This relates to the case of one John Karr/Kerr who married Nancy Welch and lived in Washington County, Pa before moving on to Ohio. One school of thought says they were both born in Donegal ,Ireland. Yet in the 1880 census, John identified himself as born in PA. There is no contradiction between being born in Donegal and being born in PA.

There have been 4 Donegal Townships in PA over the years but only two at the time of John’s birth on 6 Jun 1776. One was the established Donegal Township of Lancaster County ,PA and the other relatively new Donegal Township in Westmoreland County. Westmoreland was created in 1773 out of the western end of the Bedford County. Land west of Westmoreland County was the area claimed by Virginia but much ignored and effectively administered by Donegal Township.

See PA County Formation Maps

http://www.mypennsylvaniagenealogy.com/pa_maps/pa_cf.htm

The location of the Kerr farmstead is described as being roughly 5 miles west of the Monongahela River which actually puts it into the Virginia claimed territory. But in 1776 the locals considered themselves to be in Donegal Township, Westmoreland, PA. Later in 1781 , Washington County was formed in the far west of Westmoreland which included

the Kerr farmstead. First they were in the Fallowfield Township, then Pike Run with a division of Fallowfield, and finaly a split into West and East Pike Run.

See Pike Run Township History 

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~pamonval/townships/files/hipike.html

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=40.06694&lon=-79.95639&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100&datum=nad83

Who established the Kerr farmstead ? That takes us back to Ireland and eventually back to Scotland. A branch of the Kerr line says one Robert Kerr born in Ayrshire Scotland about 1749 left in 1770 for Ireland, met and married one Jemima Morton in Fermanagh County, Ireland. They had a daughter names Frances in 1771/1772 in Ireland and emigrated to Philadelphia about 1773/1774. There was a son born 1774 in PA ( unsure if at homestead for in transit from Philadelphia to Western PA) named William. John followed in 1776 at the farmstead. Then six more children from  1778 and 1787.{Revised data}  There was said to be continuous occupation of the farm for 49 years till the last Kerr moved on. Robert said to pass on in 1816 in Ohio (1820 census seems to show him still resident in Pike Run however).

How plausible is all this? There is one independent reference 

Bios: John Sprowls and Elizabeth Love: East Finley Twp, Fayette Co 

Copyright © 1997 by ginseng. This copy contributed for use in 

the USGenWeb Archives.  ginseng@SSSNET.COM

“3) From the Holmes Co OH history book, article on James Kerr family, by William and Mary Kerr.

James' grandparents, Robert Kerr/Jemima Morton and John Sprowls/Elizabeth Love, had emigrated from Scotland and

Ireland in the 1770's. John Sprowls served in the War of Independence as a sergeant in Capt. Finney's Co, Jan 23, 1777

until April 6, 1780.

After settling in West Pike Run Twp, Robert helped to found St Thomas Episcopal Church near present day Charleroi.

The headstone of another son James (Robt's son), stands in the old churchyard. Probably Robert and Jemima are there,

 but many graves are unmarked.”

I think this is the book but I yet to get hold of a copy. Holmes County, OH   ISBN: 1-56311-421-6. 

Who is Robert Kerr ? The story says he was born in Ayrshire County of Scotland about 1749. One statement was that

 he left “District of Beith of Ayrshire” which could be his birth site or his point of embarkation. Another statement was that

 he was from “the Duchy of Kersland” the seat of which is now in the parish (town) of Dalry in Ayrshire but could be a

genealogical statement of which Kerr line he descends from ( the Kerr’s of Kersland). In any case, there are four Robert

Kerr’s born in Ayrshire about the right time. 

01/03/1746 of ROBERT KERR  in Kilmarnock Ayrshire occupation Writer

19/07/1747 of  Robert Kerr  in  Dalry Ayrshire  occupation Shepard

23/05/1748 of John Kerr in Beith Ayrshire  occupation Wright (mechanic)

04/09/1748 of Daniel Kerr in Stevenston Ayrshire occupation Tailor

 http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

I suspect for the next part of the story that the son of John Kerr is the most likely candidate. 

Why go to Ireland ? 

“At the same time as all this was taking place, an Act of 1696 allowed hemp and flax to be imported Duty free from Ireland,

ostensibly to encourage foreign Protestants (Scottish, Dutch and Lancastrian Settlers) to settle there; but, be that as it may,

it also had a galvanizing effect on the local linen industry of the north. Although earlier attempts had been made to foster a

linen industry in Ireland, it was not until the early 18th C. that it really got under way and then in the northern provinces. This

resulted from a combination of different events and conditions.”

From The Elder James Whatman, Appendix V, Part I, "The nature of the Rags used for making White Paper in the

17th and 18th C. Paper Mills of the British Isles", p. 187

By 1796 there were 98 flax plantations in Northern Ireland owned by Kerr’s with 12 of them in Fermanagh Co., Ireland.

I suspect that Robert went off to Ireland in 1770 to work on one of the Kerr owned plantations.  As the son of a Wright

( blacksmith, mechanic, repairman), it would be a logical fit. (I don’t see the son of a Writer or Tailor doing this but the son

of a Shepard perhaps).

Ancestry.com. Irish Flax Growers List, 1796 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1999. Original data: Ulster Historical Foundation. Flax growers Bounty List 1796. Belfast, Ireland: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1999.

Who is Jemima Morton ?

The name “Morton” is not an Irish surname. Look at Ayrshire Scotland in the 1841 Scottish Census person born in Ayrshire,

 Scotland (1740-1780) which would include persons 61 years old and older. (1841 as first reliable national census in

Scotland). There are 74 Morton’s born in and still living in Ayrshire (who knows how many more died before 61 or moved

away before age 61.) Thus it is safe to say that there is a high probability that Jemina’s family was from Ayrshire. 

  Ancestry.com 1841 Scotish Census

A search of Scotland for Jemima Morton births in Scotland found none until after 1840. Thus likely that she was born in

Ireland of Scott parents. http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Why was she in Ireland ? 

I think the flax plantations are same reason for Jemima being there. A look at the 1786 list cited earlier shows 11 plantations

owned by Morton’s in Northern Ireland and one in Fermanagh Co., Ireland. She was born there on one of the Morton

plantations most likely. 

The Kerr-Morton connection:

If you check the Ayrshire Scotland marriage records over time you will find Kerr-Morton marriages are not uncommon.

There is one Kerr-Morton marriage in Ireland that is of particular interest. 

Name:  Edward Morton Birth:  1739 - Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (Ireland)  Death:  March 1801 (Mar 1801) -

Somerset, Washington, PA (Pennsylvania)Parents:  William Morton, Mary Downey  Spouse:  Jane Kerr

“Jane⁸ Kerr  (#4916) birth date unknown.

She married Pvt Edward Morton.⁽⁷⁶⁹⁾ (Pvt Edward Morton is #4915.) Edward was born bef 1739 in IRE.⁽⁷⁷⁰⁾ Edward died aft 6 Mar 1801 in PA, at approximately 62 years of age.⁽⁷⁷¹⁾ Edward served in the military in PA, c1777.⁽⁷⁷²⁾ Rev War .”

NSDAR Lineages, Online Patriot Index

“Edward MORTON was married to Jane KERR probably in KENAWLEY Parish, co, Fermanagh prior to 1760.

He immigrated with his brothers to PA in 1765. An Edward Morton together with Thomas Morton and William Morton

appear on the 1785 Tax List of Belfast Township, Bedford Co., (now Fulton Co.), PA.. Robert Kerr was also on the list

[History of Bedford County, p. 654]{{Kerr farmstead was in Bedford Co. prior to 1773}} Edward appears as Edward

Mortin on page 255 of the 1790 Federal Census of (Somerset Twp.), Washington Co., PA with (3, 1, 2, 0, 0). Robert

KERR was nearby and appears on p. 256 with (2, 2, 3, 0, 0)”

KERR/MORTON Families of Fermanagh, Ireland > PA (1765)

erols.comGeorge W. Page  

Re: KERR/MORTON Ireland > PA

George W. Page  

Here is a summary of  Fermanough, Ireland Morton’s who ended up in Pennsylvania:

: Name:  Thomas Morton Birth:  May 1751 - Fermanagh, Ireland Death:  1845 – Belfast (township), Fulton (Co.), PA (Pennsylvania)  Parents:  William Morton, Mary Downey  Spouse:  Agnes Unknown

Name:  William Morton Birth:  Dec 1742   Death:  26 Aug 1798 – Bedford (Co.), PA (Pennsylvania) Parents:  William Morton, Mary Downey  Spouse:  Margaret Reynolds

Name:  Edward Morton Birth:  1739 - Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (Ireland)Death:  March 1801 (Mar 1801) - Somerset, Washington, PA (Pennsylvania)Parents:  William Morton, Mary Downey  Spouse:  Jane Kerr { Morton-Kerr marriage)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name:  Rebecca Morton Birth:  1764 - Enneskillen, Fermanagh, Ireland Death:  1825 - Washington, Pennsylvania, USAMarriage:  1782 - Washington, Pennsylvania, USAParents:  Edward Morton, Jane Kerr  Spouse:  William Crawford

Name:  Moses Morton Birth:  1759 - Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (Ireland)Death:  1823-11-04 (4 Nov 1823) - Washington, Pennsylvania, USA  Parents:  Edward Morton, Jane Kerr  Spouse:  Mary Dowler  (Neighbor of  Kerr’s)

Name:  Joseph Morton Birth:  1766 - Inneskillen, Fermanough, Ireland Death:  1848 Marriage:  24 Aug 1790 - Brush Valley, Beford (Co.), Pennsylvania, USA  Parents: 

Edward Morton, Jane Kerr

The point being that Edward and Jane (Kerr) Morton married and emigrated prior to Robert and Jemima (Morton) Kerr

but they met (again) in Pennsylvania for a final move to Westmoreland / Washington County. It seems almost certain the

both Kerr’s and Morton’s were related.  

Another actor on the Stage:

Another Scott family joins the play. The Sprowls emigrated from Scotland to central Ireland in the 1600’s (about 1650) as

 part of a pacification plan involving development of fortified enclaves (Atholne, Ireland). In any case, a John Sprowls (b.

Abt 1748 in Fermanagh, Ireland )married Elizabeth Love ( or Looney) (b. 1753 in Ireland) around 1778, They had eight

children in Ireland between about 1779 and about 1789. They emigrated to Carlisle, Cumberland County ,PA about 1790

and then moved on to join the Kerr’s and Morton’s in Washington County (East Finley Twp).

All with connections with Fermanagh, Ireland and living within a “hoot and a holler” of each other. Connection will be made

later.

See Census Sheet   Welch,KerrCensus  

They arrive:

“Surnames: KERR

Robert KERR and wife Jemima MORTON arrived in SW Pennsylvania with a baby in arms. They came from Scotland via

Ireland, where their first child was born in 1772. Their second child was born in PA in 1774. Their pioneer homestead

appears to have been in the area about 5 +/- miles west of the Monongahela River then within the jurisdiction of Bedford

County, PA. Later that area became the western extreme of Westmoreland County, and finally that same area became The

West Agusta District of Virginia, and, in 1781,that same area was within Washington County. This family resided in the same

 area continuously for about 49 years, and they raised all 9 children here.”

KERR family pioneers, 1773 & after.

Bob Cook  

“Surnames: Kerr, Morton

I am also looking for a Kerr and Morton from that area and time frame.

I have a Robert Kerr who married Jemima Morton, in Fermanagh Co. They had one daughter, Fannie, before immigrating

in the 1770's. Robert and Jemima ended up in (now) West Pike Run Twp, Washington Co, Pa.

Nine known children, Fanny, William, John, Robert, Jane, Andrew, Gabriel, Thomas, and James. William and his wife, Jane Sprowls came to Wayne Co, Ohio. Gabriel and Thomas went to Lawrence Co, Ohio. (Thomas may have later went to KY). The rest stayed in Pa, several never marrying.”

Re: KERR/MORTON Ireland > PA

Ginny Kerr  

As noted William Kerr married Jane Sprowls (daughter of John & Elizabeth).

Gabriel Kerr married Jane, daughter of William Crawford  who had married Rebecca Morton, in Washington county.

Robert Kerr (Jr) is said to married Mary (Sydney) MORTON and thought to be part of the Washington Co. Morton clan.

The summary of the Kerr family is a follows.

By the 1800 census there was already a full house. Some of the older sons added wives and the household swelled even more as shown in the census of 1810. Between the census of 1810 and 1820 where was a spit up of the family into those who stayed in PA and those who moved on to Ohio.

Gabriel and Thomas stuck together for a move to an area that  became Lawernce County Ohio. They made trips to Ohio to secure land in the early 1800’s and then brought their growing families there around 1808-1810 time frame. It seems Robert Sr. may have been brought along but died in 1816 and is buried in Ohio. {Perhaps the wrong Rev. War Robert Kerr and wrong area of Ohio as 1820 census shows him at home in Pike Run.}

“KERR, GABRIEL                                                   I.R. MAR. 30, 1905

        Gabriel Kerr married Jane, daughter of William Crawford {{ who had married Rebecca Morton}}, in Washington county, Pennsylvania about 1809 and in 1812 he and his brother, Thos. Kerr, moved down the river in a flat boat loaded with apples, flour and cider and landed at the mouth of the Big Sandy December 24, 1812.  In the Spring of 1813 they moved over  {{ mouth of the Big Sandy would have been in Kentucky across the Ohio River from Ohio}} and settled on the farm now owned by Abrams and Campbells {{in Ohio}}.”

Local newspaper article from1905 in Ohio

It seems that William, John, & Robert (Jr) all stayed in PA at least initially while it is said that Thomas later moved from Ohio to Kentucky. James seems to have also moved to Ohio but yet to be pinned down. Andrew is a mystery right now. 

John Kerr and wife Nancy Welch later also moved on to Ohio and repose near Londonderry, Ohio. Their 9 children all born in Washington Co., PA between 1801 and 1812 and most moved to Ohio later on. ( A lot of work remains to be done there).

William Kerr and wife Jane Sprowls later moved on to Ohio late in life where they passed away. Their children still need to be traced as son John is the only mention.

Grabiel and wife Jane Crawford were in Ohio as already noted with children yet to be traced.

Thomas Kerr and wife Elizabeth DAVIS ( yet to be confirmed) were in Ohio and said to later move to Kentucky ( move or line miss match ).

James and wife Elizabeth Easter ( yet to be confirmed) seem to have stayed home in PA and many children could be attached to them but nothing solid as of yet.

Robert (Jr) and wife Mary (Sydney) Morton ( that old Kerr-Morton link again) thought to have stayed home in PA but no firm data.

Andrew and wife  ? Johnson (not confirmed ) fell off the face of the earth.

Daughters Frances and Jane were assumed get married and absorbed by husband’s family without a trace (a lot of work to be done there).

NAME	B Date	Place	Died	Spouse
Robert KERR	14 Jun 1778	Washington Co, PA	Washington Co, PA	Sydney MORTON
Jane KERR	1780	Washington Co, PA	Washington Co, PA	NONE
Andrew KERR	1781	Washington Co, PA	Washington Co, PA	? JOHNSON
Gabriel KERR	1783	Washington Co, PA	Lawrence Co, Ohio	Jane CRAWFORD
Thomas James KERR	1785	Washington Co, PA	Kentucky	? DAVIS
James KERR	1787	Washington Co, PA	Washington Co, PA	Elizabeth EASTER

per BCDigger (Robert Cook)

Who is Nancy Welch ?

There are two theories as to where Nancy Welch came from.

First is prompted by an unsourced tree showing a Nancy Welch born in Donegal Township in Lancaster Co. PA in1774 from a Welch family that had been in Lancaster for several generations.

Husband:

JAMES WELSH  b. 1734  m. About 1759  , Donegal Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Wife

MRS. NANCY WELSH b. Abt 1737  m. Abt 1759 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

Children:

REBECCA WELSH                b. About 1760 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

MARY WELSH                      b. About 1762 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

JOSEPH WELSH                    b, About 1764 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

JOHN WELSH                        b, About 1766 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

ELIZABETH WELSH             b. About 1768 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

JANE WELSH                        b, About 1770 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

JAMES WELSH                      b. About 1772 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

NANCY WELSH                    b. About 1774 , Donegal Township, Lancaster, PA

There is no data to show how the two meet and got together.

The other involves Daniel Welch born in Ireland (of Scott descent) who emigrated to Pennsylvania.

“Daniel Welch born in a non-specific year in Ireland and emigrated to Carlisle, Cumberland County ,PA  and was on the tax rolls from 1767 through 1776. He had a son also named Daniel born in 1763 in Carlisle,PA. Daniel and his father them migrated to Washington County, PA in 1786. They were both on the tax rolls 1787 and 1788. They then moved on to Harrison County, Ohio in 1801.”

Extracted from Historical Collections of Harrison County, in the State of Ohio, with Lists of the First Land ... By Charles Augustus Hanna

Daniel moved his family to Washington County in 1786 when Nancy would have been 10 years old., Nancy got married in 1800 when she would be 24, and Daniel moved on in 1801 to Ohio. There is no documentation of a daughter named Nancy but several individuals are said to hold hand written notes of such from several generations ago. There is however the following.

One non-sourced family tree says

Father

Daniel Welch                b About 1746  in Ireland

Mother

No data

Children

Daniel Welch                b. About 1763 in Donegal, Ireland

Nancy Welch               b. JUN 1776  in Donegal, Ireland

Many unsourced family trees are valuable historical sources but are often transcription of family oral history. There is evidence that Daniel Sr. was in Carlisle, PA during the birth of these two children.

“Family traditions indicate that Nancy Welch was the daughter of Daniel Welch Sr (and sister of Daniel Welch Jr, early prominent citizen of Harrison County), although I think it is possible that she might have been the daughter of John Welch/Welsh Sr, since her second oldest son was named John Welch Karr .”