William married Hannah ROSE (born 1838 in Catalina, NF) of Brigus, daughter of John ROSE and Diana WHEALEN / WHALEN/ WHELAN. The couple married 11 December 1865 in Brigus. They spent much of their married lives in Kelligrews.
William and Hannah Mercer had two sons and five daughters:
- Mary Ann, married Walter Boutcher
- George died about 1905 in the US
- Elizabeth Jane, married Gustavus Langmus in NYC 1911, died 1938
- Martha Augusta, married Andrew Dart in Grand Bruit Newfoundland, died Bell Island
- Harriet, married Richard Lamswood, died Bell Island
** Hannah Rose, married Llewellyn Adams, died Montreal, Quebec (my great-grandmother)
- William John. married Edith Butler, died Kelligrews
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| William and Hannah Rose Mercer, All Saint's Cemetery #2 Foxtrap "In loving memory of William beloved husband of Hannah Mercer Died March 3, 1903 at age 65 yrs." |
William MERCER Sr. died an unfortunate death, as reported in the newspaper:
“The Evening Telegram”
St. John’s, Newfoundland Friday, March 6, 1903 page 3
NOTES FROM KELLIGREWS
There passed away at Kelligrews on Tuesday night a well-known and respected resident in the person of Mr. William Mercer. The deceased had been ill for a period of two weeks, the latter part of which time he suffered indescribable misery. The accident which led to his death was met with under very sad and peculiar circumstances. He left his home on Wednesday morning, the 18th ultimo, and drove to town accompanied by is daughter, Mrs. Lambswood, and after doing certain business there, he left to return home alone, and his daughter, acting under his advice took the
Evening Train
as it was too frosty to go over the road. He arrived at Octagon Lake at 6:30 p.m., and expecting to have a smart drive across the lake, he sat down upon a barrel which formed part of his load and urged is horse to a trot, but the animal in some unaccountable way ran upon a bank of snow which was piled up in forming the race course. One of his runners cut through the crust, and is slide being loaded high, instantly capsized throwing him backwards on the ice. Seeing the horse had fallen also he immediately attempted to rise, but strange to say, found himself utterly unable to move, his limbs being
Entirely Paralyzed.
Finding every effort to free himself from the death grip in vain, and feeling he must soon freeze to death, he called to the inmates of the Octagon in the hope that someone may hear and come to his assistance. Finally, after two long dreadful hours of agony, his cries were heard by some ladies who were on a visit to the Octagon, and were returning home. They found him chilled and exhausted, and his left hand, which was exposed, being dreadfully frostbitten. They managed, after some time, to convey him to Mr. Drukens’ house, where they did all they could to comfort him, until he was taken home, where he was since attended by Dr. Chisolm.
But in Spite of All Care,
skill and attendance, that unrelenting agel of death hovered by his bedside. The voice of God had called him, and his poor, suffering body was relieved at 11:45 on Tuesday night, when his spirit passed to the great beyond. He was aged 67, and leaves a wife, two sons and five daughters to mourn their sad loss. But, why should we mourn for him whose gone, or shake at death’s alarms, for death’s the message sends to call him to his arms. His funeral will take place on Friday, and will be attended by the S.U.F. in procession, by whom he was loved and respected as an old and faithful member.
Kelligrew’s, March 4, 1903.
