[Man of the Old Hope]

In the 'canonical' works Tolkien gives us about as much information on Merry as he does Pippin.

Consult Tale of Years in the Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings, under "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"

In S.R. 1432, "Meriadoc, called the Magnificent, becomes Master of Buckland. Great gifts are sent to him by King Éomer and the Lady Éowyn of Ithilien."

In S.R. 1434, "Peregrin becomes the Took and Thain. King Elessar makes the Thain [Peregrin], the Master [Meriadoc], and the Mayor [Samwise] Counsellors of the North-kingdom.

The longest entry for Merry comes in S.R. 1484:

"In the spring of the year a message came from Rohan to Buckland that King Éomer wished to see Master Holdwine once again. Meriadoc was then old (102) but still hale. He took counsel with his friend the Thain, and soon after they handed over their goods and offices to their sons and rode away over Sarn Ford, and they were not seen again in the Shire. It was heard after that Master Meriadoc came to Edoras and was with King Éomer before he died in that autumn. Then he and Thain Peregrin went to Gondor and passed what short years were left to them in that realm, until they died and were laid in the Rath Dínen among the great of Gondor."

Though perhaps I misapprehend your question, that you're actually asking for Merry's history before LOTR commences?

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 1:53 PM January 10, 2004: Message edited by: Man of the Old Hope ]