Hugh Mercer (bef. 1725 - 1777)

Born before 17 Jan 1725 in Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 12 Jan 1777 after age 51 in Princeton, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States

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Hugh Mercer participated in the American Revolution. Join: 1776 Project Discuss: 1776

Biography

Hugh Mercer is Notable.

Brigadier General Hugh Mercer served with 3rd Virginia Regiment (1777), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Hugh Mercer is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A077456.

Hugh Mercer, son of William Mercer and Anne Munro was baptised in the parish of Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire on 17 January 1726.^[1]

Family Members Parents Rev. William Mercer 1696 – 1767 Anne Munro 1724 – 1768

Siblings Catherine Elizabeth Mercer 1735 – 1810

Spouse & Children Isabella Gordon 1740 – 1791 George Mercer 1764 – 1833 Anne Gordon Mercer 1765 – 1832 Colonel Hugh Tenant Weedon Mercer 1776 – 1853

from Find A Grave

Revolutionary War Continental Brigadier General. Studied medicine in Scotland. Fought at the Battle of Culloden in Prince Charles Edward's army in 1746. Settled in America after the end of the Scottish conflict. Served as a Captain in the Pennsylvania Regiment during the French and Indian War, participating in Edward Braddock's unsuccessful 1755 expedition. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and served in General Forbes Fort Duquesne 1758 expedition. Promoted Colonel and placed in command of Fort Pitt. Later settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, he was made Colonel of the 3rd Virginia Infantry, and then was commissioned Brigadier General in the Continental Army. Named by General Washington to command the "flying camp" mobile militia forces. Participated in all the 1776 battles in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Possibly suggested the December 1776 strike against Trenton, New Jersey, in which he participated. Led a brigade from Trenton to Princeton, where he led an attack to counter a British group of reinforcements. He was felled by a blow to the head and several bayonet wounds. He died of his wounds five days later. Originally buried in the Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was re-buried in the newly-opened Laurel Hill Cemetery in 1840. The house where he died now stands on the Princeton Battlefield, and is a National Landmark. A street named for him in Fredericksburg is near the National Civil War Battlefield. (bio by: Russ Dodge)

Legacy

• Six U.S. states have named counties in Gen. Mercer's honor: Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Sources

1. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; Mercer, Hugh; William Mercer/Anne Munroe M; 17/01/1726; 233/ 10 9; Pitsligo; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

• Wikipedia: Hugh_Mercer
• Fernald, Natalie R. The Genealogical Exchange (Buffalo, New York, 1904-1911) Vol. 1, May 1904, Page 6
• Philadelphia graves
• Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s (Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012)

Name: Hugh Mercer

Arrival: 1746 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Source Publication Code: 1640.10.21

Primary Immigrant: Mercer, Hugh

Source Bibliography: DOBSON, DAVID. The Scots Overseas: Emigrants and Adventurers from Aberdeen and North East Scotland, Fife, Moray and Banff, Angus and Perth, Southern Scotland, Glasgow and the West of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland, The Lothians, and the Northern Highlands. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books, 2000. Emigrants and Adventurers from Aberdeen and North East Scotland, Part Two. Page: 17

• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls. Volume: 142; SAR Membership Number: 28334.

Name: General Hugh Mercer

SAR Membership: 28334

Birth: 1725 Aberdeen, Scotland

Death: 12 Jan 1777 Princeton, New Jersey

Spouse: Isabella Gordon

Children: Anne Gordon Mercer

• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current about Hugh Mercer

Name: Hugh Mercer

Birth Date: 1725

Death: 12 Jan 1777 Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey

Cemetery: Princeton Battlefield Site

Burial or Cremation Place: Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey

• Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-20, 22 about Hugh Mercer

Name: Hugh Mercer[Hugo Mercer]

Birth: 1726 Aberdeen, Scotland

Death: 12 Jan 1777 Princeton, New Jersey

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. Dictionary of National Biography, Volumes 1-20, 22 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors.

Original data: Stephen, Sir Leslie, ed. Dictionary of National Biography, 1921–1922. Volumes 1–20, 22. London, England: Oxford University Press, 1921–1922.

See Also

• Hugh Mercer page on Battlefields.org
• The Battle of Princeton on Battlefields.org
• Mercer Millions Family Website