The Rappahannock Gazette
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Volume 12, Number 5 August 2009 The Rappahannock Gazette Newsletter of the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society, Inc. The purpose of the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society is to bring together persons interested in preserving and perpetuating the heritage and culture of the colonial era in and around the Rappahannock River Valley of Virginia; to conduct historical research of persons, places and events relating to the Rappahannock River Valley in Colonial times, and to organize activities related to the Colonial era in an effort to educate the public about the ways of life of our forbears in this area. CALENDAR OF Trial RCHS Business EVENTS Meeting Format Aug. 20 - Community Welcome At the July 7 Business sitting and taking notes. Trip Fair, UMW: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Meeting the motion was made Wiggins has volunteered to lead EC: Elaine Sturgeon, 540/785-2168. and accepted by membership the October session (topic to be Aug. 23 - Sewing Circle - English vote to change the format of the determined) and we are seeking Gown: 1:00-6:00 p.m., St. George’s monthly RCHS Business a session leader for November. If Church. EC: Catherine Taylor, Meeting on a trial basis. The you have a topic that you are 540/775-0852. format changes include: deleting interested in sharing for the good Sep. 1 - Business Meeting: 7:30 the Committee Reports from the of our Society or have any p.m., St. George’s Church, room business meeting and instead questions, please contact me at 300. Chair: Sharon Brunacci, including the reports of the 540/841-7275. This is a 540/659-2080. committees in the monthly wonderful opportunity for Sep. 19 - Our Living Legacies: newsletter, decreasing the time knowledge sharing within the Mary Washington House. 10:00 allotted for the discussion of Society. Our imagination is the a.m.-5:00 p.m. EC: Lyn Padgett, 540/841-7275. business to 45 minutes, and only limit to the range of topics including a 45-minute training/ appropriate for this venue with Sep. 26 - Fredericksburg Welsh information session presented by the guiding principal being Festival. 3:30-4:30 p.m. EC: Trip Wiggins, 540/371-3906. Society volunteers. The trial information that will assist us all period begins with the in better portraying and Due to liability concerns of the September 1, 2009, meeting and conveying information about life corporation, your membership must extends through the end of the in 18th century Virginia. If this be current in order to participate in calendar year; to include the trial is successful it may lead to RCHS events. October and November bringing in presenters from meetings. There are no monthly outside our Society and other meetings scheduled for August exciting opportunities for ENGLISH and December. learning. COUNTRY DANCE I have volunteered to present Your Servant, CLASSES the 45-minute session for the Aug. 28 - Open September 1st meeting and have Lyn Padgett Sep. 4 - Demo entitled my presentation; “‘All Sep. 11 - Open the world's a stage….’ You're Sep. 25 - Demo Always On!” This will be an interactive presentation; no Page 2 The Rappahannock Gazette Officer’s Corner PRESIDENT’S REPORT TREASURER’S REPORT The next RCHS Business Meeting is May Beginning Balance: $8,158.09 scheduled for Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:30 May Ending Balance: $8,536.97 p.m. in St. George's room 300. June Ending Balance: $8,536.97 July Ending Balance: $8,840.32 English Country Dance Classes English Country Dance classes are Classes: held on the second and fourth Aug. 28 - Open Fridays of each month in the Family Sep. 4 - Demo Room of St. George’s Episcopal Sep. 11 - Open Church. Classes begin at 7:00 p.m. Sep. 25 - Demo and are open to the public ($2 per class). Rehearsals for the Dance Demonstration Team are on the first Friday of each month. Dance Mistress: Elaine Sturgeon, 540/785- 2168 or [email protected]. RCHS Committee Notes EVENTS COMMITTEE this activity, please call Event SEWING COMMITTEE Thursday, August 20 Coordinator Elaine Sturgeon at Sunday, August 23 UMW Community Welcome 540/785-2168. Sewing Circle - English Gown: Fair: KJ We will continue working on The University of Mary English gowns starting at 1:00 p.m. Washington Community Welcome Tuesday, September 1 in the Family Room of St. George’s Fair, an opportunity to greet the Events Committee Meeting: Church. We will be cutting out the freshman class and let them know The next RCHS Events gown and constructing the bodice about our Society and activities, is Committee meeting is scheduled of the gown. YOU will NEED to Thursday, August 20th from 10:30 for Tuesday, September 1st at 6:00 have your STAYS for fitting the a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The day will p.m. in St. George’s room 300. For bodice of the gown. entail setting up a tent, table and more info, please call Lyn Padgett Remember to bring everything chairs at Ball Circle on the UMW at 540/841-7275. you will need, including your Campus, talking with the students KJ sewing machine, pattern, fabric and about RCHS activities, handing out accessories. If you have questions brochures, and then taking down before the event, contact Event the tent. Coordinator Catherine Taylor at If you are able to volunteer for 540/775-0852. Volume 12, Number 5 Page 3 James Mercer, Esq. By Trip Wiggins Following Catherine’s death in Following graduation in the mid 1750, Mercer wasted no time in 1750s he, like his two brothers, When you mention “Mercer” in finding a mother for his children served in the Virginia Regiment Fredericksburg, the first name that and married Ann Roy, daughter of under Lt. Col. George Washington comes to mind is that of Dr. Hugh Dr. Mungo Roy, of Caroline during the French and Indian War Mercer, the Scottish immigrant, County. (Caroline County was (where his brother John Fenton was physician and Revolutionary War more the center of commerce at this killed). Late in the war he was hero. But this time we are going to time; Fredericksburg and given command of Fort Loudon in look at the other Mercer of our Spotsylvania still being considered today’s Winchester, VA. town—James Mercer. “back water” areas.) Ann gave Following the war James came to I hear you saying, “James? Who’s George nine more children, of Fredericksburg and purchased he?” A good question. Let’s which Grace Fenton, John Francis, several lots in the “new section” of explore his interesting life. Oh, and Maria, Robert and possibly Elinor town. The lots would be known as while James was a patient and & Anna (?) attained their majority. “Mercer’s Park” and in the 60s he probably friend of Dr. Mercer, the While several children had notable built his cottage home at the north- two were not related. careers, we’ll explore that of James west corner of Charles and Just northeast of Fredericksburg, and touch on the others at the end. Fauquier streets calling it “St. in Stafford County, was where John James’ House” in honor of his Mercer built his home, father’s boyhood neighborhood in Marlborough, on the banks of the Dublin on St. James’ Street. How Potomac. John (1715-1768) much the lots and house were emigrated from Dublin, Ireland, financed by father John remains when he was a youth and became a unknown, but perhaps father was wealthy and powerful attorney in trying to get young James started in Virginia. He wrote several books his law practice in the young on the law in Virginia, served as bustling town of Fredericksburg. probate attorney for many people in During this time also two families the region, including Augustine became inextricably intertwined— Washington (George’s father), and the Mercers and the Dicks. Charles was a co-founder of the Ohio Dick (see article in the December Company (a land speculating 2008 and January 2009 issues of company). He married well, The Rappahannock Gazette) was a Catherine Mason, sister of George successful merchant in the region, Mason III, with whom he had 10 starting in Caroline County and children: George, John Fenton, moving about 1750 to Fredericks- James, Sarah and Mary and five th burg. He was an old friend of John who died before their 16 birthday. Mercer. In fact they were also When George Mason III and his Originally father didn’t think brothers-in-law as both married wife died, John became guardian James was suited for academia or daughters of Dr. Mungo Roy in for their son, George Mason IV, the the law but rather architecture so he 1750; John to Ann and Charles to future “Bill of Rights” statesman. arranged for James to be Mary. George IV and James grew up apprenticed to a master builder in together and it was John Mercer Williamsburg. Following strong (continued on page 4) who introduced both to the law— objections from James’ brothers, he from which neither wandered. was instead sent to William & Mary where he studied law. Page 4 The Rappahannock Gazette (continued from page 3) his widowed sister-in-law, Eleanor plantations under the management In 1762 James ran for a vacant (Roy) Hill, and her three children as of Thomas Oliver. Of these there seat in the House of Burgesses, not well as an unmarried sister-in-law, were 54 slaves on Marlborough, 19 from either Stafford or Beatrix Roy. He also left an estate on Acquia, 12 on Belviderra and Spotsylvania but rather the new deep in debt but one of the largest nine on Accokeek, besides nine county of Hampshire (now in West personal libraries in the colonies— hired for work elsewhere.