MERCER Brick Wall in the UK around 1757

Question

I have been researching my family for many years and have traced the MERCER family from South Africa to Gainsborough in Lincolnshire where they lived for just over 100 years.

One William Mercer settled in Gainsborough around about 1800 but I have no idea where he came from or where he was born and that is the brick wall.

William Mercer was born about 1757 and died in Gainsborough. He was married to an Elizabeth, surname unknown and they had at least one son, also named William Mercer and possibly another son called Joseph Mercer but the latter has not been confirmed.

William Mercer senior died on the 7th July 1815 at the age of 58 and his wife Elizabeth died on the 5th January 1798 at the age of 50 years old according to one source and 57 according to another.

William Mercer senior married a second time to an Sarah Brown in Gainsborough on the 28 July 1803 and she is given as Sarah Brown - widow. She died in 1817.

The Mercer family had connections to Hull and Liverpool so perhaps William Senior was born in one these cities.

I did find a reference to an Elizabeth SEARGEANT who married a William MERCER in Hull on the 27th March 1777 who is possibly the Elizabeth who married William senior.

Any assistance or advice on how to break through this brick wall will be much appreciated.

Thank-you

Con Mercer

Comments

Your source for William Mercer (1757 - 1815)  says only 'LDS records'.  If you could be more specific (i.e. include the citation provided by FamilySearch), it would give people a starting point.  

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Hi Ian,

I will obtain the citations and add them.

Thank-you for your response.

Regards

Con Mercer

Answer 1

Hi Con,

I think there is a typing error, as you've stated (in both the title and in the text) that William Mercer was born in 1857, when I think you mean 1757. You should probably correct it to avoid any confusion. 

You mention a marriage between Elizabeth SEARGEANT and William MERCER in Hull on 27th March 1777. There is actually a baptism for a William Mercer, son of William Mercer, on 21st Jan 1778 in Hull. Here is the FamilySearch link: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JQ62-1X2

Could this be William Jnr.? According to his burial record, he was born c.1778. This would support the theory that the Mercer family moved from Hull to Gainsborough. 

J. 

Comments

Hi J Hamlin,

Thank-you for your reply and for pointing out my typo regarding the incorrect date. I will correct it as soon as I figure out how to edit the original post.

Regards

Con Mercer