John Mercer (1704-1768)
Attorney, of "Marlborough" Stafford County, Virginia
He was born in Ireland and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. After his father died he came out to Virginia in 1720 and entered the tobacco trade. He wrote, "except my education, I never got a shilling of my fathers or any other relations estate, every penny I ever got has been by my own industry with as much fatigue as most people have undergone." It was through his friendship with George Mason (his first wife's brother) he was able to purchase the "Marlborough" plantation in 1726.
