Mercer Brown
1740 - 1802 (62 years)
Person ID: I6585 | Tree: Import from RootsMagic | Last Modified: 23 Oct 2025
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Name Mercer Brown Notes
BROWN
Mercer (also listed Messer) born 7 May 1740; removed to South Carolina 1784; son of Richard and Mary (Norton) Brown of Fairfax Monthly Meeting, Virginia; reported January 1764 as being engaged to a young woman not a member of our society; was prprecautioned and left for a trip to Carolina; she met him on the way and they were married by a Priest; he was disowned 31 Mar 1764. Mercer and wife, Sarah (he having been reinstated after disowned) and their 3 children, listed below, received by request 26 Jul 1770.
Children:
Mary 14 Aug 1765
Richard 2 Oct 1767
Sarah 22 Dec 1769
Ann 13 Mar 1772
Elizabeth 15 May 1774
Margaret 16 nov 1776
Phebe
Mercer
Mercer and Sarah and six children, Richard, Sarah, Ann, Margaret, Phebe and Mercer granted certificate Bush River Monthly Meeting, South Carolina, 25 Sep 1784.
From Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, vol VI p. 476 (Fairfax Monthly Meeting, VA)
Birth 7 May 1740 [1] Gender Male Died 20 Dec 1802 Columbia, Georgia, United States 
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Parents
Father Richard Brown (ID:I6595), b. 1693, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States d. 1745, Fairfax, Loudoun, Virginia, USA (Age 52 years) Mother Mary Norton (ID:I6596), b. 1713, Armagh, Northern Ireland d. 1774, Loudoun, Virginia, United States (Age 61 years) Marriage 24 Oct 1733 Chester, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States [4, 5]
Nottingham Monthly Meeting
20 Aug 1733
RICHARD BROWN and Mary Norton appeared at this meeting and signified that they continued their Intentions of Marriage it being the second time, the the enquirers make report that they find nothing to obstruct their proceedings ths meeting therefore leaves them to their liberty to accomplish their marriage according to truths. Orders and appoints Richard Beeson and Josiah Paine to attend teh marriage and make report to ye next monthly meeting and bring the marriage certfiicate also.
17 Sep 1733
Those appointed to attend ye marriage of Richard Brown and Mary Norton have given an account that it was orderly accomplished and have brought the marriage certificate also.
24 Oct 1733
Whereas Richard Bron son of William Brown of West Nottingham in ye County of Chester and province of Pensilvania and Mary Norton duaghter of Edward Norton of ye County of Armah in he Kingdome of Ireland Deceased having declared their Intentions of takeing Each other in marriage before severall Monthly meetings of ye Christian people called Quakers in E. Nottingham in ye County and province affirmed according to ye Good Order used amonst them and having consent of those concerned their 3rd proposals of marriage after deliverate consideration they appearing clear of others, were approved of by ye said meetings. Those therefore may certifie whom it may concern that for the full accompishing their said intention this twenty fouourth day of October in ye year of our Lord one thosand seven hundred and thirty three. They ye said Richard Brown and Mary Norton appeared in a publick meeting of ye said people assembled a ttheir publick meeting place in West Nottinghame and ye said Richard Brown takeing ye said Mary Norton by ye hand did in a solemn manner openly declare ye he took her to be his wife promising through ye Lord's assistance to be unto her a loveing and faithfull husband untill death should searate them and then be there in ye said assembly ye said Mary Norton did in like manner Declare ye she took him ye said Richard Brown to be her husband promising through ye Lord's assistance to be unto him a loveling and faithfull wife untill Death should searate them moreover they ye said Richard Brown and Mary Norton she according to ye custome of marriage assuming her husband's did as a farther confirmation thereof them be there to these presents set their hands as husband and wife and we being present all ye solmnize of ye 3rd marriage and subscription in manner aforesaid do as witnesses hereunto also subscribe our names the day of year first above written.
Richard Brown
Mary Brown (her mark)
Children 1. Mercer Brown (ID:I6585)
(current person)
, b. 7 May 1740 d. 20 Dec 1802, Columbia, Georgia, United States (Age 62 years) -
Family
Wife Sarah Piggott (ID:I6586) d. 1810, Preble, Ohio, United States Marriage 31 Mar 1764 South Carolina, United States [1] Children 1. 
Betsy Brown (ID:I6587), b. 8 Jan 1764 d. 6 Sep 1769 (Age 5 years)2. Mary Brown (ID:I6588), b. 14 Aug 1765 d. Yes, date unknown3. Richard Brown (ID:I6589), b. 2 Oct 1767 d. Yes, date unknown4. Sarah Brown (ID:I6590), b. 22 Dec 1769 d. Yes, date unknown5. Ann Brown (ID:I6591), b. 13 Mar 1772 d. Abt 23 Mar 1780 (Age 8 years)6. Elizabeth Brown (ID:I6592), b. 15 May 1774 d. 17 Apr 1778 (Age 3 years)7. Margaret Brown (ID:I6593), b. 16 Nov 1776 d. Yes, date unknown8. Phebe Brown (ID:I6584), b. 5 Mar 1778, Fairfax, Loudoun, Virginia, USA d. Yes, date unknown9. Mercer Brown (ID:I6594), b. 20 Aug 1781 d. Yes, date unknown -
Other Personal Events
Quaker Meeting 31 Mar 1764 Fairfax, Loudoun, Virginia, USA [1] Disowend Quaker Meeting 26 Jul 1770 Fairfax, Loudoun, Virginia, USA Reinstated Quaker Meeting 23 Sep 1784 South Carolina, United States [1] Removed to South Carolina Quaker Meeting 5 Mar 1785 Wrightsborough, Columbia County, Georgia, United States Received certificate 
Quaker meeting minutes for Mercer Brown family Will 30 Oct 1802 Columbia, Georgia, United States [2]
Georgia
Columbia County
Personally appears in Open Court: Richard Batten, Mark P. Davis, and Peter Dill being duly qualified to the form of their prosepisa saith that they was present and saw Mercer Brown deceased sign the written will that they subscribed the same as Witness in the presence and at the request of the deceased and at the time of signing the same the deceased was of sound mind and disposing memory. /s/ Richard Battin, M.P. Davis, Peter Dill
Sworn in open court
This 20th Dec. 1802
By A. Crawford, Clerk
Georgia
Columbia County
Ordinarys Office
Registered in Book A fol 154 & 155 this 24 Dec 1802
By A. Crawford, Clerk
To all whom these may concern
Know ye that I Merer Brown of Columbia County in the State of Georgia, being sick and weak in body but of Sound Disposing mind and memory, Calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, and being desirous of Settling & Disposing of my outward affairs while of Ability, to make & Ordeain this my last will & Testament in manner of form following
First my will and desire is that my funeral expenses by Discharged, together with all my just debts by my Executor hereafter Named
Item I give & Bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah during her widowhood all & Singular the Profits and Emoluments arising from my Grist Mill & Saw Mill & Plantation I now live on; Likewise the Profits of my moveable Effects whilst she remains my widow and no longer
Item I give & Bequeath to my son Richard Brown that Plantation and Tract of Land whereon he now lives, Also that Tract of Land in the Piney Woods near the head of Germany's Creek likewise any part of Land & Mill on Sweetwater Creek
Item I give & Bequeath to my Son Mercer Brown the Plantation I now live on & Likewise my Grist my & Saw Mill with all & Singular the Privileges & Appurtenances thereto belonging to be Entered upon & Enjoyed by him Immediately after the Death or Marriage of my above named wife.
Item I Give & Bequeath to my four Daughters Namely, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Phebe and my deceased daughter Ann's son Benjamin Lancaster, all the moveable property remaining at the decease of my widow to be equally divided between them share & share alike.
Lastly I make, ordain, constitute & Appoint my beloved sons Richard and Mercer Brown Executors of this my last Will & Testament, Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament, In Winess whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this Thirty-eth day of the Tenth Month in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand eight Hundred and Two.
Signed, Sealed and Declared by the Po(?) Mercer Brown as his last will & Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names Richard Battin, Peter Dill, Mark P. Davis
Probate 8 Mar 1803 Columbia, Georgia, United States [3] - Georgia
Columbia County
Ordinarys Office
Registered in Book A fol 154 & 155 this 24 Dec 1802
By A. Crawford, Clerk
To all whom these may concern
Know ye that I Merer Brown of Columbia County in the State of Georgia, being sick and weak in body but of Sound Disposing mind and memory, Calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, and being desirous of Settling & Disposing of my outward affairs while of Ability, to make & Ordeain this my last will & Testament in manner of form following
First my will and desire is that my funeral expenses by Discharged, together with all my just debts by my Executor hereafter Named
Item I give & Bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah during her widowhood all & Singular the Profits and Emoluments arising from my Grist Mill & Saw Mill & Plantation I now live on; Likewise the Profits of my moveable Effects whilst she remains my widow and no longer
Item I give & Bequeath to my son Richard Brown that Plantation and Tract of Land whereon he now lives, Also that Tract of Land in the Piney Woods near the head of Germany's Creek likewise any part of Land & Mill on Sweetwater Creek
Item I give & Bequeath to my Son Mercer Brown the Plantation I now live on & Likewise my Grist my & Saw Mill with all & Singular the Privileges & Appurtenances thereto belonging to be Entered upon & Enjoyed by him Immediately after the Death or Marriage of my above named wife.
Item I Give & Bequeath to my four Daughters Namely, Mary, Sarah, Margaret, Phebe and my deceased daughter Ann's son Benjamin Lancaster, all the moveable property remaining at the decease of my widow to be equally divided between them share & share alike.
Lastly I make, ordain, constitute & Appoint my beloved sons Richard and Mercer Brown Executors of this my last Will & Testament, Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament, In Winess whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this Thirty-eth day of the Tenth Month in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand eight Hundred and Two.
Signed, Sealed and Declared by the Po(?) Mercer Brown as his last will & Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names Richard Battin, Peter Dill, Mark P. Davis
Inventory of Mercer Brown Estate _UID 6A1A726C589DF011AC2C22966722CE3E7DE0 -
Photos 
1804 Mercer Brown - Land Sale
For Sale.
170 acres of land, lying in Columbia County, on Maddox creek, two and a half miles below Wrightsborough, with a grist mill, saw mill and plantation thereon, for terms apply to the subscriber on the premises.
Mercer Brown.
February 18
(note that Mercer Brown b. 1781 is selling land originally purchased by his father Mercer Brwon b. 1740)
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Source Citations
- [S177] Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol I–VI, 1607-1943, Volume VI, p. 475, Fairfax Monthly Meeting.
- [S176] Probate Records, Ancestry.com. Georgia, Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
- [S176] Probate Records, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Georgia County, District and Probate Courts, Wills, A-Crawford, C 1789-1930.
- [S178] Quaker Monthly Meeting Records.
- [S178] Quaker Monthly Meeting Records, Nottingham Monthly Meeting Minutes, 1730-1889.