Helena Mercer

Helena married James Claypoole, I. James (son of John Claypoole and Mary Marie Angell) was born on 6 Oct 1634 in England; died on 6 Aug 1687 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA; was buried in Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Arrived from England on the Concord, October 1683.

CRITICAL #1: The records cited by myself and others do not prove that the Elizabeth Claypoole who married William Pettyjohn was from these Claypoole roots. Closer examination reveals the following:

James Claypoole, son of Sir John Claypoole & Mary Angell, was one of three emigrant brothers, who came to America in the 17th century. His 14 children are known, and he did not have a daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1687. In actual fact, James died in December 1686, with his will proved in Aug 1687. It would be almost impossible for him to have had a daughter born after his death (referring to the oft-quoted birth date for Elizabeth of 16 May 1687).

Further, some report that Elizabeth was born in London, England area; however, according to that date she was born after the arrival in America.

James did have a daughter named Elizabeth, his 14th child, born 25 May 1678, who died 31 May 1678.

James' emigrant brother, Norton, had a daughter named Elizabeth, born 16 May 1687, the likely source for this date. However, this Elizabeth also died in infancy.

The above is taken from "The Claypool(e) Family in America", by Evelyn Claypool Bracken, published in 1971. Certain of the above information in her book was taken from "The Compendium of American Genealogy, First Families in America, Vol. 7".

CRITICAL #2:The book "Something of the Pettijohn (Pettijohn) Family, et. al. gives the following re person 5, William Pettyjohn:

"WILLIAM PETTYJOHN 3-2, born probably about 1691, either in Virginia, or in Sussex county, Del., and died at the latter place between Jan. 15, 1749, the date of his will, and Feb. 2, following, when it was probated. Tradition has it that he married Elizabeth Claypoole, born May 16, 1687. Their children: William 4-5-6; Esther 4-5-75; Agatha 4-5-76; Mary 4-5-77; Sarah 4-5; Levinah 4-5-78." — "Something of the Pettijohn (Pettijohn) Family: with particular reference to the descendants of James Pettyjohn of Hungar's Parish, Northhampton County, Virginia" compiled by Era Jane Pettijohn Chamberlain of Buhl, Idaho, and Clive Abraham Pettijohn of Davenport, Washington, published in 1948.

Although this seems to correctly set the birth date of Elizabeth Claypoole at 16 May 1687, the following considerations are necessary:

The information given by Era Jane and Clive Abraham Pettijohn rely on earlier research, cited in their work: One such work, "Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines" (vol.2: Gates and Allied Families) by Rufus C. Dawes, published in 1931, mentions William Pettyjohn as marrying Elizabeth "possibly" Claypoole. No birth date or exact information is given for William's wife.

William is reported in "Something of the Pettijohn" as born either in Virginia or in Sussex County, Delaware in "probably 1691" and his marriage as "tradition has it" Elizabeth Claypoole. Regardless of whether William's wife's name was Elizabeth Claypoole, and regardless of whether that Elizabeth had a birth date of 16 May 1687 as reported here, it is pretty clear that this Elizabeth was not a daughter of James Claypoole, son of Sir John Claypoole & Mary Angell from England and living in Pennsylvania. When works cite information as "tradition", it means they are relying on former research or "often inaccurate" family records of their generation-by-generation gathered recollections which alone did not give clear information.

1. John Claypoole was born on 15 Sep 1658 in England; died on 8 Sep 1700 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA; was buried in Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.
2. Mary Claypoole was born on 24 Oct 1660 in London, Greater London, England; died in May 1726 in PA; was buried in Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.
3. Helen Claypoole was born on 16 Nov 1662 in London, Greater London, England; died on 19 Jul 1691 in Jamaica; was buried in Jamaica.
4. James Claypoole, II was born on 12 Jun 1664 in London, Greater London, England; died on 24 Jul 1706 in Lewes, Sussex Co, DE.
5. Prissilla Claypoole was born on 5 May 1666 in England; died on 26 Dec 1698 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA; was buried in Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.
6. Nathaniel Claypoole was born on 3 Oct 1668 in London, Greater London, England; died on 24 Nov 1668 in London, Greater London, England; was buried in Checker Ally Quaker Burial Ground, Checker Ally, City of London, Greater London, England.
7. Josiah Claypoole was born on 19 Nov 1669 in London, Greater London, England; died on 12 May 1670 in Cambridgeshire, England; was buried in Quaker Old Cemetery, London, Greater London, England.
8. Samuel Claypoole was born on 29 Mar 1671 in London, Greater London, England; died on 21 Mar 1681 in London, Greater London, England; was buried in Quaker Burying Ground by Moorfields, Islington, City of London, Greater London, England.
9. Nathaniel Claypoole was born on 4 Oct 1672 in London, Greater London, England; died on 26 Aug 1714 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA; was buried in Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.
10. Claypoole was born in 1673 in London, Greater London, England; died in 1673 in London, Greater London, England; was buried in London and Middlesex Monthly Meeting, Greater London, England.
11. George Claypoole was born on 24 Jan 1675 in London, Greater London, England; died on 3 Jan 1731 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA; was buried in Friends Arch Street Meeting House Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.
12. Joseph Claypoole was born on 8 Apr 1676 in London, Greater London, England; died on 9 Sep 1676; was buried in Quaker Burying Ground by Moorfields, Islington, City of London, Greater London, England.
13. Joseph Claypoole was born on 14 Jul 1677 in London, Greater London, England; died on 23 Feb 1741 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA; was buried in Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co, PA.
14. Elizabeth Claypoole was born on 16 May 1687 in Lewes, Sussex Co, DE; died on 2 Jan 1749 in Sussex Co, DE; was buried in Pettyjohn Family Cemetery, The Plantations, Sussex Co, DE.

Archibald married Elizabeth Kennedy. Elizabeth was born in 1610 in Scotland; died in Feb 1660 in Bremen, Germany; was buried in Sankt Stephani Churchyard, Bremen, Stadtgemeinde Bremen, Bremen, Germany. [Group Sheet]