Merry Bee Genealogy - Kerr
Merry Bee Genealogy - Kerr
Records of Hugh’s life are sparse and there may be some confusions between two men named Hugh Kerr since there is a good deal of variation in dates.
Hugh Kerr was born in Whitley County, Kentucky, the son of Samuel and Esther Kerr. He was born about 1829 according to census records and placement in the family. On the 1830 census, he would be one of the two males less than five years of age. On the 1840 census, he would be one of the males between the ages of five and 10.
Hugh and Matilda were married in Whitley County, Kentucky. Matilda may have been a Mayfield or a Smith. On the 1850 US census, Hugh and Matilda are living in the family "zone" near brothers Mathew, Andres, and father Samuel. They have two children: Eliza, age 3, and Samuel, age 1.
On the 1860 US census, a Hugh and Matilda Carr are living near Jonesboro in Union County, Illinois. The ages are questionable with his age 21 and her age 34. There is no mention of Eliza and Samuel, but there are two children who were born in Kentucky: Mathew 8, John 5. J Lee Sharp places the family in Illinois in 1867 based on daughter Patsy being born in Illinois, but on the 1870 and 1880 census she is listed as being born in Kentucky.
On the 1870 US census, Hugh and Matilda are back in Kentucky, living in Martin Springs Precinct, Whitley County, Kentucky, Post Office: Bark Camp Mills. Hugh has real estate valued at $200, and personal estate valued at $200. Hugh’s age is given as 39 and Tilda is 40. Where we would expect to find Mathew at 18, we have Madison F, age 17. John M is the expected age 15. Three younger children are now in the family, all born in Kentucky, which would limit their stay in Illinois to just a few years at most. Almeda is 9, Samuel is 6, and Patsey is 3.
Hugh is one of the heirs of Samuel upon his death in 1971. Along with his siblings, Hugh and Matilda deed their share of Samuel’s 75 acres on Bunches Creek to Richard Woods on 29 May 1871 (Deed Book 19). They also buy a 2-inch auger, chisel, and large kettle from Samuel’s estate. However Hugh is not mentioned with his siblings in the subsequent sale of Samuel’s land to Harvey Carr in 1873. It is assumed that Hugh has died between 1871 and 1873. J Lee Sharp found that the heirs of Hugh Carr, deceased, were sued by Harvey Carr in 1875 (Comm Deed Book 9, page 488).
Whether Hugh died in Illinois or Kentucky is unsure. On the 1880 census, his widow Matilda is living with their son John M in Elco Precinct, Alexander County, Illinois. Her children Samuel 15 and Patsey 13 are with them. Mrs. Matilda Smith Kerr married Michael L Peeler in Union County, Illinois on 11 February 1882 (Vol: 1 Page: 69, License #1647).
