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James Mercer



JAMES MERCER was born 25 February 1744/5 in Currituck County, North Carolina, the son of James Mercer and his wife, ANn Jones. He removed from Halifax Co., N. C., to Wilkes Co., Georgia by 1773. Listed on Ceded Lands, Wrightsboro, Ga., having wife, sons and 5 daughters, from 13 years to 3 months. 150 acres on branch of Harden's Creek where he is camped. Orphans of James Mercer drew in 1805 Wilkes Co., Ga. land lottery. Jaines, Elizabeth Williamson 4/11/1807 Wilkes Co., Ga.

Probable children. (b. 1760-1773)

  1. LEVI MERCER, served in War of 1812, pension from S. C., Capt. John Smith's Co., Ga. Militia.
  2. son
  3. NANCY MERCER m. William Richards 5/16/1799 Wilkes Co., Ga.
  4. VASHTI MERCER b. 1765/1770 m. Rev. George Franklin b. 1765/1770, Rev. at Little Brier Creek Church, d. 1/1815 Washington Co., Ga. 1/2 sister to Rev. Silas Mercer. George Franklin, son of Rev. William Franklin who founded above church in Warren Co., Ga. d. 1797 Warren Co., Ga., Alexander Smith and George Franklin, admrs, wife, Mary, d. 1821 Laurens Co., Ga., with Davis Smith, admr.
  5. dau.
  6. dau.
  7. dau.
  8. dau.

  9. SILAS MERCER, Rev., probable son of James Mercer who came from Halifax Co., N. C. abt 1773, b. ca 1750, d. 1796 Wilkes Co., Ga. Silas Mercer married Dorcas Green in 1768, Halifax District, North Carolina. Silas Mercer and wife, Dorcas Green, of Halifax Co., North Carolina, deed to Dempsey Battle of Edgecombe Co., N. C., 750 acres on Shoulderbone Creek, originally granted to said Mercer 10/9/1794, Wilkes Co, Ga.

    Issue of Silas and Dorcas Mercer (from above estate record):

    1. Harmon Mercer (died 13 June 1854, Ochusse, Jackson County, Florida, married, 1st, Elizabeth Andrews 9/3/1802 Greene Co., 2nd Elizabeth Terrell 5/13/1826 Taliaferro Co., Ga. He is listed on 1530 Taliaferro Co., Ga. Census. Harmon Mercer served in the War of 1812 and claimed a pension as Capt. of the Georgia Militia. In 1823 Harmon Mercer was gdn of Louisa (or Levisa) and Sophia Pollard, orphs of William Pollard, decd, 1818 Wilkes Co., Ga. Div to: Polly (widow), William, Jr., Levisa, Sophia, William, Thomas, idiot child, Nancy (age 11 in 1818), and Williamson Pollard, Thomas Hightower (for Elizabeth). William Robertson, admr of estate of William Pollard. Elizabeth Andrews Mercer died 4 February 1818 in Greene Co. Georgia.
    2. Daniel Mercer married in 1812, Greene County to Sarah Hinton Tuggle. He died 26 February 1830 in Henry County. He drew in the 1805 Wilkes Co., Ga. Land Lottery. Paid tuition fees from estate of William Pollard, deed, 1815.
    3. Moriah Mercer was born 1787 in Wilkes County, Georgia, died 22 Nov 1822 in Oglethorpe County, married ca 1815 Nancy Ann Edge.
    4. Anna Mercer was born 10 December 1774 in Wilkes Co., Ga. m. William Robertson of Wilkes Co., Ga., b. 1/6/1771. From the Bible of William Robertson, Georgia Bibles by Jeannette Holland Austin, the following data: Anna Mercer m. William Robertson 6/25/1792 in Wilkes County, Georgia. She died 1852 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Issue:

      1. Gilbert Robertson b. 8/15/1794 m. 1517 in Ga. Matilda Andrews b. 1801 and had issue:
      1. Silas Mercer Robertson 12/13/1833-10/18/1910 m. Prudence Ann Robertson, 6/29/1837-8/3/1898 in Tennessee. Issue: Vincent Franklin Robertson b. 5/27/1567 Lincoln Co., TN m. Addie Lenora b. 9/19/1885 Sevier Co., TN; Avery b. 10/6/1869; Thomas William b. 3/6/1874; Ezekiel Wagner b. 10/9/1877; Henry Clay b. 2/15/1880.
      2. Minnie Ann Thornton Robertson 12/6/1835-7/39/1896.
      3. Matilda Robertson b. 12/6/1835.
    5. Joshua Mercer, his LWT Houston Co. 1827-55. Served in the War of 1812, received pension, served as Sergeant in Capt. Harmon Mercer's Co., Ga. Militia, widow, Mary B. Mercer. Probable children:

      1. Silas Mercer m. 1/17/1835 Mary Ann Davis, Houston Co. or Alice Flowers 2/5/1835 Houston Co.
      2. Joshua P. Mercer m. Emiline Daniel 12/8/1841 Houston Co., Ga.
      3. N. P. Mercer m. Elizabeth Whittle 9/28/1845 Houston Co., Ga.
      4. William M. Mercer m. Mary Ann E. Pearce 12/18/1846 Houston Co., Ga.
    6. Jesse Mercer, Rev., b. 12/16/1769, LWT 1837-77, Wilkes Co., m. 1st Sabrina Chivers (b. 5/16/1772 Wilkes Co., Georgia-d. Andersonville, S. C. 9/23/1826, age 55), dau. of Joel and Sarah H. Chivers, 1/3/1788 Wilkes Co., Ga., m. 2nd Nancy Mills Simons (b. 10/20/1772), dau. of John and Inez Mills, 22/11/1827 Wilkes Co., Ga. the widow of Abraham Simons, a Jew and R. W. S. who lived six miles from Washington, Ga, and whose home is still standing. Said Abraham Simons d. 1825 Wilkes Co. It was Abraham Simons money, along with Rev. Jesse Mercer's money which helped build Mercer University. Children from Georgia Bibles by Jeannette Holland Austin, Rev. Jesse Mercer Bible:

    Issue by first wife:
    1. Miriam Mercer b. 12/1/1798 Wilkes Co., d. 1799, aged 9 mos, 21 days.
    2. Miriam Mercer II d. 12/15/1814, aged 9 yrs, 5 mos., 2 days. Probable children:
    3. George Franklin Mercer b. ca 1820 m. Mrs. Eliza E. Todd 12/24/1837 Taliaferro Co., Ga. and Angeline Griffin 5/11/1851 Taliaferro Co.
    4. Silas Mercer m. Ann Thompson 5/15/1825 Wilkes Co., Ga.


    Powelton Marker
Jesse Mercer
Jesse Mercer (1769- )

Powelton Baptist Church
Powells Creek Church in Greene County was organized on July 1, 1786 by Rev. Silas Mercer, the Rev. John Harvey, and Rev. John Thomas, and 26 members. Rev. Jesse Mercer became Pastor of this church on February 4, 1797 and served in that capacity until 1825. During the period of his ministry, 200 persons were baptized into the church.

Sources: History of the Mercer Family; 1784 Plat of Asa Mercer, Washington County; Wilkes Co. Marriages; Taliaferro Co. Marriages; Wilkes Co. Wills and Land Grants; Mercer Case File

Wilkes County Documents:

12/7/1773 Wrightsboro, Ga., Ceded Lands, Wilkes Co. - Silas Mercer, from N. C., wife, and son and daughter from 4 to 2 years of age, 3 indentured children, 100 acres on a Little Spring abt a mile below his father's land called Indian Ladder.

James Mercer, from N. C., has wife, 2 sons and five daughters, aged 13 years to 3 months, 150 acres on Harden's Creek where he is camped.

The estate of Silas Mercer, deed, was appraised 9/13/1796, Wilkes Co., Ga., Jesse Mercer, admr. Jesse Mercer, admr, asks for good titles to 287-1/2 acres on Richland Creek in Greene Co., Ga. 2/ 3/1801.

The 1805-6 Returns of Estate of Silas Mercer, deed, paid a dower to Dorcas Mercer and funds to legatees: Harman, Daniel, Yoriab and Joshua Mercer; William Robertson for Ann, his wife.