Family:William Kerr and Rosanna Smith (1)

William Kerr came with his father, James Kerr from the Chester/Lancaster, Pennsylvania area to Augusta County, Virginia. He was more than likely just a child when his father, James Kerr arrived in Pennsylvania from Ireland/Scotland, somewhere around 1728. He appeared in several early records there that confirm his relationship as a son of James Kerr, the progenitor of the earliest Kerr family in Augusta County: (from Chalkley's Augusta County, VA records) William Kerr appears to have migrated to Rowan County, North Carolina with his brother Andrew around 1751-1754. William Kerr is listed in early Rowan County, North Carolina records as settling next to John Dickey in 1751.

William Kerr married Rosanna Jane Smith most likely before 1740. Some researchers believe that Isabella Kerr, that married William Gilbreath Falls is the daughter of William and Rosanna Jane, based upon circumstantial evidence, family tradition and the fact that Isabella and William's first two children were named William and Rosanna.

William Kerr was father of some of the following children baptised in Augusta County at Tinkling Spring Church, by the Rev. John Craig between 1740-1749:

"Augusta Co, Virginia Baptismal Records, 1740-1749", and it is described as "a record of baptisms by the Rev. John Craig, D.D., 1740-49, pastor of Augusta Church for thirty years". It has the following KERR baptisms:

Name of Father Name of Child Date of Baptism Place/Notes

KERR, William, son Andrew Sept 16, 1744 N/A KERR, William - son James Apr 13, 1746 N/A KERR, William - son Thomas Oct 11, 1747 N/A

In "Kerr's and Kin", author Vincent Brown Kerr states that James Kerr, the first Kerr settler in the Orange/Augusta County, VA area (in 1738/9), is undoubtedly the grandfather of all of the children baptized above. This researcher, after exhaustively studying the early records in Augusta County can find no reason to doubt Mr. Kerr in his conclusion, in fact, there are many records in Augusta County, VA listing William Kerr's land adjoining his brother John Kerr, no doubt some of the original land purchased by his father, James Kerr in 1738-1739 in the Borden Tract.

Records of William Kerr in Augusta County, Virginia (Chalkley's Augusta County, VA records):

June 1747 William Carr appointed constable. Vice constable, James Gillespy.

19 May 1748 William Kerr witnessed land transaction of Robert Black and John Miller.

23 June 1748 James Kerr, 400 acres between his son William's land and Beverly Manor.

27 August 1751 John Robinson, wife Jean to William Kerr along corner of James Kerr.

Other Augusta County, VA records:

FEBRUARY 24, 1762. (198) Wm. Carr, assignee, vs. John Chambers--Defendant having made oath that he is not the person indebted--dismissed.

AUGUST 19, 1767. (220) Hugh Allen appointed surveyor of highway from James Given's Mill, by his house, to Stone Meeting House, and the following to work the road: Saml. Hinds, Robt. Stevenson, Wm. Kerr, John Stewart, John Campbell, James Allen, John Anderson, Hugh Allen, William McClure, James Allen, Saml. Bell, Andrew Lockhart, John Burnside, Saml. McKee, James Searight, Thos. Storey.