Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5,888, for James Kerr, Virginia
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE   Va

NUMBER     R.5.888

Kerr, James
or  Karr,
Ruth

CONTENTS
Page 2

Pension Office,
February 6th 1850.

Sir
I have the honor to inform you that, the certificate of the Register of the land office in Virginia, showing that a land warrant
was issued to James Kerr on account of his services in the Revolutionary War, transmitted by you in the case of Ruth Kerr, widow of James Kerr has been received and filed with her other papers.
Mrs Kerr, in her declaration claims for a tour of service of three months, and one of nine months in the militia of Virginia.
James Kerr, to whom the land warrant referred to in the Registers certificate, was issued, belonged to the Continental Line, and
served under Capt Biggs of the 7th Virginia Regiment, to the conclusion of the War.
It does not appear from any evidence now before this office, that Mrs Kerr's husband ever was a Continental Soldier. The warrant
to Kerr was located in Ohio in 1809. Claimant was at that time living with her husband. If she really be the widow of that soldier that fact is susceptible of very high proof, from the records of the County in which the land is located.
She should show that the land is now in the possession of the family, or that she was a party to the Deed of transfer
I have the honor to be,
Very Respectfully
Your Obt St
J L Edwards

Hon
J.R. Young,
House of Representation
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10.230
Ruth Kerr
James
Ruth Kerr
Declaration
Illinois
Act 7 July 3rd
m 83  d18.


H H [illegible]
Page 4

State of Illinois Wayne County SS
On this Sixth day of July 1843 personally appeared before the Probate Justice of peace, being the Judge of a Court of Record, Ruth Kerr a Resident of Wayne County State of Illinois aged Seventy Eight years
who being first duly sworn according to law doth on oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7. 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to certain Widows
That she is the Widow of James Kerr who was a private soldier through nearly the whole of the Revolutionary War. he resided in the State of Virginia, Bedford County, and left his Father and went unto the service when he was a little under fifteen years of age, and served a tour
of three months against the Indians, after which his Father bound him to the hatters trade to one James Shanklan. he shortly
afterwards enlisted in the Regular service and served under Capt Watkins. she thinks
six months, after which he enlister and served a nine months tour under Capt Bluford
after which he was a minute man, and served in the militia when ever called on untill the end of the War. he served in all seven tours as much or more than than three years in all of actual service, he was in the Battle of Guilford
Page 5


one of his Colonels was named Linch under which he served.  his services were performed in the State of Virginia
She further declares that she was married to the said James Kerr in the month of December 1783 that her husband the aforesaid James Kerr died in the year 1818 on the 30th  day of September-- that she was not married to
him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794 (viz) at the time above stated and that she has remained a Widow ever since that time.
That she has no documentary evidence tp support or prove the services of her husband. But has to prove her marriage

 Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written
Before me
John Brown
P J
her
Ruth x Kerr
Mark
 
on account of the age and infirmity of Mrs Ruth Kerr, I have waited on her at her Residence, some 13 miles from my office at Fairfield when and when she was quallified to the foregoing declaration

Given under my hand and private seal, no official Seal being as yet provided for this Court
on the day and year first above written
John Brown J.P

LS
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State of Illinois
Wayne County ⎬  SS
I, Joseph G. Barkley Clerk of the
County Commissioners Court in and
for said County, do hereby certify that John
Brown Esq whose name appears to the foregoing
certificate was on the day of the date thereof, the
acting Probate Justice of the Peace in & for said
County, duly Elected Commissioned and qualified as appears to me of record and that said Court is made a court of Record
and to all his official acts as such are entitled
to full faith and credit
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of the said Court at Fairfield this
7th day of July AD 1843
Jos G. Barkley Clk
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Evidence of
marriage
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Virginia
Bedford County Sct
I Robert C. Mitchell Clerk of the County Court of said County, do hereby certify that I have made diligent search amongst the records of
said Court, and find no return made by any Minister of the Gospel, of the celebration of a Marriage between James Kerr and Ruth Gaddy, but that I find filed amongst the papers of said County Court, a bond executed by said James
Kerr on obtaining a license to intermarry with said Ruth Gaddy; which bond, with the certificate enclosed in the same, (so far as I can correctly decipher said certificate) are in the words and figures following:
Know all men by these presents that we James Kerr and Bartholomew Gaddy, of Bedford County, are held and firmly bound unto Benjamin Harrison Esq., Governor or chief Magistrate of the State of Virginia, in the
sum of fifty pounds current money, to the which payment well and truly to be
made to the said Benjamin Harrison or his successors, we bind ourselves, our
and each of our and each of heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals and dated this 13th day of December 1783 (one thousand seven hundred & eighty three.

The Condition of the above obligation is such, that whereas there is shortly a marriage intended to be had and solemnized between the above bound James Kerr and Ruth Gaddy, both of Bedford County.
Now if there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the above obligation to be void, else to remain in full force 
Signed, sealed, and delivered
in presence of
Caleb Tate

James Kerr        (seal)
Bartholomew Gaddy  (seal)


This is a [illegible]  I George Gaddy has given leave for my daughter Ruth to marry James Kerr. Given under my hand and seal Dec 13. 1783 (one thousand seven hundred and eighty three)
Batt. Gaddy - Mary Parish
George Gaddy
In testimony of all which I have hereto set my
hand and affixed the seal of said Court, this
6th day of June one thousand eight hundred
and forty three
A.C. Mitchell [illegible]
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Benjn + John Kerr
affidavit
Page 10

State of Illinois, Wayne County SS
Be it known that on the 6th day of July 1843 before The undersigned Probate Justice of the Peace in and for the County afforesaid, personally appeared Benjamin Kerr & John Kerr who I do certify to be credible
Witnesses and made oath in due form of Law
that they are the children of James Kerr & Ruth Kerr and [illegible] there family record anna Kerr, daughter of the said James and Ruth Kerr was born June 11th 1784 and the said Benjamin John Kerr  States that they have
have frequently heard there father in
his lifetime speak of having served in the revolutionary war.  that he departed this life on the 30th day of September 1818 and that Ruth Kerr there mother has remain a widow ever since till this day. Who has this day sworn and subscribed to a declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pension has remained a widow ever since that time. that there is a family  record of the ages of there children only and says nothing about the ages or marriage of the [illegible] people.
Sworn to and Subscriber on
the day and year first above written
Before me
John Brown C J P
  Benjamin Kerr
 
    John Kerr
SS

I was not present when this affidavit was made
I send it to prove the old Lady's Identity
D Hay
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Bedford [illegible]
I do hereby certify that James Kerr
hath taken & subscribed the
oath of Allegiance & Fidelity as directed by an act of General Assembly entitled  an Act to oblige the freemale inhabitants of this State above a certain age to give Assurance of Allegiance to the same & for other purposes
Witness my hand & seal this 13th day of Sept 1777 - John Callaway
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[illegible] 2nd Augt 1779

Received of Patrick Lockhart C. J. Me S. D.
The sum of seventy nine pounds Four shillings
in full for my wages as a Drover
under John Gordon Master Drover on the
expedition commanded by Genl E C [illegible]
for the use of James Kerr his order.
      [signed illegible]
Page 13

24.16
42
66.16
4.10
62.6

bottom of page:
[illegible]
75.2
24.8
99.10
Page 14

Carmi, Ill,
Nov 8

James L Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of pensions
Washington City

sideways
Nov. 18, 47
Enquiry resp. case

Ruth Kerr
-
Page 15

Carmi, Illinois     6th November 1847

Sir
upwards of four years ago I sent you
a declaration, claiming a pension for Mrs
Ruth Kerr, from which I have never seen
a return - I know at the time that I
did not furnish sufficient evidence of service
but had a hope that the Records in your
City might furnish the evidence
Will you have the goodness to return to me the papers I sent you - the old Lady
still lives, and requires a return of the
papers she furnished me with. please send them
or write me so that I can satisfy her.
I am Respectfully
your obt sert
Daniel Hay

J L Edwards Esqr
Washington City
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W. Manly Esq
Marshall
Illinois

Pr. Mail
Page 17

Gen'l  L. Office, Richmond, Aug 8 /45
W. Manly Esq
D Sir

Yours of the 1st Inst. was rec'd today & contents noted.

I send you a certificate which I hope will serve your purpose.
It appears that J Karr served as a private in Cap
Biggs Company at Fort Pitt. The Wt.1146 was located in his name in Ohio, by writing to the Comm. of the General Land Office at Washington, you can ascertain to whom the Patent issued

                 I am D Sir,
                Yours very respectfully
                    S. H. Parker


NB.:   No additional testimony
in the Secretary's Office

Land Warrant No 1146 for 200 acres
issued to James Karr and was located in
Ohio, patent issued to said Karr 28th
October 1809
Wm Nourfers
Genl Land office
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Washington
Jany 29 '50
Sir
Mrs Ruth Kerr of Ill
widow of Jn. Kerr (or Karr)
filed her declaration under the act of 7th July 1838. Her case has been suspended

I enclose you for a certificate from the same
office of Va shewing that James Karr did serve as a private [ illegible] which I trust may be deemed sufficient evidence of service, other objections not existing when the case may be allowed.

I have the honor
to be for any reply
Your Obt Sert
  T R Young
Col. J. L Edwards
Comm of Pensions
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No 10230
Ruth Kerr 
Ill  ww  James
Let to HH Sylvestre Sept 14  '44
"   "     D Hay  Nv 24. 47
""  ::   W Manly   Oct 11  48
"  Hon  T  R Young  6th Feb 7  1850

  5888

act 7 July 1838
Page 20

   10230
Ruth Kerr 
Illinois
Let to H.H. Sylvester
Sept 14th 1844
Let to Daniel Hay Nov 26 47
the H Wm Manly  Oct 11/48

Act July 7th 1838
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Letter
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Carmi Illinois      29th November 1843
Sir
I herewith send you the declaration of
Ruth Kerr who claims a pension under to act of
7th July 1838.  I have had it on hand several months expecting to get in Kentucky living evidence of the services of her husband, but am now informed that the person is dead. I send the papers with a hope that one or both of the enlistments stated in the declaration may be found on record at Washington City-- should they not-- I suppose the case is hopeless though I send you sufficient evidence to show
that he was in the service.  when you can examine the case let me know the result
I am Respectfully
your Obt Ser't
Daniel Hay
James L Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 23

Left side sideways
 Wm Manly Esq.
Marshall  Ill.

middle section
free

J.L. Edwards

Comr of Pensions
Washington City

right side, sideways
April 18  1848
Revolutionary

middle upside down
April 18th 1848
William Manly 
case of Ruth Kerr or Carr
widow of James
Page 24

    Marshall Illinois 
April 9th 1848

Sir

I am requested Mrs. Ruth Karr or Carr widow
of James Carr of Illiinois to know
what is the situation of her claim under the act
of 7 July 1838

A Mrs. Vi Chen of the vicinity says her husband served 9 months in the Revolution and died in 1840 - she was married to the soldier in 1799.
she desires to know if she, upon proper proof, is entitled to the pay which accrued from 4 March 1831 to date of her husband's death.
he having made no application
Very Respectfully
Wm Manly
JL Edward Esq
Page 25

REJECTED
5888
P.O.
Ruth Kerr
service   wid of James

Enlisted:    18
Discharged:   18
Application filed:   18
Alleges: --
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.      Contra-
Cert. of Dis.     Searched for  18
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Thos Lumphin
Page 27

Marshall Ill
Feb 18th 1850
D Sir
The enclose will reveal a secret that
may be of some interest

There are two claims in the name of James
Kerr. The one is reported by Ruth
Kerr of Illinois, the other by John
Carr of Indiana, Administrator of the
Will for the benefit of the children. 
The name is spelled Carr instead of Kerr
or Karr
The claim of John Carr administrator of the
widow of James Carr was presented
same 3 or 4 years ago- that case
is the one alluded to in the Certificate from 
the Register of the said office of Va

I have applied to the family and shall
of the facts warrant it avail myself
of the information in the enclosed letter,
Ruth Kerr's claim is probably good for
nothing that will please hunt
Page 28


it out & get Edwards to act on it


I think you will find a similar certificate on file with the claim of John Carr adm.'d
 .
Very Respectfully
  W. Manly