The two
main rival branches of the Kerrs descended from two
brothers, Ralph and John who were living near Jedburgh in
the 14th century. The Kerrs of Ferniehurst were
descended from the eldest and the Kers of Cessford from
John.
Although
the two families were constantly in bitter conflict the
descendants of both these houses were appointed Wardens of
the Middle Marches; Sir Andrew of Ferniehurst in 1502 and
Sir Andrew of Cessford after the Battle of Flodden.The Kerrs
continued to oppose one another during the 16th century and
on the death of James IV, when his widow Margaret Tudor
remarried the Douglas Earl of Angus, the Kers of Cessford
supported the English Queen-mother and the Kerrs of
Ferniehurst the young King, James V.
was forced to flee to England when Angus was exiled only to
return on the death of James V in 1542 when Sir John Kerr of
Ferniehurst lost his castle. The castle was recaptured in
1549 and the English who had repeatedly raped the Kerr
women, rather than being killed, were captured and horribly
tortured. The
rivalry continued when Sir Thomas of Ferniehurst fought for
Mary Queen of Scots at Langside and Sir Walter Cessford on
the side of James VI.The feud
was resolved on the political level by the Union of the
Crown and by the marriage of Anne Ker of Cessford to William
Kerr of Ferniehurst.From this
couple descend the Earls and Marquesses of Lothian. Sir
Robert Cessford, son of Sir Walter mentioned above was
created Lord Roxburgh in 1637. By
marraige to the heiress of the Earl of Roxburgh, Sir William
Drummond became 2nd Earl of Roxburgh and assumed the name of
Kerr. His
descendant, John, 5th Earl was created Duke of Roxburgh. Following
the failure of the line with the death of John, 3rd Duke of
Roxburgh the title passed to Sir James Innes of that Ilk who
was 25th Chief of the Innes who adopted the name of
Kerr. The chief
of the Clan Kerr is the Marquess of Lothian and the Duke of
Roxburgh is the Chief of the Innes.
Robert Carr, earl of Somerset, 1587?–1645, Scottish favorite of James I of England. His family name also appears as Ker. He may have accompanied James to England as a page in 1603, but he appears to have spent some time in France before returning to the English court.
He soon became close to James, was knighted (1607), and in 1609 he was granted lands that had been forfeited by Sir Walter Raleigh. He was created (1611) Viscount Rochester, served James as personal secretary, and became earl of Somerset in 1613.
In the same year he married Frances Howard, the countess of Essex (who had her marriage to the 3d earl of Essex annulled in a sensational trial). In 1614, Somerset was made lord chamberlain. He became an important counselor to the king, but his jealous and arrogant nature alienated James's affections.
On the discovery of the murder of his former friend, Sir Thomas Overbury, Somerset and his wife were tried and found guilty (1616) of perpetrating it, although Somerset's guilt was not definitely established. They were both pardoned but not released until 1622.
John had two sons: Robert and William. Robert lived to be 99 years of age and died at Charlotte,NC, on the farm where his father first settled.
1. William Kerr
2. *ROBERT KERR
1.*HUGH KERR b.1777
2. John Kerr
3. William Kerr
4. daughter_____Kerr M. Elihu McCracken
5. daughter_____Kerr
1.
Kerr, Robert
Birth : 24 APR 1803 ,Mecklenburg,NC,USA
Death : 12 FEB 1864 ,Polk,MO,USA
2. Nancy Scott Kerr b. 16 Dec.1804(NC) m._____Armour
3. Benjamin Brown Kerr b.12 May,1806(NC) m. Jane Orr
4. William M. Kerr b.22 Nov,1808(NC) d.Hood Co.Tx.
5. James Milas Kerr b. 24 Apr.1811(NC)
6. Jane Emeline Kerr b.23 Dec.1812(NC) m. Washington Armour
7. *FANNIE ELINOR KERR b. 3 Oct.1814(NC) d.2 Dec.1872(Giles Co.TN) m. William Donnell Orr 26 Sep.1833(Giles Co.Tn)
8. Martha Narcissus Kerr b. 25 Mar.1816
9. Mary Elizabeth Kerr . 13 Apr.1819 m. 16 Jan 1840(Robertson Fork,Tn) Samuel King Orr
10. Margaret Daisy Kerr b. 12 Jan.1822 m.____Tice;2nd John Cochran