Author: Frank Grady Hall, III
Robert Kerr’s family immigrated to America from Ireland sometime prior to 1750. They settled in York County, Pennsylvania where Robert was born. The family moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina where Robert spent the rest of his life. . He lived on Long Creek in Mecklenburg County and at his death his will deeded his land to his three sons: Richard, Samuel and John. He is buried in the Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery Mecklenburg, NC. The tombstone at Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery says:" Sacred to the memory of Robert Carr, died April 5, 1789 aged 71 years.
Robert's last name is documented in court records as Kerr and Carr. Robert married twice. In 1746 while still in PA, he married Margaret McCall. Robert and Margaret had the following children:
1.Jennett
2.William-married Charity Moore
3.Robert M. Kerr, Jr-married Barbara Brown During the American Revolution this Robert Kerr served in the NC Militia under Captain’s John McNitt, John Bromfield, John Sharp, and William Henry. He earned a pension # S8778.
4.John Kerr-died at age 23-never married
In 1769 Margaret died and Robert married Hannah Lowrie. She was born in Mecklenburg County about 1750 and died in 1818.
Together they had the following children:
1.Margaret Kerr-married James M. Martin
2.Richard Kerr
3.Hannah Kerr-married Robert Martin
4.Samuel Kerr-married Lucy Black
5.John Kerr-married Margaret McCurdy Martin

Biographical Sketches of the Early Settlers of the Hopewell Section by J.B. Alexander, M.D.

Chapter XXVII

October 6, 1896
Dr. J.B. Alexander,

Dear Sir: Your favor of the 1st inst. at hand; contents noted. With pleasure I comply with your request. When I left home to learn a trade I had no thought of genealogy. While rambling from place to place I was told by some that I was Irish, others that I was Scotch. After seventeen years I went home on a visit, in 1850. Uncle John (son of Robert and Hannah Kerr) was the only one of the old folks left. He told me that between 1730 & 1740, four brothers, Carr, sailed from the north of Ireland and settled in Delaware. They came down south; two of them settled in Mecklenburg, one went west, and one went to Jamaica, W.I. In 1847 I was in Jamaica, and the largest dry goods store in Kingston was owned by R.C. Carr. I didn't then know that he and I belonged to the same stock.

One of the four brothers, Robert, was my great-grandfather, and is the only one that I can tell anything about. It was at his place, McIntyre's Branch, that the British sergeant was shot while tumbling forage out of the barn.

The tombstone at Sugaw Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery says:" Sacred to the memory of Robert Carr, died April 5, 1789 aged 71 years."

It is funny that the children of Robert and his second wife Hannah, all spelled their last name Kerr

Deed from Genealogical Deed Abstracts, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Books 10-14 by Herman W. Ferguson:

Deed # 1938,page 206, Deed Book 14. 9 July 1794, State Grant 1141 isd. at Newbern, Vol 85, p 142, at 30 sh the 100 A, to John and Andrew McKee by J. Glasgow, Sec., in trust for the heirs of Robert Ker, decd, 156 A on Long Cr. adj the old wagon road, Blackwood Johnston's grant. James McKnitt Alexander, and other lands of Ker. Wit: Richard Dobbs Spaight, Gov. Recd in Secretary's office by J. Speight, D. Sec.

From "Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Abstracts of Early Wills 1763-1790 (1749-1790)" by Brent H. Holcomb, C.A.L.S.