Rev John Kerr

John Kerr (1827 - 1844)

Born in Co. Tyrone in c.1790, John Kerr was educated at the Royal School, Dungannon and entered Trinity College in November 1807. He was made deacon in 1824, a priest in 1825 and was appointed curate of Termonfeckin in February of that year. His salary as curate in 1826 was £75 per annum. By April 1827 he was rector of the parish. In May 1836 the Rev. Kerr wrote a letter containing a character reference for his former Catholic opposite number in Termonfeckin, Fr. Eugene Mulholland, whilst the latter was embroiled in a legal dispute with another Catholic priest. The Rev. Kerr is listed as a subscriber to Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary in 1837. In 1844 he was transferred to Kilkerrin parish in Tuam, Co. Galway, exchanging parishes with the Rev. Joseph F. Leathley.

He married Helen Armstrong, daughter of his predecessor and had nine children by her; three sons and six daughters, one of whom, John Henry, a Major General who served in India, is buried in Termonfeckin graveyard. One of his daughters, Helen, married a John Anderson from Belfast on 15th January 1835 in Termonfeckin church.7 His second eldest daughter, Frances Margaret married Rev. Simon Foot of Portadown on 17th March 1840.8 Rev. Kerr was a college friend of Rev. Henry F. Lyte, composer of the famous hymn ‘Abide with me’.

Rev Kerr died at Kilkerrin, Co. Galway in October 1862 and was buried in that parish. His son Thomas erected a monument to his memory in Kilkerrin cemetery.