Deborah Sinclair, a daughter of Jos. Sinclair and his wife Jane (née Cook), married Henry Boyd Mercer in 1859, and they had six children - Jane, Henry, William, Hugh, Emma and Elizabeth. In the 1870s Henry Boyd Mercer purchased farm land at Spring Vale (now Pittong). The property was known as "The Pines". Photograph is part of Old Lintonian Collection ; No. 59Sepia photograph of a well dressed lady seated with hands on lap. (Mounted photograph cropped to show head and shoulders only.)deborah mercer née sinclair, mrs henry boyd mercer, old lintonian collection

In the 1860s and 1870s Henry Boyd Mercer selected land between Linton and Skipton at what was then known as Spring Vale, now called Pittong. He was a successful and innovative farmer. Henry Mercer and his wife Deborah, nee Sinclair, had five children, Henry, William, Hugh, Emma and Elizabeth. Photograph is part of Old Lintonian collection ; No. 58.Sepia photograph of an old white haired bearded gentleman wearing suit, seated with legs crossed and arms on lap.henry boyd mercer, old lintonian collection

Elizabeth (Bessie) Mercer, a daughter of Henry Boyd Mercer and Deborah Mercer née Sinclair, was born 23/8/1873 at Spring Hill (near present-day Pittong). She attended Spring Vale State School where she achieved her Merit Certificate. She registered as a teacher in 1891 and completed further training to become a teacher of gymnastics in 1896. Bessie married David Brown of Chepstowe, and they farmed at Pittong. They had two children, Vera and Roy. Bessie Brown died in 1940. Bessie and her sister Emma were very involved with the war effort during World War I, and after the war they were presented with certificates of appreciation by the Linton "Diggers". (Copies of certificates in the LDHS collection.)Black and white copy of original photograph of a seated lady wearing dark skirt and blouse with a high neck and ruffles. Standing beside her is a girl wearing a light coloured knee length dress and black shoes and socks. She is also wearing glasses, a cameo necklace and a white bow in her hair."Mrs Bessie Brown + daughter Vera".elizabeth (bessie) brown née elizabeth mercer, vera brown