James R. Kerr (1790 - 1850)

Born 24 Sep 1790 in Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 25 Dec 1850 at age 60 in Jackson, Texas, United States

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Biography

James Kerr, soldier, attorney, surveyor, and physician.^[1]

Son of Baptist minister James Kerr and Patience Wells. Husband of Angeline Caldwell. Husband of Sarah Fulton. Father of Isom, Mary, John, Thomas and Sarah.^[2]

Served in War of 1812 and as sheriff, state representative, state senator in Missouri. Came to Texas as DeWitt Colony's surveyor-general; laid out town of Gonzales, July 1825. In 1827 moved to Jackson County, which he represented in 1832, 1833 conventions, serving in 1833 on committee to draft constitution for proposed state of Texas. On July 17, 1835, was chairman of the Lavaca-Navidad meeting, an early public protest against Mexican authorities' mistreatment of settlers. Served in Republic of Texas Congress in 1838-1839.^[3] Kerr County, Texas is named in his honor.^[1]

Slaves

Major James Kerr's family Bible on pages 4 and 5 list the children of household slaves.

• John Shade, son of Cynthia Negro, born in Texana 17th March 1838
• Ellen of Cynthia Negro born 23 December 1839
• Amanda of Cynthia born 1st Sept 1841
• Harriet of Cynthia born 31st March 1843
• Will B of Cynthia born 6th of March 1845 died 15th March 1 o clock, interred 16th.^[4]

From the collective archival records, it can be deduced that William Bracken was a close associate of James Kerr (1790-1851) both in the early days of the DeWitt Colony and subsequently in the Jackson and Victoria county region of the Republic and State of Texas where they were neighbors. William fathered several children by one of Kerr’s bonded servants named Cynthia, in addition to an “adopted” wife of German origin (Elizabeth Schneider/Snider). It is unclear whether Cynthia was kin to and one of the original group of black servants brought to Texas with Kerr which would make her one of the first black Texas settlers west of the Colorado River. On his deathbed Bracken wrote a will naming his 3 children with Cynthia along with his 3 children with German born Elizabeth Schneider as equal beneficiaries to his assets. He requested that his son Charles be purchased from the Kerr estate and Charles along with his 2 sisters, Amanda and Harriett, whom he had possession at the time to be sent to live up North and educated. These children as is Cynthia are listed in the Kerr Family Bible in which James Kerr listed his slaves along with his own family members. It is speculated that William Bracken may have fathered Bracken Bill, Will B. and possibly other children listed as slaves in the Kerr Bible. The Kerr Bible indicates that Amanda was born “of Cynthia” on the first of September 1841 and Harriet the 31st of March 1843. Another entry indicates “Will B. of Cynthia Born 6th of March 1845 Died 15th March 1 o’clock A.M. Interred 16th.” “B.” was presumably “Bracken”. Another entry denoted “Bracken Bill (of Cynthia) Born 9th March 1846, 5 O’clock P.M.” “Bracken Bill” is thought to be son Charles mentioned in William Bracken’s will. ^[5]

In his 1852 will, William Bracken acknowledged Amanda, Harriet and Charles as his "mulatto children"^[6] Amanda and Harriet were the daughters of Cynthia.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Kerr, James, Handbook of Texas Online, accessed December 16, 2018.
2. ↑ Maj James Kerr, Find A Grave: Memorial #9430148, accessed December 16, 2018.
3. ↑ Major James Kerr, Texas Historical Marker, accessed December 16, 2018.
4. ↑ http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/kerrcrain.htm#bible
5. ↑ http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/bracken.htm
6. ↑ http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/bracken.htm

• Find A Grave: Memorial #9430148