Joshua MERSEREAU

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      Historical detail in NOTES

John Mercereau, Capt. (1.Joshua1) born Abt. 1627, Moise, St. Onge, France, married Abt. 1656, in Moise, France., Elizabeth Dubois, born 1643, France, died Staten Island, Richmond Co., NY, Buried: French Cemetery, Staten Island, NY. John Mercereau was a native of France and a Protestant. In his youth he was possessed of great physical strength. He studied law, but, disliking the confinement of study, learned the trade of saddler. He was captain of a military company armed with pikes, the members of which attained great skill in the use of that weapon. One evening he met three men habited as friars, whom he saluted, saying "Good evening, gentlemen." They immediately charged him with being a Protestant, otherwise he would have said, "Good evening, fathers." He replied, "I know of but one Father, who is in Heaven." They drew their sabres, which were concealed under their cloaks, and attacked him. In defending himself he killed one and wounded another, while the other took refuge in flight. For some reason he was never molested for this deed. He died young, leaving three sons, Joshua, Paul and Daniel, and two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. These children fled with their mother from France to England in 1685, but, fearing further persecution under the Catholic James II, they continued their flight to America, all except Paul who remained in England. The refugees intended to settle at Philadelphia, but were driven by stress of weather to New York and found a home on Staten Island. There the mother died, and was buried in the old French churchyard.