Inscription
The Mercer Oak was named for Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, who fought and was mortally wounded in the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777. The white oak is believed to have been here at the time of the American Revolution.
A legend says that Mercer was bayoneted and was laid beneath this tree, refusing to leave the battle until victory was secured. He was actually wounded just uphill, behind enemy lines. Later recovered by his aids, Mercer was carried to the Thomas Clarke House, where he died nine days later. Besides the tree, this county and the nearby roadway are among the many things named in his honor.
Mercer (1725-77), born in Scotland, studied medicine at Aberdeen. As an assistant surgeon to the Scottish Jacobite Army he was present at their defeat by the English on Culloden Moor in 1746. Settling in Pennsylvania in 1747, Mercer served the English Provincial Army in the French and Indian War, attaining the rank of colonel. Moving to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1761 he married, purchased Washington's boyhood farm, and practiced medicine. As the Revolution began Mercer was named colonel of the 3rd Virginia regiment in 1775 and in 1776 became brigadier general under Washington.
Collapsing of old age on March 3, 2000, the Mercer Oak continues to be a well-recognized symbol of Princeton Township, of Mercer County, the New Jersey Green Acres Program, and other entities. An offspring donated by Louise Morse, started in 1981 from an acorn of the Mercer Oak, was plated next to the old stump in 2001.
Created by Chris Wang BSA Troop 88, Princeton, NJ - 1998
A legend says that Mercer was bayoneted and was laid beneath this tree, refusing to leave the battle until victory was secured. He was actually wounded just uphill, behind enemy lines. Later recovered by his aids, Mercer was carried to the Thomas Clarke House, where he died nine days later. Besides the tree, this county and the nearby roadway are among the many things named in his honor.
Mercer (1725-77), born in Scotland, studied medicine at Aberdeen. As an assistant surgeon to the Scottish Jacobite Army he was present at their defeat by the English on Culloden Moor in 1746. Settling in Pennsylvania in 1747, Mercer served the English Provincial Army in the French and Indian War, attaining the rank of colonel. Moving to Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1761 he married, purchased Washington's boyhood farm, and practiced medicine. As the Revolution began Mercer was named colonel of the 3rd Virginia regiment in 1775 and in 1776 became brigadier general under Washington.
Collapsing of old age on March 3, 2000, the Mercer Oak continues to be a well-recognized symbol of Princeton Township, of Mercer County, the New Jersey Green Acres Program, and other entities. An offspring donated by Louise Morse, started in 1981 from an acorn of the Mercer Oak, was plated next to the old stump in 2001.
Created by Chris Wang BSA Troop 88, Princeton, NJ - 1998
Details
| HM Number | HM6JL |
|---|---|
| Tags | |
| Placed By | State of New Jersey, Division of Parks and Forestry |
| Marker Condition |   7 out of 10 (1 reports) |
| Date Added | Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 at 6:52am PDT -07:00 |
Pictures
Photo Credits: [1] DAWN ENGLER
Locationbig map
| UTM (WGS84 Datum) | 18T E 527486 N 4464631 |
|---|---|
| Decimal Degrees | 40.33176667, -74.67641667 |
| Degrees and Decimal Minutes | N 40° 19.906', W 74° 40.585' |
| Degrees, Minutes and Seconds | 40° 19' 54.36" N, 74° 40' 35.10" W |
| Driving Directions | Google Maps |
| Area Code(s) | 201, 609, 732, 908 |
| Closest Postal Address | At or near 453-499 Mercer St, Princeton NJ 08540, US |
| Alternative Maps | Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap |
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Nearby Markersshow on map
Show me all markers in: Princeton, NJ | Mercer County | 08540 | New Jersey | United States of America
Colonnade and Gravesite
Historic Portico Preservation and Rebuilding
Burial Site of those who fell in the Battle of Princeton
Site of Moulder's Battery
The British Occupation of New Jersey
General Hugh Mercer
From Trenton to Princeton
Thomas Clarke House
Welcome to the Institute Lands
Route of Washington's March
I Saw The Marker
Located in Princeton Battlefield State Park. When I worked for the State, we attempted to cut some dead limbs off the tree. The musket balls kicked back the chainsaw blades. The old tree has fallen, but a new one planted in it's place.
Oct 10, 2015 at 8:48am PDT by babybago
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