The Ker Descent

 This document was originally written by Robert Moubray Ker, who started by copying the information, almost certainly from family bibles at Meaghey in January 1904. 

Further material was added by Robert Ernest Ker.

The first printed version was prepared by Robert Alan Ker.

This version has been updated by Robert Andrew Ker.

The place names from Co Tyrone in this document differ slightly in spelling from those of the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland as follows 

 My Great Grandfather, John Kerr, was born on 4^th March 1760 at Aghassassie, Drumlegah. He married Elizabeth Killen, who was born on 8^th March 1770, and on the occasion of his marriage purchased Meaghey.

 They had issue as follows :-

Jane born 18^th September 1791

Fanny born 27^th August 1793

James born 1^st March 1796

William born 1^st March 1798

Betty born 2^nd February 1800

Mary born 25^th October 1802

John born 4^th March 1804

Samuel born 6^th January 1806

Thomas born 4^th December 1808

Joseph born 18^th May 1810

 My Grandfather, Samuel Kerr, born 6^th January 1806, married Mary Hood, Lisnatunney on 12^th August 1832.

 They had issue :-

John Kerr born July 18^th 1834

Robert Kerr born February 26^th 1836

Margaret Kerr born 1844

 My Grandfather, on the death of my Grandmother on 14^th September 1847,    married Elizabeth Irwin of Brickless in July 1849.

 They had issue :-

Elizabeth Kerr born about 1852,

who when 20 years old married John Lyons of Farest.

Their daughter, Jane, was born on 28^th December 1881.

John Kerr became a Methodist Preacher (in the Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Connexion) and married Sara Swanston of Pettigoe.

They had no children.

John died March 6^th 1890, and was buried in Scarvaherin Graveyard.

Sara died 21^st December 1895, aged 64.

Robert Kerr also became a Methodist Preacher and on 15^th June 1865   married Jane Moubray (usually spelt Mowbray), of Brookheed (or Brookfeed), Ballintra (born 23^rd December 1835). 

Margaret Kerr never married but continued to live at Meaghey as long as the farm remained in Robert. Ker's possession - then lived with A.M.L. (Anna Mary Lyons) and died in Derry on 12^th February 1917.

My father and mother had issue as follows :-

(son) born 11^th July 1866 died soon after birth

John born 7^th July 1867 died 22^nd May 1888

Samuel born 10^th April 1869 died 21^st June 1870

Anna Mary born 8^th March 1871 died 25^th September 1947

Robert Moubray born 15^th December 1872, died 27^th October 1926

Maggie born 20^th November 1876 died 21^st July 1879

Elizabeth born 5^th March 1878 died 11^th July 1880

Harriette born 6^th June 1880 died 6^th September 1880

My mother died at Deerpark Cottage, Newtownstewart, April 12^th1897.

My father died at Meaghey, 5^th January 1904, aged 67.

Both buried in Scarvaherin.

I, Robert M. Kerr (sic), entered the Methodist Ministry in June 1895, and    married Selina, youngest daughter of Henry Mathers, Maralin, Lurgan, on 14^th September 1900. She was born on 19^th July 1878.

Robert Ernest, our son, was born on 11^th October 1903 at 31 Rugby Road, Belfast.

Nora Hazel, our daughter, was born on 23^rd August 1913 at 31 Rugby Road, Belfast.

Anna Mary Kerr (sic), married Beresford S. Lyons, Methodist Minister, on July 31^st 1902.

they had issue as follows :-

Jean (Jane) Ker Lyons born 17^th May 1904 died c.1972

Elizabeth B. Lyons

John Scott Lyons died 4^th April 1976 

Mrs. Anna Mary Lyons died on 25^th September 1947 and was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery.

Rev. Beresford S. Lyons died on 8^th February 1952 and was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery.

Robert Moubray Ker, died on a visit to Cork, October 27th 1926, and was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery.

Robert Ernest Ker, entered the Methodist Ministry in June 1927.

Married Mary, third daughter of Abraham Kingston of Meenies, Drimoleague, Co.Cork, June 25 ^th 1941.

Children:-

Robert Alan Ker, was born at Enugu, Nigeria, on December 27^th 1943.

John Kingston Ker, was born at Belfast, on August 2^nd, 1948.

Donald Paul Ker, was born at 44 Marlborough Park North, Belfast, on June 19^th 1950.

Robert Ernest Ker died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, on 12^th August 1961, and was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery.

Selina Elizabeth Letitia Ker, widow of R.M.Ker, died in the Belfast City Hospital on 7^th March 1969, and was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery.

 Mary Ker, widow of R. Ernest Ker, died in her home, 4 Prince Edward Gardens, Belfast, on 10^th August 1981, and was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery.

 Nora Hazel Ker, daughter of R.M.Ker, died in the Belfast City Hospital on 20^th November 1998, and was buried in the Belfast City Cemetery. 

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