CAPTAIN LAWRENCE MERSEREAU
Lawrence Mersereau was born on Staten Island prior to the Revolutionary War. His parents, Ann and Joshua had resided
there for a number of years and were well known and respected. The family fled to New Jersey when the British invaded
their homeland in 1776.
Lawrence would often recall these exciting times and the many famous friends of his fathers who would visit at their home.
Among these guests were Lord and Lady Washington. On a number of occasions he would accompany them on long rides
in his father's express carriages.
As the war years ended the family moved to Guilford, New York where they remained for several years on a large farm.
The family then made its way to Vestal and settled along the Susquehanna riverbank for a brief time. The Mersereau's
would make one final move across the river to settle in the Hooper area of what would become Endwell. His parents would
settle, live and die on this large tract of farmland.
Shortly after settling at Hooper and well before his 16th birthday, Lawrence joined the army as an Ensign. He would serve
for the next ten years during which time New York Governor Lewis would grant him the title of “Captain”. The Captain's title
remained with him throughout his many years. During his service years Lawrence had the opportunity to vote for Washington in the presidential election. This right was only granted to soldiers who were worth at least $250. Joshua had granted
his son five fine acres of land in order for him to be eligible. Lawrence would vote in every presidential election for the balance of his days.
Mersereau returned to the family farm and was married to Hannah Christopher on January 14, 1798. They had ten children. In 1837 the Captain and his family moved to the Village of Union and resided in a large home overlooking Main
Street. The home was built on a lot that went from Liberty Avenue to Loder Avenue and extended from Main Street to the
railroad tracks.
Lawrence engaged in farming and lumbering and was described as an active, energetic and enterprising businessman. He
was noted as a shrewd financier, having an active mind and an “indoubtable” will. Lawrence was a great supporter of the
Erie Railroad's arrival and contributed a portion of land where the rails would cross his property. His influence was often
exerted to gain further support for this new mode of transport.
A great deal of his personal time was consumed with his love of God and religion and he had joined the Union Presbyterian Church in 1831. A few years later his wife of thirty-five years passed away and he would live without remarriage for forty
years.
Lawrence remained in good physical health well into old age and could be seen climbing his fruit trees well into his late
eighties. At one-hundred years of age he showed remarkable mental recall when local historians interviewed him for an
upcoming written history of Broome County.
The Captain passed away peacefully on January 24, 1873 at the home of his daughter, Hannah Witherill. He had one of
the largest funerals in village history. Countless sleighs surrounded the Union Presbyterian Church as mourners trudged
inside through the deep snow. The body was brought from his late residence in an elaborate and beautiful casket trimmed
with silver. The plate on the casket reads: L. Mersereau - Aged 100 years.
Though Mersereau had made large financial contributions to the construction of the new church, he had visited the building only once before this day. Burial took place here immediately after the services at the church, a tribute to the large
number of men who pounded the frozen ground for hours in order to lay this grand old man in his final resting place.
© 2003 – Tim Main and The Old Village of Union Historical Society, Endicott, New York.