The Mercer Family on Mustang Island
THE MERCER FAMILY ON MUSTANG ISLAND ROBERT AINSWORTH MERCER (1799-1875) ARRIVED ON MUSTANG ISLAND CA. 1855. AFTER STARTING A SMALL SETTLEMENT, MERCER WAS APPOINTED NUECES COUNTY’S WRECK MASTER, WITH OVERSIGHT OF THE DISPOSITION OF VESSELS LOST CROSSING ARANSAS PASS. HIS SONS, JOHN (1840-1896) AND EDWARD (NED) (1842-?), SERVED AS ARANSAS PASS BAR PILOTS. IN 1880, JOHN BECAME THE FIRST KEEPER OF THE ARANSAS LIFE SAVING STATION, WHICH LATER BECAME THE U.S. COAST GUARD STATION THAT CONTINUES TODAY. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MERCER FAMILY WERE DOCUMENTED IN EXHAUSTIVE JOURNALS FROM 1866 THROUGH 1877 AND THESE TEXTS WERE PRESERVED BY SUCCESSIVE MERCER DESCENDANTS, RECOGNIZING THE FAMILY’S INFLUENCE ON THE AREA’S HISTORY. 175 YEARS OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE * 1836-2011
27.8356° N, 97.0611° W
Where to Find It
In front of Port Aransas Museum on the grassy esplanade (City of Port Aransas property) at the corner of Brundrett and Alister Streets
Nearby Markers
- <0.1 mi SW Mustang Island Port Aransas
- 0.2 mi N Tarpon Inn Port Aransas
- 0.4 mi N U.S. Coast Guard on Mustang Island Port Aransas
- 0.4 mi N World War II Coastal Defenses at the Aransas Pass Port Aransas
- 0.4 mi N Aransas Pass, C.S.A. Port Aransas
- 2 mi N Aransas Pass Light Station Port Aransas