Mervil
family story
These are the descendants of
the family that founded Simmerville 300 years ago. You might have guessed
that the Simmerville name is based on their family name, Mervil.
300 years ago there was a
Knight named Edmund Mervil, who from heroic battle efforts was rewarded
by Duke Mazaloom with the entire Simmerville area. Back then no sim lived
there, but the forest was full of wild dragons, guinea pigs and chicken.
Edmund Mervil made a living from hunting, he married Edihild Aragoon, and
when he died only 46 years old there were three children to make use of
the land, Stella, Brigoon and Axantrus. It is Brigoon's descendants who
lead to the Mervil family of today, and it's also the only family line
where male family members bring on the Mervil name up to our time.
This line can easily be traced
because they all resided on the same lot, today's 7 Old Simmer Lane - Maple
Inn (TS1: 77 Simmerville - Maple Str.). The names were Brigoon, Edgar,
Britin, Edven, Brigort, and finally Edgar Wilfred Mervil
who was born 100 years ago. It is interesting to see how the names alternate
between Bri and Ed, according to the old naming tradition.
All these Mervils made a
living from hunting, farming and trades. The dragons and pigs became rarer
as the forest was cut down about 200 years ago. At the large county meeting
210 years ago cabbage was assigned as Simmerville's main product, and along
the riverside there was some early trading activity including a few hand
crafters. The Mervils controlled all those trades from the start and they
established two local markets that are still operated. First Lucie Mervil
established Mervil's Market at #61. She died with no children, and her
niece Listher Mervil ran Mervil's Market for another generation.
Then Listher's nephew,
Edgar Wilfred Mervil (also known as Ol' Ed)
established Ol' Ed's Market at #72,
The first market was a direct
result of the huge family property being split between heirs, and Mervil's
Market is today Simmerville's main market and was even the main location
of the SimCity Food Expo 2003. Also Ol' Ed's Market at #72 still exists,
but it has been modernized a lot.
Ol' Ed was the last Mervil
to reside 7 Old Simmer Lane (TS1: 77 Simmerville), as he moved to 1 Mervil
Farm (TS1: 66 Simmerville). Many say that the Mervil dynasty died with
Ol' Ed ten years ago, but two generations later the Mervils are still on
top of our community. Before Ol' Ed died most of the family goods had been
sold out of the family. The trade competition from SimCity and other hoods
was simply too hard. The family still holds 6 lots in Simmerville, but
Ol' Ed put strange restrictions to them in his will, such as letting an
organization ("Organization For Unfairly Jailed Young Sims") use #77 for
free for 50 years ("Maple Inn"). #63 he let to renters on a 30 years irreversible
contract. This meant that today's Mervils are still waiting to make use
of their right property. Whilst they wait, they must reside less valuable
lots. Ol' Ed was a clever and friendly man, and nobody really knows why
he changed his will shortly before he died.
Ol' Ed had two sons, Brion
and Blurt, and from these two Brion Mervil is the only one who is
still alive, residing at 66 Simmerville with his 2nd wife, Marta. The next
generation counts three children, all residing in Simmerville. Only Blurt's
daughter Angela has inherited her father who died 4 years ago. Brion's
two sons, Egoon and
Aroon, are the only Mervils left to bring
on the family name.
Text composed by Mazaloom
Historical Society few days before TS2, modified on simday 45 (January
2006) |
