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164 Devok and Cornwall Notes and Queries. a son's admiration and affection for a very capable father, there is ample evidence to show that Mr. William Trace must have been a man of remarkable musical talent, and that under his lengthy regime the standard of the music pro- duced Sunday by Sunday in the gallery of the old unrestored Church of St. Petrock Stow was admirably maintained. ^-1 p-i(r^- W. E. Crosse Crosse. 136, Mercer of Ottery St. Mary. — Lyson's states: "The barton of Bishop's Court, said to been the seat of Bishop Grandisson, having been held on lease by the family of Mercer as early as the reign of Edward III., was pur- chased by them in fee in the reign of James I., and is now held in jointure by the widow of Henry Marker, Esq., junior, whose grandmother was heiress of the Mercers." Richard Mercer, of Bishop's Court, Ottery St. Mary, married and had issue a daughter Jone, buried at Ottery St. Mary, 10 March, 1603. She was the wife of George Stoford, of Ottery St. Mary ; and a son, Robert Mercer, will dated iS Jan., 1589-90; proved 20 July, 1590 {Archdy. Exeter). By his wife Mary he had issue : — Nycholas Mercer, matriculated at Exeter Coll., Oxford, 3 Dec, 1575, age 17; B.A. 11 Feb., 157I ; M.A. 14 Mch., 157I ; Proctor, 1584; elected Rector, but resigned his claim i April, 1592; Vicar of Rousdon, 14 Oct., 1581 ; Canon of Exeter, 1583; Vicar of Bishopsnympton, 1585 ; Rector of Pitt Portion, Tiverton, 22 Feb., 1590; buried 24 Mar., 1596, aged 30, M.I. chancel of St. Peter's, Tiverton. Will, no date, proved {P.R.B. Exeter) 6 April, 1597. By his wife Joane, who proved his will, he had issue : — John, Mary, Thomas, and a second son Nicholas Mercer, who married Margaret Staveley, mar. lie. 4 Feb., 161 1, by whom he had issue, bapt. St. Mary Arches, Exeter : — Mary, 18 Feb., 1618. Nicholas, 12 Feb., 1620; bur. 10 Mar., 1624. Dorothy, 18 May, 1623; bur. 9 Nov. 1623. Miles, 14 Dec, 1624. Grace, 9 Nov., 1629. Margaret, bur. 8 Dec, 1653.