Mercer (Messer) Norton
(Abt 1750)
Martha Higgins
( Unknown - Aft. October 27, 1831)
(Abt 1750)
Martha Higgins
( Unknown - Aft. October 27, 1831)
Mercer was born about 1750 in Fairfax (later Loudon) Co., Virginia. He died about 1800 in Wayne Co., Kentucky. He was the son of Edward Norton and Elizabeth Brown.
The 1790 Census records show Mercer in Mogan Dist., First Company, Burke Co., North Carolina. Property records show that in 1779, in Randolph Co., North Carolina, Joseph Hinds District; Mercer owned 184 acres. In 1783, he paid taxes on 50 acres of land in Burke Co., North Carolina. In 1790, he owned 100 acres on Muddy Creek, Burke Co., North Carolina. On February 5, 1799 Mercer obtained 200 acres of "second rate land" in Lincoln Co., Kentucky in the part which became Wayne Co., Kentucky on the south side of the Cumberland River, west side of the South Fork of the waters Little Sinking Creek.
Mercer and Martha's Children:
The 1790 Census records show Mercer in Mogan Dist., First Company, Burke Co., North Carolina. Property records show that in 1779, in Randolph Co., North Carolina, Joseph Hinds District; Mercer owned 184 acres. In 1783, he paid taxes on 50 acres of land in Burke Co., North Carolina. In 1790, he owned 100 acres on Muddy Creek, Burke Co., North Carolina. On February 5, 1799 Mercer obtained 200 acres of "second rate land" in Lincoln Co., Kentucky in the part which became Wayne Co., Kentucky on the south side of the Cumberland River, west side of the South Fork of the waters Little Sinking Creek.
Mercer and Martha's Children:
- Hetty Norton West
- Jacob Norton; b. March 14, 1778; d. Bet. February 07, 1842 - July 21, 1848); married Mary King
- Margaret Norton Thompson
- Mary Norton Thompson
- William Norton; b. circa 1783?; d. 3/17/1857; m. Easter (Esther, Hesther) James
- Elizabeth Norton Thompson
- John H. Norton
- Edward Norton
- Patsy Norton McBeath
Mercer and Martha Norton are considered the primary ancestors of the Nortons and subsequently Mary (Norton) Pollock and Martha Emily (Norton) Pollock. The information is based on their children's birthdates, Bible records, tombstones, and obituaries in newspapers. The information provided by the book "The Descendants of Mercer (Messer) Norton.." is based on a preponderance of the evidence.
It is assumed that Mercer's parents had moved to Fairfax County, Virginia by the early 1740's and then moved to North Carolina while he was a young boy.
The following is the wording of the document of the Administration of Mercer Norton. L500 means 500 pounds, they still used English coinage.
It is assumed that Mercer's parents had moved to Fairfax County, Virginia by the early 1740's and then moved to North Carolina while he was a young boy.
The following is the wording of the document of the Administration of Mercer Norton. L500 means 500 pounds, they still used English coinage.
Administration of the Estate of Mercer Norton, deceased
"Administration of the estate of Mercer Norton, deceased is granted to Martha Norton, widow of said deceased, who made oath and who together with Sam. Carton and Alex Thompson her security ent into and ackn their Bond in the penalty of L500 Con acc to law. Sam Newell and Sam Hinds, John Beaty and Jno. Long or any three to appraise his said estate."
On July 8 1802 the estate was appraised and consisted of: 3 horses, 4 cows, 1 Dutch oven, 2 small hoes, 1 iron wedge, 2 clevices, 1 axe, 1 pair light plow irons, 6 pewter plates, 1 old dish, cason (basin?), spoons, pails, 1 draw knife, horse geer (gear), 1 old saddle, bells, 1 gun, 2 trunks, 1 loom, 2 steel traps, 1 harrow, 2 old wedges and other sundry head of cattle worth 5 schillings.
Signed by the Appraisors: George Singleton, Henry Beason and Jacob Huffaker
(Recorded in Record Book A, Wayne County, Page 35, June Court 1802)
The authors of "The Descendants of Mercer Norton" points out that the property may appear to be "pitiful", but other settlers had far less in 1802. The loom itself was very valuable to have because it was illegal in colonial times to import looms from England. Real estate and buildings were not included in the inventory.
In October of 1829 a lawsuit to settle the estate of Mercer was filed in the Circuit Court of Wayne Co., Kentucky. The case was not settled until July 1838. The land was sold to a Samuel Turpin the deed of which is filed in Wayne Co., Kentucky Deed Book H, pages 198, 199, 200, 22 July 1839.
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
On July 8 1802 the estate was appraised and consisted of: 3 horses, 4 cows, 1 Dutch oven, 2 small hoes, 1 iron wedge, 2 clevices, 1 axe, 1 pair light plow irons, 6 pewter plates, 1 old dish, cason (basin?), spoons, pails, 1 draw knife, horse geer (gear), 1 old saddle, bells, 1 gun, 2 trunks, 1 loom, 2 steel traps, 1 harrow, 2 old wedges and other sundry head of cattle worth 5 schillings.
Signed by the Appraisors: George Singleton, Henry Beason and Jacob Huffaker
(Recorded in Record Book A, Wayne County, Page 35, June Court 1802)
The authors of "The Descendants of Mercer Norton" points out that the property may appear to be "pitiful", but other settlers had far less in 1802. The loom itself was very valuable to have because it was illegal in colonial times to import looms from England. Real estate and buildings were not included in the inventory.
In October of 1829 a lawsuit to settle the estate of Mercer was filed in the Circuit Court of Wayne Co., Kentucky. The case was not settled until July 1838. The land was sold to a Samuel Turpin the deed of which is filed in Wayne Co., Kentucky Deed Book H, pages 198, 199, 200, 22 July 1839.
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
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
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