Robert Kerr, 4th Lord of Jedburgh

ROBERT KERR OF CRAILING Lord Jedburgh

Bogus Genealogy

Robert Carr, 4th Lord of Jedburgh and his wife did not have any living sons. He died without issue in 1692 and the line also died out, so Col. Thomas Carr of Topping Castle cannot be his son.

At least two pedigrees published by MyHeritage [See Confirmed Matches reproduced below] falsely claim that Robert, fourth Lord Jedburgh, here treated, married a lady named Margaret Rutherford and became the father of Thomas Carr (High Sheriff), This is wrong. Robert, fourth Lord Jedburgh, married a lady named Christian Hamilton and died without issue.

The Question of Identity

Robert, Lord Jedburgh, is the son of Sir James Ker of Oxnam and Crailing. NRS: GD40/1/306 The Scots Peerage V: 76 His mother is Mary Rutherford. Stirnet: Ker 02

His Last Will and Testament

Robert, Lord Jedburgh, made his last will and testament at Ferniehist on 24 November 1688. He left his soul to God and his body: "to be buried beside my ancestors in the Ile of ffairnihirst nixt to the Greave of my Dear wife". He nominated his beloved nephew John Ker of Cavers, and failing him his nephew's eldest son, to be his only executor and universal legator. He left a number of legacies, viz. (1) One thousand pounds Scots to the poor of Jedburgh and the grammar school thereof, the annualrent thereof to be shared equally between them (2) One thousand merks for upholding the Isle of Ferniehist, both sums to be placed in the lands of the magistrates and town council of Jedburgh. (3) Eight hundred merks to the burgh of Jedburgh in order to buy a bell for the church.

In addition to this, by a codicil dated 1 March 1692, he left a number of legacies to his servants and others, viz. (1) One thousand merks Scots money to Elizabeth Home: "who was my dear wyfes gentlewoman". (2) Five hundred merks to John Dicksone. (3) One hundred merks to William Rutherford. (4) Two hundred merks to Christian Home, souse to William Dicksone, younger of Newbigging; "in regard she was long a servant of my dear wife". (5) Sixty merks to Jennet Hog: "because she was very serviceable both to my wife & me". (6) He left his gold enameled watch to his niece Christian Ker. Confirmation was granted to John Ker of Cavers on 13 January 1693. [National Records of Scotland, Peebles Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Robert Ker Lord Jedburgh, reference CC18/3/1]

1. Image of Testament
2. Image of Testament
3. Image of Testament
4. Image of Testament

Death

Robert, Lord Jedburgh, died childless on 4 August 1692. [National Records of Scotland, Peebles Commissary Court, Testament Testamentar and Inventory of Robert Ker Lord Jedburgh, reference CC18/3/1]

Marriage

Robert, Lord Jedburgh, married Christian Hamilton, daughter of Sir Alexander Hamilton of Innerwick, widow of Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth (who died in 1648) and mother of the first Earl of Marchmont. She and Lord Jedburgh did not have any children. The Scots Peerage V: 78 The marriage was booked on 14 September 1654, at Polworth in Berwickshire, Scotland. [National Records of Scotland, Polworth Marriages, 1652-88, reference OPR.754/1]

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

1657: Receipt by Andrew Rutherfurd, son of deceased Nicol R. of Hundalie, to Robert Carre, son of deceased Sir James C. of Creline, for plenishing out of the houses of Crelinhall and Hundalie. 1657. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), reference GD40/1/370

                   2

5 June 1663: Decree of Transumpt at instance of John, Lord Balmerino, against Robert and Jean Ker, children of deceased Sir James Ker of Crailling, and John Ker of West Nisbett, husband to said Jean, for his interest, of all titles and securities granted to the late Lord Balmerino respecting the lands of Over Crailling. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), reference GD40/1/306

                   3

7 April 1670: Signature of the lands of Hundalie etc granted to Robert Kerr (Carr, Carre, Karr). National Records of Scotland, Register of Signatures, boxed series, reference SIG1/93/10

                   4

24 November 1688: Robert, Lord Jedburgh, makes his last will and testament. Image of Testament

                   5

1 March 1692: Robert, Lord Jedburgh adds a codicil to his last will and testament. Image of Testament

                   6

23 June 1692: [Letter] Christian Carre, Ferniherst, (?to Lady Polwarth). Lord Jedburgh is fretful and grows weaker every day; Lord Newbattle and his lady have just left; their visit has put Lord Jedburgh in a very bad humour. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the family of Hume of Polwarth, Berwickshire, Earls of Marchmont, reference GD158/2852

                   7

23 July 1692: Christian Carre, Ferniherst, (?to Lady Polwarth): "Lord Jedburgh is fretful and grows weaker every day; Lord Newbattle and his lady have just left; their visit has put Lord Jedburgh in a very bad humour." National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), reference GD158/2852

                   8

19 August 1692: Agreement between Lord Jedburgh and John Ker of Cavers (for his interest of Hundalie) anent the seats in the parish church of Jedburgh. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), reference GD40/2/18/1/52

                   9

26 September 1692: Dated at Polwarth House. George Baillie of Jerviswood to Sir James Ogilvie, advocate. Interest for Polwarth's family in legal action on death of Lord Jedburgh between Polwarth's children and Ker of Cavers, Jedburgh's heir of line. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Ogilvy family, Earls of Seafield (Seafield Papers), reference GD248/571/6

                  10

20 September 1693: Precept of Clare Constat by James, Marquis of Douglas, for infefting William, now Lord Jedburgh, eldest son of Robert, Earl of Lothian, as heir of entail to deceased Robert, Lord Jedburgh, in the lands of Fairniehirst. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Kerr Family, Marquises of Lothian (Lothian Muniments), reference GD40/1/153

                  11

3 May 1694: Discharge and assignment by John Ker of Caveris, nephew and heir of deceased Robert, Lord Jedburghe, in favour of Hendrie Elliott of Harwood cautioner for Gilbert Elliot of Stonedge 24 May 1691 (Writ M113) and William Elliott, his eldest son, of Bond for 4000 merks Scots granted by said deceased Robert, Lord Jedburgh, payment having been made by said Hendrie and William. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Elliot Family of Harwood, Roxburghshire, reference GD53/126

                  12

13 November 1697: Assignation by John Kerr of Cavers, heir served and retoured and executor nominate and confirmed to deceased Robert, Lord Jedburgh, to Robert Rutherfurd, writer in Edinburgh, of the following. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Elliot Family of Harwood, Roxburghshire. reference GD53/154

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms. Volume V (Davis Douglas, Edinburgh, 1908), 639 pp. See pp. 49-79 for Ker, Lord Jedburgh
2. Stirnet: Ker 02

Bogus Genealogy Published by My Heritage

Robert, 4th Lord Of Jedburgh Kerr. Added 21 October 2020 by Judith Lynne Waldrop. Collection:MyHeritage Family Trees. Site name:Thornton Web Site. Site manager:Linda Thornton. Birth:Jan 8 1608 - Burwash, Sussex, England. Death: Before Oct 4 1681 - Newport, Aquidneck Island, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Parents:James Of Oxnam And Crailing Kerr, Mary Kerr (born Rutherford). Wife:Margaret Carr (born Rutherford). Son:Thomas Carr ( High Sherriff )

Bogus Genealogy Published by My Heritage

Baron Robert Jedburgh Kerr. Added 1 November 2020 by Judith Lynne Waldrop. Collection:MyHeritage Family Trees. Site name:Direct Line to Me. Site manager:Danielle Staudt. Birth:1629 - Scotland. Death:Aug 4 1692 - Jedburgh, Scottish Borders, Scotland. Parents:James Kerr, Mary Kerr (born Rutherford). Wife:Margaret Kerr (born Rutherford). Son:Thomas

Bogus Genealogy Published by FamilySearch

Christian of Innerwick Kerr (born Hamilton). FamilySearch Family Tree Birth: Circa 1626 - Innerwick, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom Death: Oct 11 1703 - Innerwick, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom. Parents: Alexander Hamilton, Mrs Alexander Hamilton. Husband: Robert Kerr 4th Lord Jedburgh. Son: Sir Thomas Carr Sr. Siblings: James Hamilton, William Hamilton, Isobell Hamilton.

Carr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms Origins Available: Irish , Scottish

The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in Scotland were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. Scottish patronymic names emerged as early as the mid-9th century. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. The surname Carr is derived from the Gaelic name O'Ciarain or O'Ceirin, which itself comes from the Gaelic word ciar, which means black or dark brown.Early Origins of the Carr family

The surname Carr was first found in Lancashire (located in northwest England and dates back to 1180), where one of the earliest records of a progenitor of the Clan was a John Ker, hunter, resident of Soonhope in 1190 AD. He is believed to have received a grant of land from the Crown and settled in the Border country of Scotland soon after the Norman invasion of 1066 moved northwards. Within a century, two main branches evolved from two brothers, Ralph and John who lived near Jedburgh in c. 1330. They were both listed in the Roll of Battle Abbey as having descended from the Norman Karre. [1] The Kerrs of Cessford were descended from Ralph, and the Kerrs of Ferniehurst were descended from John. Southern England use Carr Scotts use Kerr

[source: familysearch.org]