Researched and written by Bill and Don Trott.
We are indebted to them for their permission to use this work.
The Mershon family first appeared in America in 1685. Family lore says that Henri Marchand arrived in New York with his thirteen year old son, Henry. Henri was probably a merchant from Caen, Normandy, France and had brought his son to New York to escape the terrible Huguenot Wars taking place in France. Family lore, continuing, says that Henri left his son with friends or relatives in Newtown, New York and returned to France to bring the rest of his family to America. Henri was never heard of again.
Some written accounts state that Henri arrived in New York with his wife and family, including his son, Henry. If the written accounts are correct, Henri, and his family, remained in America. Whatever the actual fact are, we know almost nothing about Henri Marchand. However, we do know a great deal about his son Henry.
The 1698 town census of Newtown, New York lists “Henry Marshan” as the head of household with two persons living with him. We can only suppose that this was his wife, Ann, and his first child, Henry III. We know very little about his wife, Ann, as we can only find her mentioned in Henry’s will of 1738 and two land deeds prior to that date that deeded land to their sons.
About 1700, Henry Marshan moved his family from New York to Hunterdon (now Mercer) County, New Jersey, near the present town of Lawrenceville. He is recorded as a land owner there as early as 1702. It was here, that Henry II, and his wife Ann, raised their family of five sons and five daughters. Wife Ann, and all ten children are named in Henry’s will of July 19, 1738. Henry died on September 20, 1738, and is buried in the Cemetery on the Hill near Lawrenceville.
HENRI MARCHAND
b. France--probably Caen, Normandy
d. ?
In America about 1685
II. HENRY MERSHON
Brought to New York by his father to escape religious persecution
b. about 1672 - France
d. Sep. 20, 1738, Maidenhead, N.J.
m. Ann--name given in his will
b. ??
d. survived Henry
Ten children below named in Henry’s will
From the small homestead in New Jersey in the early part of the 18th century, descendants of Henry and Ann Mershon are, today, living in almost every state in the United States and many locations abroad.