Mercer, John, 1704-1768

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Born in Dublin, Ireland, John Mercer came to Virginia in 1720 where he built the colonial estate Marlborough (also called Marlboro; at Marlborough Point on the Potomac River, in Stafford County). He was a leading Virginia attorney and lawyer to George Washington, as well as a colonial prosecutor for the King's court of Virginia. Mercer was also a founding member, secretary and general counsel of the Ohio Company of Virginia, a land speculating company that had George Washington as a member.

From the guide to the John Mercer Letter to James Mercer, 1766 October 20, (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Lawyer and landowner, of Stafford County, Va.

From the description of Ledgers, 1725-1749. (Bucks County Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 70957900

John Mercer was a Stafford County, Va. lawyer and businessman and secretary of the Ohio Company.

From the description of Journal (notebook), 1740-1768. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 122580095

Born in Dublin, Ireland, John Mercer came to Virginia in 1720 where he built the colonial estate Marlborough (also called Marlboro; at Marlborough Point on the Potomac River, in Stafford County). He was a leading Virginia attorney and lawyer to George Washington, as well as a colonial prosecutor for the King's court of Virginia. Mercer was also a founding member, secretary and general counsel of the Ohio Company of Virginia, a land speculating company that had George Washington as a member. James Mercer (also know as William James Mercer) was born in Virginia at Malborough plantation on February 26, 1736. He was the son of John Mercer and Catherine Mason Mercer. He graduated from the College of William and Mary about 1755 and became a member of the House of Burgesses in 1765. In 1774, he was a member of the general assembly. He was an American lawyer and jurist who served as a delegate for Virginia to the Continental Congress in 1779. He was appointed a judge of the general court in 1780 and became a judge on the first Court of Appeals as a result. In 1789, he was appointed as a member of the reorganized Court of Appeals. He remained on the bench of that court until his death in Richmond on October 31, 1793.

From the description of John Mercer, letter, Marlboro, VA to James Mercer, Williamsburg, VA, 1766 October 20. (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation). WorldCat record id: 181189973

John Mercer emigrated to Virginia in 1720 from Dublin, Ireland, and shortly became a prominent entrepreneur, lawyer, and land owner, settling at Marlborough, Stafford County, Virginia. He was the son of John and Grace Fenton Mercer of Dublin, Ireland. In 1725 Mercer married Catherine Mason. A practicing lawyer in Prince William County, Mercer also was secretary of the Ohio Company and owned large tracts of land in Virginia and Ireland.

George Mason (1660-1715), born at Accokeek Plantation to George and Mary French Mason, inherited his father's property in Stafford County. He married three times: Mary Fowke, Elizabeth Waugh, and Sarah Taliaferro.

From the description of Land record book: 1654-1767. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122498011

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Mercer, John, 1704-1768. List of books from the library of "Marlborough" h[manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf John Mercer Letter to James Mercer, 1766 October 20 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Mercer, John, 1704-1768. Journal (notebook), 1740-1768. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Ohio Company (1747-1779). Records of the Ohio Company, 1736-1813 [electronic resource]. University of Pittsburgh
creatorOf Bland, Theodorick, 1742-1790. Papers of Virginia members of the Continental Congress, 1767-1820. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Mercer family. Papers : of the Mercer family, 1656-1869 (bulk 1740- 1845). Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Papers, 1683-1858 [microform]. George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
creatorOf Mercer family. Papers : of the Mercer family, 1760-1833. George Mason's Gunston Hall
creatorOf Mercer, John, 1704-1768. John Mercer's land book / John Mercer. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
creatorOf Mercer, John, 1704-1768. John Mercer's land book / John Mercer. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn Custis family. Papers, 1683-1858. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Adams family. Papers, 1672-1792. Section 15. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Mercer, John, 1704-1768. John Mercer, letter, Marlboro, VA to James Mercer, Williamsburg, VA, 1766 October 20. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Mercer, John, 1704-1768. Land record book: 1654-1767. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Mercer, John, 1704-1768. Ledgers, 1725-1749. Bucks County Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams family. family
associatedWith Ballard, Thomas. person
associatedWith Custis family. family
associatedWith Custis family. family
associatedWith Gray, Stephen, d. 1734. person
associatedWith Mason, George, 1660-1715. person
associatedWith Mason, Sarah, d. 1715 or 1716. person
associatedWith Mercer family. family
associatedWith Mercer family. family
correspondedWith Mercer, James, 1736-1793, person
associatedWith Ohio Company (1747-1779) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Virginia
Stafford County (Va.)
Virginia
Marlborough (Va.)
Virginia--Stafford County
Virginia (Colony)
Marlborough (Va.)
Virginia
Subject
Land grants
Land titles
Private libraries
Occupation
Lawyers
Activity

Person

Birth 1704-02-06

Death 1768-10-14

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