Reverend William Mercer of Pitsligo Kirk, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

[bobbym1955]

I am searching for information about Rev. William Mercer's eldest son, William Mercer, who joined the Royal Navy 1725-35?(born 1715?).  He married Lucy Tyson in St. Kitt's and died in New Jersey, USA in March 1770.  I am trying to prove that this William who died in New Jersey, USA is descended from Rev. William Mercer of Pittsligo, Scotland? Information in History of the State of New Jersey confirms that Dr. William Mercer was the son of Rev. William Mercer of Scotland but I am unable to prove this. If someone has any further information or suggestions on where to look, I would appreciate it.  Does the Royal Navy have records going back to the early 1700's?

[GR2]

There is a series of books called Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae which lists the ministers of the various parishes in Scotland and gives biographical details of them and their families. They should be available to read on-line somewhere. The parishes are arranged by synod and there is an index in each volume.

Another possibility is that there might be a gravestone at Pitsligo for William Mercer which could mention his son too.

The Scotland's People site (pay to view) also gives access to wills and inventories. It is possible that a will survives for William Mercer which might mention his son.

It is also worth checking the on-line index of the National records of Scotland for William Mercer.

[Forfarian]

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae says: William Mercer, born 22nd March 1696, third son of Thomas M of Todlaw, and brother of John M, min of Tyrie; educ Marischal Coll, Aberdeen; MA 1712; licen by Pres of Deer 26th Nov 1718; pres to Sypnie but preferring [Pitsligo] parish, was called 24th Aug and ord 22nd Sept 1720; was unable from ill-health to perform his duties and had eight assistants; died 28th Aug 1767. He marr 18th June 1723 Anne (died 19th Jan 1768) daugh of Andrew Monro, Sheriff-clerk, Elgin, and had issue: Margaret, born 3rd June 1724 (marr William Brown; Hugh, a surgeon, born 16th Jan 1726, after Culloden emigrated to Virginia, became a general in the American army, and fell at Battle of Princetown 3rd Jan 1777, his grandson Hugh was a General in the Confederate Army 1860-4; William, in Royal Navy; Ann (eloped with James Brown, her father's servant); Isobel, born 30th Oct 1735 (marr George Mercer of Marlboro). [Tombstone; Notes and Queries vii. 152,184; viii.24; Family Pedigree]

There is a tombstone at the old parish kirk at Peathill, commemorating William Mercer, Ann Monro and David Stephenson. See http://www.anesfhs.org.uk/databank/miindex/miindex.php but you need access to the booklet to get the full inscription.

Photographs of the kirk and kirkyard at http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ9366

The records of the Royal Navy certainly go back to the 18th century, but possibly not as far back as the 1720s. See http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/royal-naval-officers-service-records.htm

The index at Scotland's People confirms that Rev William Mercer was married in 1723. There doesn't seem to be a baptism record for William Mercer Jr, though there are baptism records of his children Margaret in 1724, Hugh in 1726 and Isobel in 1735. So William must have been the second, not the eldest son, and even if he had joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman at the age of 10, he could not have done so much before 1737, and he certainly cannot possibly have served in the Royal Navy as early as 1725.

When did he marry Lucy Tyson, and how old was he when he died in 1770?

[bobbym1955]

Thank you Forfarian for your detailed response.  Unfortunately, I have no record of when he married Lucy Tyson or how old he was at his death.  It is always indicated that he was born in 1719, before Reverend Mercer married Anne Munro.  As you say, he cannot have served in the RN as early as 1725.

[Forfarian]

Hmmm.

Suppose he was born in 1728, two years after Hugh. He could have married about 1750-1760, so even if your initial dates are wrong, it could still be him. If, on the other hand, you have definite evidence that he was in the Navy between 1725 and 1735, it has to be a different William Mercer.

[bobbym1955]

Hi Forfarian, I have no proof he was in the Royal Navy between 1725-35.  He was in New Brunswick, New Jersey USA by the mid-1740's and he bought a large tract of land, 460 acres, in 1759.  He died in 1770 owning numerous properties and mills in NJ and New York states.  He was married to Lucy Tyson in St. Kitt's BWI so my next project is to try and find a marriage certificate there, although old records are sparse.  His first son was born in 1743.  Thanks again for your assistance.

[Forfarian]

Hmmm. If his first son was born in 1743, that too suggests that he isn't the son of Rev William Mercer, who would only have been about 14 in 1742, rather young to be marrying. Unless Rev Mercer was married twice and the author of Fasti wasn't aware of the first wife, or (unthinkable, really, for a minister) William Jr was born several years before Rev Mercer married Anne Monro.

[jennywren001]

Hi,

You might find this letter interesting...see footnote 8 which I think indicates it's the correct William Mercer
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-04-02-0139

If you Google  'Antigua William Mercer' you should get a link to the book below which might help place him in some sort of timeframe.
Settler Society in the English Leeward Islands, 1670–1776
 
The above book is a tad better referenced than Mr lee's offering on the William's pedigree:
https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalmemo06leef#page/n15/mode/2up

Happy hunting
Jen

[Forfarian]

Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae: Kinnellar (Not Kinnellan). John Mercer, born 1626, son of Lancelot M, merchant, London and Agnes Beans; educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen 1642-6. Joined the Protesters in 1651; adm before 21st Oct 1651; was authorised to get an assistant, 7th Oct 1675, because of bodily infirmities; left the parish 27th June 1676. and resided in Aberdeen; died 21st Sept 1676. He marr Lilias (dies 31st Oct 1713, aged 77), daugh of John Row, Principal of King's College, and had issue: John, born 18th Dec 1656, died Oct 1671; Agnes, born 2nd Feb 1656 (Marr 19th June 1677 William Lindsay of Culsh); Thomas of Todlaw and Smiddyburn, MA, born 28th Jan 1658; Alexander, born 29th Dec 1659, died young; Christian, born 10th June 1662 (marr (1) Robert Arbuthnott (2) Alexander Robertson, min of Longside); Isobel, born 2nd July 1664, died 11th May 1733; Anna, born 4th Feb 1666; Alexander, born 12th Aug 1668, died 2nd Dec 1690; Margaret, born 3rd Aug and died Sept 1672; a child born and died Jan 1676 [Mercer Pedigree]

The snag with Fasti in this case is that both this and the item on Rev William Mercer are sourced from a Mercer Pedigree, and there is no way of knowing how accurate this pedigree is, and therefore how accurate Fasti is.

None of the above baptisms is on Scotland's People.

Looking again at the New Jersey book, I see that William Jr is said to have been born in 1715, shortly after his father's ordination, and that his father, William Sr, was born in 1696. This, again, looks doubtful. It would require William Sr to have been ordained and married in about 1714, at the age of about 18; and Fasti says that he was ordained in 1720.