Robert Mercer, father of John Mercer the chemist, was born 3/21/1756 in Great Hrwood, Lancashire had one sister, Ann, and 3 brothers, John, Henry and Richard. His father ws Thomas Mercer and his mother was Betty Clayton The family had lived at Stoops Farm in Whalley Road, Higher town until 1772 when the family moved to reside in the Lower Town, Great Harwood where Robert and his sons were weavers, spinners and farmers.
Roberts brother John had a farm with a small weaving mill at Hindle Fold in Higher Town, Great Harwood. His brother Henry had a weaving mill where the Shippon was at the Plough Inn in Queen Street, in Lower Town. Brother Richard lived at Bradley Hall Farm where he had a spinning mill at Goldacre Lane in Higher Town.
Robert married Betty Birtwistle on Jan 1, 1777 at the age of 21. They had 3 daughters, Mary, Betty and Ann (Nancy), but Betty died in 1784.
Robert took a second wife on 11/1/1786 - Elizabeth (Betty) Clayton and they had 3 sons, Thomas, Robert and John (the chemist) and lived at Dean Farm in Higher Town.
Robert died in 1800.

At this time Great Harwood was known as Higher Town and Lower Town. The boundry between the two was a stream called "The Causeway Brook" that flowed from Edge End into Delph Road and down the center of Queen Street into Heyes Lane, then into the River Hyndburn.