Brief biography in Rosser (Letter 6)-
augmented by additional information from IGI, parish records etc.
Born Farndale (Pickering Circuit) Yorkshire, 17 Dec 1770; Joined Methodists
1794 and became Local Preacher, in 1800 called to itinerant work; in 1833
experienced some form of paralytic attack and had to become supernumerary.
Died at Birstal, 26 Jan 1839, aged 68.
John Mercer came the the Island in 1802 and again in 1812-20 when he was Chairman
of the District from 1813.
Married Jane Simpson (widow, nee Quayle) of Douglas, by special licence 11
August 1803 at Kk Onchan - John Cannell, vicar; witnesses James Banks and
James Clark. (Believe her first husband was Mathew Simpson married 1 May 1798
Lonan, he is I think buried Braddan 8 May 1800 age 26)
His will is filed in IoM (presumeably because of Wife's property) - dated
25 Jun 1838, probate 19 Jun 1840. Names four children - William (who
was a LP and then joined C of E as a clegyman in Sheffield), Edward, Jane
Hogg, and Maria plus wife Jane as Executors. Names another son - John Quayle
Mercer and daughter Mary Hannah Ward - makes reference to interest from bonds
in BallaRobin, Malew. Pledges were Thomas Caine, Tanner (a well known Wesleyan
Methodist) and Edward Gelling.
Three letters survive from him relevant to Isle of Man:
(a) 28 April 1819 to Ralph Gibson
(b) 20 May 1819 to Ralph Gibson
(b)14 March 1820 to Jabez Bunting
Kerrowkiel Chapel was apparently built
on land given by Mr & Mrs Mercer for 5/- from their Ballarobin Farm
Meriton, John
From Chapman
"In the Methodist Magazine (1900) we get a picture of the man who might have
established Methodism here before preachers came from 'across'. Meriton was
born in 1698 and came to the island suffering from 'attenuated means' - he
was befriended by the Rev. Philip Moore, master of Douglas Grammar School,
and chaplain at St. Matthews. Moore believed in the practica1 discourses'
of Meriton, and applied to Bishop. Wilson 'to raise a subscription or a Sunday
evening lecturer for a clergyman lately come from England' This was in 1740.
His Lordship did not approve the subscription but allowed Meriton to assist
at St. Matthews. His contact with the Wesleys apparently came when he was
on a visit to London, and shared a service 'on Church of England pattern'
with John Wesley in a church in Wapping, Wesley preaching and Meriton taking
the service. Meriton was inspired to further evangelistic zeal, and his 'irregular
preaching' disturbed the good Bishop. When circumstances were strong against
him Meriton desisted."
See article by Rev Rex Kissack "A Clergyman from the Isle of Man, 1740" in
Manx Methodist Church Recorder, June 1939.
Murlin, John
In 1758, John Murlin, called the Weeping Prophet because he was overcome
with his own emotion when preaching, left Whitehaven by boat for Liverpool.
The sea was rough, and he wrote in his Journal, 'We were carried to the Isle
of Man where we stayed for a week. The second evening I preached in a large
barn but on Sunday it could not contain all the people who would hear, and
I was obliged to preach abroad.... the people behaved well...."
