General Notes

SOURCES: LDS FHL Ancestal File #    (familysearch.org)
AWTP:
"Ancestors of a 21st century British family" Richard Hodgson mail@@ancestorsearch.co.uk, who has generously provided the following notes online:
"He obtained Charters from the Canons of Scone for lands in Perth, 10/Feb/1354
In 1366 he was granted "Safe conduct" as "Mercator de Scotia" (Mercer of Scotland.)
On 1st July, 1371 he was granted lands of Dalkeith from David, Count Palatine of Strathern.
He was the first of four Bailies appointed in 1374 when his father was Provost of Perth.
He was engaged in family mercantile pursuits when, in 1376, his father, John Mercer, was shipwrecked off the coast of Northumbria. His merchandise was seized, and he was imprisoned in Scarborough. Although released unharmed, the English refused to make compensation for the loss of the goods which they had confiscated.
With England and Scotland in a chronic state of war, maritime capture was of ordinary occurrence. In retaliation, Andrew assembled a fleet of Scottish, Flemish and French privateers which attacked and plundered the town of Scarborough. However, before long, Andrew and his fleet were captured by John Philpot (later to become Sir John Philpot, Lord Mayor of London.)
Even in times of fragile peace, events of this kind were the order of the day. Andrew was released without ransom and granted safe conduct for his return as "Armiger Regis Scotiae."

(Some information contained in the "shipwreck" story was obtained from http://www.maritime-scotland.com)

In 1378-9, Andrew and his spouse obtained Charters for land at Baleve and Balayach.
On 09/Mar/1381-2, he was styled "cousin" by Euphemia, Countess of Ross, in Charters for Faithly, Tyree, Fynlater, Naterdale, and Pittendreich. Andrew also, at some time obtained land at Dalkeith, in Strathearn, from Sir David Stewart, Count Palatine and Earl of Caithness.
In 1384 he was witness to a Charter ("Chartulary of Levenax") of King Robert II, in which he is referred to as "Sir" Andrew.
He received a Charter for forty merks of the customs of the Burgh of Perth on 28/Apr/1383-4
Sir Andrew died between 1389 and 1391.
From 26/Feb/1391 to 05/Jul/1402, Walter Stewart, Lord of Brechin, received the annual rents out of the customs of Perth, on account of "quondam Dominus Andrea Mercer."