Lancashire Lantern
Lancashire Lantern: Lancashire Pioneers
Part of the Lancashire Lantern network, the Pioneers gives details of people who were famous local people in science, technology and innovation. These pioneers were either born in Lancashire or their endeavours made a significant contribution to the development of the County.
John Mercer - Mercer's family
John Mercer married Mary Wolstenholme in 1814. They had six children, although the eldest only lived for 16 days. Their second daughter, also Mary, died at the age of 19 years, much to her father's distress.
She had shown great promise as a scientist and it is much to her father's credit that he should have given her such encouragement as he did. He felt her loss keenly.
His sons followed him into the chemistry business, and all children remained unmarried.
His daughter Maria died aged 93 in 1913, leaving money to provide for lasting memorials to her father.
1851 Census on the left showing Mercer's family (Click to enlarge)
Maria Mercer's will
(Click to enlarge)
Photo of Oakenshaw cottage, where Mercer and his family lived to the end of their lives. It later became the Mercer museum.
(Click the image to enlarge)
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