Merry Bee Genealogy - Kerr
Merry Bee Genealogy - Kerr
Harvey Kerr was born January 6, 1842* in Whitley County, Kentucky to Samuel and Esther Kerr. He is an eight-year-old in the Saml Kerr family in the 1850 US census. In the 1860 US census, Harvey is listed as a 15-year-old in household of father Saml Kerr in Whitstone Precinct, Whitley County, Kentucky.
J Lee Sharp has a copy of a Whitley County marriage bond between Harvey, age 20, and Mary Polly Rains dated 14 August 1862. Harvey and Mary are living in Whitley Precinct, Whitley County, Kentucky on the 1870 US census. The household includes three children: Milly 6, Elizabeth 3, and John 7 months.
Harvey & Mary sell their share of Samuel’s 75 acres on Bunches Creek to Richard Woods, 29 May 1871, Deed Book 19, page 426. He also buys a cropcut saw and small kettle from Samuel’s estate. In 1875, Harvey buys most of the his siblings’ shares of Samuel’s estate. (records of land transfers from J Lee Sharp)
The family continues farming in Whitley County where the 1880 US census shows Harvey Karr and Mary have seven children: Milly C 16, Easter E 12, John 11, Mary J 8, Emeliza 5, Louisa 3, and a four-month-old unnamed son.
Harve and Mary Kerr are living in Depot Precinct Williamsburg, Whitley County, Kentucky in 1900 US census. Daughter Mary (23), son Sam (19), and a granddaughter Nannie (14) complete the household.
1910 seems to be a significant year for Harvey. His wife Mary Polly died 04 April 1910. Harvey is shown as a widower living in Williamsburg Precinct #27 of Whitley County when the 1910 US census was taken later in April. Daughter Mary is still single and living with him. J Lee Sharp notes a copy of a marriage bond showing it is the second marriage of Harvey Kerr, age 64, residing in Lawson Kentucky, and the son of Samuel and Easter Johnson Kerr. Harvey married Rachael Caroline Sutton on 12 December 1910, sy A J Sullivan with witnesses G A Adkins and Mattie Lovett.
The last reported record of Harvey Kerr is a note by J Lee Sharp that Harvey is mentioned with a 1912 date in Deed Book 72, page 248. A transcription from a tombstone at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church or Carr Cemetery, outside of Williamsburg, Whitley County, Kentucky gives the date of birth for Harvey Carr but not the date of death. Since his first wife Mary Polly is buried here, it is possible that Harvey himself is not buried here, but at another location chosen by his second wife to whom he was married when he died. Harvey’s date of death is unknown.
* The tombstone transcription at Carr Cemetery gives the date of birth for Harvey Carr as 6 January, 1842. On the 1990 US census, his birth is shown as December 1846. The tombstone transcription for Polly gives her date of birth as 10 October 1838, but the date given on the census is June 1843.
