Mercy Sharrow

**Mercy** **Sharrow** (née **Myrtle**) was the young servant to the Castells until she married Pepper Sharrow and forsake a maid’s life of servitude. She has been the only woman present in the settlement of Jamestown for an unknown amount of time, serving as Samuel Castell’s housekeeper. She became the closest and most loyal person to Jocelyn Castell, her new mistress.

## Personality

Mercy is a naïve, kind and joyful young woman that takes delight in small things. She always looks at the bright side of events and manages to see the good in others. She finds delight in the simplest tasks. Due to her pure and childish-like, even clueless, nature, she’s easily manipulated by those around her. Mercy can’t recognize slyness in others and might say out loud things she shouldn’t speak about. She’s extremely devotional to both Samuel and Jocelyn Castell, following their instructions with sheer obedience. Mercy is extremely religious and has a great fear of the devil, evil and darkness.

## Physical Appearance

Petite and frail, Mercy has a juvenile appearance. Most don’t consider her a beauty, except perhaps for Pepper Sharrow who believes her to be pretty. She dresses herself in modest clothing and wears her hair inside a bonnet.

## Throughout *Jamestown*

* Background
* Season One
* Season Two
* Season Three

Mercy has been living in Jamestown ever since Samuel Castell arrived. It’s unknown if Mercy has been a servant to others before, but if she did, she only worked for men for Jocelyn is her first mistress.

<tabber>

While Samuel Castell is waiting at the wharf for the arrival of her betrothal, Jocelyn Woodbryg, Mercy comes to him and recalls him he forgot the love token. The girl asks about her new mistress’s beauty. She’s extremely excited about Jocelyn’s arrival. Once at home with her new mistress, Jocelyn asks her for clean sheets for the bed. Mercy clarifies those are clean sheets and witnesses, astonished, Jocelyn’s angry reaction to her new household. Later, when Jocelyn pretends to be ill, Mercy is extremely concerned about her mistress. She asks Christopher Priestley if Joceyn is withering and the doctor asks her to wait outside. The girl says she’ll pray for her mistress’s health. At night, Mercy still takes care of Jocelyn, expressing her worries about her mistress’s possible death. But when the new governor, Sir George Yeardley, comes to visit Samuel, she’s puzzled when Jocelyn raises from the bed and listens at the door, and when Samuel returns, she lies down to her previous state of “illness”. The next day, Jocelyn is still pretending to be sick and Mercy is praying by her side. Samuel asks if there is no improvement and Mercy states that she wept and prayed for her mistress to recover.
One day at night, Mercy asks Jocelyn what prevents her from sleeping and notices the belladonna essence. Jocelyn replies the belladonna is to relieve some pain. Mercy warns that belladonna can poison and proceeds in asking what pain and says she can’t sleep while her mistress is in pain. Jocelyn urges to be quiet and to go back to bed. The next day, Pepper Sharrow presents Mercy with a pebble he picked from the earth. He found the stone to be pretty like Mercy. The girl says she has to go back but eventually claims to like her stone. While cleaning the house, Mercy confesses to Jocelyn she doesn’t like the idea of her mistress taking belladonna. Jocelyn urges her to remain quiet but Mercy keep talking about it. Later, Mercy fells ill and Samuel Castell gets her to the bed. Christopher Priestley tries to feed her the medicine but she says she’s afraid of taking it in fear that God might think she doesn’t enough faith in him to cure her. Mercy shows to Samuel the pebble Pepper gave to her and says there is love in it. The doctor states it’s the same sickness that fell upon Marshal Redwick and looks at Jocelyn. Jocelyn stays awake all night feeding the medicine to Mercy and the next morning the girl shows signs of recovering.

The next morning, Jocelyn asks Mercy if she has been in Jamestown for long enough to have witnessed Pamunkey attacks and she tells the Indians are known to have killed folk. When Samuel goes to meet the Pamunkey alongside the governor, Mercy is terrified of the dark. Jocelyn asks her to go fetch Christopher Priestley. However, when the doctor arrives, Jocelyn locks the girl outside. After Silas Sharrow and Alice Kett’s wedding, and while she’s taking water off the well, Nathan Bailey approaches and calls her beautiful, stating he can’t keep his off her. Mercy doesn’t know what to say and the young man offers himself to take her bucket. Later, Bailey takes Mercy for a stroll and asks her questions about Jocelyn Castell. He kisses her. Mercy doesn’t like it because his tongue is in her mouth. Bailey urges she has to keep their meetings a secret from her mistress. Then asks about Christopher Priestley, and Mercy says Jocelyn and the doctor have a secret but she doesn’t know what it is. Pepper Sharrow witnesses the meeting between the two and gets angry at Mercy. She confesses to Bailey that she likes Pepper and he gave her a stone. Meanwhile, Mercy asks Jocelyn about desire and accidentally tells her about Bailey. She then tells her mistress that she has a secret with him the same way Jocelyn has a secret with Christopher. Jocelyn asks her if this boy asked her questions about her and the doctor and how did he come to know about their secret. Mercy says it was her who told him so. Out of anger, Jocelyn throws Mercy into the streets. While crying outside, Pepper approaches her to ask for his stone back. That night, Samuel Castell tries to reason with his wife in accepting Mercy back. Samuel opens the door and makes her promise to never see Bailey again. Mercy promises and apologizes to Jocelyn. The next day, however, Jocelyn asks Mercy to see Bailey one last time and tell her about a presumed secret meeting between her and Christopher.

Mercy is preparing her mistress to sleep while talking her beauty and pure soul. Jocelyn strikes her. Mercy becomes frightened of her and Jocelyn asks for her forgiveness. Mercy hesitates but eventually nods. Jocelyn hugs her. The next day, Mercy overhears Temperance Yeardley talking with Verity Rutter about the preparations for St. John’s Summer Evening and is excited for she loves the dancing and boys jumping over bonfires. She runs to her mistress and shares her enthusiasm about the occasion. Jocelyn, however, doesn’t seem interested on the festivities. Mercy informs her mistress that Lady Yeardley is looking for volunteers to organize the celebrations and this gasps Jocelyn’s attention. Later on, Mercy catches Verity stealing in the Castell’s house. She asks her if it’s the master or the mistress she wishes to speak with. Verity doesn’t reply and eventually confesses she was stealing the house. Later, Mercy tells Jocelyn that Verity was in their house.

Henry Sharrow returns to Jamestown and when Mercy sees his burned face she believes him to be the Devil and falls. Henry helps her getting back on her feet. Later on, Mercy fashioned a sign of the Holy Mary to protect her from the Devil and warns Jocelyn they shouldn’t leave the house without it. While making candles, Mercy causes a fire and is saved by Henry Sharrow. The man isn’t able to get out and is rescue by his brother, Silas Sharrow. Mercy then kisses Henry’s cheek and thanks him. After learning that Temperance Yeardley received the letter from her cousin from Oxfordshire, Jocelyn and Mercy behold Jamestown’s gallows and Mercy says it’s a vision of hell. Jocelyn is terrified. Later, Jocelyn drags Mercy into Meredith Rutter’s tavern and both women drink with him. When Secretary Farlow and Marshal Redwick approach the tavern, Verity takes both Jocelyn and Mercy inside and urges them to remain quiet .Later, Verity asks Mercy to go fetch Alice Sharrow for they need her help. While on her way, she encounters Secretary Farlow who notices she’s drunk. Mercy starts to sing and follows her own way. When she arrives at the Sharrow plantation, she finds Pepper Sharrow and can’t recall why she’s there. Mercy tells him he’s handsome and confesses she wants to kiss him all night long. When she’s about to kiss him, however, she passes out and Peppers covers her with a blanket. She awakes the next day and urges Alice to go Verity and Jocelyn for they need her. Later, Mercy is suffering a hangover when Alice knocks on the Castell’s door and asks her to tell Jocelyn that her meeting with Lady Yeardley didn’t go as planned. She’s dancing with Pepper when the first slaves arrive at Jamestown.

<tabber>

Jocelyn Castell wakes in the morning and tells Mercy to ask her husband to join her for breakfast. Mercy informs Samuel Castell has gone fishing with Christopher Priestley. Jocelyn finds it odd. They arrive at the wharf and Jocelyn asks the doctor if he has returned from his fishing trip with Samuel. Christopher denies it. Mercy swears those were his master’s words. Meanwhile, Silas Sharrow and Henry Sharrow arrive from their trades with the Pamunkey and bring Samuel’s corpse. Jocelyn collapses at the sight. Back at home, Mercy cries for Samuel’s death and swears she’ll wearing black for the all year to honor her late master’s memory. While the Castell’s belongings are being removed from the recorder’s house, Mercy finds catholic totems inside of one of Samuel Castell’s cabinets. She’s terrified by it and tries to tell Jocelyn but she won’t listen to her. Later, when housed at the Rutters’ tavern, Mercy manages to tell her mistress and she tells her not to say a word to anyone about it. She cries that her late master couldn’t have been a papist because he was no traitor. Jocelyn takes the totems. During Alice and Silas’ son christening, Mercy says to Pepper Sharrow that her mistress wants her to stop weeping but she confesses she can’t. Pepper suggests she might cry when Jocelyn is not around. Mercy says she never thought of that and complements his cleverness.

Mercy is about to leave the tavern when she witness Meredith Rutter naked and is terrified. She tells Verity her husband’s genitalia is showing and the girl goes back inside. Meanwhile, both Jocelyn and Mercy return to their house. When Secretary Farlow executes Morrow by pouring melted lead into his throat, Mercy collapses at the sight. While on their way to church, Mercy notices Jocelyn staring at James Read’s empty shop. She claims the blacksmith must be at church giving thanks for his fortune for he’s to have a wife to come to Jamestown called Corinna. Jocelyn doesn’t seem happy with the news. After mass and when Christopher Priestley remarks to Jocelyn that James can’t keep his eyes off her, she frowns upon him. Verity Rutter says to Mercy she never heard Jocelyn talking down to Read like that before. Mercy says that she thought her mistress liked the blacksmith for she seems to seek him out every day and is disappointed when he isn’t there. When Alice Sharrow’s son goes missing, Mercy is extremely upset with God for allowing such unfairness and starts throwing rocks at the sky. Pepper Sharrow asks what she’s doing and Verity says she’s throwing stones at God. When the child is returned, Mercy apologizes to God. Corinna is to arrive and Mercy complements James Read on his handsomeness to welcome his betrothal. She’s extremely happy and talks about his doublet and flowers. Jocelyn doesn’t seem so excited about Corinna’s arrival, however. Christopher Priestley approaches them and notices that Jocelyn took the time to accessorize herself on that day with a brooch and a hairpin. One night, Mercy follows her mistress, who goes into Christopher’s apothecary. She meets with James Read, who has his gaze locked on the doctor’s building. She remarks that Jocelyn didn’t wake her out of the kindness of her heart and surely needs medicine for visiting the doctor at such an hour. Read agrees but doesn’t share the same opinion. The next day, Mercy asks Jocelyn if she’s feeling better and her mistress inquire if she followed her last night. Mercy nods and states that James Read sent her to bed. Jocelyn is concerned.

While at the wharf buying a capiton hat for her mistress, Mercy stumbles upon Secretary Farlow and his companion, Simeon Peck. The secretary smiles at her and she drops her merchandise. Simeon approaches, excited by the bright color of the hat. Mercy exclaims the hat is for her mistress, Widow Castell. Back at home, Mercy shares her astonishment of the secretary smiled at her. Jocelyn asks if Farlow has return and Mercy nods and adds that he’s accompanied by the most comely gentleman that complimented her hat. This information captives Jocelyn’s interest. While walking on the woods with her mistress, they spot Farlow and Simeon. Jocelyn follows them and urges Mercy to come along. The girl asks her if they are spying but Jocelyn tells her to remain quiet and follow her lead. They spy on the couple and are both distressed when Farlow denies his feelings for Simeon. Back in town, Mercy asks Jocelyn what’s a “paltry heart” but Jocelyn does not reply.

During an eclipse, Mercy finds Edgar Massinger acting erratic on the fields. She approaches him with careful. The man orders her to stay away. Mercy identifies herself and realizes the man has gone blind. She helps him back to Jamestown and into Christopher Priestley’s apothecary. The doctor tries to heal him. Mercy says she’ll pray for Massinger’s recovering. Late at night, Mercy hears weird noises and wakes. She calls for her mistress but doesn’t find her. She spots Samuel Castell’s corpse at the window and screams. The next day, Jocelyn visits the apothecary, where Massinger is receiving treatment, and asks Mercy to take the man outside in order for her to talk to the doctor about last night’s events. While Mercy is feeding Massinger, Silas Sharrow and Henry Sharrow came from behind her and force her to move. They confront the man with violence until Sir George Yeardley interrupts them. At Alice Sharrow’s advice and alongside her, Jocelyn and Mercy pierce iron sticks into Samuel’s grave in order to prevent him for leaving. Mercy asks why won’t God let her master rest. A small tornado hits Jamestown and townsfolk believe it to be Samuel’s spirit doing. Jocelyn and Mercy scream and are terrified in the house while the wind tears the house apart. The next night, Jocelyn, Mercy and Alice gather in the Castell household to summon Samuel’s spirit and communicate with him: asking him what he wants but tell him he can’t remain here. Mercy says the master won’t come but mistakes James Read for Samuel at the window. Jocelyn goes outside to speak with him. Later, their summoning is interrupted by Temperance Yeardley that urges them to stop the ritual, implying the recent events are her husband’s work and not ghosts. Secretary Farlow enters and explains there is a way by which Samuel himself can tell them who killed him, a ritual to touch the dead man’s body and if the murdered touches it, the body will bleed. Edgar Massinger is found guilty and confesses he was the one who murdered Samuel Castell. He’s sentenced to hang. When he’s being head to the gallows, he thanks Mercy for her kindness towards him.

A cross is erected outside Jamestown. Pepper Sharrow tells Mercy they could meet in the woods. Mercy tells him she wants to meet for kissing. In the morning, Mercy goes with her mistress, Jocelyn Castell, to speak with Marshal Redwick. The marshal, however, just scorns Jocelyn. Meanwhile, Christopher Priestley arrives and says he wants to speak to her. Jocelyn tries her best to avoid him including pretending to faint. Mercy tells it must be the chill that caused her mistress to faint. Later, Christopher visits the Castells household and Mercy tries to send him away. He gets inside anyway and discovers that Jocelyn escaped through the window. Pepper and Mercy kiss in the woods. Maria nearly falls down from a tree and is rescue by Chacrow. Alongside Pepper, Chacrow takes them to the Sharrow plantation. While leaving church, Pepper and Mercy agree to meet again. Jocelyn is now the owner of Edgar Massinger’s farm. Later, they visit their new farm and workers. Mercy points out the men don’t seem pleased to be working for a woman but Jocelyn wishes to hire James Read to master them. At her new farm, Jocelyn is having trouble with her new workers who refuse to follow her orders because she’s a woman. Mercy translates one of the workers for her. Jocelyn challenges him to fight with her but is beaten every time. She then promises to take one year out of every man’s time of servitude. This persuades the workers to labor for her and collect the harvest. One night, Jocelyn’s farm gets burned to the ground. The next morning, Jocelyn finds a worm among the burned soil. Mercy sees it as a sign of hope for their future.

<tabber>

Jocelyn Castell interrupts Mercy and Pepper Sharrow flirting. Jocelyn tells Mercy she can’t marry because she’s a maid devoted to a life of servitude therefore she must give Pepper no hope. Later, Mercy tells Pepper she can’t marry him because she's a maid. Nicholas Farlow approaches them and hits Mercy with his stick and then threatens Pepper. That night, Jocelyn witnesses Mercy cleaning her wound and asks if it was Farlow who did it. Mercy says the pain will be gone in a day but Jocelyn hugs her. Meanwhile, Jocelyn is healing Mercy’s back when Lady Yeardley comes in and says the governor wants Jocelyn to join them for supper. Pepper goes to Jamestown and Mercy realizes what Pepper wants to do and tries to stop him but he doesn’t listen. However, Farlow is beheaded by the governor. The next morning, Jocelyn is still stocked as Mercy cleans her face. Jocelyn says the governor must be destroyed.

At Jocelyn’s farm, Tamlin Appleday is working the fields. Mercy says he works harder than the other workers and sings. However, when Jocelyn approaches, the boy sits down and claims to have worked enough for one day. Jocelyn asks him to come with her to be rewarded for his efforts. Jocelyn pulls his ear strongly and commands him to go back to work like a defeated animal. The next morning, Jocelyn arrives at her farm but her workers are gone. She finds them playing and swimming in the river. Mercy explains they were all working until Tamlin found a rope and jump into the river. Jocelyn tells Tamline he’s not to return to her lands because he’s not welcome. Meanwhile, Henry Sharrow's daughter, Virginia, is taken ill. Mercy and Jocelyn approach Henry and Winganuske. Mercy asks how Henry can allow pagan rituals in Jamestown. Henry says it’s only to comfort his wife. Jocelyn says they could seize the opportunity to show the natives the superiority of their medicine and why they must convert to Christianity. Henry is not amused by Jocelyn seeing politics in his child’s sickness and tells Pepper to go fetch Chacrow. At the apothecary, Mercy is helping Christopher Priestley healing the baby. They talk about the native’s medicine. The doctor assures the child will heal best if he bleeds her.

The townsfolk are preparing for Saint George’s festivities. Mercy is watching Thomas Redwick training for his role as Saint George in the upcoming pageant. Mercy asks who will play the maid. Redwick replies it won’t be Mercy. Jocelyn calls for her maid and gives her Virginia’s toy, asking her to return it to Henry. At the Sharrow Hundred, Mercy returns Virginia’s toy to Henry. He tells Mercy to keep the toy for her own babes because Virginia loved the dirt and that’s how he’ll remember her. Mercy goes to Pepper and pays him a compliment. Pepper says he’ll seek a wife from England because Sharrows need family. Mercy leaves heartbroken. Mercy goes to the wharf and tells Willmus Crabtree that Jocelyn invited him for supper. He leaves and Mercy approaches Maria, grieving how many ships keep coming. Mercy is angry more people, especially – beautiful - women, keep arriving to Jamestown. Maria says she used to curse the ships because they brought her there now they give her hope. Later, Tamlin knocks on the door and tells Jocelyn about Pedro and Maria’s plan to escape to England during St. George’s feast in exchange for a slice of pie. Meanwhile, Mercy sees Jocelyn writing a letter. Mercy informs Verity that Tamlin told Jocelyn about Maria’s plan to escape.

Maria is washing clothes when she hears a horse neighing. She follows the sound and calls for Mercy to come and see: a golden horse. Temperance Yeardley goes with them. The three women are at awe with the horse. At the farm, Sir George Yeardley commands Pedro to go with Maria tomorrow and catch the horse on his behalf and asks them to swear secrecy. Mercy goes to the Sharrow Hundred and tells Pepper about the horse so he might be the one to catch it. Later, Mercy eventually tells Jocelyn about the horse and the governor’s wish to catch it before anyone else knows of it. Willmus goes to Jocelyn’s house and gives her the note. She sends Mercy to bed and invites the factor to come in. Verity talks to Mercy. She has heard from James Read that Mercy’s heart is broken because she’s not allowed to wed. Verity says some girls get the man they want by putting themselves with child. Mercy starts crying and leaves.

At the wharf, Mercy asks Verity if there is no word of Tamlin. Verity says a farmer told her the boy caught a boat to Gloaming Creek. Verity tells Mercy that Pepper Sharrow is a good man and she should have his child. Mercy says God would strike her down if she was to be pregnant and unmarried. Verity says God didn’t care when the governor killed Farlow and placed his head on a spike. Later, Mercy goes to Verity and says she has been thinking about her advice to take Pepper into the long grass and she can’t do it because it will be a sin. Verity laughs and walks away. Mercy goes to the church and meets Temperance. She asks Lady Yeardley what it like is to be carrying a child. Temperance says the world is kinder and God loves a pregnant woman. Mercy decides to follow Verity’s advice and runs off to Pepper, and gives him a big kiss.

Mercy is taking care of Meredith Rutter. She arrives at the tavern and says the doctor told her he must eat nothing but soup. Meredith asks how long must he remain like that. Mercy says until his back is mended and feeds him soup. She says Verity doesn’t want to see him. Mercy leaves the tavern and runs into Verity. She asks why she won’t visit her husband. Verity says Meredith doesn’t deserve any comforts. Later, Mercy tells Verity that Meredith is begging her to return to him. Verity doesn’t care and asks if Mercy has taken Pepper into the long grass. Mercy doesn't reply. Verity advices her to do it properly so he’ll get her pregnant. Mercy begs Verity to visit Meredith. At night, Jocelyn asks Mercy if she ever thinks about the future. Mercy says she didn’t but now she does because it’s in the future the things we wish for lie. Jocelyn has a vision of her old self in the mirror and asks Mercy to take the timepiece away. Christopher arrives and tells her that Yeardley has bequeathed Pedro and Maria to his children in his will. Jocelyn decides she’ll be the one to stop Yeardley. The next day, Mercy gives the timepiece to Meredith.

Mercy makes some sort of pregnancy test. The next morning, she goes to the Sharrow Hundred and runs into Winganuske. She tells Mercy that Pepper Sharrow is hunting in Ridgewater. Mercy agrees to wait for him. She talks to Winganuske about babies and motherhood. Mercy says she can’t wait and decides to go seek for Pepper. At the woods, Nematanu chases after Mercy but is stopped and killed by Pepper. Silas Sharrow scolds Pepper for killing the Pamunkey warrior because he’ll bring war upon Jamestown. Pepper says the man would not leave Mercy alone. Later, Mercy tells Pepper that she’s pregnant and so they must marry.

Mercy asks Jocelyn to break the cake over her head at the wedding. Jocelyn happily accepts. Jocelyn tells what she saw. Mercy says the man is the new blacksmith and informs James is leaving to another settlement upriver. Mercy and Jocelyn get ready for her wedding to Pepper. Jocelyn asks Mercy why she came to Jamestown. Mercy says there was something romantic about crossing the ocean and arriving to Virginia. Jocelyn says she loves Mercy very much. Mercy and Pepper are married and the townsfolk celebrate. Mercy and Pepper survive the Pamunkey attack.
## Relationships

#### Pepper Sharrow

*Main article:* *Mercy and Pepper Sharrow*

## Quotes

 Appearances

 Episode 8 | **Appears**

 Episode 8 | **Appears**

 Episode 8 | **Appears**

## References

1. ↑ Episode 2.04
2. ↑ Episode 1.02
3. ↑ Episode 1.04
4. ↑ Episode 1.03
5. ↑ Episode 1.01
6. ↑ Episode 1.02
7. ↑ Episode 1.07
8. ↑ Episode 2.04