From: Donna Van Zandt <donavan(a)netins.net>
To: Randy Jones <rjones(a)charweb.org>
Subject: Re: The Mercers
Here it is, Randy and I wish I had some more pages because it is so
interesting. Our Solomon White who married Nancy Cecil lived in this
area and the Andrew Whites (his father) were here, also, about this
time. Just reading about the life is interesting
�
Three Hundred Years in America with THE MERCERS
By Dolores Graham Doyle
Pgs. 4 and 5
John and Ruth Dickerson, Joshua's parents, were located near the Potomac
about twenty miles downstream from Harper's Ferry.� Susannah's parents,
the Thomas Wittens and related Cecils lived within a few miles of the
Dickerson home.
Documented evidence, such as wills, tax and court records, proves that
Elizabeth Cecil's grandfather was William Cecil whose wife died in March
1697/8.� On her deathbed William's wife requested that Mireen Duvall and
his wife care for her children:� John Sesell, age seven the 24th of
Dec., last past, Phillip Sesell, aged five years the 28th day of this
instant and Susan Sessell, aged 2 years of January last�..(Court
Records, Prince Georges County)� But was Elizabeth Cecil who married
Thomas Witten the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Sollers) Cecil or the
daughter of Phillip and Elizabeth (Gittings) Cecil?� There seems to be
no evidence to prove or disprove either choice.� If she had a brother
Samuel, then her father was John; if not, her father was Phillip.
According to family tradition, in the early 1760's several of the
Dickersons, Wittens and Cecils left Maryland for the west and the
south.� Some stayed a while in the vicinity of Harper's Ferry near the
junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers long before this had
became a National Historical Park, long before Civil War battles were
fought here, and even before the Revolutionary War brought independence
and statehood to Virginia.� These families and other pioneers arrived a
few years after Robert Harper had taken over operation of the primitive
ferry from Peter Stephens.
These early settlers could see the possibilities of this small mountain
village located at a major intersection of not only two important
rivers, but also of two busy "highways".� For near here the Braddock's
Road to the west crossed the Great Valley Road to the south.� In
addition to the ferry business which catered to the many travelers,
there was abundant waterpower available for mills, and Harper's Ferry
(Harpersferry) in the mid-eighteenth century was a growing industrial
center.� Ambitious young men could find business opportunities and live
a reasonably satisfying life in this mountain community.� However,
family records tell us that the Dickersons and Wittens were only
temporary residents with their minds set on owning land to the west.
In 1763 Joshua Dickerson, a descendant of immigrant Philomen Dickerson,
married Susannah Witten, as mentioned above.� Within a year their first
son, Thomas, named for Susannah's father, was born.� Three years later
baby sister Ruth, named for Joshua's mother, joined the family.� Joshua
was increasingly restless and dreamed of owning a large piece of land
where he could prosper and provide for his family.� It was time for him
to continue his journey with the great western migration along the
Braddock's Road to southwestern Pennsylvania.
Susanna's parents along with her uncle Samuel Cecil and the other
Wittens, departed on the Great Valley Road seeking a permanent home in
southwest Virginia.� Arriving on March 16, 1771 they settled on the
Clinch River at Crabapple Orchard not far from the present courthouse in
Tazewell, Virginia.� As the first to secure land at this remote site,
they soon had Indian trouble; so they built The Thomas Witten Fort which
became known as "The Crabapple Fort."� This was not the Witten's last
move in their quest for land, but that's another story.
Shortly after the Wittens left and when Ruth was still an infant, the
Dickerson family (and perhaps the Currys) packed all their belongings
and headed for Fort Cumberland on the way to Dunbar, Pennsylvania.�
Redstone (near Dunbar) was about sixty miles from Fort Cumberland.� The
road may have been rough and rocky, but the mountains, covered with
stately white pines and crystal clear streams, were beautiful.� It was a
rigorous trip, especially for Susannah who carried the baby, Eli� (born
in 1768) on her back.� They arrived on foot with their three young
children in what is now Washington and Fayette Counties but in 1770 was
part of Cumberland County.� (Bedford County separated from Cumberland in
1771, Westmoreland from Bedford in 1773, Washington from Westmoreland in
1781, and Fayette from Westmoreland in 1783.)
As early as 1770, Joshua and Susannah had chosen for their home a large
tract of land along the Youghiogheny (Yauk-I-gay-nee) River.� Being a
true pioneer and an eager new landowner, Joshua pitched his tent on a
bluff overlooking the river.� He loved this land but was in constant
fear of the Indians.� Although the Indians had sued for peace in 1764,
he still could not relax his vigilance.� While they were "at home" here
in the mountains, he and Susannah took turns standing guard with a gun
to protect their children.� For a while they stayed in the small village
of nearby Dunbar.� When they felt safe in their wilderness home, Joshua
built a cabin above the Youghiogheny for his wife and children.
Developing the resources at hand, Joshua started his new life by taking
advantage of his favorable location on the river.� Plenty of food was
available in the forests - wild turkeys, deer, bear, rabbits, fish, and
honeycomb.� He built a gristmill and operated a ferry on the
Youghiogheny not far from where the new high bridge crosses today.� He
earned an income great enough to establish a home and support his
fourteen children who were spread over thirty years - from Tom born in
1764 to Rachel born in 1794.
�
�
�