William Mercer of Pitteuchar, Douglies & Potterhill

William Mercer

William was born 01/Oct/1717.

He was apprenticed to John Mercer, Sheriff Clerk and became Sheriff Substitute of Perth

He married Elizabeth Swan on 1st November, 1746.

He purchased Easter, Wester, Middle and Abbots Douglies in 1753. He succeeded to Pitteuchar on death of his brother James in 1756 and had a Charter of Potterhill from the Earl of Kinnoull on 16/Apr/1768. He sold Pitteuchar to Oliphant & Rossie in 1782.

William died on 16/Jan/1785 and is buried at Kinnoull.

Elizabeth Swan

Elizabeth was born 20/May/1726.

Her father was George Swan, who, it is has been claimed, was the illegitimate son of King Charles II.

Family legend has it that when George asked why Charles had not ennobled him, as he had his other children, the King replied, "I did not dare to make a deuck (Scotch for "duck") of him, but I made a nobler bird." We are unable to substantiate the story but it is mentioned in the "Mercer Family Tree" created by Major William Lindsay Mercer of Huntingtower, Perth. 1858 - 1926.

Elizabeth died in 1790 and is buried at Kinnoull.

William and Elizabeth had the following children:

Ann Mercer (b:17/Oct/1748. m:22/Dec/1790. d:20/Mar/1824. Buried at Lasswade. Spouse: Patrick Duncan of Damside. d.s.p.)

Margaret Mercer (b:02/Mar/1750. Unmarried.)

Laurence James Mercer (b:10/Jan/1752. He worked in Bengal Civil Service where he was described as "The Upright Judge." Laurence succeeded to Potterhill on the death of his father in 1785. He died at Burdwan on 20/Aug/1791 and is buried there. Unmarried.)

James Mercer (b:03/Aug/1755. Died 1756.)

William Mercer b:08/Jan/1755. d:03/Aug/1801.)

James Francis Mercer (b:28/Aug/1756. d:26/Apr/1809. Lt. Col. 22nd Regiment.
Spouse: Clarinda O'Grady of Dublin. d.s.p.)

Hannah Mercer (b:15/Jun/1758. d:1796. Unmarried.)

George Mercer (b:20/Sep/1760. Died 1760.)

Graeme Mercer (b:08/Jul/1762. Died young.)

Graeme Mercer (b:04/Jul/1764. d:06/Oct/1841.)

John Mercer (b:13/Sep/1766. Lieutenant of Marines. Died April/1794 from the effects of a wound received at Guadaloupe. Unmarried.)

Thomas Mercer (b:16/Jun/1769. d:15/Aug/1833. Buried at Kinnoull. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Bengal, India. Unmarried.)

George Dempster Mercer of Gorthy (b:21/Jul/1772. d:07/Dec/1858)