Matthew Kerr (abt. 1734 - abt. 1791)

Born about 1734 in Ireland

Descendants

Died about 17 Jun 1791 at about age 57 in Washington, Monroe, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Matthew of Scottish descent was born in Ireland. He was married to Margaret. (It has been speculated the Margaret's maiden name was "Work" but this has proved difficult to confirm) ^{[1] [2]}

At the start of the Revolutionary War, he enlisted in Pennsylvania 6th Regiment Rank Private His name was spelled Carr. He was a private in 1778, in Capt Robert Wilkins Company, Col. Josiah Harmar’s Pennsylvania regiment. ^[3] He was killed on Kerrs Island in Ohio, in the summer of 1791 ^[4] Reference: booklet, "Matthew Kerr: Revolutionary Hero and Pathfinder, by James M. Kerr, 1911"

Matthew Kerr Sr., a veteran of the American Revolution from Philadelphia, was married to Margaret Work and had a large family which included sons Hamilton and Matthew Jr., among others. Hamilton remained in Meigs Co., Ohio after the shooting of Matthew Kerr in 1791 by Indians lying in ambush at the mouth of Duck Creek where it enters the Ohio River in present day Meigs Co. Matthew and sons had defended Ft. Harmer and were engaged in the battle at "the Point" during Dunmore's War. The sons were hunter to the fort and furnished meat and game for the army garrison. The Kerrs were intent on "tomahawk claims" to the Northwest Territory side of the Ohio River from Virginia and some succeeded in this effort. His son, Matthew Kerr Jr. went into Kentucky in 1796 and apparently bought land in Pulaski (Wayne) County. Family tradition says Matthew Jr. was "killed by a bear" in about 1807-08 and his wife remarried. Three sons, nephews of Capt. Hamilton Kerr, Returned to the family circle at Meigs Co. and resided there until coming of age. They were James, Alexander and Hamilton Kerr III.

Matthew Kerr served with Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

Reference: booklet, "Matthew Kerr: Revolutionary Hero and Pathfinder, by James M. Kerr, 1911"

Matthew Kerr Sr., a veteran of the American Revolution from Philadelphia, was married to Margaret Work and had a large family which included sons Hamilton and Matthew Jr., among others. Hamilton remained in Meigs Co., Ohio after the shooting of Matthew Kerr in 1791 by Indians lying in ambush at the mouth of Duck Creek where it enters the Ohio River in present day Meigs Co. Matthew and sons had defended Ft. Harmer and were engaged in the battle at "the Point" during Dunmore's War. The sons were hunter to the fort and furnished meat and game for the army garrison. The Kerrs were intent on "tomahawk claims" to the Northwest Territory side of the Ohio River from Virginia and some succeeded in this effort. His son, Matthew Kerr Jr. went into Kentucky in 1796 and apparently bought land in Pulaski (Wayne) County. Family tradition says Matthew Jr. was "killed by a bear" in about 1807-08 and his wife remarried. Three sons, nephews of Capt. Hamilton Kerr, Returned to the family circle at Meigs Co. and resided there until coming of age. They were James, Alexander and Hamilton Kerr III.

Married Margaret Work about 1774.

• Children

Hamilton Kerr 1764–1821

George Kerr 1768–1838

Burial

Mound Cemetery Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, USA

Notes

Death place: Meigs County, Ohio, USA . Ohio was formed in 1803. Meigs County was formed in 1819.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900"
   Source number: 8840.863; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Number of Pages: 1
   Ancestry Record 7836 #686876 (accessed 3 April 2023)
   Matthew Kerr marriage to Margaret in of PA.
2. ↑ Family History Or Pedigree of son Hamilton Karr: "North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000"
   Book Title: Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 086
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61157 #2578878 (accessed 3 April 2023)
   Name: Matthew Karr; Gender: Male; Age: 57; Birth Date: 1734; Birth Place: Ireland; Death Date: 1791; Death Place: Ohio; Child: Hamilton Karr.
3. ↑ Military: "U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783"
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 4282 #638942 (accessed 3 April 2023)
   Name: Mathew Carr; Gender: Male; Military Place: Pennsylvania, USA; State or Army Served: Pennsylvania; Regiment: 6th Regiment; Rank: Private.
4. ↑ Matthew Kerr : "History of Noble County, Ohio : with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men."
   History of Noble County, Ohio : with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men.. Chicago: L.H. Watkins & Co., 1887
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 29628 #94 (accessed 3 April 2023)
   
5. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #18493379 (accessed 26 March 2023)
   Memorial page for Matthew Kerr (1734-1791), citing Mound Cemetery, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Mark Eckerman (contributor 47167587).

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18493379/matthew-kerr