Person:Elizabeth Mercer (2)

Elizabeth in November 1712 in the Concord Monthly Meeting married Joseph Woodward.

widow of Joseph Woodward Deed Book A3/420 West Chester Court House is the Abstract of the will of Joseph Woodward of Goshen.

After her husband's death she moved with four of her sons William, Thomas, James and David to North and South Carolina with the Quaker migration. They received a large Granville grant on Rocky River and erected a house of logs and wide poplar planks. She also donated five acres of her land on which to build a new Quaker meeting house, where the Rocky River Friends Church was built.

The Friends' records in England show that Thomas Mercer and Mary Mercer lived in Ayno or Aynho in Northampton County where a son, Thomas Mercer (Jr.), was born in 1690. A deed recorded in "Liber A.A.A. of Burlington County, New Jersey shows that Thomas Mercer, late of Aynos on the Hill in the County of Northampton, England, but now of the County of Chester in Pennsylvania, conveyed land to a John Haines of Eversham, New Jersey.

The date of Thomas and Mary Mercer's arrival in Pennsylvania has not been ascertained, but by deed dated March 12, 1699, Thomas Mercer purchased 238 acres of land in Thornbury Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania from George Pearce. Also, Mercer took 500 acres of land in Marlborough Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

The will of Thomas Mercer of Thornbury Township in Chester County is dated March 17,1715 and proved September 13, 1716. By this will, Thomas Mercer devised the homestead, after the death of his wife, to his son Joseph Mercer with the remainder to a grandson, Daniel Mercer, son of Thomas Mercer (Jr.). Thomas Mercer bequeathed 20 Pounds to each of his daughters: Mary Mercer Pennell, wife of William Pennell, Elizabeth Mercer Woodard, Wife of Joseph Woodard, and Ann Mercer Pierce, wife of Joshua Pierce.

The will of Mary Mercer of Westtown Township is dated April 23,1723 and proved up on June 3,1723. By that will, Mary Mercer gave 5 Pounds to each her daughter Mary Pennell and Elizabeth and the remainder of her estate to her sons Thomas and Joseph. Ann Mercer Pierce died between 1715 and 1723.

Joseph Woodard and Elizabeth Mercer declared their intentions of marriage at a Concord Monthly Meeting held August 3, 1712 and again on September 12, 1712 it was recorded that it had been orderly accomplished. (What had?)

Joseph Woodard was a member of Chester (Co.) Monthly Meeting, to which his wife received a certificate of recommendation, after Joseph Woodard's death in late 1715. Due to the death of her husband, Elizabeth Mercer Woodard returned within the limits of the Concord Monthly Meeting.

As Elizabeth Mercer Vestal, wife of William Vestal (Jr.), Elizabeth was complained of in 1716 for disorderly conduct in marrying out of Meeting. For this, her acknowledgment was accepted May 29, 1717 and ordered to be read at a First-day meeting "where she doth belong," Elizabeth Vestal being present. By September 7, 1737, a certificate was signed recommending Elizabeth Vestal to the Hopewell Meeting House where she removed "several years since."

William Vestal (Jr.) and Elizabeth Mercer (Woodard) Vestal conveyed by deed on May 10, 1729, the farm on Brandywine to William Bennett and left the county. On August 10, 1735, a deed was executed to confirm title to a part of the real estate left by Thomas Mercer in which William Vestal of Potowmack, in the Government of Virginia, Carpenter, and Elizabeth is wife, another daughter of the said Thomas Mercer's are named as grantors. Deed Book A3, page 420.

William Vestal (Jr.) appears to have associated with Friends of Newark, now Kennet, M.M. at a session held at Center Meeting House February 5, 1729. William Vestal and Samuel Marshall acquainted the Meeting with their intention of traveling to North Carolina and desired a certificate from the Friends of Newark. Jeremiah Dean, Richard Woodward and Stephen Harlan were appointed to inquire into Vestal's conversations and affairs and if nothing obstructed his request, these three were to draw certificates for Marshall and Vestal at the next monthly meeting.

On March 3, 1729, the friends appointed to draw the certificates for William Vestal and Samuel Marshall, finding nothing to obstruct the request, produced certificates for them which were read and approved. At Kenneth, September 5, 1731, Samuel Marshall appeared at a meeting and returned his certificate dated March 3, 1729, and also gave an account why he had not produced credentials from Friends in Virginia and Carolina which is taken for satisfaction.

It appears that William Vestal (Jr.) and Elizabeth Mercer Vestal located in Virginia within the jurisdiction of the Hopewell Monthly Meeting in Frederick County, Virginia. Records of the first 23 years (of Hopewell Meeting?) were destroyed by fire in 1759. Partial records of Hopewell were saved:

6-1-1772 John Vestal consented to his daughter's marriage out (of the faith?) and made her a wedding at his house. James Steer and Richard Ridgeway Jr. were appointed to visit him.

7-6-1772. John Vestal was complained of for drinking. Jonathan Perkins was appointed to draw testimony against John Vestal and to assist women to draw testimony against Ann Vestal and Elizabeth Bealor.

8-3-1772. John Vestal and wife Ann were disowned.

2-1-1773. The testimony against John Vestal and his wife were returned and recorded, and signed by clerks Sarah Pickering and Benjamin Thombourgh.

8-3-1732. Elizabeth Bealor, daughter of John and Ann Vestal was disowned for marriage by "hireling minister to one not a member."

6-7-1773. William Vestal is married to his first cousin and disowned 9-5-1773.

6-6-1774. Mary Blare/Blair is married to one not a member. She was a Vestal and was disowned 7-4-1774.

5-3-1779 John Vestal was complained of for training in "malitia" and hiring a substitute. On 6-6-1779 he was disowned.

8-3-1786. David Vestal neglected attendance at Hopewell Monthly Meeting and on 9-4-1786 was disowned in the minutes.

1.   Audie Vestal Hamilton. William Vassall/Vestal.