Person:John Kerr (43)

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

Contents 1 Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA 2 Importation to Orange County, VA 3 Records of John Kerr in Orange County, VA 4 Family Information		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

John Kerr's land (Borden Tract SW, 280 acres, 1743) 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.

John Kerr's land (Borden Tract NE, 337 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 David Kerr, John's brother, is adjoining this land to the west.

John Kerr's land 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.

His father's land is located just south of John Kerr's land; also nearby is land of John Pickens, brother-in-law to John Kerr.

Acquisition of Land from Orange County Virginia Records:

• Pages 383-87. 7-8 July 1743. Benja. Borden of Orange County to John Car (John Kerr) of same. Lease and release; for £7 current money. 280 acres, part of 92,100 acres as by patent 6 Nov. 1739.. on both sides of Teas Creek in Augusta County... Bourden's patten (patent) line... crossing the creek... (signed) Benja. Borden. Wit: Frances (his E mark) McCown, Humphry Baker, Hugh Cunningham. 27 July 1743. Acknowledged by Benja. Borden, Gent. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 7, Dorman, pg. 62]. (Note: John Kerr became so associated with the area that Teas Creek was later renamed "Kerr's Creek", a title which has descended to the present time).

Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 819.--9th June, 1750. Benj. Borden to John Karr. 336 acres, David Karrs line; corner Francis Beatty. Teste: Jno. Paul, Wm. Whitesides, Robt. Cilpatrick, Saml. Woods.

• Page 466.— 19 August, 1752, (William) Beverley by &c. to John Kerr, 275 acres in Beverley Manor on Cathey's River; corner to Beverley Manor. Delivered: James Kerr, 18th November, 1794.

Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 405.--26th February, 1749. John Kerr to John Hind, 100 acres in a loop neck of Cathey's River; Thomas Storey's line. Dower released by Lucy, wife of John Kerr. Delivered: William Hinds, December, 1754. Teste: Francis Beaty, John Pickens. (Note: John Hinds married John Kerr's daughter, Jane Kerr)

• 376, Aug. 19, 1754. - John Kerr to John McKee yeoman 280 acres on Tee's Creek (This was later called Kerr's Creek). (Note: John Kerr could not have known how lucky he was to sell this particular property, as many former neighbor landowners of his were killed in what were known as the "The Kerr's Creek Massacres".

• Page 203.--18th August, 1759. John Ker, of Rowan County, North Carolina, to James Hamilton, £25, 180 acres on Middle River at mouth of Christian's Creek, hill between Long Meadow Run and Christians Creek; corner Beverley Manor. Teste: James Kerr, Jno. Gillespie, Jno. Hamilton. Proved by witnesses. (Note: this record establishes that John Kerr had most likely moved to Rowan County, North Carolina by August, 1759).

• Page 267.--19th May, 1761. John Ker and Lucie ( ) to Hugh Botkin, £13.10, 174 acres on a draft of North River of Shanando; cor. Robert McMahan. Teste: John Botkin, William Kerr, William ( ) Mathers, John Reburn. Delivered: John Botkin, 5th June, 1762.

• Page 353.--20th May, 1761. John Kerr and Lucie ( ) to John Allison, £2, 10 acres on east side Shanandoe betwixt land of said Ker and Allison, part of 400 acres; Andrew Ker's line. Teste: Andrew Russell, Edward Rutledge, William Ker. Delivered: John Allison, February, 1768.

• Page 331.--18th May, 1768. John Kerr and Lucy ( ) and William Kerr and Martha ( ) to James Laird, £50, 124 acres on Middle River of Shanando, 100 of which is part of 400 joining Beverley Manor and patented to said John 30th July, 1742, the other 24 acres patented to said William 2d June, 1760, joining the former tract; corner John Allison. Teste: Edward Rutledge, Alexander Walker, Wm. ( ) Mathers. Delivered: James Laird, February, 1770. (Note: James Laird married John Kerr's daughter, Letitia Kerr)

• Page 5.--16th August, 1768. John Carr (Ceer, Keer) and Lucy ( ) to William McClure, £40, 150 acres, part of 275 acres in Beverley Manor on a small branch of Middle River joining Cohorn's land; Beverley's line. Teste: John Stuart, Hugh Allen, Andrew McClure. Delivered: Wm. McClure, August Court, 1779.

Importation to Orange County, VA

This entry from Orange County, Virginia (the predecessor county to Augusta) establishes the importation of John Kerr and his family into Orange County, Virginia:

Notes from the County Court Records of Orange Co. Va. Order Book #2 1739 to 1741. Importations pg. 138:

John Carr made oath that he imported himself, Lucy his wife, his children Jane, William, Barbara, Lucy & Martha Carr & Margaret Gilasby & Mathew Gilasby at his own charge into the colony, & that this is the first time of proving their rights in order to obtain land. March 27th. 1740.

Records of John Kerr in Orange County, VA

• Petition of John Carr, 23 Aug. [1740, 1750?]. He has behaved himself true and faithful in the office of a constable during twelve months. His time being expired and he being very much afflicted with sickness, not capable to more abroad, intercedes your Worships may ease him and make choice of one of the undernamed persons: William Brown, Patrick Campbel, James Cathey. [Orange County County Virginia Judgements 1736, Dorman, pg. 103].

Family Information

John Kerr is a proven child of James Kerr, who died in Augusta County, Virginia in 1770, and was mentioned in James Kerr's administration papers as "qualifying as eldest son", and was named administrator of his father's estate. He married Lucy Pickens on March 27, 1730 in Chester County, Pennsylvania (marriage records not located by this researcher). John Kerr and his family are mentioned many times in Augusta County, Virginia records. John Kerr is listed as having property next to several of his brothers in early Augusta County, Virginia records. John Kerr MAY have died either in Augusta County, Virginia, or possibly in Rowan County, North Carolina, where some of his brothers migrated and left large families (there are records of a John Kerr in Rowan County, North Carolina in the late 1750's and 1760's).

This reference establishes John Kerr as the eldest son of James Kerr of Augusta County, Virginia:

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 AUGUSTA COUNTY COURT RECORDS. ORDER BOOK No. XIV. page 160 (March 1770) (65) John Kerr, eldest son of deceased, qualifies admr. of James Kerr.

Other references of John Kerr and his family in Augusta County, Virginia records:

In 1740, John Kerr was listed as a member of John McDowell's Militia Co. (see Kegley's Virginia Frontier, pg. 140.) The company also included Ephraim McDowell and John Allison. Note that this McDowell family married into the family of Michael Woods of Albemarle County, VA, whose son Archibald with his family settled in the Long Cane settlement by the Kerr's in the 1760's.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 2. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 277 Page 405.--26th February, 1749. John Kerr to John Hind, 100 acres in a loop neck of Cathey's River; Thomas Storey's line. Dower released by Lucy, wife of John Kerr. Delivered: William Hinds, December, 1754. Teste: Francis Beaty, John Pickens.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 9. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 369 Page 267.--19th May, 1761. John Ker and Lucie ( ) to Hugh Botkin, £13.10, 174 acres on a draft of North River of Shanando; cor. Robert McMahan. Teste: John Botkin, William Kerr, William ( ) Mathers, John Reburn. Delivered: John Botkin, 5th June, 1762.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 9. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 369 Page 270.--19th May, 1761. Same to Willam Mathers, £10, 112 acres, part of a survey of 275 acres surveyed for John Kerr in Beverley Manor on a branch of Middle River; Manor line. Teste: William and Jes. Kerr, John Hind. Delivered: Henry King per order of Wm. Mathers, 29th December, 1774.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 9. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 371 Page 353.--20th May, 1761. John Kerr and Lucie ( ) to John Allison, £2, 10 acres on east side Shanandoe betwixt land of said Ker and Allison, part of 400 acres; Andrew Ker's line. Teste: Andrew Russell, Edward Rutledge, William Ker. Delivered: John Allison, February, 1768.

FEBRUARY 17, 1762.

(154) Saml. Mousey, witness to a deed.

(155) Joseph Lion exempted from County levy.

(155) Catherine Brown to be bound to John Kerr.

NOVEMBER 16, 1763. (342) 451 acres of John Kerr's land added to tithables. 190 acres of Wm. Kerr's land added to tithables. 375 acres of Saml. Hind's land added to tithables. 112 acres of Wm. Mather's land added to tithables.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 11. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 412 Page 638.--17th March, 1764. George Skillern and Elisabeth to James Kerr, £1.10, 1 acre, 3 roods, 10 perches, in fork of Christian's Creek and Middle River of Shanandore, part of 180 acres patented to John Kerr, 5th September, 1749, and by John to James Hamilton, and conveyed to George, on Christian's Creek. Teste: Jno. Anderson, Robert Wilson, William Kerr. Delivered: James Kerr, 10th June, 1771.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 14. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 467 Page 331.--18th May, 1768. John Kerr and Lucy ( ) and William Kerr and Martha ( ) to James Laird, £50, 124 acres on Middle River of Shanando, 100 of which is part of 400 joining Beverley Manor and patented to said John 30th July, 1742, the other 24 acres patented to said William 2d June, 1760, joining the former tract; corner John Allison. Teste: Edward Rutledge, Alexander Walker, Wm. ( ) Mathers. Delivered: James Laird, February, 1770.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 AUGUSTA COUNTY COURT RECORDS. ORDER BOOK No. XIV. page 160 (March 1770) (65) John Kerr, eldest son of deceased, qualifies admr. of James Kerr.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 AUGUSTA COUNTY COURT RECORDS. ORDER BOOK No. XXIV. page 400 William Kerr vs. John Dixon.--Trespass on land involving title. John Allison appeared as agent for William Kerr and was William's nephew. William Rankin is about to remove to Kentucky, 16th September, 1789. William and James Kerr were sons of John Kerr. Jury finds special verdict; patent to Wm. Kerr 2d June, 1760. William Kerr and Martha, his wife, 17th May, 1768. Deposition of Elizabeth McClure, 5th August, 1789. She was the daughter of John Kerr. William Allison, son of John Allison, Sr. See some papers of above suit in the papers Samuel Hunter vs. Torbett and Mitchell.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 2. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 286 Page 769.--22d May, 1750. 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.

CHRONICLES OF THE Scotch-Irish Settlement IN VIRGINIA EXTRACTED FROM THE ORIGINAL COURT RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY 1745-1800 DEED BOOK NO. 4. ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. page 303 Page 272.--20th March, 1752. John Buchanan, miller, to Samuel Braford, planter, 410 acres. In Beverley Manor on head Christian's Creek; corner James Cowan. Patrick Campbell's line; John Mitchel's corner. Teste: Charles Campbell, John Kerr.

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1. ↑ John was the administrator of his father's estate in 1770.