Family History, Mercer Chart 0600 James Mercer and Drusilla Porter

1825 Wonersh, Surrey (baptism of James) Parents Henry (a Labourer) and Charlotte 1841 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. With his father Henry MERCER, down as being 47. Also a Charlotte 17 and a Leayer (daughter) aged 7. It does not appear that the other two MERCER boys who married PORTER girls were of the same family. Have now found the William and George MERCER the other two MERCER boys, they were also brothers and there mother was Ann who was a widow. 1851 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. With his father Henry MERCER aged 60 a widower a Farm Labourer born Wonersh, Surrey, and his brother Henry MERCER aged 14 a Farm Labourer who married Hannah PORTER. 1861 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. They had a son James H MERCER aged 3 born Wonersh, Surrey. With them was Druscilla's brother Henry aged 22 a Bricklayer born Wonersh, Surrey 1871 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. No children, but there was Henry MERCER, Father aged 74 an Annuitant born Wonersh, Surrey with them. 1841 Census - Shirelock Lane, Wonersh, Surrey . New child added as have found confirmation on 1861 Census. Therefore no information for Francis other than that give to me by an Andy BROWN 1851 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. Drucilla was with her husband James and they were living with James's father Henry. 1861 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. They had a son James H MERCER aged 3 born Wonersh, Surrey. With them was Druscilla's brother Henry aged 22 a Bricklayer born Wonersh, Surrey 1871 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. No children, but there was Henry MERCER, Father aged 74 an Annuitant born Wonersh, Surrey with them. 1861 Census - Blackheath, Wonersh, Surrey. They had a son James H MERCER aged 3 born Wonersh, Surrey. With them was Druscilla's brother Henry aged 22 a Bricklayer born Wonersh, Surrey CHILWORTH GUNPOWDER WORKS James MERCER on this Chart appears to have had an occupation at a Gunpowder Works. I have looked online and found that this was at Chilworth, Surrey. The following is information about the Chilworth Gunpowder Works: Chilworth Gunpowder Works was one of the largest, most prestigious and longest-lived powder mills in the country. Established by the East India Company in 1625, it was worked by a string private companies and became one of the most significant suppliers of gunpowder to the Government. In 1885, a consortium which included leading German powder manufacturers acquired the works to produce a new type of gunpowder known as 'brown' or 'cocoa' powder, for use in the largest guns of the day. By the end of the 1880s, and after extensive rebuilding, contemporary commentators regarded the factory as being of international standing. The most up to date machinery was imported from Germany, and to preserve the company's manufacturing secrets the new factory was managed by a former Prussian officer, Captain Otto Bouvier, and a number of German foremen. The company was also at the forefront of the development of new chemical propellants and in 1892 it erected the first commercial cordite factory in the country. It underwent further expansion during the First World War, but the massive downturn in the demand for explosives at the end of the war resulted in the closure of the factory in 1920. Subsequently many of the factory buildings were converted into dwellings, and a small community known as 'Tin Town' lived in the valley until the early 1960s.

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This is a Chart for James Mercer and Drusilla Porter