Unknown County GaArchives Biographies.....Mercer, Jesse 1769 - 1841
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 3, 2005, 11:09 am

Author: J. H. Campbell

JESSE MERCER.

  Notwithstanding an extended and most interesting memoir of Mr. Mercer has been
extensively circulated in the State, from the pen of Rev. C. D. Mallary, the
author of this work supposes his name, at least, ought to appear among those of
his brethren. It is believed, however, that a very brief notice of him is all
that is needed here.

  He was the son of Silas Mercer, one of the pioneers of the gospel in Georgia,
and was born in Halifax county, North Carolina, December 16, 1769. He was the
eldest of a family of eight children, consisting of five sons and three
daughters. He was a most amiable and moral youth, having never been known to be
overcome by passion, or to have used a profane oath. His conversion took place
when he was about fifteen years of age, he was baptized in his eighteenth year,
and soon after began to preach the gospel. His marriage to Miss Sabrina Chivers
occurred in his nineteenth year, January 31, 1788, with whom he lived till the
period of her death, in 1826. Mr. Mercer's opportunities for education in early
life were very poor, and his subsequent, improvement and usefulness seem to have
been greatly promoted by his first wife. He was ordained before he was twenty
years old, by Silas Mercer and Sanders Walker. Though so very young, he was
called to the pastoral care of Hutton's Fork, (now Sardis,) in Wilkes county,
which relation he sustained for more than twenty years.

  Such was his desire for education that, even after his marriage and
ordination, he sold out his little farm and went to school two years to Mr.
Springer, a Presbyterian clergyman, under whom he obtained some knowledge of the
learned languages. From this time, the field of his labors was much enlarged,
and we find him not only preaching to the churches at Powelton and Eatonton,
(then the most important in the interior of the State,) but traveling far and
near, and being well received everywhere. He was the most influential minister
of his day, and perhaps the most distinguished minister of the denomination ever
reared up in the State. Yet many others were more successful in gathering
members into the church, and, indeed, of promoting revivals of religion.

  In 1798, Mr. Mercer was a member of the Convention which was appointed to
amend the State Constitution. His services in that body were highly valuable. A
lawyer moved that ministers of the gospel be ineligible to the office of
legislator, which was warmly advocated by both doctors and lawyers. Mr. Mercer
offered an amendment, to the effect that both these professions be included in
the contemplated Act. The motion was speedily withdrawn. He offered once for
Senator in the county where he then resided, but was not elected. Afterwards, he
was urged to allow his name to be used for the office of Governor, but
positively declined the honor.

  On several occasions did he represent his brethren in the sessions of the
Triennial Convention of the United States, always with credit to himself and to
the satisfaction of his constituents. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was
conferred upon him by Brown University, though the title was seldom applied to
him among his immediate friends, knowing it would not be agreeable to him. For
many years he was moderator of the Georgia Association, of the Baptist State
Convention, and, indeed, of all the general meetings of the denomination when he
was present, and where it was meet he should act in that capacity. His second
marriage was to Mrs. Simons.

  His approach to the tomb was gradual, he having experienced a low state of
health for years before his death. This event, deeply lamented by thousands,
took place at the residence of Rev. James Carter, Butts county, September 6,
1841. His remains were taken to Penfield, and buried near the site of Mercer
University, named in honor of him. His estate, which was large for a Georgia
minister, was bequeathed to the above University, and other benevolent objects.
Seldom has the world been blessed with such a man as Jesse Mercer.

  Since the foregoing was published, Mr. Mercer has been grossly misrepresented
in a work by W. H. Sparks—"Memories of Fifty Years." It is charged that he took
advantage of an invitation from the Legislature to preach a funeral sermon in
memory of Governor Rabun, and instead thereof, delivered a bitter political
harangue, aimed at Governor Clarke, Rabun's successor. The Journals of the
Legislature show, on the contrary, that he preached, on that occasion, "a
pathetic and appropriate sermon," which was published by that body, a majority
of which were political friends of Clarke, and who had but recently elected him
to office.


Additional Comments:
From:

GEORGIA BAPTISTS: HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
BY
J. H. CAMPBELL,
PERRY, GEORGIA.


MACON, GA.: J. W. BURKE & COMPANY. 1874.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
J. H. CAMPBELL,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/unknown/bios/gbs717mercer.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 5.5 Kb