The Two Edward Mercers
By the early 1750's, there were two men named Edward Mercer living in Frederick County, Virginia.
One lived a few mile northwest of Winchester and was a neighbor of the Babb families. He died in 1763.
The other Edward lived on land about a third of the way from present-day Shepherdstown (then called Mecklenburg) to Martinsburg. The west fork of Rockymarsh Run flowed northward through or near it. Present-day Wynkoop Spring and and Marvin Chapel are close to the eastern boundary of his former land.
In 1772 that area became part of the new county of Berkeley. Thus when he died in 1783, it was in Berkeley County. In 1801 Jefferson County was created. The land he had lived on sat on the boundary line, partly in Berkeley County and partly in Jefferson County. (In 1863, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties became part of the new created state of West Virginia.)
[See http://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/gazvector.getesrimap?p_lat=39.4362104&p_longi=-77.860829&fid=1727813
You will need to zoom in appreciably. The orange pin is Wynkoop Spring, on the boundary of Berkekey and Jefferson Counties, WV. (The orange pin may take a few moments to appear.) On the USGS topo map Marvin Chapel is shown just to the northwest.]
Unfortunately many researchers have conflated (i.e. combined) these two individuals into one, most importantly Cecil O'Dell in his Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia (1995), page 49. O'Dell ascribed the Rockymarsh land of Edward Mercer (d.1783) to Edward Mercer (d.1763).
And this conflation has been an easy thing to do, given that the two original Babb families--brothers Thomas and Philip--were neighbors of the Edward Mercer who died in 1763, while Thomas, a son of Philip Babb, married Blanch, a daughter of the Edward Mercer who died in 1783. Moreover, it is supposed that the maiden name of Philip Babb's wife Margaret was Mercer, although I have never seen any concrete proof of this. Philip and Margaret did, however, name their other son Mercer. And lastly, there were in Frederick County other Mercers and Lemens whose various relationships, if any, are still not totally sorted out.
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Early Mentions of an Edward Mercer
There are mentions of an Edward Mercer in Frederick County records in 1743 and 1747, but it is not positive as to which man each might refer:
"In 1743 John Littler sold Edward Mercer, a distant neighbor, a horse for £7 in partial exchange for twenty-two gallons of brandy."
[source: Hofstra, Warren R., The Planting of New Virginia: Settlement and Landscape in the Shenandoah Valley (2005), p.216 and the corresponding note 45. on p.377 which says "Account of Edward Mercer with Jonathan Littler, 1743", Littler v Mercer, Mar.1745, Ended Causes, 1743-1909, FCCP [Frederick County Court Papers].
On p.227 Hofstra again wrote "... Edward Mercer and John Littler exchanged a horse and brandy in 1743. The two lived about twenty-five miles apart: Littler near Hopewell Meeting House and Mercer to the northwest along Rocky Marsh Run, a small tributary of the Potomac." See https://books.google.com/books?id=guS_QwTKdp8C&pg=PA227&dq="Edward+Mercer+and+John+Littler" and the corresponding note 61. on p.380.]
Note: Hofstra followed O'Dell in assuming that there was only one Edward Mercer. The one on Rocky Marsh Run was Edward Mercer (d.1783). But Edward Mercer (d.1763), who lived near the Babbs, would have been a closer neighbor and so might have been the individual with whom Littler dealt.
Note: The following is a rough transcription of a page from a debt dated 22 May 1746 between a John Corry and a James Lemen. The page is intriguing in that, while difficult to read, it appears to mention an Edward Mercer and, in addition, a John Lemen. James Lemen and John Lemen are more fully discussed later. You can view the actual page at the link provided and judge for yourself that those three names appear on the debt.
Summary Information
Title: Ohio Company Papers
Collection Number: DAR.1925.02
Creator: Ohio Company (1747-1779).
...
Series VIII. General Debt Notes and Correspondence, 1736-1793
Scope and Content Notes:
This series contains manuscripts documenting debts peripherally related to the Ohio Company’s trade in goods and role as money lender.
...
Folder 77 John Corry's debt to James Lemon, 1746
Digitized Content [PDF - 398 KB]
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/u/ulsmanuscripts/pdf/31735061276378.pdf
John Corry's debt to James Lemon, 1746
Box 3, Folder 77
Ohio Company Papers, 1736-1813, DAR.1925.02, Darlington Collection, Special
Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
page 3/4
I promise to pay or case to be payed unto James
Lemen or his order the Just quantity of fivty
tow yards half of a ton hand-- Lining Cloath --ro wide
good ----sant March---able Lining at or before
the twenty fifth day of december next. --or olve[?]
Recd witness my hand this twenty second[?] day
of May 1746
------ ---- unterlind[?] Before Signed
Edward Mercer John Corry
John Lemen
On 2 and 3 September 1747, Edward Mercer witnessed the sale of 100 acres from Edward Teague to Richard Mercer. This land was "situate lying & being on the West side Shenando River being of forty Thousand Acres Purchased of Jost Hite from Isaac & John Van Metre ..."
[source: Frederick County Deed Book 1, p.331-332 in Gilreath, Amelia C., Frederick County, Virginia, Deed Book Series,: Volume 1, Deed Books 1, 2, 3, 4: 1743-1758, 2001, page 36.] This tract was southeast of present-day Shepherdstown and across the Potomac River from present-day Antietam, Maryland. The relationship between this Edward Mercer and this Richard Mercer is undetermined. Edward Mercer (d.1763) did have a son named Richard Mercer, but was he the Richard Mercer who lived near present-day Shepherdstown? (See the discussion below.)
The Edward Mercer who died in 1763 was certainly in Frederick County, Virginia by 20 December 1748, when his son John wrote his will, in which he left money to his brother-in-law William Heath and "goods and chattels and personal estate to brother Richard Mercer." Edward was named his executor. The will was witnessed by Samuel Patton, Thomas Babb and Ruth Patton." [source: O'Dell, p.49.]
That John must have been the son of Edward Mercer (d.1763) can be inferred from Edward's own will, written 12 Sept 1762 and proved 1 November 1763, in which Edward named a son Richard and a daughter Elizabeth Heath (clearly the wife of William Heath mentioned in John's will). His other children were a daughter Hannah, and sons Moses, Edward, and Aaron. His son Edward, who was his executor, was bequeathed "the plantation whereon I now Live containing two hundred and nine Acres and also a survey adjoining thereto containing Ninety six Acres of Land".
The Edward Mercer who died in 1783 was certainly in Frederick (later Berkeley) County, Virginia by 11 October 1751, when he received a grant for 275 acres adjoining Jacob Vanmeter. This is the tract which many researchers have erroneously ascribed to Edward Mercer (d.1763). It is discussed more fully below.
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Origins
Just for reference sake, I am providing a short biography of Edward Mercer (d.1763) as given by this one source:
Edward Mercer (d.1763)
In Three hundred years in America with the Mercers, author Dolores Graham Doyle gives this origin for Edward Mercer (d.1763):
"Edward Mercer was born ca. 1703 in Scotland or Ireland. His first marriage was to Ann Coats sometime prior to the year 1732. By the year 1735, Ann died and Edward immigrated with his family to America. In the 1740s, Edward and his second wife (Ann Gamble) settled in Winchester, Virginia. Edward was the father of at least four children. ..."
Edward Mercer (d.1783)
For Edward Mercer (d.1783), contemporary information gives a clue to his whereabouts prior to moving to Virginia. On 23 May 1783--just three days after Edward's will was proved in court--Mary Mercer, his widow, made a deposition in Berkeley County, Virginia which is recorded in Chester Co., PA Deed Book X, Vol. 22, page 335. It tells about Edward's in-laws the Lemens and Chapmans and by inference places him in Lower Chichester Township (Marcus Hook), Chester County, Pennsylvania in the early 1740's. The details of her deposition can be summarized as follows:
Edward's widow Mary Mercer was about age 60 in 1783 when she gave her deposition. (This suggests she was born about 1723.)
Mary's brother James Lemen had married Lucy Chapman in Ireland. She was the daughter of Thomas Chapman.
About forty odd years ago, James and Lucy Chapman Lemen, together with Lucy's brothers George Chapman (the eldest) and William Chapman, had come to America.
About two years later, Mary with others of her family, since dead, also left Ireland and came to America and found the brothers George and William Chapman living together in Marcus Hook.
Mary was married "in the house of the George Chapman in Marcus Hook". (That is, it was there that she married Edward Mercer.)
The day after Mary's deposition, another deposition was made in Berkeley County by a Jonathan Mercer, about age 50. He had been a witness to Edward Mercer's will. His relationship to Edward is unknown, but Jonathan Mercer clearly came from the same place in Ireland as did the Lemens and Chapmans because he stated "that he was in his infancy well acquainted with George Chapman in Ireland; that he saw the said George Chapman since he came to America, who then lived on the Delaware River near Marcus Hook. That this George Chapman was generally reputed and known to be the eldest son of Thomas Chapman, whom this deponent also remembers in Ireland and is long since deceased."
View their original depositions at
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-9996?i=722&cat=246232
Film # 007856900
Chester Co., PA Deed Book X, Vol. 22, page 335-336 [Image 723-724 of 791]
Certificate Pedigree for George Chapman
Deposition of Mary Mercer 23 May 1783 in Berkeley Co., VA
Deposition of Jonathan Mercer 24 May 1783 in Berkeley Co., VA
If Jonathan Mercer was a relative of Edward Mercer's, then it strongly suggests that Edward also came from the same place in Ireland as did the Lemens and Chapmans.
The 1739 and 1740 tax lists of Chester County, Pennsylvania shows George Chapman living in Lower Chichester Township:
http://www.chesco.org/1729/18th-Century-Tax-Records
18th Century Tax Records
http://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/5393
Chester County Tax Index 1715-1740
Last Name First Name Middle Name Suffix/Prefix Township Year Category Provincial/County Page
Chapman George Lower Chichester 1739 Landholder County (C‐15) 5
Chapman George Lower Chichester 1740 Landholder County (C-16) 3
It would appear that the names of Edward Mercer and James Lemon are first found in a 1739 tax list of Brandywine Hundred, New Castle County (in present-day Delaware), which borders Lower Chichester township:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-T9L5-G?i=14&cat=37404
Film # 007834264
New Castle Co., Delaware
Tax lists v. 1-17 1738-1783
[Image 15 of 1447]
A Rate of the Assessmt. Of Brandywine
Hundred for the year 1739 at 21[?] pr pound
...
[Image 17 of 1447] right page
...
Edward Mercer
James Lamon
...
George Chapman remained in Lower Chichester (Marcus Hook), Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he died 3 June 1757 at either age 51. His wife Mary died 12 Dec 1771. They had a son Gilead/Gilley who was deceased by 27 Feb 1783. The property in Lower Chichester was then inherited by Gilead's cousin George Chapman of Berkeley Co., VA. It was because of Gilead's death that Mary and Jonathan made their depositions which were used to identify George as Gilead's closest male relative and heir.
At some point Edward and Mary Lemen Mercer moved to Frederick Co., VA. According to conflicting records, Blanch Mercer Babb was born either 15 Jun 1742 or 15 June 1748. (See the discussion at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15862280 ).
This suggests that Mary Lemen and Edward Mercer could have been married in 1741 or 1747. If the latter year is correct, then this Edward Mercer could not be the one who appears in any Frederick County records prior to 1747. If instead they were married in 1741, then Edward and Mary Lemen Mercer could have moved to Frederick County early enough so that he could have been the Edward Mercer who appears in the records as early as 1743.
James and Lucy Chapman Lemen had also moved to Frederick County, VA. James settled in the vicinity of Winchester. James was certainly there by 3 June 1748, for on that date James Lemen of Frederick County, a cooper, purchased from a Robert Lemen (no known connection) of Frederick County, a weaver, a tract of 200 acres, which was located "on the West side of Opechon & on a branch of the same called Red Bud Branch". (On the same day, an adjoining tract of 80 acres was purchased by Mercer Babb, the brother of Thomas Babb who would later marry Blanch Mercer.) James "Lemon" wrote his will on 1 June 1757. It was proved on 2 August 1757. In it he named his wife Lucy, eldest son Thomas, youngest son William, eldest daughter Elizabeth Pearis (wife of Robert Pearis), and youngest daughter Mary Lemen. His wife Lucy and son Thomas were his executors. Witnesses were Thomas Carroll, Robert Lemmon, and Isabel Lemmon.
Lucy Lemen appears in her own right in a 1749 account:
http://www.handleyregional.org/handley_old/archives/wood,%20james%20173.htm
Stewart Bell Jr. Archives Room
Handley Regional Library / Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society
James Wood Family Papers, 173 WFCHS
...
Box 3
Estate of Dr. Daniel Hart
Dr. Daniel Hart is said to have been the first physician in the Shenandoah Valley, although Dr. Robert White was practicing medicine as early as 1736 in Old Frederick County. The Hart papers are in the James Wood Collection because Colonel Wood served as Executor for the Hart estate. Dr. Hart died sometime between September 23 and October 5, 1748.
...
Accounts, 1749 – Dr. Daniel Hart Estate—Box 3
...
Account Goods/Services Date Size (cm)
Isaac Parkins Debt to Lucy Lemon 1749 (4 x 17)
Lucy's brother William Chapman married and also moved to Frederick Co., VA. He died in Winchester prior to his brother George's death in Lower Chichester. William's children were Jean, George, John, Joseph, Thomas, and William. Son George appears to have been living in the part that became Berkeley County by the 1770's. As mentioned above, George inherited land in Lower Chichester from his deceased cousin Gilead.
Online sources say that Lucy's brother William Chapman married Elizabeth Cullen and that their son George married Johannah Lemaster.
RELATIONSHIP CHART BETWEEN THE MERCERS, LEMENS, AND CHAPMANS
?? Lemen Thomas Chapman
| | | | | | |
Jonathan Mercer Edward Mercer + Mary Lemen James Lemen + Lucy Chapman George Chapman William Chapman
(b. ca. 1733; knew Sons: Daughters: Sons: Daughters: Son: Sons: Daughters:
the Chapmans in Nicholas Mary (m. Ranols?) Thomas Elizabeth Pearis Gilead/Gilley George Jean
Ireland) Edward Jane (unmarried) William Mary John
Margaret Cox Joseph
Blanch Babb Thomas
Ruth (m. Jones?) William
Rebeccah Randall
Nancy Marshall
Grandsons: Granddaughters:
Francis Jones Elizabeth Vardier
(and others) Jane and Mary Cox
Jane Mercer Randle
Sarah Ranols
(and others)
Notes on individuals mentioned in the chart:
Mercer
Blanch Mercer married Thomas Babb, son of Philip Babb and and his wife Margaret. (Ruth Harrington, a family researcher, believed that Margaret’s maiden name was Mercer. This could explain why one of Margaret's children was named Mercer Babb. Ruth further speculated that Margaret might have been the sister of Edward Mercer.)
Margaret Mercer married Thomas Cox on 25 Oct 1786 in Berkeley County.
Nancy Mercer is said to have married Lindsey Marshall. Lindsey Marshall is known to have had a son named Lemon Marshall.
Jane Mercer apparently never married. She wrote her will on 15 Nov 1803 in Jefferson County, leaving money or personal property to her nephew Francis Jones, and her nieces Elizabeth Vardie, Jane and Mary Cox, Jane Mercer Randle, and Sarah Ranols.
Rebecca Mercer is said to have married John Randall. This fits with their daughter being the Jane Mercer Randle mentioned in her aunt Jane's will.
Clearly one of Jane Mercer's sisters married a Jones. There were a number of Joneses living in the same personal property tax district as the Mercers. Online sources say daughter Ruth married Francis Jones (Sr.). However, the name Francis Jones does not appear in the personal property tax lists until 1800, and this Francis was probably Jane's nephew. So the husband's first name was probably something other than Francis.
Another of Jane's sisters (perhaps Mary) may have married a "Ranols" and had the daughter Sarah who was identified in Jane's will as her niece Sarah Ranols. (Alternatively, Sarah could be the daughter of one of Jane's sister, but it was she (Sarah) who, if old enough, married a Ranols.)
An Elizabeth Mercer married Adam Vardier on 2 September 1802. She was probably the niece Elizabeth Vardie mentioned in Jane's will. Since her maiden name was Mercer, it might be that she was born out-of-wedlock to one of Jane's sisters.
-----------------------------------
Lemen
By the mid 1750's, James Lemen, was a tavern keeper and leading citizen of Winchester, living near the courthouse.
[See http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0127#GEWN-02-02-02-0127-fn-0001 and
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0297 ]
In August 1756, James Lemen was charged with striking and abusing a solder in Capt. George Mercer's (no relation) company of the Virginia Regiment.
[See http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0328 ]
Cecil O'Dell's Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia p. 251:
James Lemen was deceased by 2 August 1757 when his will (writ-
ten 1 June 1757) was proved in Frederick County Court. He willed
the 200-patent acre land [Tract 55C, Map 7, p. 231], where he formerly lived, to his eldest
son Thomas Lemen, a merchant living in the town of Winchester. He
also left Thomas the rights to other surveyed land (529 acres)
joining the 200 acres, in addition to Lot 3 in Winchester. He
willed a one-half acre lot with improvements where he (James)
lived, and a five-acre lot [Northern Neck Grants H, p. 356, Lot 39 and
Common Lot 25 (1753)] to his youngest son William "after he
becomes 21 years of age." He left 100 pounds to his eldest daugh-
ter Elizabeth Pearis with the stipulation that if Elizabeth re-
turned to her husband Robert Pearis, the 100 pounds would be paid
to his youngest daughter Mary Lemen. He appointed his wife Lucy
and son Thomas as executors [Frederick County Will Book 2, p. 242].
[note: Inventory of James Lemon, Aug. 2, 1757, Frederick Co. Will Book 2, p.272]
Thomas Lemen of Pennsylvania received a Fairfax grant on 30
August 1762 for the 529-acre inherited land. ["unto Thomas Lemen of Pennsylvania" ,
Northern Neck Grants M, 1762-1765, p. 33] He and his wife
Margaret mortgaged the lots, houses, the 200 acres on the 529
acres to John Glassford and Company (merchants in Glasgow, North
Britain) on 9 April 1760 to cover a debt of 459 pounds, 2 shil-
lings, 7 pence half-penny sterling currency of Great Britain owed
to Glassford. (Frederick Co., DB 6, p.76) Thomas and Margaret Lemen of Pennsylvania sold
the 529-acre tract to Thomas Lord Fairfax for 200 pounds on 22
October 1762. (Frederick Co., DB 8, p.122)
See also
http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=lva/vi00510.xml
A GUIDE TO THE FAIRFAX FAMILY NORTHERN NECK PROPRIETARY PAPERS, 1688-1810
...
Series D: Deeds and Leases, 1707-1786
Box 1 Folder 49
Thomas Lemon, merchant, Winchester, Frederick County, to John Glassford & Co., Merchants,
Glasgow, dated 9 April 1760 and recorded Frederick County, 4 November 1760. With endorsement
Ja. Keith, 14 May 1768
3 p., copy
--------
Thomas Lemen (Lemon) of Frederick County, son of James Lemen (d. 1757), remained lieutenant in the 1st company of rangers commanded by Capt. William Cocks until the company was disbanded in Sept. 1756. The Frederick County court order book recorded on a 2 Sept. 1755 that Thomas Lemon and Thomas Rutherford took their oaths as lieutenants in the ranger companies.
[See http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0090 ]
Lt. Thomas Lemen was present at the "Battle of Great Cacaphon River" (also called "Mercer's Massacre"), which took place near Edward's fort in Hampshire County, Virginia on 18 April 1756. Capt. John Fenton Mercer and a party of forty or fifty soldiers were ambushed by Indians near the fort. Capt. Mercer, an ensign, and fifteen soldiers were killed and two were wounded.
A contemporary account is given in a letter from William Stark to George Washington.
[See http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0012 ]
[See also http://www.fortedwards.org/history.htm ]
Capt. Mercer was not related to either of the Edward Mercers of Frederick County.
For the family tree of John Fenton Mercer, see http://www.fortedwards.org/mercer.htm .
In October 1760, Thomas Lemen and Charles Bradford were list as two of fourteen managers of a lottery drawing that was to be held at the courthouse in Winchester.
[See http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc4800/sc4872/001280/html/m1280-0541.html
The Maryland Gazette, Thursday, May 14, 1761, Page 4, column 3 ]
Between October 1760 and 30 August 1762, Thomas and his wife Margaret had moved to Pennsylvania.
--------
Elizabeth Lemen Pearis' husband was Robert Pearis.
On 8 April 1761 Elizabeth Pearis witnessed the recording of a lease between John Leamem/Lemon to Alexander Leamon/Lemon. [source: Part 20: The Pearis Family of Frederick County, Virginia (1730-1780) at http://donmchugh.tripod.com/paris/1700_1755.htm ]
In 1764 Elizabeth and Robert Pearis were living in Salisbury, Rowan Co., SC.
Robert Pearis became a Royalist (Loyalist or Tory) during the Revolutionary War.
He died in 1781 in Charleston. His will indicates that he was estranged from his wife Elizabeth:
Will of Robert Pearis
http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Robert_Pearis_(1)
Will of Robert Pearis, South Carolina Dated: August 29, 1781 Proven: December 7, 1781
...
First, as the behavior of my wife Elizabeth Pearis for some considerable time past, during which I have not cohabited with her, has been such as she must on serious retrospect of her past conduct and appeal to her conscience be convinced that she is not equitably entitled to any share or interest in my estate; I do therefore, leaving her to that conviction, only give and bequeath her the sum of twenty pounds sterling, which sum I give in full of any demand or other claim whatever, which she can or may have set up or pretend to make on my estate either in law or otherwise—
Item as to all and singular the rest and residue of my estate real and personal whatsoever and wherever the same may be or which I may in any manner of wise be interested or entitled unto at the time of my decease, I do hereby give, devise and bequeath the same unto and among my two daughters Elizabeth and Sarah Pearis their heirs and assigns forever, share and share alike. First allowing & deducting out of my said estate a sufficient sum for the maintenance and liberally educating of my daughter Sarah until she arrive at or attain her age of eighteen years—
--------
Mary Lemen, the younger daughter of James and Lucy Chapman Lemen, married Charles Darnel Bradford. They also moved to South Carolina. Charles may have been the son of Peter Bradford.
-----------------------------------
Chapman
[For the actual will of George Chapman, see
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-28760-34344-45?cc=1999196&wc=M99F-HKF:1111159697
Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994 > Chester > Wills 1755-1774 vol 4-5, D-E > Image 49 of 586]
Wills: Abstracts and Administrations 1713-1825: Chester Co, PA, Will Book D, pages 1-105
CHAPMAN, GEORGE. Chichester.
September 10, 1757. October 1, 1757. D. 91-92.
To wife Mary 1/3 of all estate. To son Gilley Chapman all remainder of
estate real and personal and if he dies before he is 21, £10 to be
given to Lower Chichester Church and remainder on wife's decease to
brother and sisters children, viz., Jean, George, John, Joseph, Thomas
and William Chapman, deceased brother William's children; and Thomas,
Elizabeth (Lemon or Pearass), Mary and William Lemon, my sister Lucy's
children. Executors: Wife Mary and Allen Robinett, Jr.
Wit: Allen Robinett, Sr., William Colgan, Benton Davis.
------------
Allen Robinett and His Descendants in America, Parts 3-4
James M. Robinett
J.M. Robinett, 1968 - Robinett family (Allen Robinett, ca. 1632-1694)
p.13?
... James M. Robinett.
p.14
No. 7 ALLEN3 (or ALLIN) ROBINSTT. III. (ALLEN2. ALLEN3)
(69) His tombstone, which the present writer came upon beside that of
his wife (d. 1771) in the shadow close behind St. Martin's Church,
wildly overgrown with tangled grass and rank weeds, bears the follow-
ing inscription - "with the title 'Mr.,' significantly respectful in
that day:"
"Reader behold, if real worth be dear, (sic)
A Shrine that claims your tributary tear.
In memory of
Mr George Chapman
who departed this life
Sept. 23, 1757,
Aged 51."
(See also "Names, Dates and Inscriptions on Monuments, St. Martin's
Grave Yard 1904" in Register of St. Martin's P. E. Church, Marcus
Hook, Penna., p. 6.-Collections of the Genealogical Society of Penna.)
[See http://www.delawarecountyhistory.com/marcushookborough/St.MartinsP.EChurchCemetery.htm
St. Martin's P. E. Graveyard
East side Church Street opposite Market Lane,
Marcus Hook, Pa.
W.P.A. Tombstone Survey from 1936
...
George Chapman Who departed Sept. 3 1757 Aged 57 yrs {note: above says "Aged 51"}
Mary (?) Chapman Who died Dec. 12 1771 Age 57 yrs.Wife of George Chapman
...]
...
(70) "Lower Chichester Church" was a beneficiary under his Will - to
the amount of L 10.
(71) Chester County, Penna., Will Book 4 (formerly Bk. D), p. 91; No.
of Papers: 1677.
...
------------
Note: Gilead (Gilley) Chapman died intestate in 1783:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/chester/wills/wills1782-3.txt
INDEX Wills Proved 1782-3.
CHAPMAN, GILEAD DR. L. Chichester. February 27, 1783. Adm. to Matthias Kerlin, Jr.
------------
On 21 April 1789, "George Chapman and Johanna, his wife, of Berkeley County" sold to Matthias Pitzer 180 acres "on the Three Branches of Back Creek" which George had purchased from Robert McCall.
[See http://books.google.com/books?id=dV8bAQAAMAAJ&q=%22and+the+said+George+Chapman%22 ]
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Two Other Mercers
In addition to the two Edward Mercers, a Richard Mercer and a Nicholas Mercer appear in the early records of Frederick County.
Richard Mercer
A Richard Mercer appears in Frederick County in a note to Abraham Hollingsworth date October 1744:
https://books.google.com/books?id=guS_QwTKdp8C&pg=PA376&lpg=PA376&dq="Richard+Mercer"
The Planting of New Virginia: Settlement and Landscape in the Shenandoah Valley
Warren R. Hofstra
JHU Press, Aug 18, 2005 - Architecture - 432 pages
page 376
[Note] 40. Note of Richard Mercer to Abraham Hollingsworth, Oct. 1744, Hollingsworth v
Mercer, Aug. 1746, End Causes, 1743-1909, FCCP [Frederick County Court Papers]; ...
Abraham Hollingsworth lived southwest of present-day Winchester on Abraham Creek. Edward Mercer (d.1763) did have a son named Richard, but there are no land records for a Richard Mercer in the vicinity of where his father lived, namely northwest of Winchester. Instead, land records only refer to a Richard Mercer who lived near present-day Shepherdstown, which places him closer to Edward Mercer (d.1783) than to Edward Mercer (d.1763).
On 7 and 8 November 1764, Richard Mercer and Rebeccah his wife sold 100 acres to William Forrester. (Frederick Co. DB 10, p.39 & 40) In exchange, William Forrester sold to Richard Mercer 200 acres which he had purchased from Peter Bradford, who had received a grant for the 200 acres on 14 June 1751. (Frederick Co. DB 10, p.42 & 43)
Evidently, these 200 acres were east or southeast of the land of Edward Mercer (d.1783) and near Shepherdstown. According to Bradford's grant, the tract began "at a hickory standing upon a knowl ..." On 29 February 1760, Robert Lucas received a grant for 141 acres which adjoined Peter Bradford. Lucas' tract began "at a hickory standing upon a knowl corner to Peter Bradford ..." Another of Lucas' corners was described as "a large black oak corner to Edwd. Mercer".
On 6 and 7 August 1771, Richard Mercer sold 200 acres--presumably these--to James Verdier.
On 8 October 1781 Richard Mercer was a witness to the will of Edward Mercer (d.1783).
So then. Was the Richard Mercer of Shepherdstown also the Richard who was the son of Edward Mercer (d.1763), or were they two distinct individuals?? If two individuals, then what became of Richard who was the son of Edward Mercer (d.1763)? For that matter, what later became of Richard Mercer of Shepherdstown?
Nicholas Mercer
A Nicholas Mercer appears in Orange (later Frederick) County in 1742 in two payments made by James Wood:
http://www.handleyregional.org/handley_old/archives/wood,%20james%20173.htm
Stewart Bell Jr. Archives Room
Handley Regional Library / Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society
James Wood Family Papers, 173 WFCHS
...
Payments Made by James Wood Sr., 1740-1744—Box 2
Name Goods/Services Date Size (cm)
Nicholas Mercer Payment by J. Wood 1742 (6 x 14)
Nicholas Mercer Payment for black horse 1742 (6 ½ x 18 ½)
See also
https://books.google.com/books?id=guS_QwTKdp8C&pg=PA374&lpg=PA374&dq="Nicholas+Mercer"
The Planting of New Virginia: Settlement and Landscape in the Shenandoah Valley
Warren R. Hofstra
JHU Press, Aug 18, 2005 - Architecture - 432 pages
page 374
Note 23. ... Receipt of Nicholas Mercer, July 9, 1742, Receipts, 1738-56, James Wood Family Papers; ...
O'Dell (Pioneers, p.50) wrote, "Nicholas [Mercer] was in Orange County, Virginia, on 28 August 1742 when he was the defendant in a suit of petition brought by Arthur Buchanan."
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/05-r32.pdf
FREDERICK COUNTY ROAD ORDERS 1743-1772
p.24
4 March 1746 O. S., FOB 2, p. 207
Nicholas Mercer is hereby Appointed Overseer of the Road from Opecken to David Loyd’s in
the Room of Thomas Hart And its Ordered that the said Nichs Mercer cause the said Road to be
kept in good Repair According to Law --
p.37
9 March 1748 O. S., FOB 3, p. 56
Abraham Vanmetre is hereby Appointed Overseer of the Road from Simon Linders to Old Loyds
in the Room of Nicholas Mercer & it is Ordered that the Tithables which worked under the said
Mercer work under the said Vanmetre & that the said Vanmetre cause the said Road to be kept in
good repair According to Law --
O'Dell (Pioneers, p.134) wrote, "Anna Lilburn's will (written 23 August 1748 and proved 17 December 1748) listed daughter Anna McMachen with son Francis as Executor; witnesses were Nicholas Mercer, John Lemon and Peter Bradford."
Nicholas Mercer and Edward Mercer (d.1783) received land grants just one day apart in October 1751. Their two tracts were only about a mile apart and are more fully discussed below in "The Rocky Marsh Land" section.
On 2 June 1755, William Campbell promised to pay Nicholas Mercer ten pounds:
Series VIII. General Debt Notes and Correspondence, 1736-1793
...
Box 4
Folder 24 William Campbell’s debt to Nicholas Mercer, June 2, 1955
Digitized Content [PDF - 204 KB]:
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/u/ulsmanuscripts/pdf/31735061276188.pdf
Transcription:
I Promise to pay or Cause to be paid to Nichols. Mercer
his heirs or Assigns the just and full Sum of ten pounds
Current money of Virginia at or before the fifth Day
of Novbr. in the year of our Lord 1756 for Value Recd.
to the which payment well and truly to be made
and Lone. I Do hereby Bind me my heirs Extrs. Admd.
and Assigns in the penal Sum of twenty Pounds
like money in Witness Whereof I have hereunto
Set my hand and Seal this 2. Day of June 1755
Signed Seald and Delvrd.
in ye presents of us
H.[?] Heath Willm. Campbell (Seal)
Dugall Campbel
----------
On 9 August 1758, Nicholas and Edward Mercer were chain carriers for Nicholas Lemen's resurvey of 570 acres on the wagon road leading from Potomack to Winchester in the Barrens, adjoining Nicholas Mercer, John Wright, and John Hiatt.
On 6 and 7 Aug 1770, Nicholas Mercer witnessed the sale of 4 acres on "Vanmetres Marsh" from John Clawson to Thomas Thornborough. (Frederick Co. DB 13, p.378 & 379)
On 3 August 1779, an Edward “Mecrer”, John Clawson, and Adrian Wynkoop appraised the estate of Francis Thornberry. (Berkeley Co. will book 1, p.168)
See the "Bill of appraisment of the estate of Francis Thornberry Decd." at
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-H59H-JL?i=103&cc=1909099
West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971 > Berkeley > Will book, v. 001 1772-1788
p.168 [Image 104 of 279]
On 13 August 1785, a Nicholas Mercer was one of the witnesses to the will of William Kerney, written in Berkeley County. The will was proved in court 16 October 1787 by the oaths of the executors James and John Kerney and the witnesses Nicholas Mercer and Thomas Watson. This Nicholas might have been the son Edward Mercer (d.1783).
See the will of William Kerney at
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-H598-4X?i=261&cc=1909099
West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971 > Berkeley > Will book, v. 001 1772-1788
p.465-466 [Image 262 of 279]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lemon Brothers
There were three Lemon/Lemen brothers--John, Nicholas, and Robert--whose names sometimes appear in documents also mentioning Edward Mercer.
However, they do not appear to be related to James Lemen, the brother-in-law of Edward Mercer (d.1783).
Nicholas Lemon
Nicholas Lemon' wife was named Christian.
"The children of Nicholas Lemen and Christian Lemen, his wife, were John, born December 14, 1749; Robert, born November 6, 1750; Nancy, born March 4, 1754; Mary, born January 7, 1756; Thomas, born February 4, 1758, and James, born November 20, 1760. The latter was the Rev. James Lemen, Sr., who became the founder of the Lemen family in Illinois. ... Nicholas Lemen died at his home in West Virginia on July 20, 1761, and in due time his widow, Christian Lemen, married Rev. Henry Eaty of Virginia. From this union there were two children born, namely, Sebastian Eaty and a little daughter who died in infancy."
[source: Lemen, Frank B., History of the Lemen family, of Illinois, Virginia, and elsewhere (1898), pages 15-16.]
See https://books.google.com/books?id=MygxAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA15&dq="Lemen"+"Christian" ]
On page 523, Frank B. Lemen had added that "Nicholas Lemen's health began to fail in 1760, and eventually being admonished that his recovery was very uncertain, he made a will bearing date May 8, 1761, making such provisions for his wife and children as he deemed satisfactory. The witnesses were Richard Mercer and Mary Mercer. "
It has been inferred that Mary Mercer must have been Richard's wife. If so, then she died and he remarried, for we know that by 8 November 1764 his wife's name was Receccah.
[There is a 30 Sept 1938 article about Nicholas Lemen, the son of Robert Lemen, who was the son of Nicholas and Christian Lemen. It can be viewed online at https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=966&dat=19380930&id=49QkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rg8GAAAAIBAJ&pg=1272,585392&hl=en .
The last of part of the article reads, "He was the son of Robert and Esther Banes Lemen, and the grandson of Nicholas and Christina Lemen, this last Nicholas having surveyed a tract of 570 acres of land in Frederick county, Virginia, now Jefferson West Virginia, in 1746 which was conveyed to him by Thomas Lord Fairfax by crown grant in 1756. This land was the Lemen farm, upon a part of which stands the village of Kearneysville, and which remained in the Lemen family until purchased by Dr. White several years ago. The old house, a story and a half of logs, was replaced by a brick house, now standing in 1880 by John Kearfott, a grandson of Robert Lemen, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War."]
John Lemon
In September 1749, "Phillip Babb sued John Lemon for £17 16s. 3d. Pennsylvania money 'or the valey of it in Lenon Cloth good Merchant yard wid eight hundert Lenen' ".
On 11 November 1752, John Lemon obtained a grant for 327 acres which adjoined the southern side of Edward Mercer's 275-acre tract on Rocky Marsh Run.
In late 1754 or early 1755, John Lemen had a survey made for 100 acres adjoining his own land. He received a grant for this tract on 21 September 1762. The tract also adjoined Jacob Vanmeter, Edward Lucas, William Foster, "Nichols" Mercer, and Edward Mercer.
John Lemon wrote his will in Berkeley Co., Virginia on 2 April 1774. It was proved in court four and a half months later on 16 August 1774. He named his three youngest sons John, James, and William. He named his wife [Jane] and son Alexander his executors. The witnesses were John Taylor, David Osborn, and Mary Mercer. The will was proved in court four and a half months later on 16 August 1774 by the oaths of Jane Lemon the Executrix and the witnesses John Taylor and Mary Mercer. [Was this Mary Mercer the wife of Edward Mercer??] On 16 June 1778, an inventory and appraisement of John Lemen's estate listed Edward Mercer as one of the appraisers.
An "Account Current" of John's estate, dated 14 August 1780, lists this entry:
1780 June 2 To Richard Mercer 3,, 2,, 6 [i.e. 3 pounds, 2 shillings, 6 pence]
Robert Lemon
Robert Lemon's wife was named Isabella.
On 3 and 4 September 1754, Nicholas Mercer (no wife mentioned) sold 425 acres north of present-day Kearneysville in Jefferson Co., VA to Robert Lemon (Frederick County Deed Book 3, p.344 and 345). On 2 and 3 September 1762, Robert Lemen and his wife Isabella sold the northernmost 116 acres of the 425 acre tract to William Heath. On 1 and 2 April 1765, Robert and Isabella Lemen sold to John Duke an adjoining 164 acres of the 425 acre tract. (Frederick Co., DB 10, p.219 & 220)
Earlier a Robert Lemen (presumably the same as above) had owned land north of and in Winchester. On 24 February 1747 John Hardin had sold to Robert Lemen a tract of 380 acres "on the Western side of Opechon & on a Branch of the same Called the Red Bud Branch ..." (Frederick County Deed Book 1, p.353 & 355) Then, as previously noted, on 3 June 1748, Robert Lemen sold, from this tract, 200 acres to James Lemen and 80 acres to Mercer Babb. Seven years later on 4 June 1755, Robert Lemen (no wife mentioned) sold 64 of the 380 acres to Andrew Caldwell. At the same time Caldwell sold to Robert Lemen Lots No. 28 and 7 in the town of Winchester. Robert Lemen sold these two lots to Daniel Bush on 2 & 3 October 1758. (Frederick Co., DB 5) [This transaction should be to see if a wife is named.]
In a debt from Robert Lemen to George Mason and the Ohio Company, dated July 6, 1752, it is learned that Robert Lemen was an innholder (innkeeper). This debt was witnessed by James Lemen and Thos. Lemen (son of James).
Series III. George Mason, 1750-1785
...
Box 2
Folder 52 Robert Lemen’s debt to George Mason and the Ohio Company, July 6, 1752
Digitized Content [PDF - 386 KB]:
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/u/ulsmanuscripts/pdf/31735060250655.pdf
Transcription:
Know -- all men by these Presents That I Robert Lemen
of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia Inholder[= inn holder = inn keeper]
am held and firmly bound unto George Mason of the County of Fairfax
in the Colony of Virginia Gent for the use of the Ohio Company in the Sum
of one Hundred and fifty Pound Seventeen Shiling and Aight pence
Lawfull money of Virginia to be paid to the said George Mason or his
assigns for the use aforesaid to the which Payment well and truly to be made
of bind my Self my heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by theSe
presents Sealed with my Seil Dated the Sixth Day of July
Anno Domini 1752
The Condition of the above Obligations is such That if the above bounded
Robert Lemen his Hairs[heirs] Executors
ad.[and] Administrators do and Shall well and truly pay or Caus to be paid
unto the Said George Mason or his Assigns for the use of the Said
Ohio Company the Sum of Seventy five pounds Aight Shillings
and ten pence Lawfull money aforesaid on or before the
tenth Day of this instent[instant] with Legel intrist[interest] from the Dait hereof
then the above Obligation to be Vide[void?] otherwise to remain in in full
Force and Vesture
Signed Sealed and Delivered
in the Presents of
James Lemen Robert Lemen
Thos. Lemen
-----------
"Robert Lemmon" and "Isabel Lemmon" were witnesses to James Lemen's will, written on 1 June 1757.
O'Dell (Pioneers, p.51) says "Robert and Isabella were in Jefferson County, Kentucky by 9 September 1786 when their son Robert wrote his will, leaving 224 acres on Brashears Creek to them and two pounds money to each of his brothers and sisters: John, Samuel, Lucy Newland and Isabella Cox; also two pounds were willed to niece Jean Stevenson. ... "
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Rocky Marsh Land
As mentioned previously, on 11 Oct 1751 Edward Mercer (d.1783) obtained a grant for 275 acres adjoining Jacob Vanmeter:
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=44&last=&g_p=GH&collection=NN
Grant
Mercer, Edward. grantee.
Land grant 11 October 1751.
Location: Frederick County.
Description: 275 acres adjoining Jacob Vanmeter.
Source: Northern Neck Grants H, p. 44
On 11 November 1752, a John Lemon (aka Lemmon, Lemen) obtained a grant for 327 acres which adjoined the southern side of Mercer's 275-acre tract:
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=205&last=&g_p=GH&collection=NN
Grant
Lemmon, John. grantee.
Land grant 13 November 1752.
Location: Frederick County.
Description: 356 acres adjoining Edward Mercer, Nickolas Mercer, and Francis Lilborn.
Source: Northern Neck Grants H, p. 205 (Reel 293).
Original survey exists.
This John Lemon does not appear to have been related to James Lemen, the brother-in-law of Edward Mercer (d.1783). John did, however, have two brothers--Nicholas and Robert--who also obtained land in this general vicinity.
[Note: This 356-acre tract was resurveyed on 9 April 1764 and was found to contain 590 acres. He received a grant for the 590 acres on 1 November 1766.]
On 20 February 1754, Francis Lilborne (aka Lilborn, Lilbourn, Lilburn), the son of John Lilburn, obtained a grant of 212 acres which notched into the southwestern sides of Lemon's tract:
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=424&last=&g_p=GH&collection=NN
Grant
Lilborne, Francis. grantee.
Land grant 20 February 1754.
Location: Frederick County.
Description: 212 acres adjoining John Lemmon.
Source: Northern Neck Grants H, p. 424 (Reel 293).
Original survey exists.
On 10 October 1751--the day before Edward Mercer obtained his grant for 275 acres--a Nicholas Mercer received a grant for 425 acres:
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=43&last=&g_p=GH&collection=NN
Grant
Mercer, Nickolas. grantee.
Land grant 10 October 1751.
Location: Frederick County.
Description: 425 acres adjoining Francis Lilbourn.
Source: Northern Neck Grants H, p. 43 (Reel 293).
Original survey exists.
The northern boundary of this tract appears to adjoin the southern boundaries of Lemon's and Lilburn's tracts. That places it roughly a mile south of Edward Mercer's tract. Any relationship between Edward Mercer and Nicholas Mercer is unknown.
Evidently portions of Edward Mercer's, Lemon's, and Lilborn's tracts (but not Nicholas Mercer's) had belonged to a tract of 360 acres which had been surveyed in 1735. O'Dell summarizes the story:
"John Patton (b. 1693 c.) purchased a 360-acre tract of land for
40 pounds from John Lilbourn sometime around the year 1739. (Tract
86, Map 1) This land called Rocky Marsh was surveyed for Jost Hite
on 6 December 1735. John was deceased by or before 1750 when his
son and heir Samuel Patton sold the tract to Edward Mercer and John
Lemon. Mary Patton, wife of John and mother of Samuel, died
shortly after 1770."
[source: O'Dell, Cecil, Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia (1995), page 49.]
It is unclear to me how O'Dell determined that it was in 1750 when Samuel Patton sold this tract to Edward Mercer and John Lemen. (Perhaps something was mentioned in the original survey of Lemon's 356 acre tract.) His other details come from a British copy of the Hite-Fairfax land suit. An online summary of this land dispute is provided by Handley Regional Library:
http://www2.youseemore.com/handley/contentpages.asp?loc=394
Stewart Bell Jr. Archives Room
Handley Regional Library / Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society
...
The Hite-Fairfax Suit
The Hite-Fairfax Suit was begun in 1749 under the title of JOIST HITE ET AL. vs. LORD FAIRFAX ET AL. The records are contained in two
parts. The first part includes the formal record of the case; the second part, original notes upon which this formal draft was based. The suit
contains a long list of topics included in the litigation.
Debate began in 1749, and reached a climax in 1771 when the "cause" was fully argued and recorded at Williamsburg.
In summary, Jost Hite first obtained the land in the Valley of Virginia by assignment of 40,000 acres from John and Isaac VanMeter on
August 5, 1731. The VanMeters had previously secured their conditional grants by orders of the governor and council, dated June 17,
1730. The John VanMeter grant included 30,000 acres in all, located in the valley, enjoining the settlement of ten families. Broadly
interpreted, the territory was a vast tract of uncharted wilderness--exceeding 40,000 acres--and did not require Hite to locate his surveys
in a single, wide enclosure. He was allowed to scatter his settlement across the best and most favorably located tracts, leaving large
waste areas ungranted. This settlement policy was usual, as such had prevailed previously.
Lord Fairfax, however, considered it a "conspicuous trespass upon his proprietary rights," and the permissive policy of the colonial
authorities provided him with grounds for accusing Jost Hite of "gerrymandering" his claim into a "shoestring," frustrating the future
growth of the Valley settlements and making himself (Hite) and partners rich at the expense of others.
On the first judgment, Fairfax won the suit, but Hite appealed, and the trial went in his favor in June 1784. In 1786, judgment was returned
in favor of the Hites. By the time the final settlement was achieved around 1802, all of the principals to the cause were dead.
Below are excerpts from the British copy of the Hite/Fairfax land suit, which was cited by O'Dell:
https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/2126676?availability=Family%20History%20Library
Fairfax land suit : manuscript volumes relating to the disputed land in
Virginia belonging to Lord Fairfax with the surveys and the signatures of
The Earl of Dunmore
A digital version of Vol. 1:
https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1147196
[page 128 / 275]
...
The complaintants then produced to your Commissioners the Copy
of a Survey made by James Wood for Jost Hite December 6th 1735
for three hundred sixty acres of land lying on the south side
of Opeckon as a part of the grants made to John & Isaac Vanmetree
by the Governor and Council for forty thousand acres who
proceeded to inquire who were at this time in Possession of
the same[.] Burkett Reager John Lemen Edward Mercer & Jacob
Vandiver appeared and acknowledged that they held the Lands
contained in the said Survey which they claimed under Proprietary
Deed and further produced John Smith as a Witness & the Deposition
of Mary Patten to which and the said Smith's deposition we
refer. The Deposition of Mary Patton widow aged about seventy three
years. The Deponent deposes and saith that some time about the
year 1739 her husband John Patton deceased for the Consideration
of forty pounds did actually purchase from John Lilburn a
certain tract or dividend of Land called and known by the name
[page 129 / 275 or handwritten page 126]
of Rocky Marsh which was then in the county of Orange but
now the County of Frederick which said tract of Land was transferred
and sold by Samuel Patton son & heir at Law of the said John
Patton to Edward Mercer and John Lemen who are now in
Possession of the same and further saith not. Mary (her m mark) Patton.
Frederick to wit the above Deposition sworn to by Mary Patton
this 10th day of September 1770 before me Thomas Rutherford. This
Deposition was not taken before the Commissioners the woman
not being able to attend them and since dead. Mr Jacob Hite
one of the Grantors had notice given him by John Lemen of his
Intention of the time of taking the same as appeared by the Confession
of Thomas Hite who acts in behalf of the grantees which notice
he paid no regard to as the Commissioners could not be present --
Francis Peyton, Samuel Clayton, Thomas Marshall James Pendleton
...
Burkhart Reager was mentioned as an owner because on 4 September 1758 he had purchased Francis Lilburn's 212-acre tract.
On 22 March 1763 Edward Mercer received a grant for 327 acres which adjoined the north side of his 275-acre tract:
http://image.lva.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/GetLONN.pl?first=152&last=&g_p=GM&collection=NN
Grant
Mercer, Edward, Jr. grantee. [Note: the suffix "Jr." was no doubt used to distinguish him from Edward Mercer (d.1763).]
Land grant 22 March 1763.
Location: Frederick County.
Description: 327 acres adjoining Jacob Vanmeter’s land.
Source: Northern Neck Grants M, 1762-1765, p. 152 (Reel 295).
Original survey exists.
Jacob Vandiver was also mentioned as an owner. He came from Somerset County, Province of East New Jersey in 1768. On 28 May 1768 he purchased a 141 acre tract from Robert Lucas which was corner to Edward Mercer. On 4 June 1768 he purchased a 311 acre tract which adjoined Francis Lilburn (now belonging to Burkhart Reager). A part of either or both tracts must have been within the original 360 acre tract that John Patton had purchased from John Lilburn.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Mercer's Rocky Marsh land was implicitly referred to in Samuel Kercheval's 1833 book A History of the Valley of Virginia:
https://books.google.com/books?id=xmlZAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq="Edward+Mercer"
A History of the Valley of Virginia
Samuel KERCHEVAL
1833
p.64
CHAPTER III.
First settlement of the valley.
...
p.66
...
In the year 1734, Richard Morgan obtained a grant
for a. tract of land in the immediate neighborhood of
Shepherdstown, on or near the Cohongoruton. Among
the first settlers on this water course and its vicinity,
were Robert Harper (Harpers-Ferry), William Stroop,
Thomas and William Forester, Israel Friend, Thomas
Shepherd, Thomas Swearengen, Van Swearengen,
James Forman, Edward Lucas, Jacob Hite,* John Le-
mon, Richard Mercer, Edward Mercer, Jacob Vanme-
ter and brothers, Robert Stockton, Robert Buckles, John
Taylor, Samuel Taylor, Richard Morgan, John Wright,
and others.
...
* One of Joist Hite's sons.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Deceptive Connection
William Heath was the brother-in-law mentioned in the will of John Mercer (d.1748), who was the son of Edward Mercer (d.1763).
Two witnesses to John Mercer's will had been Samuel Patton and Ruth Patton (his wife).
Samuel Patton had sold the "Rocky Marsh" tract to John Lemen and Edward Mercer.
On 3 and 4 September 1754, Nicholas Mercer (no wife mentioned) sold his 425 acre tract to Robert Lemon (Frederick County Deed Book 3, p.344 and 345).
On 2 and 3 September 1762, Robert Lemen and his wife Isabella sold the northernmost 116 acres of the 425 acre tract to William Heath.
Thus for a time William Heath lived (or at least owned land) about a mile south of Edward Mercer's 275 acre tract.
On 1 and 2 April 1765, Robert and Isabella Lemen sold to John Duke 164 acres of the 425 acre tract. These acres adjoined the southern boundary of William Heath's 116 acres. Witnesses to this transaction were William Heath and Jonathan Mercer. Presumably it was this Jonathan Mercer who witnessed Edward Mercer's will in 1781 and then in 1783 made the deposition about the Chapmans.
From this chain of events, one could easily conclude that the Edward Mercer who owned the Rocky Marsh land was the Edward Mercer who died in 1763, and that the Edward Mercer Jr. who received the adjoining land grant of 327 acres on 22 March 1763 was his son. Alternatively, when two individuals with the same name lived in the same county, they were often distinguished by the appellations Senior and Junior, even if unrelated. Evidence that the Edward Mercer who owned the Rocky Marsh land was the Edward Mercer who died in 1783 is shown in subsequent deeds.
But first let us show that Edward Mercer (d.1783) in Berkeley Co., VA could not have been the son of the Edward Mercer (d.1763) in Frederick Co., VA who lived near the Babbs. The latter Edward Mercer wrote his will on 20 September 1762. In it he bequeathed "unto my son Edward Mercer the plantation whereon I now Live containing two hundred and nine Acres and also a survey adjoining thereto containing Ninety six Acres of Land to him his Heirs and assigns forever." (This was land northwest of Winchester and neighboring the Babbs.) That his son and heir Edward had no children is evidenced by the remark in the will which states,"I also Will that if my above named son Edward Mercer should dye without issue that my youngest son Aaron Mercer shall then become sole heir of my Land and plantation whereon I now live ..."
However, other evidence indicates that Edward Mercer (d.1783) did have children by 1762. For example, his daughter Blanch Mercer Babb had children born in the middle 1760's.
===================================================================================================
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edward Mercer Sells Part of His Rocky Marsh Land
By lease and release dated 2 and 3 April 1769, Edward Mercer and Mary his wife of Frederick County sold to Alexander Lockey and Thomas Bright 372 acres from his two Rocky Marsh tracts of 275 acres and 327 acres (Frederick County Deed Book 12, p.655 and 656).
An excerpt from the release says:
"... all that Piece, Parcel, or tract of Land Containing Three hundred Seventy &
Two acres lying in said County on Vanmeters Back Marsh[,] it being part of two Tracts
of Land adjoining each other granted to the said Edward Mercer by two Deeds from under the
hand of the Right honourable Thomas Lord Fairfax[,] the first Containing Two hundred &
Seventy five acres bearing date the Eleventh day of October ADm. One thousand Seven hundred
& fifty one[,] the Latter Containing Three hundred Twenty and Seven acres bearing date
the Second day of March ADm. One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty three as may appear
which said three hundred Seventy Two acres of Land is Bounded as Follows Vizt.
... "
By lease and release dated 2 and 3 December 1770, Alexander Lackey and Hannah his wife and Thomas Bright of Frederick County sold these 372 acres to John Jasper (Frederick County Deed Book 14, p.63 and 65).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Will of Edward Mercer of Berkeley County, Virginia
(In 1772, Berkeley County was created from the northern part of Frederick County. After that Edward Mercer was a resident of Berkeley County.)
Edward Mercer wrote his will on 8 October 1781. It was proved on 20 May 1783 (Berkeley County Will Book 1, p.311-313.).
Names mentioned in his will:
son Nicholas
son Edward
grandson Francis Jones
daughters Mary Jane Margaret, other daughters Blanch Ruth Rebeccah and Nancy
wife Mary
executors: friend Adrian Wynkoop, wife Mary, son Nicholas Mercer
witnesses: John Lemen, Richard Mercer, William Duncan, Jonathan Mercer
A Memorandum of the Estate of Edward Mercer Deceased (i.e., his inventory and appraisment) is on p.323-324 of Will Book 1:
Inventory and appraisment dated 25 August 1783
amount: 115 pounds 9 shillings 3 pence
recorded 16 September 1783
The actual images can be viewed online at
West Virginia, Will Books, 1756-1971>Berkeley>Will book, v. 001 1772-1788 >
His will appears on Images 178 and 179 of 279
His inventory and appraisment appear on Image 185 of 279.
Transcription of the will of Edward Mercer
Berkeley County Will Book v. 1
p.311
In The Name of God Amen know all persons by these presents That I Edw=
=ard Mercer of Berkeley County in the Commonwealth of Virginia being in health
and Sound memory and perfect Judgment (Blessed be God therefore) recollecting the
Fraility of life and Suceeding Eternity do and make this Eighth Day of October in the
year of our lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty One do make publish and
Declare this to be my last will and Testament [rest of line covered by tape]
Imprimus I recommend my Soul to [rest of line covered by tape]
p.312
Earth from whence it came in hopes of a joyful resurrection through the merit and the
glorious atonement made in behalf of mankind by our Divine Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ and as for what worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I leave bequ=
=eath and bestow the whole thereof in manner as follows Vizt Secundo I leave give and
bequeath unto my Son Nicholas Mercer all and whole the middle meadow and from thence
Eastward to the joining line with vanmeters and all whole what is under fence to the
west line of what is bequeathed to my Son Edward bordering to Adrean Wynkoops Plantation
and that of John Lemen Deceased Tertio Item I give leave and bequeath unto my Grand=
=Son Francis Jones Twenty Acres of land to be given and delivered to him by Son Nicholas Mer
=cer to be taken off or from the North East end of my Plantation adjoining Vanmeters Line
Quarto I leave give and bequeath unto my Son Edward Mercer all and whole the
west part of my plantation that is to say the whole Lower meadow and all the land
belonging to me that is under fence to the west end of my Plantation according to the
lines thereof and woodlands thereof and appertaining thereto Quinto It is my
will that for enabling my Said Sons Nicholas and Edward above named to man=
age and perform what is or may be riquisite to form in an useful manner to them Selves
I do give leave and bequeath unto them two Cows my waggon with all the Gear
and appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining and two plows Sexto It is my
will that if either of my Sons Nicholas Mercer or Edward Mercer Should
Sell or dispose or Bargain to Sell all or any part of the lands hereby Demised
and bequeathed to them after my Decease that then and in Such a Case that the
one half of the money arising from Such a Sale or Sales Shall be equally Divided
amongst my Daughters after mentioned or to their Heirs Septimo I leave and bequ=
=eath all my Personal or Moveable Chattells or effects Devised &
bequeathed to be appraised and equally Divided and Shared amongst my
Daughters Mary Jane Margaret my other Daughters Blanch Ruth Rebeccah
and Nancy having allready received their portion of my Inheritance but it is my
will and I leave to each of them my Said Daughters Blanch Ruth and Reb=
eccah [note: Nancy is not mentioned] in a token of my rememberance the Sum of ten Shillings to be paid in
Gold or Silver to be paid out of my moveable Estate Octo I leave unto my
beloved wife Mary During her lifetime besides what the Law allows the enjoyment
of the Lower meadow a House and a Cow to be Chosen by her self and the use
of the framed Room in my House and the Cupboard or press therein During
her life No. It is my will that all my Just Debts DeathBed and funeral
expenses and Charges Shall first be paid out of my Estate to be deducted in
equal proportion from my legatees above mentioned my widow only excepted
Decimo & Lastly for the more Sure performance of this my last will and Tes=
-tament and the Due execution thereof I do hereby nominate make constetute ordain
and appoint my Trusty and well beloved Friend Adrean wynkoop my well belov=
ed wife Mary and my Son Nicholas Mercer to be my only True and Lawful
Executors for Carrying this my last will and Testament into Due Execution
according to the true intent and meaning thereof hereby revoking rescinding dis=
=annulling all former wills or Testaments by me heretofore made In Witness
whereof I the Said Edward Mercer have hereunto affixed my hand and Seal
Day and year first above written
Edward Mercer (Ls)
Signed Sealed and Delivered by the Testater for by and as his last will and Testament
in the presence of us
John Lemen Richard Mercer William Duncan Jonathan Mercer
At a court held for Berkeley County the 20th Day of May 1783
p.313
This last will and Testament of Edward Mercer Deceased was presented in Court by
Adrian wynkoop and Nicholas Mercer the Executors and may[sic-Mary] Mercer the Executrix
therein named who made oath thereto according to Law and the Same being
proved by the oaths of John Lemen and Jonathan Mercer witnesses thereto and
ordered to be Recorded and upon the motion of the Said Executors who entered into
Bond with Wm Lemen and John Lemen their Securities in the Penalty of one
Thousand pounds conditioned for their True and faithful administration of the
Said Estate Certificate is granted them for attaining a Probate thereof in Due
form of Law
Teste
Examined Will Drew Clk
=======================================
Notes on names of individuals mentioned in the will
John Lemen and William (Wm) Lemen were sons of John Lemen Deceased, who had died in 1774.
On 23 May 1783, just three days after the will was proved, widow Mary Mercer gave her deposition regarding the Chapman family.
The next day, Jonathan Mercer gave his deposition regarding the Chapman family.
Richard Mercer was probably the Richard Mercer whose wife was named Rebeccah.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sons of Edward Mercer: Nicholas and Edward
Both sons, Nicholas and Edward, were deceased by March 1800, neither one leaving any heirs. Nicholas died first, and Edward inherited his brother's land.
There is no record of when Nicholas died. Edward appeared in the Berkeley County 1799 personal property tax list of Daniel Morgan. But the inventory and appraisement of Edward's estate began as early as 8 March 1800:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18272-74021-12?cc=1909099&wc=M6DJ-CM3:179688601,179741501
West Virginia, Will Books, 1756-1971>Berkeley>Will book, v. 003 1796-1805, p.285-7 [Images 164-165]
p.285 [image 164 of 398]
in the left margin: Mercer Edward Appr.
In Obedience to an order of court to us directed we Adrian Wyncoop
John Lemen and Jeptha Martin being first sworn have met the Eighth
day of mach[sic-March] 1800 and appraised the estate of Edward Mercer desd.
or so much thereof as has been brought to our view
...
p.286 [image 165 of 398]
...
At a court held for Berkeley County the 21st day of April
1800 this Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Edward
Mercer Desd. Was returned into court and ordered to be recorded
by the court
...
==================
in the left margin: Mercer Edward Sales
Inventory of the Sale of the Estate of Edward Mercer Desd.
by Thomas Cox & Francis Jones admrs. April 14th 1800
Names articles Sold
...
[some names of purchasers: Francis Jones, John Randal, Thomas Cox]
p.287
...
At a court held for Berkeley County the 21st day of April
1800 this Account of the Estate of Edward Mercer Desd.
was returned into court and ordered to be recorded by the court
West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971 > Berkeley > Will book, v. 004 1805-1812
p.6-7 [image 11 of 293]
in the left margin: Edwd Mercers Acct. Current
The Estate of Edward Mercer decd in Acct. with Thomas Cox and Frances Jones the
Auditors thereof
1800
Mar 22d. ...
...
Apl 3d To Do[i.e. cash] paid William Eaty for Coffin . . . . . . . . . . . 10 00
...
August 3d to Do[cash]pd. expences of burying the decedent . . . 8 71
...
...
At a Court held for Berkeley County the 23d day of December 1805
This Account Current of the Estate of Edward Mercer decd was returned into Court and ordered
to be Recorded
[Note: Thomas Cox was married to Margaret, daughter of Edward Mercer and Mary Lemen, on 25 Oct 1786 in Berkeley Co. by Hugh Vance.
See http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_mcdetail.aspx?Id=12503686 ]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Six or Seven Daughters of Edward Mercer
With the death first of Nicholas and then of Edward, the daughters became equal heirs to the land which Edward the father had bequeathed to his two sons in 1781. They sold off their shares independently of each other. In the unpunctuated list of his daughters Edward had named seven: Mary, Jane, Margaret, Blanch, Ruth, Rebeccah, and Nancy. However, deeds of sale made by daughters Jane and Blanch, stated that each had an undivided one-sixth share, indicating that there were only six daughters. So either one daughter had died without heirs in the meantime, or perhaps one daughter had a compound name. Specifically, instead of two daughters Mary and Jane, there was just one daughter named Mary Jane. That would reduce the number from seven to six. But records mention only a Jane and not a Mary Jane. So perhaps one of the daughters had died without having children who would be heirs in her right.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVB-29W1-H?i=57&cat=81287
Film # 008135151
Jefferson Co., West Virginia
Deed book index
Page 47 [Image 58 of 534]
1801 Cox Thomas & wife to Kearney deed v.1 p.8 [see below]
p.145 [Image 109 of 534]
1801 Kerney James from Thomas Cox and wife deed v.1 p.8
1801 Kerney James to L. Marshall deed v.1 p.35 [see below]
1802 Kerney James from Blanch McMullen & others deed v.1 p.502 [See below]
p.174 [Image 125 of 534]
1803 Mercer Jane to Francis Jones B&S v.1 p.500 [See below]
p.176 [Image 126 of 534]
1801 Marshall Lindsey from James Kerney Inst: of writing[?] v.1 p.35
[Note: Lindsey Marshall was the husband of Nancy Mercer, a daughter of Edward Mercer Sr. (d.1783)]
=======================
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37T-RFDG?i=27&cat=81287
Jefferson Co., WV Deed Book v.1
p.8-11 [Images 28-29 of 602]
2 December 1801
Thomas Cox and Margaret his wife to James Kerney
For six hundred dollars, “one undivided sixth part
of a certain tract or parcel of land situate lying and being
in the counties of Jefferson and Berkeley in the State afore
=said [i.e., Virginia] being part of that intire tract of land devised by
Edward Mercer Senior the father of the Said Margaret, …”
=======================
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37T-RXWM?i=40&cat=81287
Jefferson Co., WV Deed Book v.1
p.35-36 [Images 41-42 of 602]
24 Aug 1801
Lindsey Marshall and Nancy his wife to James Kerney
“Whereas Lindsey Marshall and Nancy his wife by their certain
Indenture of bargain and Sale and General Warrentee dated
the twenty fourth day of August one thousand eight hundred
and one did convey unto the undersigned James Kerney one undiv
=ided sixth part of a certain tract or parcel of land lying and
being in the county of Berkeley in the State of Virginia being a
part of that intire tract divised by Edward Mercer Senior the
father of the said Nancy, …”
=======================
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37T-RJ9J?i=273&cat=81287
Jefferson Co., WV Deed Book v.1
p.500-502 [Images 274-275 of 602]
p.500
This Indenture made the second day of August in
the year 1803 between Jane Mercer, daughter of Edward
Mercer Senr. and sister of Edward Mercer Junr. deceased
of Jefferson county and state of Virginia of the one
part and Francis Jones of said Jefferson county and
state aforesaid of the other part Witnesseth that
for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred
dollars in hand paid to the said Jane Mercer by the said
Francis Jones at or before the sealing and delivery of these
presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged she
the said Jane Mercer hath granted bargained sold
aliened released and confirmed and by these presents
doth grant bargain sell alien release and confirm unto
the said Francis Jones and his heirs an undivided
sixth part of a certain tract or parcel of land situ
=ate lying and being partly in the county of Jeffer
=son aforesaid and partly in the county of Berkeley
and state aforesaid being a part of that entire tract
of land devised by Edward Mercer Senr. aforesaid
one moiety[one half] thereof to his son Nicholas Mercer now
deceased and the other moiety thereof to his son Edward
Mercer Junr. now deceased also as by the last Will and
testament of said Edward Mercer Senr. deceased bearing
date the 8th day of October 1781 and duly admitted of
record in Berkeley court will more fully appear which
p.501
said undivided sixth part of the aforesaid entire tract
the said Jane Mercer became entitled to as one of the
sisters and coheiresses of the said Edward Mercer Junr. decd.
who in his life time became entitled to the whole of the
aforesaid entire tract of land by the death of his brother
the aforesaid Nicholas Mercer deceased to whom as afore
=said one moiety thereof had been devised by the said
Edward Mercer Senr. decd. ...
p.502
...
signed sealed and del } her
livered in presence of } Jane + Mercer /Ls/
James Kerney Garret Wynkoop mark
Adrian Wynkoop Thomas Cox
...
=======================
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37T-RXJX?i=274&cat=81287
Jefferson Co., WV Deed Book v.1
p.502-505 [Images 275-276 of 602]
p.502
This Indenture made this second day of August
in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred
and three Between Blanche McMullen late Blanche
Babb widow and relict of Thomas Babb deceased and
a daughter of Edward Mercer Senr. decd. Thomas
Babb and Mercer Babb sons of said Blanche and
Thomas Babb decd. all of Frederick County and state
of Virginia of the one part and James Kerney
of the county of Jefferson and state aforesaid
of the other part Witnesseth that for and in consi
=deration of the sum of five hundred and fifty
dollars in hand paid to the said Blanche McMullen
Thomas Babb and Mercer Babb by the said James
Kerney at or before the sealing and delivery of these
presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledg
=ed they the said Blanche McMullen Thomas Babb
and Mercer Babb have granted bargained sold aliened re
=leased and confirmed and by these presents do grant
bargain sell alien release and confirm unto the said
James Kerney and his heirs an undivided sixth part
of a certain tract or parcel of land situate lying
and being partly in the county of Jefferson and partly
in the county of Berkeley and state of Virginia aforesaid
p.503
being a part of that entire tract of land devised by Edw
=ard Mercer Senr. aforesaid one moiety[one half] thereof to his son
Nicholas Mercer now decd. and the other moiety thereof to his
son Edward Mercer Junr. now also decd. as by the last
Will and testament of said Edward Mercer Senr. decd.
bearing date the 8th day of October 1781 and duly ad=
=mitted of record in Berkeley court will more fully
appear which said undivided sixth part of the aforesaid
entire tract the said Blanche became entitled to as
one of the sisters and coheiresses of the said Edward
Mercer Junr. decd. who in his life time became entitled to
the whole of the aforesaid entire tract of land by the
death of his brother the aforesaid Nicholas Mercer
to whom as aforesaid one moiety thereof had been de
=vised by the said Edward Mercer Senr. deceased ...
...
p.504
...
signed sealed and del } Blanche McMullen /Ls/
livered in presence of } Thomas Babb /Ls/
Francis Jones Thomas Cox Mercer Babb /Ls/
Garret Wynkoop Adrean
Wynkoop
...
Notes on Blanche Mercer's daughter Charlotte from her second marriage:
Blanche Mercer Babb McMullen had a daughter named Charlotte McMullen. She married George Green in 1798:
Frederick County, Virginia, Marriages, 1771-1825
Eliza Timberlake Davis
Genealogical Publishing Com, 1941 - Reference - 129 pages
p.5
Green, George & Charlotte Babb April 25, 1798.
Surety, - Thomas Babb. Blanche Babb mother to
Thomas Babb.
Charlotte Green and her family moved to Union Township, Clinton County, Ohio.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15862280
Child of _?_ McMullen and Blanch (Mercer) Babb:
1. Charlotte McMullen (recorded as Charlotte Babb in [Frederick Co. VA Order
Book 22]) was b. 1782, m. 26 April 1798 George Green by James Walls,
Minister, [Frederick Co., VA Bk. 15, pg. 46]. Blanch accompanied the Greens
removed to Clinton Co., OH in October 1810, according to an affidavit made
by Henry Mercer Green.
George Green died in 1824:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ML-N9ZX-G?i=106&wc=S2HQ-DPF%3A266278901%2C266570102%3Fcc%3D1992421&cc=1992421
Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996 > Clinton Wills 1810-1851
Book A, No.1.
pages 17-18 [Images 107-108 of 441]
The Last Will & Testament of George Green deceased
[written 30 April 1824, proved 9 Aug 1824, recorded 25 Sept 1824]
[Note: the names and number of his children are not given]
... to my beloved Wife Charlotte Green ...
... my Younges[t] Child ...
... one or more of my Sons ...
And Lastly I nominate and appoint my beloved Wife Charlotte Green Executrix
and Thomas Babb Junior son of Thomas Babb Esq Senior, the Executor of this my
last Will and Testament ...
witnesses: Nathan Linton, George Hartman, Garner Hartman, James Hartman
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5D-RTF
Charlotte Green
United States Census, 1830
Name Charlotte Green
Event Type Census
Event Date 1830
Event Place Union, Clinton, Ohio, United States
Page 205
2 males 5-10, 1 male 15-20, 4 males 20-20; 1 female 40-50
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTR-T8B
Charlotte Green
United States Census, 1840
Name Charlotte Green
Event Type Census
Event Date 1840
Event Place Union Township, Clinton, Ohio, United States
Page 296
1 male 15-20, 3 males 20-30; 1 female 50-60
Charlotte Green died in 1848, evidently between February 5th and November 9th:
Wilmington Clinton Republican
Saturday, February 26, 1848, Wilmington, Ohio
page 3 of 4
column 7 of 8
...
Notice.
THERE will be sold at public auction
on the 1st day of March next, 57
acres of land more or less: now occu--
pied by Charlotte Green, in Union town-
ship, Clinton county, lying about three
miles west of Wilmington near the turn-
pike road. Terms made known on the
day of sale; where due attendance will
be given by
CHARLOTTE GREEN, and
THOMAS BABB. JR.
Feb. 5th, 1848.— 4t.
-----------------------------------------------------
Wilmington Clinton Republican November 11, 1848
page 3 of 4
column 3
...
--------------------------------------------------------------
Public Sale .
THERE will be offered for sale on the 18th
instant, at the late residence of Charlotte
Green, dec’d., about three miles west of Wil-
mington, the following property, to-wit:
1 COW and a lot of CORN, and other
grain—HOUSEHOLD and KITCHEN
FURNITURE,
and other articles too tedious to mention . The
FARM will also be offered for sale on the
same day. Sale to commence at tea o’clock
of said day, where the terms will be made
known, and due attendance given by
THOMAS BABB, Jr.
Nov. 9th, 1848.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Charlotte's children have not been traced.
Apparently she had one son named Henry Mercer Green.
The above Thomas Babb Jr. was Charlotte's half-brother. He wrote his will in 1858:
Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996 Greene Wills 1854-1879 vol K-L
Images 88-89 of 699
p.111-113
Last will and testament of Thomas Babb of Caesar Creek Township
[typed text]
written 29 March 1848, proved 4 June 1858
son: James Wilson Babb
grandsons: Jacob Wilson Vanmeter, David James Vanmeter
son: Thomas Babb Jun.
granddaughter: Sally Ann Collett
son-in-law: Sollomon Van Meter
executors: Jacob Peterson senr. and my son Thomas Babb Junr.
witnesses: Matthew Jones, Jesse Peterson, Thomas Babb Junr.
excerpt:
"7th I give and devise unto my son Thomas Babb Jun. Seventy one and one
third acres of land on the same tract whare James V. Green now lives."
Could James V. Green have been another son of George Green and Charlotte McMullen?
-------------------------------------------
The Will of Jane Mercer, daughter of Edward Mercer
Jane Mercer wrote her will in Jefferson County, Virginia on 15 November 1803.
[The actual recorded will can be viewed online at
West Virginia Will Books, 1756-1971 Jefferson Will book, v. 001 1801-1813, p.291 [image 153 of 371] ]
The date when her will was proved is not given, but the index of wills indicates it was in 1806.
Jane mentioned the following individuals in her will:
niece Elizabeth Vardie - $200 ["Item, I give and bequeath to my Neice Elizabeth Vardie two hundred Dollars, ..."]
nephew Francis Jones - $100
two nieces Jane and Mary Cox - $50 "to be equally Divided between them"
niece Jane Mercer Randle - $100 "and my bed"
niece Sarah Ranols - "the moneys legacees in the hand of my nephew Francis Jones"
witnesses: Thos. Babb, Margaret Babb, Mary Mercer
For their signatures, Jane Mercer and Mary Mercer each made "her mark".
Notes on individuals mentioned in the will of Jane Mercer
Jane's nephew Francis Jones was the Francis Jones to whom she had sold her one-sixth share just a few months earlier. Edward Mercer (d.1783) had bequeathed 20 acres to his grandson Francis Jones.
Jane and Mary Cox were daughters of Jane's sister Margaret who had married Thomas Cox. Jane was born 4 May 1787 and married David Fields. Mary was born 1 July 1791 and married George Dobins.
Jane Mercer Randle was the daughter of Jane's sister Rebeccah who had married John Randall.
Thomas Babb was the son of Jane's sister Blanch Mercer Babb McMullen. His wife was Margaret Babb, daughter of James Wilson and Margaret Denny.
The other three individuals--niece Elizabeth Vardie, niece Sarah Ranols, and Mary Mercer--are more difficult to identify further.
Just who was Mary Mercer??? Was she Jane's sister Mary who, then it appears, also had remained unmarried? Could she possibly have been Jane's mother Mary Lemen Mercer, who would have been about 80 years old in 1803? What other Mary Mercers could there have been?
Sarah Ranols, presumably, was the daughter of an unidentified sister of Jane who had married a man named Rennells, Rannols, or Reynolds. Or perhaps instead, "Ranols" was now Sarah's married name.
There was an Elizabeth (or Eliza) Mercer who married Adam Verdier on 2 September 1802 in Jefferson County, Virginia. If she is the niece Elizabeth Vardie mentioned in Jane's will, then who were her parents? Could she have been born out-of-wedlock to an unmarried Mary Mercer??? Could she have been the child of the presumably deceased, seventh daughter of Edward Mercer?
Adam Verdier was the youngest son of James Verdier (also written as Verdee) of Shepherdstown.
For more on Elizabeth Mercer Verdier, see
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20230798
Elizabeth Mercer Verdier
Birth: Jul. 7, 1781
Jefferson County
West Virginia, USA
Death: Jun. 19, 1858
Clark County
Ohio, USA
Inscription: Wife of Adam Verdier -- Aged 76y, 11m, 12d
...
https://books.google.com/books?id=9v8-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA694&lpg=PA694&dq="Adam+Verdier"+"Mercer
The History of Clark County, Ohio: Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and
Prominent Men; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Map of Clark County; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, Etc. ...
W. H. Beers and Company, 1881 - Clark County (Ohio) - 1067 pages
p.693
PIKE TOWNSHIP.
...
p.694
Early Settlement.
... The next settlement of which we could gain any knowledge
was effected in Section 19, by Adam Verdier, some time during the year 1806.
Mr. Verdier was a man of family, having married Elizabeth Mercer. Both
were natives of Jefferson County, Virginia. where they were married and
whence they emigrated to the township of Pike. They left Virginia as early
as 1804 or 1805, but stopped for a while in what is now Montgomery County,
in this state. The southeast quarter of Section 19 was entered by Mr. Verdier.
In later years he became quite a heavy land owner, possessing nearly five hun-
dred acres in Champaign County, and a half section in Shelby County. The
mother died in 1858, and the father some years previously. Both are buried in the
p.695
Black graveyard. ...
When it comes to tracing the lines of all of Edward Mercer's daughters, more research (and verification) is called for. One important task is to locate the deeds of sale for the other four sisters who, besides Jane and Blanch, also inherited an undivided one-sixth share of the land formerly owned by their brothers.
In addition to purchasing his aunt Jane's share, Francis Jones presumably inherited his mother's share. So far, no will for Francis' father or mother has been found.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are book references to a named daughter of Edward Mercer.
Here is mention of Sarah, a daughter of Rebecca Mercer and John Randall:
http://files.usgwarchives.net/wv/berkeley/bios/roush.txt
or
https://books.google.com/books?id=4zUTAAAAYAAJ&q="Frederick+County"+"Edward+Mercer"
History of West Virginia, Old and New, Volume 3
James Morton Callahan
American historical society, Incorporated, 1923 - West Virginia
p.396 [left column]
...
... Conrad Roush learned the hatter's
trade, and thereafter became a successful hat manufacturer
at Martinsburg, where continued to be engaged until
his death. He married Sarah Randall, who was born in
Frederick County, Virginia, a daughter of John and Re-
becca (Mercer) Randall. John Randall was born in Fred-
erick County, Virginia, and thence went forth as a patriot
soldier in the Revolution. His wife was a daughter of Ed-
ward Mercer, whose will was one of the first recorded in
what is now Berkeley County, West Virginia.
...
[Note:
Marriage Record
Date: 08 Mar 1814
Place: Martinsburg, Berkeley, Virginia
Bride: Sarah Randel
Groom: Conrad Roush]
------------
For the children of Conrad Roush, see
https://books.google.com/books?id=Fnk_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA791&dq="Virginia"+"Conrad+Roush"
West Virginia and Its People, Volume 3
Thomas Condit Miller, Hu Maxwell
Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913 - West Virginia
p.791
...
-------------------------------------------
Here is mention of Jane, another daughter of Rebecca Mercer and John Randall:
Frederick County, Virginia: Settlement and Some First Families of Back Creek Valley, 1730-1830
Wilmer L. Kerns
Gateway Press, 1995 - Back Creek Valley (Frederick County, Va.) - 647 pages
p.458
...
George Purtlebaugh Jr. (1797-1869)
George Purtlebaugh Jr. was born at Brucetown, Frederick County,
in 1797 and died in January 1869. He lived most of his life in the
Gore-Hayfield section of the county. George's occupation was
coopering, which was a trade that built wooden containers such as
barrels, casks, and kegs.
p.459
George Jr. was thrice-married: (a) Deborah Babb, daughter of
Henry Mercer and Grace (McCool) Babb, March 8, 1823. She was
born Aug. 15, 1804 and died in March of 1842. (b) His second wife
was nee Jane Randall, widow of Elijah Long.7 Janes's parents were
John and Rebecca (Mercer) Randall. They were married on June 15,
1842, in Frederick County. (c) Third, he married Mary Loy, daughter
of Conrad and Catherine (Hannon) Loy, on June 16, 1859. ...
...
_______
7. Elijah and Jane (Randall) Long were married in 1825, and he died in 1828. Their
only child, Rebecca Long, married John Rinker on Sept. 11, 1839.
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRZF-3QJ
Rebecca Long
mentioned in the record of John Rinker and Rebecca Long
Name John Rinker
Spouse's Name Rebecca Long
Event Date 11 Sep 1839
Event Place Frederick, Virginia
Spouse's Mother's Name Jane Long
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Any connection to Gideon Mercer is known to be fraudulent.
Edward Mercer's father was NOT Gideon Mercer.
https://books.google.com/books?id=PTNGAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA60&dq="Thomas+Cox"+"Edward+Mercer"
The Cox Family in America: A History and Genealogy of the Older Branches of the
Family from the Appearance of Its First Representative in this Country in 1610
Henry Miller Cox
publisher not identified, 1912 - 669 pages
p.60
FAMILY OF THOMAS COX, OF BERKELEY COUNTY.
First Generation.
Thomas1 Cox,—ancestry unknown; said to have been a native of
Bucks County, Pennsylvania; born May 2, 1766; lived in Berkeley
County. Virginia, (now West Virginia); married, October 25, 1786,
Margaret, daughter of Edward and granddaughter of Gideon D.
Mercer. She was born in Berkeley County, May 9, 1759.
Thomas Cox was one of the executors of the will of his father-
in-law, Edward Mercer.** In his mature years he removed, with his
wife, to Miami County, Ohio. They died, and were buried in a
graveyard on the Andy Johnson farm, about two miles northwest
of Adison, Ohio. Their children preceded them to Ohio and settled
near Cincinnati, where many of their descendants still live.
Children: i. Jane, it. Mary. iii. George, iv. Edward M., v. Sarah
R., vi. Horatio F.
...
**Actually Thomas was an administrator of the estate of his brother-in-law Edward
Mercer Jr. rather than an executor of the estate of his father-in-law Edward Mercer Sr.
Second Generation.
Children Of Thomas1 Cox And Margaret Mercer, His Wife.
i. Jane2 Cox, (Thomas1),—born, May 4, 1787; married David
Fields.
ii. Mary2 Cox,—born, July 1, 1791; married George Dobins.
iii. George2 Cox, born. June 4, 1793: married Elizabeth Shot-
well.
iv. Edward M.2 Cox.—born, August 6, 1795; married Rebecca
Ball.
v. Sarah R.2 Cox,—born, June 23, 1800; married Porter Black.
vi. Horatio F.2 Cox,—born, February 9. 1803: married Rebecca
Johnson; lived and died on a farm near Mount Washington, Ohio,
both buried in Mt. Washington cemetery.
...
===========================================================================================
===========================================================================================
===========================================================================================
An interesting 1848 newspaper announcement highlights four of Thomas Babb and Blanche Mercer's children.
Wilmington Clinton Republican October 7, 1848, page 4, column 6
--------------------------------------------------
Court of Common Pleas.
Thomas Babb, Sr., }
vs. }
Mary Ann Darough, et a1. }
Mary Ann Darough, Thomas Babb, James
M. Babb, Henry M. Babb, Henry Mercer, Moses
Mercer, Aaron Mercer and Robert Mercer; and
the unknown heirs of Harriett Nevil, dec'd; Eliza
Reed, dec., Mary Anderson, dec'd; and of Deb-
orah Bartlebaugh, dec'd; will take notice that a
petition was filed against them on the 29th day of
July, A. D.,1848, in the court of Common
Pleas, within and for the county of Clinton and
State of Ohio, by Thomas Babb, sr., and is
now pending, wherein the said Thomas Babb,
sr., demands partition of the following Real
Estate, situate in the county of Clinton and
State of Ohio, and in the town of Wilmington
being the whole Lot No. 3, of Faulkner's addi-
tion to said town, as designated on the plat of
said town; and that at the next term of said
court application will be made by said Thomas
Babb, sr., for an order that partition may be
made of said premises.
THOMAS BABB. sr.
By David Linton, his Atty.
September 2d, 1848.
----------------------------------------------
The familial relationships between the various above named individuals is diagrammed below.
The Thomas Babb Sr. in the newspaper announcement was most likely Thomas Babb (1766-1758), the son of Thomas Babb and Blanche Mercer.
It has not been determined who originally owned Lot No. 3. (The Clinton County deed books need to be researched.) But perhaps it was Blanche Mercer Babb herself since the lot was divided between her children or their heirs.
Henry Mercer Babb died in 1820, but most of his children were listed in this lawsuit. His four daughters were deceased and the whereabouts of their heirs was unknown. Henry Mercer also had a son Thomas (b.1813), but it is presumed that that the Thomas Babb Senior mentioned referred to Henry Mercer's brother Thomas (who married Margaret Wilson) and not to his son.
Tamson Mercer was deceased by December 1805, and so her sons were listed.
Edward Mercer (d.1783) + Mary Lemen
|
Thomas Babb + Blanche Mercer
| | | |
Thomas Babb Sr. Henry Mercer Babb (dec'd) Mary Ann Derrough Tamson Mercer (dec'd)
| |
James McCool Babb, Henry Mercer,
Henry M. Babb, Moses Mercer,
Harriet Nevil (dec'd), Aaron Mercer,
Eliza Reed (dec'd), Robert Mercer.
Mary Anderson (dec'd),
Deborah Bartlebaugh (dec'd).
Harriet Babb Nevil, the first wife of Hiram Nevil/Neville, died in Greene County on 27 Aug 1835 at age 34.
[See http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=58767608 ]
By 1839 her children had moved with their father to Illinois.
Eliza Ann Babb married John Reed on 5 February 1813. No further information.
Deborah Babb Bartlebaugh, the first wife of George Purtlebaugh/Bartlebaugh died in May 1842 in Frederick County, Virginia. She had six surviving children and two who died young. In 1848 all of her children were living in Frederick and Berkeley Counties, Virginia.
Mary M. Babb married John Anderson on 25 November 1834 in Frederick County, Virginia. They had only one child, Nathan H., born about 1836. In the 1850 census John Anderson, age 58, and Nathan H., age 14, were still living in Frederick County. In 1860 Nathan was living in the household of Charles B. Rouss in Frederick County, John Anderson having presumably died previously. By 1866 Nathan had moved to Augusta County, Virginia. He married Mary M. Jameson at Staunton on 28 January 1866. Nathan was still alive in 1900 but apparently was deceased by 1910.
Mary Ann Babb Derrough
Mary Ann Babb had married Amos Derrough by May 1790 in Frederick County, Virginia.
Amos Derrough appeared in the 1810 census of Mason County, Kentucky. Their daughter Eliza Derrough married William McClure on 11 April 1810 in Mason County, Kentucky. Amos apparently died between 1810 and 1820.
Mary Ann Derrough--and the families of two of her children, the McClures and the Kirkpatricks--had lived in Beaver Creek Township, Greene County at least since 1820. But by the 1850 census, Mary Ann was living in the household of her widowed son-in-law Samuel D. Kirkpatrick in Champaign County, Ohio. In 1860 Mary Ann was living with the McClures in Tipton Township, Cass County, Indiana. She died there in 1863.
Tamson Babb Mercer
Tamson Babb had married Jonathan Mercer on 9 August 1790 in Frederick County, Virginia. It would seem that the couple must have left for Ohio immediately after getting married since records supposedly indicate that Jonathan Mercer purchased two lots in Losantiville (the original name of Cincinnati) in 1790. Note, however, that a Jonathan Mercer appeared next to the date of 11 May in the 1791 personal property list in Frederick County. Was this 1791 Jonathan a different person, say a nephew? Could he have purchased the Losantiville lots while still living in Virginia? Or could the lots have been purchased not in 1790 but at a slightly later date instead?
In 1796 Jonathan Mercer relocated from Cincinnati to "Mercer's station" on Mad River near present-day Fairfield in northwestern Greene County. One account says he was accompanied by two brothers. Jonathan died there about 1806.
In his will dated 17 Dec 1805 he named a daughter Mary Mercer (who married Samuel Cozad in 1806) and five sons Henry, Robert, Jonathan, Moses, Aaron. He also requested that "my body to be decently interred by the side of Thamason my late Wife". Note that Jonathan's son Robert had a daughter named "Tamson Ann".
Note that neither Mary Cozad (or her heirs) or Jonathan Mercer Jr. was listed in the above lawsuit.
It is supposed that Jonathan was a son of Aaron Mercer, the youngest son of the Edward Mercer who died in 1763 in Frederick County, Virginia. Aaron was certainly in Hamilton County, Ohio by 1793 when his named was listed in a road order. Aaron died in Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio in December 1800. Strangely, in his will Aaron mentioned only one son, Edward Mercer. Does that mean Jonathan was not the son of Aaron, or was he not mentioned because he had already been given his share? And if Edward was Jonathan's brother, then what about the other brother who also went with Joanthan to Mercer's station?? More research is needed. A careful examination should be made of all the Frederick County personal property tax lists for the period from 1781 to 1800.
Notes on Aaron Mercer and Jonathan Mercer in Ohio
Aaron Mercer
Aaron Mercer was still in Frederick Co., VA on the 12th day of the 11th month of 1788 when he signed as a witness the marriage certificate of Nathan Lupton and Margaret Rees.
See
https://books.google.com/books?id=9zUkpoA7Xl0C&pg=PA385&dq="Aaron+Mercer"
Hopewell Friends History, 1734-1934, Frederick County, Virginia: Records of Hopewell Monthly Meetings and Meetings Reporting to Hopewell; Two Hundred Years of History and Genealogy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron Mercer was in Hamilton Co., OH by 1793 as indicated by this road order:
https://archive.org/stream/historyofhamilto01ford#page/222/mode/2up
History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches
by Ford, Henry A., comp; Ford, Kate B., joint comp; Williams, L.A. & co., Cleveland, O., pub
Published 1881
p.223 [left column]
...
1793. Road ordered from Kibby's draw-well, in Columbia, to Craw-
fish creek, thence to Duck creek, thence to a run in Samuel Bonnell's
section, thence to the "great road" (now Lockland avenue, Carthage)
thence northeast to White's ford, a distance of six miles from Colum-
bia to White's station. John Reily; William Brown, Aaron Mercer, as-
sistants.
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://books.google.com/books?id=nRZPAQAAMAAJ&q="Aaron+Mercer"+"Hamilton+County"
The Territorial Papers of the United States, Volume 3
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1934 - United States
p.483
==================
August the 26th 1797 Aaron Mercer was licensed to keep a Ferry
over the Ohio river for the Term of one year from the Landing place
at the house where he now resides, in Columbia, Hamilton County,
to the opposite Shore and Landing.
==================
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
will of Aaron Merser
Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996 > Hamilton > Wills 1801-1863 vol 1-2
[Volume 2 begins at Image 324 of 606]
p.488-490 [Images 601-602 of 606]
will of Aaron Merser - written 17 November 1800; proved 7 January 1801
"In the name of God amen I Aaron Merser of the township
of Columbia in the County of Hamilton in the territory of the
united states northwest of the Ohio River ..."
"... my dwelling house and lands adjacent consisting of twenty
eight acres be the same more or less situate in the township
of Columbia and in which I now reside ..."
names mentioned in his will:
my beloved wife Elizabeth Merser
my son Edward Mercer
my two sons in law Ichibod Benton Miller and Thomas Brown
my daughter Ann Brown wife unto Thomas Brown
my grandson David Merser Miller
my granddaughter Hannah Miller
my son David Merser [evidently he meat his grandson David Merser Miller]
my daughter Sarah Miller
Executors: Edward Mercer, Ichabod B. Miller, Thomas Brown
Witnesses: Benjamin Stites, John Whetstone, Ignatus Ross
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================
Jonathan Mercer
Frederick County (Virginia) marriages
1738-1850
by John Vogt & T. William Kethley, Jr.
Iberian Publishing Company, Athens, Georgia
Man's Name
Mercer
Jonathan & Sampson [sic-Tamson] Babb 9 Aug. 1790; min-Alexander Balmain [an Episcopal clergyman]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009580970
Extracts from the history of Cincinnati and the territory of Ohio,
Main Author: Jones, Adolphus Eberhardt. [from old catalog]
Language(s): English
Published: Cincinnati, Cohen & co., 1888.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t64461j6t;view=1up;seq=66
p.45
CHAPTER X.
Ludlow Surveys and Lays off Lots From Broadway to Western Row,
and From River to Northern Row (Seventh Street) — Pioneers
Clear Land — Letter of Mrs. Rebecca Reeder — Sale of Lots in
1789 and 1790.
...
p.47
...
Colonel Ludlow had by this time (May, 1789) about completed the sur-
vey. Lots were offered for sale, and disposed of during the years 1789 and
1790 as follows, to the persons named, and for the prices set opposite each
name ; as is shown by the record of Colonel Ludlow, published by Robert
Clark, Esq , in 1870, to whom we are under obligations for a copy. Price
in pounds, shillings, and pence.
LOTS SOLD BY THE PROPRIETORS OF THE TOWN OF LOSANTIVILLE.
...
p.50
Price. Price.
No. S. P. No. S. P.
...
Benjamin Van Cleave...... 56 25 0 Joanthan Mercer........... 264 $20
John Riddle...................... 55 25 0 Joanthan Mercer........... 265 20
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://books.google.com/books?id=CDUWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA206&lpg=PA206&dq="Mercer%27s+station"+"Jonathan"
The Ohio Gazetteer: Or, Topographical Dictionary, Describing the Several Countries, Towns, Villages, Canals, Roads, Rivers, Lakes, Springs, Mines & C., in the State of Ohio
John Kilbourn
J. Kilbourn, 1831 - Ohio - 336 pages
p.206
...
Mercer's station, the late name of a settlement in the
northwestern corner of Greene county, in Bath township.
It is situated on the left bank of Mad river, 10 miles
northeast from Dayton, 11 northwest of Xenia, and 58
west by south from Columbus. It was first settled by
Jonathan, Robert, and Edward Mercer, three brothers,
from Virginia, in the spring of 1796: from which cir-
cumstance the name was derived.
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://books.google.com/books?id=scpCAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA295&dq="Jonathan+Mercer"
The American Pioneer: A Monthly Periodical, Devoted to the Objects of the Logan Historical Society; Or, to Collecting and Publishing Sketches Relative to the Early Settlement and Successive Improvement of the Country. V. 1-2; Jan. 1842-Oct. 1843, Volume 2
John S. Williams
J.S. Williams, 1843 - Indians of North America
p.291
The American Pioneer
Devoted to the Truth and Justice of history
=================================
Vol. II. JUNE, 1843. NO. VII.
=================================
...
p.293
EXTRACTS FROM B. VAN CLEVE'S MEMORANDA.
( Continued from page 224.)
...
p.295
...
April 1st, l796.-—Landed at Dayton after a passage of ten days,
William Gahagan and myself having come with Thomson’s, and Mc-
Clure’s families in a large perogue. During the preceding winter,
two or three settlers had arrived here; several families had settled
Hole’s station, [where Miamisburg now is;] a few persons had set-
tled at the Big Prairie, [below Middletownz] two had established
themselves on Clear creek, and several were scattered about the coun-
try lower down. This spring a settlement was made by Jonathan
Mercer eight miles up Mad river, another was made at the forks,
called Chribb’s station, another at the mouth of Honey creek, and an-
other at the old Piqua on the Miami.
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://books.google.com/books?id=txIVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA285&dq=Bath+Township+Mercer
History of Greene County, Ohio: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume 1
Michael A. Broadstone
B.F. Bowen, 1918 - Greene County (Ohio)
p.285
...
FIRST PERMANENT SETTLERS.
The first settler in Bath township appears to have been well established
some years before the county was even organized in 1803. The year 1800
saw a family by the name of Mercer located on a tract a mile and a half
south of the present village of Osborn. Just when the Mercer family came
from Virginia to the township is not definitely known, but it was a year or
two before 1800. It seems certain that crops were being raised in the
township when George Washington was still living.
Mercer had pre-empted a large tract at twenty-five cents an acre, his
tract including the site of a large Indian village which had just been deserted
only a few years before by the Indians, who, if tradition is right, had been
driven from their village by a band of Kentuckians. The Mercers made the
township their permanent home, one of the most prominent of the family
being H. R. Mercer, who died on June 1, 1873, at the age of seventy.
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This transaction from Jonathan Mercer to John Cox appears to have taken place about 1803:
https://books.google.com/books?id=nRVAAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA205&dq="Jonathan+Mercer"
Portrait and Biographical Album of Greene and Clark Counties, Ohio
Chapman bros., 1890 - Clark County (Ohio) - 906 pages
p.205
[left column]
... Judge John Cox, was
born in Bridgewater, Somerset County, N. J., June
6, 1774. He was married in 1794 and a couple of
years later removed to Harrison County, Va.,
[right column]
where his son John opened his eyes to the light
September 16, 1800. A year after that event,
Judge Cox, with his family, came to Greene
County, Ohio, locating in Bath Township, and for
a time engaged in farming and mercantile busi-
ness in Fairfield. Two years after his arrival he
made arrangements for the purchase of a large
tract of land from Jonathan Mercer, who was liv-
ing near the village, and who had a pre-emption
right to some valuable lands in the valley. The
tract purchased was north of Fairfield, bordering
on the waters of the Mad River, including the
present site of Osborn and the adjoining territory.
The house first built upon it was of logs, its loca-
tion being opposite the present site of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, of Osborn. ...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riegel, Mayburt Stephenson,. Early Ohioans' residences from the land grant records. Mansfield, Ohio: Ohio Genealogical Society, 1976.
p.9
CINCINNATI LAND OFFICE
name: MERCER, Jonathan
date: 12-31-1801
section, range, and township number: S1 T2 R8 <=== mentioned in Jonathan Mercer's 1805 will
volume and number: 411-A, 208
place of residence: HL [Hamilton Co.]
name: MERCER, Jonathan
date: 12-30-1805
section, range, and township number: S22 T3 R8
volume and number: 411-D, 38
place of residence: GN [Greene Co.]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will of Jonathan Mercer
Ohio, Probate Records, 1789-1996 > Greene > Wills 1803-1826 vol A-F > Image
48 of 776
[Image 48 = p.26-27]
will of Jonathan Mercer, dated 17 Dec 1805, proved [date not given but before 1 Dec 1807]
"In the name of God amen I Jonathan Mercer
being sick of body though of sound memory and in
my right mind expecting the time of my
departure is near at hand do recommend my
soul to the hands of the Divine Being and my
body to be decently interred by the side of Thamason
my late Wife and my property to be disposed
of in the following manner to wit. ...
... three hundred
and twenty acres in Section No. one in the
p.27
Second township and eight range ...
to be divided into six equal parts
to be divided with lines running due North and
South through the same and to determined
by lot amongst the legatees. ..." [Those legatees
being his six children.]
daughter Mary Mercer
sons Henry, Robert, Jonathan, Moses, Aaron
guardians: Joseph Tatman, Andrew Read "to have the full management of and to
take care of my estate and children until they come to be of age"
[Images 63 (p.56-57), 64 (p.58)]
p.56
...
Inventory of the appraisal value of
the property of Jonathan Mercer, decd.
State of Ohio }
Greene County } I Andrew Read one of the
Justices of the Peace of Greene County ...
...
Notes -
...
Account against - Amos Derrough 9.40 [Amos married Tamson Babb's sister Mary Ann Babb.]
...
Images 64 (p.58-59) and 65 (p.60-61)
p.58
...
We do certify that what is herein
contained is a true inventory of the appraised
value of all the property of Jonathan Mercer decd.
that is put into our hands for that purpose
1st Dec. 1807 Jno. Cox
Attest. Aaron Reed clk. Wm McClure
An inventory of the property as sold at
the vandue of Jonathan Mercer decd Dec 2nd 1807
Ed Mercer 1 broad ax $1.75
Andrew Read - 1 bx old iron 3.25
...
p.59
...
Robert Mercer - 1 basin & snuffers 1.76
...
Andrew Read - 1 Wolf trap 2.60
...
Robert Mercer - 1 small kettle 1.00
...
p.60
...
Saml Cozad ...
Jacob Cozad Jr ...
Jacob Cozad Sr ...
Robert Mercer - 1 shirt .75
Aaron Cronk ...
Saml Cozad ...
Saml Cozad ...
Saml Cozad ...
Robert Mercer - 1 Pc Calico 12.50
...
p.61
...
Ed Mercer - 3 bags 2.7
...
Henry Mercer - 1 fur hat .37 1/2
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Samuel Cozad purchased a number of items at Jonathan Mercer's vendue held on 2 Dec 1807.
Other purchasers were Robert Mercer, Ed Mercer, and Henry Mercer. None of Jonathan's sons were "of age" in December 1805. But were they old enough to purchase items at the vendue? Could Robert and Ed, at least, have been his alleged two brothers?
There are no further records for a Robert Mercer who was or could have been a brother of Jonathan. But there is one record for Edward, namely his will, which was written 27 March 1839 and proved 3 February 1840. Edward mentioned only one heir, his nephew Robert Mercer. This must refer to Jonathan's son Robert. (See the discussion on Robert below.)
Excerpts of Edward Mercer's will:
Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996 > Greene > Wills 1835-1854 vol I-J
p.23-24 [Images 374-375 of 657]
will of Edward Mercer
written 27 Mar 1839; proved 3 Feb 1840
"I Edward Mercer now living in the County of Greene in the State of Ohio ..."
"... Secondly, I give
and devise to my Nephew Robert Mercer of Greene County aforesaid
all my lands, goods monies and property of every description, to have and
to hold the Same to him and his heirs and assigns forever, ..."
executor: Robert Mercer
witnesses: Geo. B. Holt and W. H. Blodget
court appointed appraisers: Emanuel Ritter, Moses Hall, and Benjamin Stiles
We can infer that Edward Mercer was most likely living in Bath Township, Greene County by the fact that the individuals mentioned in his will lived in Bath Township or just to the west in Montgomery County. In 1840 Robert Mercer, Emanuel Ritter, Moses Hall, and Benjamin Stiles all lived in Bath Township, Greene Co., OH. George B. Holt lived in Montgomery Co., Ohio. (Township not given.)
William Blodget died 24 Mar 1842 in Dayton, Montgomery Co. (See http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=81637661 .)
Important note!
Edward Mercer (d.1839) of Bath Township should not be confused with the contemporaneous Edward Mercer who lived in Sugar Creek Township, Greene Co., OH. This latter Edward's will was written on 3 Feb 1837 and was proved 25 Apr 1837. He mentioned his wife Elizabeth, fours sons--John S., David M., James A., and Lewis E.--five daughters, and the children of his deceased daughter Elisabeth Bonner.
Edward Mercer of Sugar Creek Township is the individual identified as "Edward R. Mercer" at
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19717325
This Edward Mercer--in my opinion--has been incorrectly identified as the brother of Jonathan Mercer (d.1806). It makes more sense that the Edward Mercer of Bath Township was Jonathan's brother.
What still remains to be determined for certain, however, is which of these two Edward Mercers--if either--was the Edward who was identified as the son of Aaron Mercer in his 1800 will. (See above.) Recall that Aaron mentioned only a son named Edward. So if Edward was the brother of Jonathan (d.1806), then why wasn't Jonathan also mentioned in Aaron's will?? On the other hand, if Aaron had only the one son Edward, then the Jonathan Mercer who set out from Cincinnati in 1796 to settle on Mad River was not Aaron's son. Nevertheless, Jonathan also had come from Frederick County, Virginia, as is indicated by the mention in his 1805 of his deceased wife "Thomason", which is surely a corruption of "Tamson" (for Tamson Babb).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books?id=gF--gREAYycC&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=%22Jonathan+Mercer%22
Federal Land Series a Calendar of Archival Materials on the Land Patents
Issued by the United States Government, with Subject, Tract, and Name Indexes, Volume 2
Genealogical Publishing Com, c.1972
p.76
...
1081 27 Jan 1810 A/4/100
Andrew Reed, Xenia, Ohio
Transmits patent
Issued to Reed in trust for heirs of Jonathan
Mercer, deceased
Jonathan Mercer, heirs Unk "in lots" 3
Jonathan Mercer, heirs Unk "in lots" 20
Jonathan Mercer, heirs Unk "in lots" 5
Jonathan Mercer, heirs Unk "out lots" 5
Jonathan Mercer, heirs Unk "out lots" 52
Jonathan Mercer, heirs Unk "out lots" 26
...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Mercer's daughter Mary married Samuel Cozad just a month after Jonathan wrote his will.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZFL-7QV
Mary Mercer
mentioned in the record of Samuel Cozad and Mary Mercer
They were married by Andrew Read.
Just how young was Mary when she married Samuel Cozad?
If Mary had just turned sixteen, then she would have been born in January 1790, almost seven months before Jonathan and Tamson were married. And if Mary were just a bit older, then it would certainly seem that she was Jonathan's daughter from a previous marriage.
At findagrave for Blanch(e) Mercer Babb at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15862280 it is stated that Tamson was the second wife of Jonathan Mercer, his first being Hester David. No source was given for this information, but perhaps it came from the late Ruth Harrington's "Haddox-Skelton Heritage", which is quoted elsewhere on this page. It goes on to state that "Tamson and Jonathan's children are Mary "Polly" Mercer, Henry Babb Mercer, Robert Mercer, Moses Mercer and Aaron Mercer". It might be that Mary's mother was Jonathan's first wife--if indeed he had been previously married.
In the 1820 census of Bath Township, Greene County, Samuel Cozad's household contained 1 male 10-16, 2 males 16-26, 1 male 26-45 (presumably Samuel himself), 4 females under 10, 1 female 10-16, and 1 female 26-45 (presumably Mary Mercer Cozad). If Mary's true age was over 30, then it would suggest she might have been Jonathan's daughter from a previous marriage.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Mercer
Jonathan's son Jonathan is not mentioned in the above findagrave discussion, nor did his name appear in the 1848 newspaper announcement. On 23 October 1818 in Montogmery Co., Ohio, a Jonathan Mercer and Jamimah Sprague were married by Jacob Cozad. (See
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD2X-J4W . )
Next a Jonathan Mercer appeared in the 1820 census of Bath Township, Greene County. In his household were 1 male under 10, 1 male 16-26 (presumably Jonathan himself), 1 female under 10, and 1 female 16-26 (presumably his wife).
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL3-F74
Jonathan Mercer
United States Census, 1820
Name Jonathan Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1820
Event Place Bath, Greene, Ohio, United States
Page 161
If he could have been at most age 26 in 1820, then Jonathan would have been born in 1794 at the earliest. This would suggest that Tamson was his mother. So it is unclear why his name should not also appear in the 1848 announcement. The whereabouts of Jonathan and his family after 1820 are undetermined.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Henry Mercer
According to G. F. Robinson's History of Greene County, Ohio (1902), page 343, a Henry Mercer, who had been a soldier in the War of 1812, married Susanna Fink. No specific date was given but probably around 1816. Next a Henry Mercer appeared in the 1820 census, after which his whereabouts become uncertain.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHL3-X1F
Henry Mercer
United States Census, 1820
Name Henry Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1820
Event Place Bath, Greene, Ohio, United States
Page 159
3 white males under 10, 1 white male 16-18, 1 white male 16-26, 1 white male 26-45 (presumably Henry himself);
1 white female under 10, 1 white female 16-26.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moses Mercer
On 7 February 1819 a Moses Mercer married Mary Carpenter in Greene Co. (See https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZFL-5QJ .)
Next Moses Mercer appeared in the 1830 census, after which his whereabouts become uncertain.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGV-86P
Moses Mercer
United States Census, 1830
Name Moses Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1830
Event Place Bath, Greene, Ohio, United States
Page 346
2 white males inder 5, 2 white males 5-10, 1 white male 20-30 (presumably Moses himself);
1 female 30-40.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The two best documented children of Jonathan Mercer and Tamson Babb are sons Robert and Aaron.
Robert Mercer
According to G. F. Robinson's History of Greene County, Ohio (1902), page 343, Robert Mercer had been a soldier in the War of 1812.
-----------------------------
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZFG-SZ4
Robert Mercer
mentioned in the record of Robert Mercer and Ann Tingley
-----------------------------
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGV-8NK
Robert Mercer
United States Census, 1830
Name Robert Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1830
Event Place Fairfield, Greene, Ohio, United States
Page 349
-----------------------------
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRF-54N
Robert Mercer
United States Census, 1840
Name Robert Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1840
Event Place Bath Township, Greene, Ohio, United States
Page 219
-----------------------------
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXQQ-F7L
Robert Mercer
United States Census, 1850
Name Robert Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Year 1850
Event Place Bath, Greene, Ohio, United States
Gender Male
Age 50
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1800
Birthplace Ohio
House Number 345
HOUSEHOLD ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE
Robert Mercer M 50 Ohio
Jonathan Mercer M 19 Ohio
Clark Mercer M 16 Ohio
Sarah Mercer F 14 Ohio
Perry Mercer M 8 Ohio
David Mercer M 6 Ohio
-----------------------------
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLC-HYD
Robert Mercer
United States Census, 1860
Name Robert Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1860
Event Place Fairfield, Greene, Ohio, United States
Gender Male
Age 64
Race White
Race (Original) [Blank]
Birth Year (Estimated) 1796
Birthplace Ohio
Page 186
HOUSEHOLD ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE
1265 1292
Jonathan J Mercer M 31 Ohio
Robert Mercer M 64 Ohio
M C Mercer M 26 Ohio
Sarah Mercer F 23 Ohio
Mary Mercer F 21 Ohio
Robert Mercer M 20 Ohio
-----------------------------
Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996 Greene Wills 1854-1879 vol K-L
Images 341-342 of 699
p.607-609
Last will and Testament of General Robert Mercer [a typed copy of the original]
written 4 Sept 1867, proved 20 Sept 1870
sons: Jonathan Jackson Mercer, Moses Clark Mercer, Robert Perry Mercer
daughters: Tamson Ann Hush, Sarah Elizabeth Mercer, Mary Minerva Lantz
"Item 2nd. I give and devise to my daughter Sarah Elizabeth Mercer, and to her heirs and assigns forever, my present homestead property, being Lot No. 39 in the Villiage of Fairfield in said County, ..."
"... my daughter Tamson Ann Hush ..."
-------------------------------------------------
Aaron Mercer
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRF-573
Aaron Mercer
United States Census, 1840
Name Aaron Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1840
Event Place Bath Township, Greene, Ohio, United States
Page 223
1 male under 5, 2 males 5-10, 2 males 15-20, 1 male 40-50 (presumably Aaron himself);
1 female 10-15, 1 female 30-40.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXQS-3XJ
Aaron Mercer
United States Census, 1850
Name Aaron Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Year 1850
Event Place Bath, Greene, Ohio, United States
Gender Male
Age 49
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1801
Birthplace Ohio
House Number 56
HOUSEHOLD ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE
Aaron Mercer M 49 Ohio
Julia A Mercer F 43 Ohio
Margaret Mercer F 23 Iowa
Robert Mercer M 11 Ohio
Eliza J Mercer F 7 Ohio
Indiana Mercer F 5 Ohio
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https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLC-4P9
Aaron Mercer
United States Census, 1860
Name Aaron Mercer
Event Type Census
Event Date 1860
Event Place Fairfield, Greene, Ohio, United States
Gender Male
Age 61
Race White
Race (Original) [Blank]
Birth Year (Estimated) 1799
Birthplace Ohio
Page 184
HOUSEHOLD ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE
---- 1275
Aaron Mercer M 61 Ohio
Julia Mercer F 53 Ohio
Elijah Mercer F 18 Ohio
Indiana Mercer F 16 Ohio
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