I'm generating a fresh new document - no legacying from WP, etc. the manual numbering on page two onward is probably the only way to go.
I'll try the "start numbering at" for the list - so far it only worked on the first merged document and subsequent letters defaulted to "continue number from previous." I'll see if a style will remedy that, but not sure how to really do that. We have to keep stuff dummied down because we have turnover at these desks every 1-4 years and most people here don't know macros or even setting tabs sometimes!
Thanks again for all the input - I will see if I can get it to work and will let y'all know.