William was a sea captain and privateer and also in charge of New York Harbor commissioning ships for the first Continental Congress. See more in "The Bulter Family: Tales of Our Kinfolk"by Butler and U.S. Naval Records of the Revolutionary war. Wm. was Capt of ship Porpoise 1747, York 1755. Wm was a Capt during the revolution in New York State and built the frigate "Congress with 28 guns, the "Montgomery" with 24 guns on Nov 1776 .William was born in New York City and he died 21 Oct 1797 in New York City. He married in 1743 to Ann Bradford, daughter of Wm Bradford and Styje(Sarah)Sandford(Santvoord) all of New York City. Ann Bradford was the daughter of William Bradford Jr, a Peweter of New York City and the granddaughter of Wm. Bradford , the first printer in New York and one who came to America with Wm. Penn.

William was a Mariner and was at age 30 in 1747, Captain of the "Porpoise" and in 1755 Captain of the "York". During the revolution he was charged by the Committee of Safety to be Superintendent of fitting out of many vessels.

In a will administration of John Long, merchant, William Mercier was named Administrator and posted bond. He was unable to administer the estate as the court noted he was on a long trading voyage and this was in 1753.

On April 17, 1776, according to the proceedings of the Provincial congress of New York City, Captain William Mercier was appointed to "inspect the loading of all such vessels as shall load in the port and Captain Mercier was empowered to inspect all permits to vessels to load in the port of New York and to see that all such vessels load only agreeable to the resolves of the continental Congress and with such matters or produce only as many as agreeable to the committee of Safety of this colony, and from time to time to report to this committee or the Provincial Congress of this colony what vessels are lading or shall have laded and with what particular commodities and by what authority and pay to Mercier 20 dollars per month, while continued in this and the service of inspecting the lading of vessels in this port"

Wm Mercier is mentioned frequently in the "Naval Documents of the American Revolution", and in the New York State papers on the revolution.

In the naval service records of New York in the Revolution, Wm Mercier is listed as Captain of the sloop Montgomery, Schooner General Putnam and the Frigate congress.

Wm was also listed in the U.S. Naval History as acting as supplier for all the vessels of New York State at that time and Lord Sterling was with him when they sounded New York harbor.

Wm. was a founding member of the Marine Society of New York City and he is listed as a member with vessel in 1770. It is interesting that William Seton, husband of the Catholic Saint, Elizabeth Bayley Seton, was a member in 1778. Wm Mercier and Elizabeth Seton were related through the early Huguenot settlers Jacques de Lasty and the Mercier lines.

Wm. Mercier was a vestryman of Trinity church from 1784 to 1788. He was also on the Pew committee for the church. His will was proved 24 Oct 1797 and is listed in the New York Wills. He owned a house at 216 Water Street that was sold by his son in 1801 for $6000.00. Today that land has a large skyscraper belonging to ATT on the exact spot.

According to his will he left his estate to his 3 children, John Dyer Mercier, Christiana Mercier Morris and Elizabeth Mercier. He is supposedly buried in Trinity Church, but burial records that that date for Trinity Church are lost.

He was also considered a Privateer and is so listed in the records for the State of New York in the Revolution.

According to the book

• Married: 1743 in New York, New York, New York ²

1. Elizabeth Mercier
2. Christiana Mercier b: 1745 in New York City, New York
3. John Dyer Mercier

1. Title: Butler Family, Tales of Our Kinfolk
   Repository:
   Media: Book
2. Title: New York Marriages
   Repository:
   Media: Book