Nathanial Davenport. She was the second Merriwick to have a relation with a Davenport - one night when they were dancing, they accidentally burnt down Davenport Manor and their relationship ended badly. She was the sister of Laurel Merriwick and daughter of Elizabeth. She did not have kids.
• Isabelle Merriwick: Isabelle Merriwick, a "descendant" of the Merriwick family, married Jonas Kelling on October 30, 1926.

Sixth Generation

• Anne: Born in 1925, Anne is the eldest daughter of Laurel, the mother of Jade Brock and Patricia Pershing and the Grandmother of Cassie Nightingale and Abigail Pershing. Much of this chapter in Merriwick's history remains a mystery.
• Charles Merriwick II: Son of Laurel, brother of Anne and Eleanor.
• Eleanor: Born in 1930. Eleanor is the sister of Anne, Charles and the daughter of Laurel. She is a the great aunt of Cassie Nightingale and Abigail Pershing. Eleanor had a daughter named Julia Harper.

Seventh Generation

• Julia Harper: Born in 1964, Julia's mother is Eleanor and she is first cousin to Jade and Patricia. Julia is Joy Harper's mother. She died in a car accident when Joy was seventeen. She was married to Philip Harper before she sent him away out of fear of an unknown force that would have taken him away. She gave Philip her Tree of Life amulet for protection.
• Jade Brock: Jade was the first daughter of Anne and the mother of Cassie Nightingale. She was married to Conrad Brock, and took his surname. Both she and her husband died in a car accident when Cassie was ten.
• Patricia Pershing: Another mysterious character in the Merriwick line, Patricia is the sister of Jade Brock and mother of Abigail Pershing. Patricia struggled as a single mom after Abigail’s father, Arthur was imprisoned. She later died of an unknown illness.

Eighth Generation

• Cassie Nightingale: Cassie is the eldest descendant of the Merriwick line who is still alive. She was orphaned at a young age and grew up outside of the traditions of the Merriwick family. She is the cousin of Abigail Pershing, Joy Harper and the mother of Grace Russell. Because she was orphaned at such a young age, Cassie became accustomed to traveling and moving as she was passed through foster homes. She ran away, due to the strictness of her foster parents, and continued traveling the world and learning about many different cultures, all while honing her special gifts. In her twenties, Cassie moved to Middleton after finding her family's property, Grey House. While it took time, the town eventually welcomed Cassie and her mysterious ways. She currently owns the infamous Bell, Book & Candle on Main Street, as well as Grey House Bed & Breakfast. She is married to Sam Radford and was widowed from Jake Russell. Additionally, she is the step-mother of Brandon and Lori Russell, as well as, Nick Radford.

• Abigail Pershing: Abigail is the daughter of Arthur and Patricia Pershing. She is the maternal cousin of Cassie Nightingale and Joy Harper, and a descendant of the Merriwick line. Like most Merriwick women, Abigail possesses unique gifts. She uses her gifts to coyly help people realize their full potential; her methods, however, are notably darker and colder than Cassie and Grace's. She is a business owner of Abigail's Flowers and Chocolates and the former interim Mayor of Middleton. She has recently become entwined in the ancient Merriwick-Davenport Curse due to her relationship with Donovan Davenport. She is the third Merriwick to have a relationship with a Davenport but is the first one adamant on breaking the curse, and succeeds in doing so. Despite breaking the curse, their relationship collapses when neither is willing to prioritize the relationship. She eventually leaves middle to travel Tuscany, and is contemplating the permeance of her travels.

• Joy Harper (born October 13, 1990): Joy is Cassie and Abigail's newly discovered cousin. She is the great-granddaughter of Laurel Merriwick. Joy's mother, Julia, died in a car accident when Joy was seventeen, while her father remained absent from her life, until recently that is. She became a contractor and interior designer. Joy found her way to Middleton while pursuing a job opportunity and investigating the Merriwick women. She is surrounded by a sense of mystery, but learns how to open up the longer she's around Cassie.

Ninth Generation

• Grace Russell: Grace is the only daughter of Cassie Nightingale and Jake Russell. She is the youngest cousin of Abigail Pershing, the half-sister of Brandon and Lori Russell, and step-sister of Nick Radford, along woith being the step daughter of Sam Radford. She is a witch from the Merriwick family line and shares her mother's unique gifts of insight and intuition. A Middleton native, Grace had deep roots in the community and has done internships for a few prominent Middleton offices. She dated Donavan's cousin Luke after she dated Nick's friend she was the fourth Merriwick to have a relation to a Davenport. Her main passion in life is to help others and guide them toward a better and more productive lifestyle. Grace currently attends Wellingsley College same as where Cassie went to college and is pursuing a career in fashion and design.

Unknown Generations

Eunice is not included on the official family tree released by Hallmark but is mentioned by Cassie as having existed.

• Eunice Merriwick: Eunice Merriwick was a former lover of Thomas Hillcrest. Eventually, after they had been courting for years but he never proposed, she grew impatient and gave him a batch of Merriwick truth chocolates. Though the truth is never revealed, nor is how Eunice is related to the family but Cassie implies the relationship didn't end well.

Extended Members

• Russell Family - Jake Russel was previously married to Cassandra Nightingale before his tragic passing, which makes the stepmother of Brandon and Lori Russel, along with step- mother in law of Brandon's spouse, Tara Russel.
• Radford Family - Dr. Sam Radford M.D. is married to Cassandra Nightingale, which makes her the stepmother of Nick Radford.

Merriwick Family Tree

Powers and Abilities

Due to Meredith's kindness, she and by extension, her family became real magical witches whose primary abilities were:

• Insight: The power to possess perception beyond that of a normal person's. The Merriwick witches - Cassie, Abigail, Joy, and Grace - could assess people and situations alike, predict or anticipate the outcome of an individual's behavior or actions, see the optimal way to properly deal with things, as well as see through facades and behaviors.
• Intuition: The power to intuitively sense and adapt to future events, to gain information through intrinsic means, and to acquire knowledge by means other than the ordinary senses or previous experiences. Since Meredith (the very first Merriwick to become a magical witch), the Merriwick women had been extremely intuitive and psychic, always instinctively knowing who is behind or around them, always being able to instinctively sense things such as their loved ones being hurt or in danger, when secrets are being kept from them, and what was going to happen and the optimal way to deal with it

Besides the primary powers of insight and intuition, the Merriwick witches also possessed other abilities through their magic (though some abilities were exclusive to a particular Merriwick witch), such as:

• Mystic Object Creation: The power to create mystical or magical objects.
• Scrying: The power to acquire information using sight outside the normal range of detection.
• Premonition: The ability to see and experience events from the past, present, and future.
• Pyrokinesis: The power to create, shape, control, generate, and manipulate fire.
• Telekinesis: The power to move objects with one's mind.
• Teleportation: The power to move instantaneously from one location to another without physically occupying the space in between.

Property and Artifacts

• Grey House - Grey House is a historical landmark and the oldest piece of property in Middleton. The home was originally owned by Catherine Merriwick and her husband, until their daughter, Elizabeth, took over the home. In 1886, Elizabeth managed Grey House with her employees. She left Middleton later in her life and the home became run-down and abandoned. The people of Middleton left the home be until Merriwick descendant Cassie Nightingale moved to Middleton and took over the home. She currently lives there with her former father-in-law and Grey House handyman, George O'Hanrahan. Her daughter and cousin, Grace and Abigail, used to both reside there before heading off to college and purchasing their own home respectively. Her newest discovered cousin, Joy, seems to reside at the house.
  • Grey House Bed & Breakfast - While it is unknown if the house was a B&B in the 1800s, it was turned into one by Cassie while she was struggling to pay her bills. Grey house is the only B&B in Middleton, and seems to attract people who need it the most.
• Bell, Book & Candle - Cassie opened the eclectic shop shortly after she moved to Middleton. While the store wasn't originally embraced by the town, they came around and began to love the shop. It is now one of the most popular go-to stores in Middleton.
• Abigail's Flower Market - Also referred to as Abigail's and Abigail's Flowers and Chocolates is the name of a flower shop in Middleton that is owned by Abigail Pershing.
• Heart of Middleton - An ancient ruby that was discovered in 1818. It is believed to hold magical properties that help couples find love on Halloween. It is also the heart of the Merriwick-Davenport curse.
• Merriwick Heirloom Ring -
• Merriwick Wish Book -
• Elizabeth Merriwick's Journal -
• Pearl Necklace - Cassie owns a pearl necklace that has been passed down through the family. She loans it to Joy who is having difficulties accepting her powers. When Joy wears it, her intuition is off and she is forced to see what life would look like without her powers. She ultimately removes the necklace as she wants to be herself again.
• Amulets -

Mysteries and Curses

• Merriwick-Davenport Curse - A curse placed upon the Davenport and Merriwick families that keeps the members from being able to admit their love for one another. It began when Patience Merriwick absconded with William Spry, despite being betrothed to Roderick Davenport.
• The Merriwick Mystery - A mystery involving the cousins Cassie Nightingale, Abigail Pershing, and Joy Harper, begins when three purple bags appeared to the women on the same day. These bags contained clumps of dirt which, when emptied, formed a Tree of Life symbol. The many twists and turns of the mystery involving the bag and everything surrounding it, pushes the three cousins to dig deeper into both their shared and personal history. They begin to unravel the lost history of the Merriwick family, as well as, Patience and Laurel Merriwick's involvement.

Notes and Trivia

• Most, if not all, of the Merriwick women are good witches that help their community and friends.
• The only known living members of the Merriwick family reside in Middleton.
• Grace is the only child of the Merriwick family known to be alive.
• In Season 6, Cassie, Abigail, and Joy are seen holding their mugs the exact same way.

Gallery

Merriwick-Radford family

Cassie and Julia

Cassie's parents

Grey House

The Merriwick Ring

Elizabeth's Journal

The Merriwick Wish Book

Middleton Merriwick

The treasure

The Heart of Middleton

Grace's version of the family tree

From The Tableau