Person:Unknown Kerr (14)

Information on Three Kerr Brothers from Ulster, Ireland

Subj: [KERR] Three brothers from Ulster in 1708 Date: 8/16/2003 9:08:20 PM Pacific Standard Time From: SieveSal@@aol.com To: KERR-L@@rootsweb.com Sent from the Internet (Details)

This is the information I have gathered on the "Three Brothers" that came in 1708, I kept hoping that somehow I could link my family into John Kerr, since my family also was in Franklin Co. Maybe this can help someone, I hope so. Also have a copy of Mary's will, wife of John Kerr.(see his will). Lots of repetition of names, so one needs to look at all of this carefully. Sally

           JOHN KERR

THREE KERR BROTHERS FROM ULSTER 1708:

The KERRS 1708 - 1898 by Samuel Kaler (Wisc. Historical Society)

This book is about David a descendant of Robert.

1. JOHN KERR - b. d. Went to Mecklenburg Co. N.C. or Georgia c1715 Ch. Three daughters, William, Robert (lived at Charlott) his children - Hugh, John, William, two daughters died, and another daughter m. E. McCracken

2. DAVID KERR - b. d.c1759 York Co./ Adams Co. Pa. Settled in New Jersey with his brother Robert then migrated in 1740 Ch. George, Joshia, John

3. ROBERT KERR - b. d. c1730/1740 Camden, N.J. Ch. James Ch. Son (Rev. War), David. (NOTE: There seems to be too large a gap here, perhaps this David Kerr is a grandchild?) DAVID KERR - ch. John b. 1786, Mary1787,Rebecca 1789, David 1791, James 1792,Sarah 1795, William 1797 (Descendants ended up in Beaver Co. Pa. Then on to Ohio?)

"Ohio's Lost Senator" General JOSEPH KERR of Chillicothe, Ohio (Wisc. Historical Society)

Mentions the three brother who came from Londonderry, Ireland, Robert, John & David in the spring of 1708 to Philadelphia. Said to be related to the Ferniehirst family of Kerr's in Scotland (Jedburgh Scotland, this family, Lord Lothian, are the Kerr chieftains to this day -Sally)

JOHN KERR - b. 1745 Pa. Moved to Chambersburg under a warrant issued Aug. 4, 1766 (called Kerrtown but incorporated into Chambersburg) he served und Matthew Greggs Co. of Cumberland Co. Militia July 28, 1777. Died 180

   w. Mary Doherty
       ch. Joseph, Jean, John, Sarah, James, Mary, Samuel.

Son Joseph was known as General JOSEPH KERR of Ohio. Joseph settled in Chillicothe, OH. John in Gallia Co. OH. And Samuel on Big Darby Creek near Columbus.

JOHN KERR died in 1807 Guilford twp. Franklin Co. in his will he mentions his wife Mary and children: Joseph, Jean McKinley, John, Sarah Decamp, James (left all the others 400 pounds but James was left one milled dollar), Mary Patterson (left 500 pounds), Samuel received 400 pounds that was put to interest for him which he was to receive the interest every year, at his death the principle divided among his children. Everything else was left to Mary. Esc. Was "my beloved wife Mary" and Hugh Brotherton.

The Kerr Clan of New Jersey beginning with Walter Ker of Freehold and including Other Related Lines. V.I Compiled by William C. Armstrong 1931 DAVID KERR came to the U.S. in 1708 w. Isabella and sons George, Joshia, John. (Sources say he died in 1759 which might be right but that is the death date as listed in the will for John Kerr) Settled in N.J. with his brother Robert then migrated in 1740 to York/Adams Co. Pa.

JOHN KERR b. d. 1759 bought land in 1741 in the Manor of Marke, near Gettysburg, Pa. (land recorded in York & Adams Pa.)

   m. Martha
   ch.     George b. 1740
       William b. 1742

John b. 1744 (I think this is the John in Kerrstown, later Chambersburg)

       Samuel b. 1750
       James b. 1752     (the book has more on James)
       Thomas b. 1754
       Andrew b. 1757
       Isabella b.-  m. - Scott
       Dau. - 

American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin Co. Pa (Wisc. Historical Society)

JOHN KERR of Guilford twp. Prop. Of Kerrstown, served as Second Lieut. In the 8th Batt. Of Capt James Young's Co. under Col. Abraham Smith, 1778-79. John Kerr mar. Mary Daugherty, Sep. 16, 1765. The will of John Dougherty and wife Lilly of Peters twp. 1777, names dau. Mary, wife of John Kerr. John Kerr was b. in Ireland and d. in 1807: the will of his wife is dated 1815. They had issue: son Joseph: dau. Jean McKinley: son John: dau. Sarah Decamp: son James: dau. Mary Patterson and a son Samuel, b. 1778, d. 1823 in Ohio, who mar. 1799 Nancy Guin. A Government marker was placed at the grave of John Kerr by the Franklin Co. Chapter Daughter of the American Revolution, - the site having been marked by a descendant. (Penna.Arch. 5th. Ser. Vol. 6, p.530, 533, 547).

Another account of basically the same story from another e-mail:

Subj: Kerr Family Date: 12/30/2003 2:00:35 PM Pacific Standard Time From: Kerrbob3 To: Delijim

I read your Kerr line with great interest and would like to know where I can obtain a copy of the book "Kerrs and Kin" which you cited. The following is a rough outline of my Kerr family. My documentated history begins with John Kerr who lived near Gettysburg, PA, but according to family tradition, a Walter Kerr moved from Scotland to Londonderry, Ireland about 1707. From there, Walter's three sons named Robert, John and David immgrated to Philadelphia, PA in the spring of 1708. The three lived in Camden, NJ for awhile with John moving to Georgia about 1715 and then to North Carolina between 1720 and 1725. John had 2 sons and 3 daughters. Robert settled in Camden and died there between 1730 and 1740. Robert had a son named James who died in Camden in 1785 and James had 2 sons. The third brother named David is supposed to have remained in Camden until Roberts death and then moved to the area which is today Adams County, PA. David's son named John was my gggg grandfather.