Figure 14. — Archeologicai. survey plan superimposed over detail of 1691 plat, showing 

 southwest corner of town developed by Mercer. It can be seen that the mansion founda- 

 tion was in the area near the change of course "by the Gutt between Geo. Andrew's & 

 the Court house," hence in the vicinity of the courthouse site. 



StafTord Court & home. Swore to the Commission 

 of the Peace," thus becoming a justice of the peace 

 for Stafford County. 



In the meanwhile, years had gone by, and no action 

 had been taken on the suit in chancery brought in 

 the 1 730's to establish Savage's survey of Marlborough 

 as the ofTicial one. During this time, Mercer had 

 continued to build on various lots other than those 

 he owned, "relying on the Lease and Consent of 



[the feoffees], at the Expense of above Fifteen Hun- 

 dred Pounds, which Improvements would have saved 

 forty lots." Finally, "judging the only effectual way 

 to secure his Title would be to procure an Act of 

 General Assembly for that purpose," '"■' Mercer 

 applied to the Stafford court to purchase the count>''s 

 interest in the town, to which the court agreed on 

 August 11, 1747, the price to be 10,000 pounds of 



108 Petition of John Mercer, loc. cit. (footnote 17). 



11 



