1890s Scrapbook. John Mercer Retirement Home. Ambler PA

 -- No Secret Reserve Price --

________________

A Scrapbook about the History of the Mercer Retirement Home for Presbyterian Pastors

Near Ambler, Pennsylania, in Montgomery County

The John C. Mercer Home

Founded by Mrs. Ann Jane Hamilton Mercer

Including Two Booklets and 13 Published Articles about Mrs. Mercer and the Mercer Home

All Dated 1886 to 1902

Scrapbook Compiled by an Anonymous Compiler

All Pasted on 17 Pages of an Old Account Book

Book Size:  16 x 9.75 inches

Above:  Includes Several Illustrations of the Mercer Retirement Home

And a Portrait of Rev. James Roberts, Secretary of the Home   (Did He Compile this Scrapbook?)

__________________________________________________________

Above:  In the Original Binding

____________________________________________

Above:  Includes the Complete Text of an 11-Page Booklet about Mrs. Mercer

_______________________________________________

_______________

__________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Presbyterian Retirement Home Started by Ann Jane Hamilton Mercer:

Ann Mercer (born 1817 - died 1886) was a Philadelphia philanthropist who bequeathed her Ambler home to the Presbyterian Church as a retirement home for Presbyterian ministers. She was from a Scots-Irish family, and was the daughter of John Hamilton, of Philadelphia, and married John C. Mercer, a Philadelphia.

After the death of her husband she established in his memory the Mercer memorial home, at Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the relief of invalid women, and by her will she founded the John C. Mercer home for disabled Presbyterian clergymen.  This retirment home was her former home "The Mount" in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, near Ambler, PA. She also willed $100,000 to support the home. Her will provides that no clergyman that uses tobacco in any form shall be admitted to the home.

The items include:

1.  The cover, titlepage, and complete, 11-page text of an 1886 booklet titled "In Memoriam / Mrs. Ann Jane Hamilton Mercer" written by Rev John C. Thompson.  Included are references to Rev. Henry Grattan Guinness, Lady Huntingdon, A. J. Mercer, etc.   Rev. John Thompson was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Pottstown, PA.

2. A long and detailed newspaper article in The Ambler Gazette dated July 13, 1899 titled "The Mercer Home / History of this Notable Institution Endowed by Mrs Mercer..."  Included is a detailed biography of Mrs. Mercer, and a history of the John C. Mercer Home.  Included is a list of the board of managers:  Peter Boyd of Philadelphia, Richard C. Winship of Philadelphia, Rev. John C. Thompson , George W. Hall, James S. Austin, Alexander Fergusson, Samuel M. Clements of Lansdowne.  Also information about the first secretary of the home: Rev. James Roberts, Presbyterian pastor of Lambertville, New Jersey.

3.  A May 23, 1894 printed sheet "Action taken by the General Assembly at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., May 23, 1894" with information about the Mercer Home, with S. A. Mutchmore moderator of the assembly and William Henry Roberts stated clerk.

4. A short newspaper article in The Ambler Gazette dated September 14, 1899 about William Pollock, a gardener at the Mercer Home who attacked Rev. Jones "screaming and shouting that the house was full of murderers and robbers."

5. A short newspaper article in The Ambler Gazette dated September 24, 1899 about the same William Pollock, listed above being committed to the Norristown asylum.

6. A typed one-page letter dated February 1, 1898 on letterhead of "The Presbyterian Board of Relief for Disabled Ministers..." in Philadelphia, signed by Rev. B. L. Agnew, Corresponding Secretary, with information about the Mercer Home.

7. A printed sheet dated February 1, 1898 in Phildaelphia which presents the text of a letter from Peter Boyd, President to the Stated Clerk of Presbytery, with detailed information about the Mercer Home.

8. A 12-page booket (the complete text), published in 1898, titled "Information Concerning the John C. Mercer Home for Disable Clergymen of the Presbyterian Faith", published by MacCalla and Company in Philadlephia, with detailed history and information about the Mercer Home. With names of Corporators: Enoch Taylor, Thomas Cochran, Alfred M. Herkness, Rev. John C. Thompson, William L. Mactier, Frank K. Mactier, Frank K. Hipple, Richard C. Winship, Peter Boyd, John Hamilton Jr. George W. Hall, Thomas M. Freeland, James M. Earle, D. Ramsay Patterson, Rev. Robert Ellis Thompson, Rev. James Roberts, George P. Morgan, James S. Austin, Alexander C. Ferguson, Samuel M. Clement.

9. A short newspaper article in "The Republican" newspaper of Chester, Pennsylvania, dated March 10, 1898, about Rev. James Roberts being appointed secretary of the Mercer Home.

10.  An article in "Presbyterian Journal" dated March 10, 1898 about Rev. James Robert, the new secretary of the Mercer Home.

11.  An article in "The Interior" published July 28, 1989, about Rev. James Robert becoming secretary of the Mercer Home.

12. An article in "Herald and Presbyter" dated march 16, 1898 about the Mercer Home.

13.  An article in "The Ambler Gazette" dated June 14, 1900 about a meeting of the board of managers of the Mercer Home.

14.  An article in "The Ambler Gazette" dated November 1, 1900 about a burglary of the Mercer Home and the nearby home of S. Wilson Fisher.

15.  An article in "The Ambler Gazette" dated January 9, 1902, about the arrest of Barkley Stong of Ambler for burglary of the Mercer Home.

I purchased this book from an antiques dealer here in Pennsylvania.

Condition:   Nice condition.  No library or institution markings. Pages and cover are securely attached. The 15 articles and booklets are all pasted onto the pages. Pages are clean with no dampstains.

---- -- Propay

Free Mailing.  Priority Mail and Air Mail.

I Will Mail to Any Country.  Free mailing.

Prompt Shipping--I Mail the Day After I Receive Payment.

Shipping by Post Office, Unless Other Shipping Requested.

Pennsylvania Buyers add 6 % Sales Tax, or Send Tax Number.

Offered by:  Lee Jay Stoltzfus - Your Family Heirlooms

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. U.S.A.

27 Lititz Run Road.   Lititz, PA 17543

Telephone: (717) 371-7320

Send e-mail to me here, if you have questions.

Satisfaction guaranteed, or you are welcome to return purchase.