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The Mershons in America
The Mershon family first
appeared in America in 1685. Family lore says that Henri
Marchand arrived in New York with his thirteen year
old son, Henry. Henri was probably a merchant from Caen,
Normandy, France and had brought his son to New York
to escape the terrible Huguenot Wars taking place in
France. Family lore, continuing, says that Henri left
his son with friends or relatives in Newtown, New York
and returned to France to bring the rest of his family
to America. Henri was never heard of again.
Some written accounts
state that Henri arrived in New York with his wife and
family, including his son, Henry. If the written accounts
are correct, Henri, and his family, remained in America.
Whatever the actual fact are, we know almost nothing
about Henri Marchand. However, we do know a great deal
about his son Henry.
The 1698 town census
of Newtown, New York lists “Henry Marshan”
as the head of household with two persons living with
him. We can only suppose that this was his wife, Ann,
and his first child, Henry III. We know very little
about his wife, Ann, as we can only find her mentioned
in Henry’s will of 1738 and two land deeds prior
to that date that deeded land to their sons.
About 1700, Henry Marshan
moved his family from New York to Hunterdon (now Mercer)
County, New Jersey, near the present town of Lawrenceville.
He is recorded as a land owner there as early as 1702.
It was here, that Henry II, and his wife Ann, raised
their family of five sons and five daughters. Wife Ann,
and all ten children are named in Henry’s will
of July 19, 1738. Henry died on September 20, 1738,
and is buried in the Cemetery on the Hill near Lawrenceville.
MERSHON
The Name and Early Generations
MARCHAND
(FRENCH),
MARCHANT (MIDDLE
ENGLISH), MERCHANT
(MODERN ENGLISH), MARCHAN
(DUTCH), MERSHON
(PHONETIC)
HENRI
MARCHAND
b. France--probably Caen, Normandy
d. ?
In America about 1685
II.
HENRY MERSHON
Brought to New York by his father to escape religious
persecution
b. about 1672 - France
d. Sep. 20, 1738, Maidenhead, N.J.
m. Ann--name given in his will
b. ??
d. survived Henry
Ten children
below named in Henry’s will
From the small homestead in
New Jersey in the early part of the 18th century, descendants
of Henry and Ann Mershon are, today, living in almost
every state in the United States and many locations
abroad.
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