On Friday, the 14th instant, died at his house in Stafford County, John Mercer, Esq., who had practiced the law with great success in this colony upwards of forty years. He was a Gentleman of great natural abilities inspired by an extensive knowledge, not only in his profession, but in several other branches of polite literature. He was of a humane, generous and chearful disposition, a facetious companion, a warm friend, an affectionate husband, a tender parent, and an indulgent master.
[Illustration: Figure 17.--PLATE FROM MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN'S _Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium efte Veranderung Surinaamsche Insecten_ (Antwerp, 1705), an elegant work in Mercer's Library.]
[139] All quotations and sources not otherwise identified in this section are from John Mercer's letter to George, December 22, 1767-January 28, 1768. _The George Mercer Papers_, op. cit. (footnote 51), pp. 186-220.
[140] Grandfather of President James Monroe. "Tyler-Monroe-Grayson-Botts," _Tyler's Quarterly Historical Genealogical Magazine_ (Richmond, 1924), vol. 5, p. 252.
JAMES MERCER'S ADMINISTRATION OF THE ESTATE
James Mercer was now "manager" of John Mercer's estate. George, heavily in debt, remained in England never returning to Virginia. The staggering task of rescuing the estate from bankruptcy was left to James. The immediate necessity was to reduce wasteful overhead at Marlborough and to liquidate non-essential capital investment. On December 15, 1768, James advertised in Rind's _Virginia Gazette_:
A large and well chosen collection of BOOKS, being all the library of the late _John Mercer_, Esq., deceased, except such as are reserved for the use of his children. Those to be sold consist of more than 1200 volumes now at home, with which it is hoped may be reckoned upwards of 400 volumes which appear to be missing by the said _Mercer's_ catalogue.... The borrowers are hereby requested to return them before the 19th of _December_ next, the day appointed for the appraising of the estate....
Also to be sold, about 20 mares and colts, and 40 pair of cows and calves. The colts are the breed of the beautiful _horse Ranter_, who is for sale; his pedigree has been formerly published in this Gazette, by which it will appear he is as well related as any horse on the continent. He cost 330 l. currency at his last sale, about 4 years ago, and is nothing worse except in age, and that can be but little in a horse kept for the sole use of covering....