Robert Kerr (abt. 1759 - 1817)

Born about 1759 in Londonderry, Ireland

Descendants

Died 13 Jun 1817 at about age 58 in Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

Robert Kerr was Revolutionary War Soldier.

Note: is listed in the Daughters of the American Revolution Patriot Index page 384

Note: is one of my registered ancestors with the Sons of the American Revolution.

Note: Fannet Township tax records for 1786 reflect for Robert Kerr: Land 100 - Val(ue) 150, Horses 3 - Val 30, Cows (4) -Val 12, Negroes 1 - Val 50; total 242.

Note: Robert Kerr sold 95 acres to Alexander Moore on Apr 5, 1787. This was an old survey of James Elder located by Thomas Elder and the mountain Fannet Township. The sale is recorded in Deed Book I, page 392.

Note: Robert and his wife Agnes also sold 87 acres of tenement plantation in Fannet Township to Joseph Moore, a Tanner, on Mar 19, 1790, "it being part of a tract of land which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by Patent bearing date 18th April 1787 conveyed to Robert Kerr," and was recorded in Patent Book P8, page 432. This sale was also recorded in Deed Book 2, page 199, office of recorder of Deeds for Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

DNA results on the Kerr Elder lines has proven (rather) disproven many of the assumptions of who is related to who so please check with the Kerr DNA and the Elder DNA Project for the Franklin County Families.

Will

Will:

Date: 20 JAN 1817

Place: Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Note: The will was proved on Aug 20, 1817, and was recorded as will number 1492, Book C, page 343 in the office of Register of Wills, Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Will:

Date: 10 JAN 1817

Place: Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Note: "In the name of God Amen. I Robert Kerr of Fannet Twp Franklin County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and Testament." "First my will is that my body shall be decently interred the funer al expenses to be paid out of my personal estate together with all my just debts." "Secondly my will is that my real and personal estate be sold as so on as my executors after my Decease as convenient for them. . . If my land is Rented the profits arising from the same is to go to the support of my wife and Father-in-law James Elder and such of my children as may be on the farm with their mother and that they may assist her on the same." "My will is that my wife Agnes is to have her choice of one horse Creature saddle and bridle, one bed and bedding, her wheel and one of the chests, also one third of my Real and personal estate of the sales after the debts is paid, the residue to be devided equally between my children Alexander, James Elder, William, Agnes, Robert, Elizabeth, Andrw, Thomas, Esther, and Matthew, except one hundered and thirty seven Dollars which is to be divided equally among the rest of my children to them and thier Heirs forever." "Item, my Father-in-law James Elder to get a comfortable living during his life and a Decent Burrying." "Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons William and Robert and John Elder Senior executors of this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of January in the year 1817." -- "Signed and sealed in presence of us, Jno. Holliday, William Kerr; Robert Kerr (seal)"

Event

Milit-Beg JUL 1778

Note: The Pennsylvania Archives lists Robert Kerr as one of six privates under Captain James Patten in the Revolution, in the 4th Class, Sixth Battalion, County of Cumberland, Pennsylvania militia in Jul, 1778

Census

Census: 1790 Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvanai

Note: The 1790 Census for Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, recorded on roll 9, page 5 (original), page 297 (pencil), reflects Robert Car as the head of household with the following members: two males under 16 (Alexander, 5, James Elder, 3, and William, 1; three males 16 and older (Robert plus two), and three females (Agnes, daughter Agnes, plus one). The next name on the census list was James Elder, probably Robert Kerr's father-in-law.

Census: 1800 Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvanai

Note: The 1800 Census for Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, recorded on roll 38, page 939, reflects Robert Kerr as the head of household with the following members: four males under 10 (Joseph, 2 months, Andrew, 2, Robert, 8, and perhaps William, 11), one male 10 to 15 (Alexander was 15, and James Elder was 13), two females under 10 (Elizabeth, 4, and Agnes 10), and one female 26 to 44 (Agnes, 37). James Elder's family was listed just above the Robert Kerr family.

Census: 1810 Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvanai

Note: The 1810 Census for Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, recorded on roll 54, page 154 (printed) or page 912 (penciled), reflects Robert Kerr as head of household with the following members: four males under 10 (Thomas, 8, Joseph, 10, perhaps Andrew, 11, plus one other), three males 16 to 25 (Robert, 18, William, 22, James Elder, 23, and Alexander, 25; perhaps one had moved away), two females under 10 (Martha, 4, and Esther, 5), one female 10 to 15 (Elizabeth, 14), one female 16 to 26 (Agnes, 20), and one female 45 and older (Agnes, 47).

Complete biography is at Find A Grave: Memorial #32863551, complete with documentation and citations for documentation, placed there by his 4greatgrandson Larry Patrick Cornwell (Cornwell-1286)

Sources

See also:

Acknowledgements

This person was created through the import of DEG_16_GEDMATCH.GED on 13 December 2010.