Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-08

Christian character and Of their gratitude for
her invaluable instruction.
About eight years after her death.
which would be about 1854, her re-
One of the old inhabitants told the
Rambler that he had assisted in that
work and that the remains of Miss
Mercer were carried or down In the
James river country" That was the
Rambler's clue. He knew that the
in and around Fredericksburg. in the
Rappahannock country, and he knew
that John T. Goolrick of Fredericks-
burg, whose wife was the guardian
had written book on the life and
family of Gen. Hugh Mercer. He
turned to that book, on the title page
of which is this This book is at
fectionately dedicated to my Wife, a
great-granddaughter of George Mason.
associate of Gen. Hugh Mercer" The
Rambler read many pages about Gen.
Hugh Mercer who was born at Aber-
deem, Scotland in 1925, came to Amer
then moved to Greencastle. now call
ed Mercersburg, Pa, practiced medi-
cine and pharmacy in that wild coun-
try. served in Braddock's French and
Indian campaign as captain; re-
moved to Fredericksburg and opened
an apothecary shop not far from the
home of John Paul Jones, practiced
medicine, married Isabelle Gordon of
Virginia. was elected colonel of the
Cd Virginia Regiment for service in
the revolution, was appointed briga-
der general by Congress, was NOR
tally wounded at the battle of Prince
ton. January 3, 1777, died January ~
and rests IN Laurel Hill cemetery.
Phils delphia. He had sister named
Margaret That Christian name was
common in his family in Scotland.
That, too, was encouraging in the
search for Margaret Mercer of Bel
mont.
X X
The children of Gen. Hugh Mercer
were Anna Gordon Mercer. who mar
ried Robert Patton of Fredericks-
burg; John Mercer. William Mercer.
George Weldon Mercer and Hugh
Mercer, who married Louisa Griffin.
A SON. of the latter was Hugh
Weldon Mercer of Georgia. major
general. Confederate states army, who
died at Baden Baden in 1877. Other
children were George Weldon Mercer,
Julia Weldon Mercer. who died in
1883, the wife of Dr. Robert Page
Mercer. surgeon in the United States
and Confederate navies; Louise Mer-
Ger. who married Rev. DR.. John Ley
burn of the Presbyterian Church. and
George Anderson Mercer. who in 1851
daughter Of Dr.. Brodie Herndon Of
Fredericksburg.
After a fruitless search for Mar
garet Mercer of Belmont. the Rambler
turned to- Bishop Meade's "old
chapter on Cameron and Shelburne
parishes. Among the old churches in
that part of the country he mem
toned one near Gum Spring. mot far
from the junction of the roads from
Georgetown and Alexandria to Lees
gap in the Short hill not far from
Leesburg," the church at Leesburg,
the church at Middleburg and another
at place called Pot House. The old
the Revs. John Andrews, Archibald
Avens. Spence Grayson. James Scott,
William Leigh, David Griffith, Alexan-
der McFardan. John Dunn. Thomas
Jackson and Rev. Mr.. Cutler. AS the
evening wore on the Rambler came
upon this paragraph in connection
with the church at Leesburg:
"The Rev. George Adie took charge
OF 1t in 1882. and continued in it until
his death. in 1856. being it's faithful,
nearly twenty years, and has been
succeeded by the Rev. Mr.. Caldwell.
Mr.. Adie. for many years connected
with his charge at Leesburg, held
regular though infrequent services at
Upperville, Middleburg and Aide. He
also acted as chaplain of the female
school at Belmont a few miles from
Leesburg. kept by Miss Margaret
Mercer. For faithful and deep
ly interesting account of this re-
markable woman we must refer
our readers to the little volume by
DR.. Caspar Morris of Philadelphia,
than which there are few biographies
more. just, more edifying or more
pleasing. Miss Mercer still lives in
the memories and affections of her
numerous pupils, who are scattered
over the land
For some years the Sunday after
noon services Of Mr.. Adie were held
IN the large hall at Belmont, but, as
there were very many poor in the
neighborhood, Miss Mercer, at her own
expense. put up neat little chapel
short distance from the house for
their benefit. have spent some in
teresting seasons in this house of
God. preaching and administering
confirmation. Miss Mercer was then
and there to be seen in her highest
glory and happiness in the midst of
her pupils and the poor"
Searching for the book by DR.. Nor
ris. referred to by Bishop Meade, but
not finding it, the Rambler came upon
book written by Miss Mercer. en-