Martha Higgins Noton
(Wife of Mercer Norton)

At this point in time, there is very little information that can be proven about Martha and Mercer. The information was obtained from the births of their children, Bible records, tombstones, and obituaries in newspapers.

After Mercer's death in approximately 1800, Martha remarried Solomon West in 1802. The following is the wording of their wedding papers:

"West, Solomon Senr. and Martha Norton. Surety, Alexander West. Bond dated 27 July 1802, married 29 July 1802 by North East, Esq. [this strange name is correct] Note: "This is to certify that a Marriage Contract has taken place betwixt myself and solomon west senr, requesting the clerk to ishue lison for the same to be celebrated and given under my hand this 21st day of July 1802 by Martha Norton - witnessed by Alexander West."

Martha was Solomon's third wife. He was thought to have been born in 1820 and died in 1830. The 1830 census listed him as being over 100 years old.

Martha is presumed to have died after October 27, 1831. That was when she signed a release to any interest in the property of Solomon West. It reads as follows:

"Know all men by these presents that I, Martha West of the County of Wayne and State of Kentucky, widow of Solomon West Senr do assign all my rights title and claim which I now have, or ever has had, on the Estate of the sd. solomon West my deceased husband, both real and personal, unto Solomon West Junr of the said County and state above mentioned for a full consideration, the Receit where of I do hereby acknowledge in witness whereof I the sd. Martha West do here unto set my hand and seal this 27th Day of October 1831."
Robert Wray                                               (MARK of Martha West)
James Mercer
Henry Henninger

CHILDREN:

1. Hetty Norton West
2. Jacob Norton
3. Margaret Norton Thompson
4. Mary Norton Thompson
5. William Norton
6. Elizabeth Norton Thompson
7. John H. Norton
8. Edward Norton
9. Patsy Norton McBeath

Source provided by Alex Orr: "The Descendants of Mercer (Messer) Norton, 1750?-1800?, and his wife Martha." Compiled by Erma Dell Melton Smith and Mildred Dulaney. Texian Press: Waco, 1983. Spelling of all quoted documents is that of the original.