2. BARTHOLOMEW2 MERCIER (PIERRE1) was born 1647 in La Rochelle, France, and died 1691 in New York City. He married CATHERINE LASTY, daughter of JACQUES LASTY.
Notes for BARTHOLOMEW MERCIER:
The sponsors at Bartholomew Mercier's baptism were Barthelemy de Besser and Demoiselle Marie Allaire( Records of French Archives in La Rochelle, France, Register 39, Cote 1139 of Protestant baptisms and marriages, Jan 1649-Jan 1654 folio 169 court registeres Civil registers Temple of Villeneuve, La Rochelle Department of Archives, France) It is not known when he left France, but Bartholomew is found next in the West Indies, probably on St. Christophers Island(St. Kitts) . He is listed in Bairds "Huguenot Emigrants to America' Baird Vol II.
Bartholomew Mercier probably married before 1684, to Catherine Lasty(Laty) also a French Huguenot and a daughter of Jacques Lasty of St. Christopher's and later of New Rochelle, New York(New Rochelle town records). By 1684 Bartholomew and wife Catherine were in New York City applying for citizenship for themselves and their son Henri Mercier (Denizations NYC 1685) Bartholomew had petitioned the city of New York for no charges on his goods and this was permitted at that time for French refugees. Bartholomew also stated that the ;family were coming from Boston at this time. In 1685 Bartholomew Mercier was granted citizenship for himself, wife and son Henri.
There is some evidence in the deeds of New Rochelle, New York, that the Mercier family lived in that town and probably on land that Jacques Lasty had given to his daughter, Catherine Lasty Mercier, as part of her dowry(abstracts of Wills Liber3-4 , 379 New York city) (New Rochelle Deed) It is not known where the son Henri was born, but probably St. Christophers.
Bartholomew Mercier died before 1694, leaving Catherine Lasty Mercier, a widow with 1 child . Catherine then married for a second time to David Bonnefoy, a Huguenot and an original settler of New Rochelle. Catherine and David Bonnefoy had 2 more children, David Bonnefoy Jr and Catherine Bonnefoy.,
History of New Rochelle, New York mentions this family. Catherine Lasty Mercier Bonnefoy received 300 pounds as estate settlement of the Jacques Lasty estate according to records of New Rochelle, NY. She also signed on some business papers for Wm. Le Conte, her bother in law, regarding money owned by her father to Le Conte. this is further proof of her identity.
Catherine Lasty Mercier Bonnefoy took her sisters children, Hester and William Le Conte Jr to live with her family, when their parents(her sister Martha Lasty LeConte) both died the same day of yellow fever in New York City.
On 25 October 1714, Catherine Bonnefoy made her will in which she left 4 pounds to son Henri Mercey(Mercier) and to her daughter Catherine all the household goods and to the rest of the three children, Henry Mercy, David Bonnefoy and Catherine Bonnefoy. She left the remainder of the estate and made Henry Mercy and kinsman, William Le Conte Jr, Executors. The will was proved 4 Nov 1714. New York Abstracts of Wills page 361. Her will was one of the few early wills to be written by a woman.
Notes for CATHERINE LASTY:
Catherine married for the 2nd time to David Bonnefoy in New York City and had 2 children. Catherine Bonnefoy who married Issac Content and David Bonnefoy. History of New Rochelle, New York mentions this family. Catherine Lasty Mercier Bonnefoy received 300 pounds as estate settlement of the Jacques Lasty estate according to records of New Rochelle, N.Y. She also signed on some business papers for Wm. Le Conte;, her brother in law, regarding money owed by her father to Le Conte. This is further proof of her identity.
Catherine Lasty Mercier Bonnefoy took her sisters children, Hester and William Le Conte Jr to live ;with her family when their parents, and her sister Martha, both died the same day of yellow fever while in New York City.
On 25 October 1714, Catherine Bonnefoy made her will in which she left 4 pounds to son Henri Mercey(Mercier) and to her daughter Catherine all the household goods and to the rest of the three children, Henry Mercy, David Bonnefoy and Catherine Bonnefoy. She left the remainder of the estate and made Henry Mercey and kinsman, William Le Conte Jr, Executors. The will was proved 4 Nov 1714, New York Abstracts of Wills, page 361. Her will was one of the few early wills to be written by a woman.
Child of BARTHOLOMEW MERCIER and CATHERINE LASTY is:
