The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-06-14
AN INTERESTING PAPER
Copy Of Petition Presented By Gen. Mercer S
Executors to Legislature in 1885.

Virginia Nlhb lIblA iHf
Denartment oi Archives and History,
Richmond. Va, JuneS, 1906.
To The Free Lance.
am enclosing herewith q paper
which | think viii be of interest To the
people of fredericksburg. IN view
of the approaching unveihng ol
General Mercer's monument lul,
is a petition presented 10y General
Mcrcer's executors To the legislature III
1888. among which executors was MS
wife. Isabella Mercer
came across the petition in classify
ing the collection OF petitions presented
10 the legislature from no to the tiVli !
War. a vast collection hearing on almost
every phase OF Virginia life.
Ii is tire work of the Department oil
Archives and History 10 arrange ana
catalogue these collections oiStatepaperS
and also To acquire foT the state letters
and other documents, now in the hands
of private persons, in order that IN
mat .rial for the Use of historians ol
Virginia may be n complete ANA Well
arranged ~ possible.
am anxious To trace a. many private /
collections of papers a. possible ana d /
YOU can give me any help in finding such
collections, | should appreciate II very
much.
Yours sincerely.
II. James Eckenrode
Archivist
To the Honorable the speaker aad
Gentlemen of the House of Delegates
The petition OF General George Weldon.
John Tenant Doctr OF Physic. lsabe a
Mercer Widow-acting executors of the
late MAR. General Hugh Mercer dee d
humbly sheweth-
That the said Major Genl Hugh Mercer
in his life time purchased Tract oi
Land OF his ENcellency Gen. George
Washington with an Intention of lay
inc OF part of il. on the River Kappa
hammock. opposite the lower end OF tie
Town of fredericksburg into Lofts Tor
"A Town. which from the superior al
yantages of navigation. he did not
doubt would hourish-That soon after
he made this purchase. and before De-
could apply To the Assembly Tor leave To
carry ms Plan into Execution the SAID
Genl Hugh Mercer was killed IN thc
Service of the United States-leavii
your Petitioner Isabella Mercer his
Widow. and five children-and having
made his last will and appoint 81 your
Petitioners Executors To the saine--Inaie
such "A disposition OF his Estate a. he
thought most for thu benefit OF hls
family. and more especially among other
divisions beQueathed the aforementioned
Tract OF Land to his Widow for Lie.
and after her death To his Son William.
He diving without Heirs tC his Son
lieOrge--On like contingency and 80 10
his third and other Children, according
to seniority. a. by the said Will recorded
in SpOtsylyania Court may appear. our
Petitioners further shew that the SAID
William and George being deprived OF
their Hearing from their Birth, aud OF
course their Speech, are thereby rendered
incapable of managing their affairs a
other Persons. For the William is in
the twenty-frst year of his age he still
remains deaf and dumb and there i little
hopes that George the next Child Will be
more fortunate in receiving those ines
Unable Senses: by which means they are
without Guardians: the Court of Law
having no Power To appoint after four
ten Years OF Age-and the young Ten
tlemen themselves incapable OF choosing
But your Petitioners being all th'
Relations they have in America, and
having ever had the care OF their For
tunes and EducatiOns since the death OF
their unfortunate Father; they conceive
it their duty to make this application to
your honorable House. i'll the name OF
the said William Mercer tho your Peti-
toner Isabella is more immediat ,ly in
terested during her Life : Estate therein
to have seventy one Acres part OF said
Stafford Land laid OF into Lofts Tor a
Town, agreeable to a Survey and Plott
made by James Tut, to which your Pc
titiOuers beg leave TO refer, which they
humblv conceive will be a public Benefit
most to the Advantage OF the said Mar
Genl Hugh Mercer's Family, and preiu
dicial to no Person, William Fitzhugh X
Adam Hunter Esqr-the only Persons
having Land adjoining thereto asserting
to this Measure-and public notice being
duly advertised in the Virginia Gazette
according to the Rule Of your Honoura
bic House-and your Petitioners a. IN
duty bound shall ever pray.
&. Weldon,
John Tenant,
Isabella Mercer
Dated Dec Q, 1885.
Reported to the Committee as reas' u