We have a wonderful photo of his farm that still stands in Bristol, England. The farm was called the Coombe Head Farm.

Henry and Eliza Lewis Merrick and four of their five children did not emigrate to the United States. They remained behind in England, died there, and were buried in their beloved homeland. The family church, where they and their family are buried, is known as the Felton Church or the Parish Church of St. Katharine. (See Figure 16) It must have been a sad day when Henry and Eliza bid farewell to their son John Lewis Merrick who did decide to begin a new life in America. He is the Merrick ancestor from whom Katherine and Sarah McVey are descended. Coombe Head Farm, Downside, Backwell Parish, Somerset, England, was once known as the Harvey's Farm, or Harvey's Well or Harvey's Gate, for its first owner was a Harvey. The Harvey family inherited the land known as Brockley in 1527. Coombe Head Farm lies in the hollow of a hill, protected against the cold winds. It faces west like all the old homes in this area and some present day residents think that this placement may have been made originally for religious reasons. According to Joyce Bowe, a cousin of John Merrick, and cousin to Katherine and Sarah, who resides in England, the farm is mentioned on the rent rolls of the Marquess of Bath who was Lord of the Manor circa 1770 onwards. The Hardwick family was the farm tenant at this time. The records indicate that they paid fourteen shillings per year rent for the farm that had many fine acres of pasture and woodland. The Hardwicks remained on the farm more than one hundred years. Isaac Hardwick is recorded among the Trades and Professions of Backwell as living on the farm in 1870. (See Figures 17 and 18 - a photo of Coombe Head Farm taken in the 1980's and one taken in the year 2000) Also according to Joyce Bowe, many Harveys and Hardwicks are buried in the Parish Church of St. Katharine. They were known to be highly regarded personages of their day.