Person:David Kerr (50)

David Kerr was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents 1 Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA 2 Will of David Kerr 3 Records of David Kerr 4 Notes		Welcome to Old Augusta Early Settlers Beverley Manor Borden's Grant Register Data Maps Places Library History Index
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

David Kerr's land (Borden Tract NE, 368 acres, 1750) as shown on the map meticulously drawn by J.R. Hildebrand, cartographer. This map is copyrighted©, used by permission of John Hildebrand, son of J.R. Hildebrand, April, 2009. Note that land of John Kerr, David Kerr's older brother is adjoining David's land to the east.

Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 769.--22d May, 1750. (Benjamin) Borden to David Carr (Kerr) 368 acres, survey of James McNutt, late deceased, Kennedy's Mill Creek; corner John Kerr. Delivered: Francis Beaty, 29th May, 1753.

Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 167.--21st March, 1753. David Kerr and Kathrine, to Robert Gray, 200 acres of 92100, in Borden's tract; Joseph Kennedy's Mill Creek; McNut's line; John Kerr's line.

• 20th August, 1754, David Kerr and Catherine, plantationeer, to Arthur Kennedy, taylor, £57, 168 acres on Joseph Kennedy's Mill Creek, part of 368 acres purchased by David from Kerr [?]; corner to Robt. Gray, who possesses the other part of the tract; McNutt's line; corner Francis Beatty. Teste: John Wardlaw, William Gray."

Further Disposition of Land from Chalkley's: Note: this is the land sold from David Kerr and Katherine to Robert Gray in 1753, which was sold to James Craig in the following transaction:

• "18th Nov., 1760, Robert Gray, of Rowan County, North Carolina, by John Tate, to James Craige, 5 shillings, 200 acres in Borden's tract, corner to tract sold by Francis Beaty on Flat Spring Run; corner Thomas Berry; conveyed by Borden, Jr., to David Kerr, and by David Kerr and Kathrine to Robert. Teste: Gabriel Madison, John Frogg, Luke Bowyer."

Will of David Kerr

"In the name of God Amen I David Kerr of the County of Guilford in the State of North Carolina...[mostly illegible]...I give and bequeath my loving wife Catherine Kerr my dwelling house and all the household furniture a negro woman named Sall and her two children and my wife to have the choice of all my stock of horses mares that I...[illeg.] two cows and two calves t--- bushels of grain such that she shall make choice of each & every year during her life... the said mare or horse her cows and calves is to be kept on the plantation ---- of the twenty bushels of grain yearly and the said negro woman Sall and her two children the cow and calves her mare or horse to be at her disposal---she shall think proper.

"...I give to my son William Kerr the plantation whereon I now live and all my working tools and one hundred dollars...I give to my son-in-law Ralph Gorrell one hundred dollars...to my son-in-law John Tom one hundred dollars...to my son-in-law David Wiley one hundred dollars...to my son-in-law Thomas Brown one hundred dollars...to my son-in-law William Wiley one hundred dollars...to my son-in-law George Donnell one hundred dollars- after each --- is discharged according to what I have above mentioned my wife is to have disposal of it as she thinks most proper and equitable.

"..I do hereby further constitute and appoint my loving wife Catherine Kerr, Ralph Gorrell and John Tom to be my executors...--- day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two"

[Signed] Daniel Kerr (Seal)

George Donnell

Thomas Wiley

John Thom

William Wiley

Proved by John Thom and William Wiley May 1804.

William Wiley

Original Headstone of David Kerr

In Memory of David Kerr who Departed This Life March A.D. 1804 Aged 85 YR. (b. 1719)

Newer Headstone with incorrect birthdate of 1714

Records of David Kerr

David Kerr, Sr. was listed in the 1790 census with one male over 16, one female, and 5 slaves. In the 1800 census, "David Carr's" household contained one male and one female over 45 and 5 slaves.

The following two records show David and Katherine selling land in Augusta County, VA, most likely in preparation for move to North Carolina:

Chalkey (1966), Augusta Co., VA: "21st March, 1753. "David Kerr and Katherine, to Robert Gray, 200 acres of 92100, in Borden's Tract; Joseph Kennedy's Mill Creek; McNutt's Line; John Kerr's Line." (Establishes David on tract adjoining his brother, John Kerr)

"20th August, 1754, David Kerr and Catherine, plantationeer, to Arthur Kennedy, taylor, £57, 168 acres on Joseph Kennedy's Mill Creek, part of 368 acres purchased by David from Kerr [?]; corner to Robt. Gray, who possesses the other part of the tract; McNutt's line; corner Francis Beatty. Teste: John Wardlaw, William Gray."

"18th Nov., 1760, Robert Gray, of Rowan County, North Carolina, by John Tate, to James Craige, 5 shillings, 200 acres in Borden's tract, corner to tract sold by Francis Beaty on Flat Spring Run; corner Thomas Berry; conveyed by Borden, Jr., to David Kerr, and by David Kerr and Kathrine to Robert. Teste: Gabriel Madison, John Frogg, Luke Bowyer."

This reference shows David Kerr in North Carolina by 1758 (his brother Andrew had arrived by 1754):

Bean, E.H. (1914), Rowan Co. (N.C.) Records Early Settlers: Kerr, David, 1758. First Kerr was Andrew in 1754. (migrated with his brother Andrew Kerr to Rowan County)

Partridge (1973), Paisley and Allied Lines: "From Mrs. Lillian Jones, Lebanon, Tenn. Route #4. David Kerr lived near Alamance Church. A member of that Congregation."

Wiley (1880): "It is impossible to furnish a list of 'The Elders of the Church' from want of early records. I give the following names...David Kerr..."

Hughes (1988): Received or purchased land in 1759, 1762, 1778, 1784.

Rowan Co. Abstracts of Wills/ Land Records/Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions:

9 Jun 1755: Isabel & James Huggins bought land adj. David Karr

22 Aug 1759: Granville to David Kerr for 10 sh sterl 637A on S. Buffalo Creek adjacent Adam Luckey, Witnesses W. Churton, Thos. Jones.

11 Jun 1761: Granville to Benj. Starratt 10 sh. 684 A on both sides of Buffalo Creek adj. David Kerr.

15 Feb 1762: Deed of sale from Adam Carruth and wife Elizabeth for 333 acres.

18 Oct 1762: Witnessed sale from Thomas Cook and Margaret to Stephen Potts.

1764 Wm. Matthew bought land from Benjamin Starratt 200 A on Buffalo Creek adj. David Karr.

23 Oct 1762: Claims due by the county to the following persons paid David Kerr for 1 venirey ticket £1 2 4.

15 Oct 1763: Overseer of roads from Indian Path to Mr. Carruth Creek.

1 March 1764: Benj. Starratt to David Karr for £20 NC money, 547 A adj. John McAdoo granted by Granville 26 Aug 1762. Wit. James Carter, Hugh Forester.

9 Jan 1765: Overseer of roads from Mr Carrath Creek to the Indian Path.

10 Apr 1765: Benj. Starratt sold 200 A on n. side of Buffalo adj. to David Karr to Wm. Matthews.

18 Apr 1765: David Karr to Benjamin Starratt a tract on S. Buffalo. Wit. Frances McBride, John Stuart, Ralph Gorrell.

1766: David Karr witnessed sale from Benj. Starret to John Hall, Buffalo Creek.

16 Jun 1768: David Karr and wife Catron (X) to Ralph Gorrell for £50 proc 300A adjacent William Matthews, Benjamin Starratt, John Karr.

8 Feb 1769: David Kerr witnessed will of Walter Carruth.

Guilford Co. Deeds: Grant to David Karr, 16 Dec 1778, 100 acres, 50s for every 100 acres: "...North side of South Buffalo on Adam Lackeys line on a Spanish oak Runing thence West along Samuel Duffs line two hundred and fifteen poles to Black oak on William Duffs line thence South along Duffs line seventy five poles to post Oak thence East along his own deeded line two hundred and fifteen pole to White Oak Elm and Ash thence North along Adam Lackey's line seventy five pole the Beginning.

Guilford Co. Court of Common Pleas (exerpt): Aug 1781 Term, David Kerr, Sr. is appointed assessor in Mr. Gorrell's District. Nov 1781 Term, David Kerr is appointed assessor in Mr. Gorrel's district; Deed David Kerr to William Clark.

Guilford Co. Deeds: David Kerr to James Starret, both of Guilford Co., 1782, £2,050, 100 acres of land "...lying on the North side of South Buffaloe in the County aforesaid, being a Part of a Tract of Land deeded to the sd David Kerr for six hundred and thirty seven Acres by Deed by John Earle Granville, the seventeenth day of September 1744. Beginning at a white oak runing thence East one hundred and one Poles to a Red Oak, thence South one hundred and fifty nine Poles in a Hickory in Ralph Gorrels line, thence West one hundred and Ten poles with Gorrels line, thence West one hundred and Ten poles to a stake, thence North one hundred and fifty nine Poles to the Beginning, containing one hundred Acres..." Etc. David Kerr (seal) Witness: William Clark

David Kerr to William Clark, both of Guilford Co., 17 Feb 1782, £100. "...On the North side of South Buffaloe being the whole of a tract of land deeded by me the said David Kerr fore One hundred Acres by deed the sixteenth day of December..." 1778 "Beginning on the North Side of South Buffaloe on Adam Lecky's line on a spanish oak runing three N West along Saml Duffs line two hundred and fifteen poles to a black oak On William Duffs' line thence South along Duffs Line Seventy five Poles to a post Oak thence East along his Own Deeded Line two hundred and fifteen poles to a White Oak Elm & Ash thence North along Adam Lockeys line Seventy five poles to the Beginning containing one hundred Acres..." Etc. David Kerr (seal) Witnesses: Ann her X mark Kerr, Isbell her X mark Kerr.

Grant to David Kerr, 14 Oct 1783 50 s per 100 acres: "A Tract of Land containing five hundred and Twenty acres lying and being in the County of Guilford on both Sides of South Buffalo Beginning at a White Oak In Wm Donneals line thence North eight hundred and four poles to a red oak in Donneals line thence East two hundred and four poles to a post oak thence South four hundred and eight poles crossing South Buffaloe to the first Station.

Guilford Co. Deed Index: Kerr, David & wife to Walter McCunnell, book beginning 1788.

From State of North Carolina to David Kerr, 2 grants 1785 book. Minutes, Guilford Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Abstracts): 3rd Monday Nov 1784- Estate of Alexander Caldwell, surity, David Kerr.

21 Feb 1786- Francis McNary vs James Buchanon, jury included David Kerr.

21 Aug 1786- Administration of estate of John Dobson, David Kerr, Security; Charles Bruce vs John Smith- land claimed as estate of Henry Eustace McCullock, jury included David Kerr.

20 Nov 1786- John Odeneal vs James Leak, jury included David Kerr.

19 Feb 1787- State vs John Marrs, jury included David Kerr; Peter O'Neal vs John Thomerson, jury included David Kerr.

20 May 1787- David Kerr vs Samuel Duck, Kerr awarded £37.1 & cc; David Kerr witness pd £2.8.0.

20 Aug 1787- State vs John Craton petit larceny, jury included David Kerr; State vs Thomas Winslow, trespass, jury included David Kerr; State vs David Kerr, Kerr guilty of misdemenor, fined 20/#.

Notes

Monument, Alamance Churchyard: "David Kerr/ 1714-1804/ Son of James, Jr. & Martha Ball/ Father of David Jr., Isabella Donnell, Agnes Brown, John, Nancy Gorrell, Eleanor Thom & Catherine Wiley/ Wife Katherine- Buried Augusta Co., VA. Uncle of Nathaniel Greene Kerr."

George Atkinson: "...the Kerrs were Scotch-Irish who came from Ireland along with the Wileys, Gorrells, Thoms, Donnells etc. to Chester or Lancaster Co., PA early in the 1700s and then moved to NC about 1760."

1. ↑ Chalkley, - Augusta County, Virginia Court Abstracts.

   22 May 1750
   Borden to David Carr, 368 Acres on Kennedy's Mills Creed, adjoining corner of John Kerr.

2. ↑ Chalkley, - Augusta County, Virginia Court Abstracts.

   21 march, 1752
   David Kerr and Katherine, to Robert Gray, 200 Acres along Kennedy's Mill Creek adj. John Kerr's line.