| Notes |
- William Mercer
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/5585224/person/-1240236851/media/1
WILLIAM MERCER - was born near Front Royal, Va. William spent his boyhood in Washington and Greene Counties, PA where he learned "coopering". In 1810 he married Betsy Houston of Green County and their daughter Sarah was born in 1811. In June 1812 he enlisted at Morgantown and served 18 months in the 12th Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Infantry on duty in Canada and New England states. After returning to Monongalia County in 1814, he and his wife Betsy were divorced and he married Margaret Metz (born 1798) in June 1815. Soon after, he and Peggy leased 140 acres on Day's Run off Dunkard Creek west of Blackville, cleared part of the land for crops and built a cabin. They planted timothy, flax, wheat and garden crops. Acquired some cows, sheep, horses and began their family during the 1820s and 30s. Records show they were typically self-sufficent settlers making their own clothing, shoes, furniture, soap, butter and other necessities. Any excess was traded at the general store for luxuries like coffee, spices, dishes, books, gun powder and shot, etc. Peg became a heroine of local tales by fending off some Indians who apparently tried to harm her family one day. After several years of legal hassles regarding the lands they leased from the owners's heirs, and a fire which destroyed their cabin, William and Peg packed their remaining belongings and with seven chldren, 2 sons and five daughters, headed for a new beginning in Tyler County in 1839. The site of their first home here is uncertain but in 1850 William was granted 160 acres of Bounty Land for his military service which was exercised in the area known as Wolf Pen near Middleborne. As their children married and started families they tended to remain nearby. Some took portions of the family lands. William was 82 when he died March 30, 1870 and was buried in the Mercer Cemetery, often referred to as Wolf Pen Cemetery. Several generations of Mercers and related family members have joined them there. However, his widow "Peg" died in Pleasant County, January 1883 at her son Labon's home and her resting site is unknown.
Their children were:
- Sarah (Mrs. Charles O'Dowd) who moved with her husband and children to Richland County, Ohio in 1870's;
- Jeremiah, who married Alcinda and still has many descendants living in Tyler County;
- Hiram whose wife was "Milla" Pethel Lewis;
- Labon; Catherine who married Eli J. Brookover and lived in Wetzel County;
- Ellen who married John Yost and after his death married his cousin Peter Yost; and
- Leonard who was killed at Potter's Mill in Wetzel Co. leaving widow Barbara Metz and children;
- Mary; William M. who wed Rebecca Freeland;
- Hannah A. who married John Wetzel;
- Jacob who died during the Civil War leaving a widow Lucinda Gump and son William Edward; and
- Elias married Lucinda Glover.
Submitted by Mrs. Harry L. (Belle Mercer) Williams (Great- granddaughter of William Mercer and granddaughter of Labon Mercer, daughter of William Festus Mercer. )
WILLIAM MERCER (1788-1870) was born at Front Royal, Virginia. While he was quite young, his family moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania. Here William grew to manhood, apprenticed as a cooper, and learned about farming. Moving to Greene County, Pennsylvania, around 1810, William married Betsy Hutson (sic), and the two had a child, Sarah Ann (1811- ?). William served as a private in the War of 1812. He was active in the 12th Regiment, Virginia Volunteer Infantry, from June 1812 until March 1814. Shortly after the war, William divorced Betsy, and about 1815 married Margaret Metz in Greene County. William and Margaret then moved to Monongalia County, Virginia settling near Blacksville on the Paw Paw creek. They had at least ten children:
- Jeremiah (1816-1882) m. Alcinda Latta;
- Hiram (1817 - ?) m. Amelia Lewis Pethel;
- Labon (1818- 1906) m. Catherine Rice;
- Catherine (1820-1892) m. Eli Brookover;
- Ellen (1826-1865) m. 10 John Yost, 2) Peter Yost;
- Leonard (1825-1868) m. Barbara Metz;
- Hannah (1836-1887) m. Lohn Wetzel;
- William (1832-1899) m. Rebecca Roberts Freeland;
- Jacob (1837-1864) m. Lucinda Gump; Elias (1839 -?) m. Lucinda Glover.
Early in 1840, William and Margaret moved to Ellsworth District, Tyler County where William died there, but Margaret died in the adjoining Pleasant County. They are buried in the Mercer cemetery, Tyler County.
Sclaudius added this on 26 Jun 2010
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1790 - 1816 (26 years)
