1. A Y-DNA project for Merithew, Merrithew, Merihew, Merrihew, Maryhew, and other variations. We aim to connect the aformentioned with their close relatives and determine the homelands of their earliest ancestors.

2. A deeper dive into the origins of Merithew, Merrithew, Merihew, Merrihew, Maryhew, and other variations, prior to the adoption of hereditary surnames.

3. An autosomal DNA project for discovering maternal and paternal connections for those descended from Merrithew, Merihew, Merrihew, Maryhew, and/or other variations

In the book Records of the Merrihew family, 1727-1901 we can see that family tradition suggested an Irish origin to the Merrihew family even going as far as to refer to the family as Mac Merrihew. While incorrectly suspecting their ancestor Preserved Merrihew (1704 - after 1788) to have been born in Ireland, we shouldn't dismiss the story in its entirity as small details can be lost or misconstrued in family lore. It should be noted a Scotch Irish origin may have been assumed given the majority of immigrants from Ireland prior to the 19th century came from Ulster. Given the current DNA evidence it may very well the case that the Merrihew family were Murphys from Ireland, retaining a more archaic version of the name. To be certain it would be important to test the Y DNA of another direct male line descendant of Teeg Amarahow to eliminate any other explanation from the connection between Mr. Merithew and the Modal Murphy family of the Murphy DNA Project.

Preserved Merrihew's baptism suggests him to be the son of Josiah Amarahow, a son of Teeg Amarahow, presumably the first of the family to settle in the New World.