KERR FAMILY CHRONICLES

© Christopher Earls Brennen

Appendix 2A. KERR FAMILIES

Here we document several Kerr families from the area south of Dungannon that may be connected with our family.

FAMILY OF JAMES KERR OF DRUMNASTRADE:

  1. James Kerr, senior, born about 1800, was a substantial farmer in the townland of Drumnastrade, about three miles south of the town of Dungannon, County Tyrone. In the Griffith Valuation of about 1860 he is listed as holding from Viscount Powerscourt, one parcel of land of over 65 acres worth 45 pounds and another of 3 acres in Drumnastrade. He occupies a house worth two pounds on the large parcel and sublets three small houses to David Carberry, Alexander Kerr and James Kerr, labourer. James also holds just over 28 acres worth 22 pounds in the townland of Dunseark and three acres in the townland of Mullycarnan; he also sublets a small house in Mullycarnan to Grace Wallace. Mullycarnan and Dunseark are immediately to the north of Drumnastrade. James was married twice, all his children being with his first wife. His second wife was Martha Knox, who raised the children. The children of James Kerr, senior:
    1. David Kerr was most probably a son of James Kerr. He was born about 1823 and on Jan.21, 1859, was married in the Church at Moy to Mary Wiley, a full-aged spinster from Gorestown whose father was farmer James Wiley. David is listed as a full-aged, bachelor farmer from Drumnastrade whose father is farmer James Kerr. Henry Kerr and James Wylie witnessed the marriage. David is not listed in the 1860 Griffith Valuation but may well have inherited his father's farm. Mary Kerr died at the age of 60 and was buried in the Clonfeacle Parish graveyard on Jun.13, 1895. In the 1901 Census David is listed as a 78-year-old widowed farmer living in Drumnastrade with the children indicated below and a 20-year-old unmarried domestic servant named Catherine Kelly, a Roman Catholic. David and his family are listed as belonging to the Church of Ireland. David Kerr died at the age of 97 and was buried in the Clonfeacle Parish graveyard on Oct.7, 1920. David and Mary Kerr had children:
      1. James R. Kerr, born about 1865, is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 35-year-old farmer's son living with his father in Drumnastrade.
      2. Mary Jane Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Nov.9, 1864. James Kerr was present at the birth. In the 1901 Census Mary Jane is listed as a 30-year-old unmarried farmer's daughter living with her father in Drumnastrade. Mary Jane died at the age of 74 and was buried in the Clonfeacle Parish graveyard on May 23, 1940.
      3. Thomas J. Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Jul.29, 1867. James Kerr, occupier, was present at the birth. In the 1901 Census he is listed as an unmarried 28-year-old farmer's son living with his father in Drumnastrade. Thomas died at the age of 56 and was buried in Clonfeacle Parish graveyard on Jan.26, 1926.
      4. Eliza Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Oct.18, 1869. James Kerr, occupier, was present at the birth.
      5. David Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Nov.14, 1872. In the 1901 Census he is listed as an unmarried 23-year-old farmer's son living with his father in Drumnastrade.
    2. James Kerr, junior, was also a son of James Kerr, senior according to the Knox family history (Connie Knox Beck, cbeck@ll.net). He also married a Martha Knox, the neice of his father's second wife of the same name. James Kerr, junior, was a witness to the marriage of his sister Jane in 1845. In the Griffith Valuation of about 1860, James Kerr, junior, is listed as holding a house and farm in Drumnastrade from Viscount Powerscourt. The house is worth 35 shillings and the land is over 14 acres worth about 11 pounds.
    3. Jane Kerr was a daughter of James Kerr. On August 13, 1845, she was married to John Hadden in the church of Derrygortrevy, parish of Clonfeacle. Derrygortrevy is less than a mile from Drumnastrade. On their marriage certificate Jane is listed as being of full age, a spinster of Drumnastrade, district of Derrygortrevy and her father is given as James Kerr, farmer. John is listed as of full age, a bachelor farmer of Ards(?) Aghalee, the son of Robert Hadden, farmer. James Kerr, junior, witnessed the marriage. One daughter of John and Jane Hadden:
      1. Emma Hadden was born in 1867-69 and married R.J.Kerr who was born in Ireland but lived in Philadelphia in 1905 when Emma died. Emma's name is on the Hadden family tombstone at Castlecaulfield Presbyterian Church, Donaghmore (from Annie Crenshaw, anniecrenshaw@centurytel.net).
    4. Mary Anne Kerr was a daughter of James Kerr and recorded as so in the Knox Family history mentioned above. On Jan. 31, 1854, she was married to Joseph Orr in the church of Derrygortrevy, parish of Clonfeacle. On their marriage certificate Mary Anne is listed as being of full age, a spinster of Drumnastrade, the daughter of James Kerr, farmer. Joseph is listed as of full age, a bachelor farmer of Lisnacroy, the son of Robert Orr, farmer. Family belief is that Joseph was killed by the IRA. Their children:
      1. Joseph Orr.
      2. female Orr who married a man named ? Scott. They lived in Belfast and had three children:
        1. Joseph Scott was killed in the first bombing of Belfast harbor in 1941.
        2. Harriet Scott did not marry.
        3. Richard Scott did not marry.
      3. Annie Orr was born on Jan.20, 1867, in Lisnacroy, Benburb, and in 1890 married Archibald Reid of the townland of Derrygoonan (close to Lisnacroy and Drumnastrade) where they lived and farmed. Annie died about 1900, Archie 3 years later and they are buried in Meeting Green Cemetery between Lisnacroy and Derrygoonan. Their daughter:
        1. Elizabeth Reid married and had a daughter who became Edith Robinson. Edith provided information on the descendents of the Orrs.
    5. Isabella Kerr is recorded as a daughter of James Kerr, Senior, in the Knox Family history mentioned above.

FAMILY OF WILLIAM KERR OF DRUMNASTRADE

  1. William Kerr was born about 1851 and became a farmer in Drumnastrade. He may have been an elder son of the above David Kerr. William married Jane Barclay (or Barkley), born about 1855, and they are listed as residents in Drumnastrade in the 1901 Census. They are listed as belonging to the Church of Ireland. Their children:
    1. Matilda Jane Kerr was born on Apr.7, 1878, in Drumnastrade. Under the name of Martha, she is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 21-year-old living with her parents in Drumnastrade.
    2. George Edwards Kerr was born on Apr.17, 1880, in Drumnastrade. He is listed in the 1901 Census as an unmarried 19-year-old living with his parents in Drumnastrade.
    3. Mary Kerr is listed in the 1901 Census as a 14-year-old daughter living with her parents in Drumnastrade.
    4. Anne Kerr is listed in the 1901 Census as an 11-year-old daughter living with her parents in Drumnastrade.
    5. Elizabeth Kerr is listed in the 1901 Census as an 8-year-old daughter living with her parents in Drumnastrade.

FAMILY OF THOMAS KERR OF DRUMNASTRADE

  1. Thomas Kerr, born before 1798, was a farmer in Drumnastrade. He married Maria McCanna. We only know of this couple from the history described below. The children of Thomas and Maria Kerr:
    1. James Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on May 12, 1820, the son of Thomas and Maria (McCanna) Kerr. This and all the following information on James and his family is taken from the section on Highland Township (pages 841, 842) in the ``History of Clayton County, Iowa'' written in 1882. James worked on his father's farm in Drumnastrade and attended school until 1839 when, at the age of nineteen, he emigrated alone to the United States. Landing in New York City, he soon became the cook on board a sloop running between New York and Kingston on the Hudson River. Two years later he shipped before the mast on a regular line of brigs running between New York City and Savannah, Georgia. After two years he changed and sailed from Toronto, Canada, to all points on the Great Lakes; Ontario, Erie and Michigan. In 1848 he began farming near Elgin, Illinois, though he also sailed from Chicago for one season until the fall of 1849, when he returned to Elgin, Illinois. Soon after he married Elizabeth Binnie on Mar.5, 1850, in Big Foot Prairie, Wisconsin. Elizabeth was born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on May 5, 1833, the daughter of Robert and Agnes (McClarin) Binnie. She emigrated to the US with her parents when she was 16. After their marriage James and Elizabeth Kerr farmed in Kane County, Illinois, until July, 1855, when they settled in Clayton County, Iowa, and bought their lifelong homestead. Surrounding the house was a fine farm of 580 acres on sections 15, 17 and 18, of Highland Township, all under cultivation except for 70 acres of timber. James grew grain and was an extensive stock-raiser. He was one of the old settlers and one of the enterprising men of Clayton County, with which he was first identified on Jul.12, 1855. They were still living there in 1882. James became a US citizen on Sep.14, 1868. The family were members of the Presbyterian church in Dundee, Illinois. James was a supporter of the Republican Party from its inception. Since he was still hale and hearty in 1882, he probably supplied all the information for the history. James and Elizabeth Kerr had fifteen children, fourteen of whom were living in 1882 when the history was written:
      1. Thomas Kerr was born in Kane County, Illinois on May 18, 1851. He moved to Clayton County, Iowa, with his parents when he was four years old. Thomas was married on Dec. 10, 1879, to Ella Moats, who was born in Clayton County, Iowa, the daughter of David and Lydia A. (Clapper) Moats. After their marriage Thomas and Ella spent two weeks in Chicago, and then settled upon their farm in Clayton County. In 1882 this consisted of 100 acres of land, 85 under cultivation, and the remainder in timber. The history calls him one of the enterprising and energetic men of Clayton County. In politics he was a Republican, and cast his first vote for U.S. Grant. Thomas died on Jan.5, 1925, and is buried in Ilyria Cemetary, Clayton County. By 1882 Thomas and Ella had one child:
        1. Lulu Kerr was born Jan. 5, 1881.
      2. Agnes Kerr was born on Oct.2, 1852, and married William Young.
      3. Marie Kerr was born on Mar.25, 1854, and married George Fairweather on Nov.18, 1879.
      4. Robert Kerr was born on Mar.16, 1856, and married Jennie Paddleford.
      5. James Kerr was born on Feb.8, 1858, and did not marry. He was clerking in Chicago in 1882.
      6. Hannah Kerr was born on Oct.1, 1859, and married ? Melber. She was living in Chicago in 1882.
      7. John Kerr was born on Jun.28, 1861, in Highland Township and married Clara Meisner on Apr.2, 1891. He died on Feb.15, 1933. His descendants continue to live in the stone house that James Kerr built in about 1852.
      8. Lydia Kerr was born on Feb.7, 1863, and married Devit Ellis on Oct.25, 1890. She died Feb.7, 1892, probably during childbirth. Her child was raised by Maria Fairweather and Devit went back to Australia.
      9. Anna Kerr was born on Jun.19, 1865, and married Willis Pardee on May 8, 18??.
      10. Urias Kerr was born on May 19, 1867, and married Belle Griswold. He dropped dead in the street of a heart attack on Mar.19, 1907. Belle went to California with the three children.
      11. Edward Kerr was born on Apr.29, 1869, and died unmarried on Mar.11, 1898, of a bone infection associated with a knee injury incurred while working as a drover in Chicago.
      12. Amelia Kerr was born on May 21, 1871, and died on Mar.23, 1874.
      13. Elizabeth Kerr was born on Jul.23, 1873, and married Wilbur Bailey.
      14. Henry Binnie Kerr was born on Dec.7, 1875, and married Elizabeth McMullen on Oct.12, 1898. He died in Cresco, Howard County, Iowa, on May 11, 1859. He and Elizabeth had three children:
        1. Florence Kerr
        2. Osey Bertram Kerr
        3. James Leo Kerr who was born Oct.31, 1902, in Highland Township and died on Jul.4, 1976, in Nora Springs, Iowa. He had one child Leone Marie Kerr, born Nov.12, 1937, who provided most of the information on this family. She has three daughters and four grandchildren.
      15. Jessie Kerr was born on Feb.14, 1880, and married Morris Lamphier in Elkader, Iowa, on Mar.2, 1904. She died Feb.2, 1962, in Strawberry Point, Iowa.
    2. Thomas Kerr also emigrated to Iowa and became a US citizen on Aug.31, 1885. He is believed to have married an Englishwoman named Rosa, born about 1847. In 1870, Thomas and Rosa were living next door to his brother James in Clayton County, Iowa, and Thomas was working as a farm laborer for a man named Samuel Hawthorne. Thomas was buried in the family plot in the Ilyria Cemetary but without a headstone. He and Rosa had at least one child:
      1. Maria Kerr
    3. John Kerr also emigrated to Iowa and became a US citizen on Jan.29, 1872.

FAMILY OF JAMES KERR OF DERRYMAGOWAN:

  1. James Kerr is only known to us as the father of:
    1. James Kerr was born about 1835. A bachelor, farmer of Derrymagowan (a townland about two miles northeast of Moy) James was married on May 18, 1854, in the Church of Moy to Mary Jane Ennis (born 1836/7) of the townland of Canary (just a few hundred yards south of Derrymagowan), the daughter of James Ennis. On his daughter Elizabeth's marriage certificate he is listed as a labourer though some family remember him as a land surveyor. Mary Jane is remembered as riding a horse sidesaddle and going to church in a coach-and-pair. She was present at the birth of several of her daughter Elizabeth's children. James died prior to 1897 and Mary Jane died at Granville/Derryveen (her daughter Elizabeth's home) on Apr.2, 1897, aged 60. Her son, David Kerr of Irish Street, registered her death. She is buried in Moy. James and Mary Jane Kerr had children:
      1. Elizabeth Kerr was born about 1856 and was married on Feb.16, 1877, in the Church of Moy to Thomas Jeffs, born 1851, the son of John Jeffs and Alice Simmons. They lived initially in Canary but moved briefly to Scotland and then back to Derryveen (or Granville) on the outskirts of Dungannon. Thomas died on Mar.3, 1901, in Granville at age 50; Elizabeth died in Ballysaggart on May 5, 1903, at age 46; they are both buried in Moy churchyard. After their deaths their children (aged 5 to 25) moved to Belfast. Elizabeth and Thomas Jeffs had nine children:
        1. Thomas William Jeffs was born on Feb.5, 1878, in Canary. Moving to Belfast at the age of 25, he was married in 1909 and emigrated to the USA in 1910. This genealogy was provided by Thomas's grand-daughter Elizabeth Andrew of Hackensack, New Jersey.
        2. John Joseph Jeffs was born on Feb.5, 1880, in Canary. He had at least two children, Winnie born about 1910 who was still living in County Fermanagh in 2001, and Jack, born about 1912, who was still living in County Antrim in 2001.
        3. James Love Jeffs was born on Jun.20, 1882, in Kinning Park, Scotland.
        4. David Jeffs was born on Mar.14, 1885, in Dungannon and died at five weeks.
        5. Mary Jane Jeffs was born on Sep.3, 1886, in Derryveen about two miles southwest of Dungannon. She emigrated joining her brother Thomas in the USA in 1916.
        6. David Edward Nicholson Jeffs was born on Aug.17, 1889, in Derryveen and died prior to 1922. He had a son Thomas Jeffs, born about 1917, who was childless and still living in Belfast in 2001.
        7. Norah Edith Elizabeth Jeffs was born on Aug.17, 1892, in Derryveen. She emigrated joining her brother Thomas in the USA in 1914.
        8. Ridgway Sidney Jeffs was born on Mar.8, 1895, in Granville which is beside Derryveen and may imply the same home.
        9. Lavinia Priscilla Jeffs was born on Feb.26, 1898, in Granville. She emigrated joining her brother Thomas in the USA in 1916.
      2. William Kerr is mentioned in a 1950 letter from Thomas William Jeffs as "a brother of my mother". The letter also makes reference to a daughter of William's, Maggie Jane, who lives in Killyman. Thomas had written her two letters without reply.
      3. Joseph Kerr is also mentioned in the 1950 letter from Thomas William Jeffs. Thomas met him during a visit to Belfast in 1939 and "Uncle Joe" said he had been living in "Carrick Hill House".
      4. David Kerr registered his mother's death in 1897. He was a shoemaker in Irish Street, Dungannon.

FAMILY OF JONATHAN KERR OF DRUMMOND

  1. Jonathan Kerr was a farmer in the townland of Drummond. His children:
    1. Jonathan Kerr was born about 1838 and is listed on his marriage certificate as a 30-year-old bachelor farmer from Drummond whose father was farmer Jonathan Kerr. On Apr.22, 1868, he was married in Eglish Presbyterian Church to Eliza Forsythe, a 28-year-old spinster from Drumnastrade whose father was farmer Robert Forsythe. They may well have inherited Robert's farm for all their children were born in Drumnastrade and the family is listed in the 1901 Census as residents of Drumnastrade. In that census Jonathan is listed as a 61-year-old widowed farmer who belongs to the Society of Friends (Quakers). The children of Jonathan and Eliza Kerr:
      1. Robert John Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Apr.20, 1869.
      2. Joseph Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Oct.20, 1870. In the 1901 Census he is listed as an unmarried 28-year-old labourer living with his father in Drumnastrade.
      3. Jane Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Aug.23, 1872.
      4. Ruth Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Mar.28, 1874.
      5. Alexander Dunlop Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Feb.28, 1876. In the 1901 Census he is listed as an unmarried 24-year-old labourer living with his father in Drumnastrade.
      6. Mary Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Jun.28, 1877. In the 1901 Census she is listed as an unmarried 22-year-old housekeeper living with her father in Drumnastrade.
      7. Jonathan Kerr was born in Drumnastrade on Sep.2, 1879.

FAMILY OF ANTHONY KERR OF MULLYCARNAN

  1. Anthony Kerr was a farmer in the townland of Mullycarnan, parish of Clonfeacle. Anthony may have died prior to the Griffith Valuation of the 1860s for he is not listed therein. Anne Kerr who may have been his widow is listed as holding 17 acres of land and a house worth 1 pound from Viscount Powerscourt in the townland of Mullycarnan. James Kerr, probably his son of that name is also listed as holding 3 acres of land in Mullycarnan and as subletting a house worth 5 shillings to Grace Wallace. Anthony's children:
    1. Margaret Anne Kerr was born about 1840 and is listed on her 1865 marriage certificate as a full-aged spinster from Mullycarnon, the daughter of farmer Anthony Kerr. On Jan.18, 1865, she was married in the Church at Derrygortreavy to Robert Ford, a full-aged bachelor farmer of Boland whose father was farmer Robert Ford.
    2. Mary Jane Kerr was born about 1842 and is listed on her 1868 marriage certificate as a full-aged spinster from Mullycarnon, the daughter of farmer Anthony Kerr. On Dec.2, 1868, she was married in the Church at Derrygortreavy to Edward McFarland, a full-aged bachelor labourer of Crubinagh whose father was farmer John McFarland.
    3. James Kerr was born about 1845 and is listed on his 1870 marriage certificate as a full-aged, bachelor labourer from Mullycarnan whose father was farmer Anthony Kerr. On Apr.19, 1870, in the Church at Derrygortreavy he married Hannah McFarland, a full-aged spinster from Crubinagh, Derrygortreavy, whose father was farmer John McFarland. James' brothers-in-law, Edward McFarland and Robert Ford, witnessed the marriage. James must have died prior to 1901 for Hannah is listed as widowed in the census of that year. James and Hannah had at least four children:
      1. James Robert Kerr was born on Apr.1, 1871, in Mullycarnan. Though named so at birth it seems that throughout his life James used the middle name Andrew instead of Robert which causes confusion with the James Andrew Kerr of the main chapter. This James Andrew Kerr was married in the Church at Derrygortreavy on Jun.22, 1894, to Annie Ford, 26, a spinster from Mullycarnan, the daughter of deceased farmer Robert Ford. James Andrew is listed as a 25-year-old bachelor farmer from Mullycarnan, the son of farmer James Kerr. Therefore it seems likely that James Andrew married his first cousin. In the 1901 Census James A. Kerr is listed as a 36-year-old farmer living in the townland of Mullycarnan. His wife Annie is listed as 33 years old. Also living with them are their children Hanna and Maggie listed below and James's widowed mother Hanna Kerr, aged 50. The family belong to the Church of Ireland. We know of two children of James and Annie:
        1. Hanna Kerr is listed in the 1901 census as a 4-year-old living with her parents in Mullycarnon.
        2. Maggie Kerr is listed in the 1901 census as a 4-month-old baby living with her parents in Mullycarnon.
      2. William Henry Kerr was born on Sep.15, 1872, in Mullycarnan.
      3. Joseph Kerr was born on Oct.21, 1877, in Mullycarnan.
      4. Annabella Kerr was born on May 26, 1880, in Mullycarnan.

FAMILY OF MICHAEL KERR OF CARROWCOLMAN

  1. Michael Kerr was a laborer in the townland of Carrowcolman, parish of Clonfeacle. He married Mary Quinn and they had four children:
    1. Michael Kerr was born on Jul.23, 1864. He married Mary Ann Foster, born Oct.4, 1864, in Cloughogue, District of Ahoghill, County Antrim, to William Foster and Margaret Jane (Small). The Fosters belonged to the Randalstown Presbyterian Church and resided in Andraid, a small village about 4 miles north of the town of Randalstown. Ellis Island records show Michael and Mary Kerr arriving in New York on May 22, 1893, aboard the ``City of Rome'' which they boarded in Glasgow. Michael is listed as 28 years old, born in Armagh (note that Clonfeacle borders on Armagh) and Mary as a 29-year-old, born in Scotland. From New York they went to Meltia, Manitoba, Canada, where they farmed, and then to Indian Head, Saskatchewan before retiring to Regina. Michael died in Mar.1957 in Regina, Saskatchewan, and Mary died in Oct.1964, also in Regina. They had six children:
      1. Robert Kerr was born on Sep.21, 1894, in Meltia, Manitoba. He died of croup at a farm (section 35-4-27) near Meltia on Aug.25, 1901.
      2. Ethel Mildred Kerr was born on Jul.20, 1896, in Meltia, Manitoba. She married Robert Waddell and they lived in Chicago where they both worked at the Chicago Presbyterian Hospital. They had no children. Ethel died in 1981 in Sun City, Arizona.
      3. Ida Eliz Kerr was born on Jun.15, 1898, in Meltia, Manitoba. She married Sandy Livingstone and they had four children, Mildred, Scott, Clayton and Allan Livingstone. Ida died in Regina on Sep.11, 1988.
      4. Mary Kerr was born on Nov.8, 1901, in Meltia, Manitoba, and died as an infant.
      5. John Foster Kerr, known as Jack, was born on Aug.18, 1903, in Meltia, Manitoba. He married Elizabeth Ann Lindsay, born in 1907 in Baryy, Wales. They had six children listed below. John was killed on Dec.26, 1946, in a railroad accident at Talmadge Crossing, 30 miles south of Regina, Saskatchewan. Elizabeth died in 1997. Their children:
        1. Kenneth John Kerr lives in Stirling, Ontario (2005).
        2. Leonard Michael Kerr lives in Whitehorse, Yukon (2005).
        3. Beverly Ann Kerr, born in 1934, married a man named White and lived in Regina. She died in 1996.
        4. Raymond George Kerr, born in 1936, lived in Regina. He died in 1999. Raymond's son Raymond Todd Kerr (cakerr@accesscomm.ca), born Aug.27, 1961, provided this summary of his family. He and his wife, Cheryl Ann (Redlick), live at 43 Walden Crescent, Regina, and have four children, Michael born 1984, Trevor born 1991, Justine born 1992 and Tyler born 1994.
        5. William Kerr lives in Hamilton, Ontario (2005).
        6. Barbara Kerr, William's twin sister, married a man names Reinhart. They live in Cambridge, Ontario.
      6. Una Sybil Kerr was born on Sep.1, 1905, in Meltia, Manitoba. She married Clarence Kidney and they had two children, Mary Louise and Glen. Una died on Jul.2, 1948, in Regina.
    2. Mary Kerr was born in Benburb in 1866.
    3. James Kerr was born in Carrowcolman on May 29, 1869.
    4. Arthur Kerr was born in Carrowcolman on May 15, 1873.

Last updated 8/12/05.

Christopher E. Brennen