Downtown in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Rev. Nelson G. Merry

"Nashville's First Ordained African American Minister"

— 1824-1884 —

Rev. Nelson G. Merry Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2020

1. Rev. Nelson G. Merry Marker

Inscription. The Reverend Nelson G. Merry, born enslaved in 1824 in Kentucky, was brought to Tennessee by his master. At age 16, Merry's widowed mistress willed him to the First Baptist Church. He was freed in 1845. Merry preached to the "colored" mission of First Baptist, which was established in 1843. When it became "First Colored Baptist Church” (now First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill) in 1865, Merry, an ordained minister, was named pastor. The Rev. Merry is buried in Mt. Ararat Cemetery.

Erected 2019 by The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 210.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee, The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.

Location. 36° 9.864′ N, 86° 47.357′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Nelson Merry Street and 10th Avenue North, on the right when traveling east on Nelson Merry Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1008 Nelson Merry St, Nashville TN 37203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within walking distance of this marker. Welcome to Frankie Pierce Park (here, next to this marker); Woman Suffrage Wins as Tennessee Ratifies (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Frankie Pierce Park (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Black Churches of Capitol Hill (about 700 feet away); Avon N. Williams, Jr. (about 700 feet away); Nashville Sit-Ins (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mrs. John Hill Eakin - Mrs. Robert F. Weakley (approx. ¼ mile away); Lest We Forget: The Middle Passage (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Also see . . . Nelson G. Merry. Biography at Tennessee State University (Submitted on April 2, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2020

2. Rev. Nelson G. Merry Marker

Old Rev. Nelson G. Merry Marker (not erected) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James A Miller, circa June 15, 1967

3. Old Rev. Nelson G. Merry Marker (not erected)

Found near the graveyard in a pile of material.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 519 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 2, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on May 21, 2022, by James A Miller of Mesa, Arizona. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.