Mercer

DESCRIPTION

NameMercerDescriptionCampbell Mercer was born c.1819 Dromore, County Down, Ireland, the son of Michael and Martha. He married Jane Connor in 1839.

The couple and their son James age 2, came to Sydney on the 'New York Packet' in 1841 with other immigrants, as part of the Bounty Scheme. The scheme allowed colonists to select emigrants from Britain and Ireland to live in Australia, ‘receiving from the colonial government a bounty equal or nearly equal to the cost of the passage’.

In 1843, Campbell Mercer, wife Jane and eldest children James and Margaret applied for settlement on the Peterborough Estate (Shellharbour), as part of Caroline Chisholm's settlement scheme. They were 'approved for free conveyance into the Country (Illawarra) but not as one of the families to be located on Mrs. Chisholm's Clearing Leases' (see list below).

By 1849, the family were living at Shellharbour. The Mercer's farmed on the Peterborough Estate at Barrack Point and at Terry's Meadows, Albion Park.

Campbell and Jane had at least five children -

James b.1839 (married Jessie Fleming, died 1905, Newtown)
Margaret b.1844 (died 1888, Albion Park)
Martha b.1846 (died 1851, Albion Park)
George b.1849
William b.1851

In 1856, Campbell built the Steam Packet Hotel at Shellharbour. It was situated on the south side of Addison Street between Wentworth and Wollongong Streets, Lot 11 Section 2, Village of Peterborough.

Campbell negotiated with David Moon of Sydney who was granted a publican’s license for the Steam Packet Hotel. The hotel became the centre of social life and public meetings, dinners, and a base for travellers. Remains of the 1856 historic Steam Packet Hotel were demolished about 1978, and the site was left as vacant land until 2004.

Campbell died 4 April 1869 aged 48 years, the result of spinal injuries received from being thrown from a horse. He was buried at the Old Sand Cemetery, Shellharbour. His headstone was later moved to what is now the Albion Park Pioneer Cemetery .

Jane Mercer died aged 76 years in 1889. She had lost her daughter Margaret the precious years in 1888.

James Mercer married Jessie Agnes Fleming in 1860. Soon afterwards they moved to the Eurobodalla.

External LinkDistrict News Kiama 1859To Be Let or Lease 1859Assault at Shellharbour 1860Carter VS Mercer Assault 1860Police Court Mercer-Carter 1860Married Mercer-Fleming 1860Police Court 1860Married Jessie Mercer 1860Caution Trespass Barrack Head Paddock 1860Kiama - Recognizances of the Witness in the Case of Mercer 1860Shellharbour Sale 1861Shellharbour Sale 1861Wanted Advertisement 1866Mount Terry Farm Sale 1868Serious Accident 1869Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 1869Wollongong District Court 1869General News 1869Maggie Mercer 1888Death James Mercer 1905Death Mrs James Mercer 1913

Steam Packet Hotel at Shellharbour, c.1925.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesLocalityShellharbour VillagePersonMercer, CampbellChisholm, CarolinePlaceSteam Packet HotelRelated ItemSteam Packet HotelThe Steam Packet Inn, ShellharbourSteam Packet Inn, Shellharbour

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Mercer