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....
Except for attempting to dispose of the library and the horses and
livestock, no significant changes were undertaken until after September
7, 1770, when John Mercer's widow, Ann Roy Mercer, died. Reduction of
the plantation to simpler terms then began in earnest. Purdie & Dixon's
_Virginia Gazette_ published the following advertisement on October 25,
1770:
_To be SOLD on MONDAY the 19th of NOVEMBER, if fair, otherwise next
fair day, at MARLBOROUGH, the seat of the late JOHN MERCER Esq:
deceased._
The greatest part of his personal estate (except slaves) consisting
of a variety of household furniture too tedious to mention; a
number of well chosen books, in good condition; a very large and
choice flock of horses, brood mares, and colts, all blooded, and
mostly from that very beautiful and high bred horse _Ranter_ a
great number of black cattle, esteemed the best in the colony,
equal in size to any beyond the Ridge, but superiour to them,
because they will thrive in shorter pastures; also 700 ounces of
fashionable plate, and a genteel family coach, not more than seven
years old, seldom used, with harness for six horses. Those articles
were appraised, in December 1768, to 1738 l. The horses and black
cattle are since increased, and now are in very good order; so that
any person inclinable to purchase may depend on having enough to
choose out of.
Also will then be sold several articles belonging to a BREWERY,
_viz._ a copper that boils 500 gallons, several iron bound buts
that contain a whole brewing each, coolers, &c. &c. and a quantity
of new iron hoops and rivets for casks of different forms, lately
imported.
Purchasers above 6 l. will have credit until the _Fredericksburg
September_ fair, on giving bond with security, with interest from
the day of sale; but if the money is paid when due, the interest
will be abated.
Proper vessels will attend at _Pasbytansy_, for the conveyance of
such as come from that side of _Potomack_ Creek.
It is clear that Ranter and his colts, as well as the cattle, had not
been disposed of at the former sale. Further, it is obvious that there
was an end to brewing at Marlborough, a result which James must have
been all too glad to bring about.
This sale, however, was also unsuccessful. In the May 9, 1771, issue of
Purdie & Dixon's _Virginia Gazette_ we learn that "The wet Weather last
_November_ having stopped the Sale of the personal Estate of the late
_John Merser_, Esquire, the Remainder ... will be sold at _Marlborough_,
on Monday, the 27th of this Month, if fair...." We learn that the family
beds, apparently alone of the furniture, had been sold, and that the
chariot had been added to the sales list. Apparently the library still
remained largely intact, as "a great Collection of well chosen Books"
was included. Ranter was still for sale, now at a five percent discount
"allowed for ready money."
But again--so an advertisement of June 13 reads in the same paper--the
sale was "prevented by bad Weather." June 20 was appointed the day for
the postponed sale. This time an additional item consisted of 200 copies
of Mercer's "old Abridgment" (doubtless the 1737 edition), to be sold at
five shillings each.
In the meanwhile, James had employed one Thomas Oliver, apparently of
King George County, as overseer for the four plantations which were in
his custody--Aquia, Accokeek, Belvedere, and Marlborough. On May 31,
1771, Oliver made a detailed report to Mercer on "the true state &
Condition of the whole Estate and its Contents as they appear'd when
this return was fill'd up".[141] Included in it was an inventory of
every tool, outbuilding, vehicle, and servant. The Marlborough portion
of this is given in Appendix M. Oliver added an N.B. summarizing the
condition of the animals and the physical properties. The following of
his remarks are applicable to Marlborough:
... The work of the Mill going on as well as Can be Expected till
M^r. Drains is better, the Schoo and Boat unfit for any Sarvice
whatsoever till repair'd. if Capable of it. the foundation of the
Malt house wants repairing. the Manor house wants lead lights in
some of the windows. the East Green House wants repairing. the west
d^o wants buttments as a security to the wall on the south side.
The barn, tobacco houses at Marlbrough & Acquia must be repaired as
soon as possible.... five stables at Marlbrough plantation must be
repair'd before winter. we have sustai'd no damage from Tempest or
Floods. it will Expedient to hyer a Carpinder for the woork wanted
can not be accomplish'd in time, seeing the Carpenders must be
taken of for harvest which is Like to be heavy. I will advertise
the sale at Stafford Court and the two parish Churches to begin on
the 20th of June 1771.... P.S. The Syder presses at Each plantation
& Syder Mill at Marlborough totally expended.... Negro Sampson
Marlbro Company Sick of the Gravel.... Negro Jas Pemberton at
Marlb^h Sick Worme Fever.
The sale as advertised and, presumably, as posted by Oliver was again a
failure. Apparently no one attended. The situation must have been
regarded then as desperate, for James advertised on August 29, 1771, in
Purdie & Dixon's _Virginia Gazette_ substantially the same material as
before. This time, however, it was "To be SOLD, at the Townhouse in
_Fredericksburg_, on the 24th day of _September_ next (being the second
Day of the Fair)." Added to the former list were "About two Hundred
Weight of HOPS of last Crop," "About four hundred Weight of
extraordinary good WOOL with a variety of Woollen and Linen Wheels,
Reels, &c.," as well as "A Number of GARDEN FLOWER POTS of different
forms. Some ORANGE, LEMON and other EVERGREENS, in Boxes and Pots." The
valuable but unwanted Ranter was again put up.
But once more bad luck and an apathetic (and probably impecunious)
populace brought failure to the sale. On October 24, 1771, Purdie &
Dixon's _Virginia Gazette_ printed the following advertisement and James
Mercer's final public effort to convert some of his father's estate into
cash:
_To be SOLD to the highest Bidders, some Time Next Week, before the
RALEIGH Tavern in Williamsburg,_
The beautiful Horse RANTER, a genteel FAMILY COACH, with Harness
for six Horses, also several Pieces of FASHIONABLE PLATE, yet
remaining of the Estate of the late John Mercer, Esquire, deceased.
Credit will be allowed until the 25th of April next, the Purchasers
giving Bond and Security, with Interest from the Sale; but if the
Money is paid when due, the Interest will be abated.
Any Person inclinable to purchase RUSHWORTH'S COLLECTION may see
them at the Printing Office, and know the Terms. At the same Place
are lodged several Copies of the old Abridgment of the VIRGINIA
LAWS, containing so many Precedents for Magistrates that they are
esteemed well worth five Shillings, the Price asked for them.