KERR, James, born circa 15 Jul 1754 in Pennsylvania and died 6 Mar 1818. Buried at the historic Jackson College Cemetery in Spring Hill his inscription reads: "To the memory of James Kerr Who departed this 
life March 6, 1818. Aged 63 years 7 ms & 18 days."  It is not known if James' wife Nancy Mitchell Kerr is buried here beside her husband. Many of James' sons moved on south of the Duck River and settled around what is now 
Culleoka Tennessee about 20 miles south of this Cemetery. James has the distinction of having the first marked grave here. Information and the above photo (was first taken in 1990) and is provided by Wayne Austin a descendent 
and the author of this site. 

It is thought  by family historian Joe Frank Kerr researching in the early 1900s and Raymond Kerr Evans in the 1960s that James was a Revolutionary War soldier. 
He certainly is the right age being born in 1754 puts him in his twenties  when the war started. According to these family history sources, mainly Joe Frank Kerr, he had two brothers William & John that died in the Revolution 
whereas James survived. [CWA 12 Nov 2011]

WILL OF JAMES KERR (1754 � 1818, tombstone 
dates)

I James Kerr now being of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind that it is apointed for all men once to Die, Do in the Presence of God and before these Subscribing Witnesses, do publish and declare this to be my last Will and testament In maner and form following that is to Say First I give up my Soul to god who gave it, Secondly my body to be Buried in a deasant like maner also all my just Debts to be actualy paid and afterwords all my worldly Property to be destributed end given in maner and form forloing, First I give to and Bequath unto my Dear and loving Wife hir living on my land during hir natural life, Secondly I give to my Said wife one black mare Saddle and bridel, likewise two milk cows, and four hed of sheep and half my Stock of hogs also

give and bequath to my Said wife one good fether Bed a bed Stead with good furniture, likewise one Chary table one Cupbord with the furniture also all the Chilching (sic. Kitchen ) furniture containing castings and cooking vessles, likewise all my Chests and trunks, and one Cotten whel and Cards, one flax whel and one reel, also one weaving loom with all the Slays and harnis, likewise all the fethered foul of every kind, all which I give and bequath to my Said wife for hir Suport and Comfort untill hir last expiring breath, then if there Should be any of the Said fore mentioned property, at or after hir Discese I would wish it to be divided amongst my five oldest Sons, as may be thought best, Nixt I do give and Bequath to my son James Kerr one last Springs Sorel hors Coult, and one milk cow, Nixt I do give and bequath unto my Son David Kerr all that Tract or parcel of Land whereon I now live to be his Right and tittel Clame and property always, I do also give to my Said Son David my bay prock mare also my plow and horse gears one ax one mattock and one weading hoe also half of my Stock of hogs by giving James and Samuel Each of them one breeding Sow if the Stock will admit of it, also all my Shop and Shoemakers tools, to be his right and tittel, Nixt I do give and Bequeath to my Daughter Mary Odil thre Dollers, Nixt I do also give and Bequeath to my Daughter Nancy Mc gowin three Dollars, all my other property not mentioned here, to wit all my young Catel I give and bequeath to my five eldest Sons, viz William John Andrew James and Samuel, and lastly in order to put this my last will and testament into Execution I Nomanate my three Sons to wit William John and Andrew as my Exacuters to act for me in my Stead to give and deliver as I have here set forth, as I my Self might or Could Do was I to be parsonly present, in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and fixed my Seal this tenth day of November 1817.

 (Recorded 26 Jan 1824, Book C, Vol. 1 Page 211       James Kerr Maury Co., TN. Recorders Office)(5)

 Note from Frank Kerr McDaniel of California in the 1980: The spelling, punctuation and capitalization of the original document has been faithfully retained in this copy in the hope that it will give descendants a 'flavor' of the times. FK McDaniel of California, 7 Aug 1986. Translated from Frank Kerr McDaniel�s book Kerr History Project by C. Wayne Austin, 2002

 Same Will - Version II  translated to today�s English - by Wayne Austin 22 Jul 2011.

 I James Kerr now being of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die, Do in the Presence of god and before these Subscribing Witnesses, do publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following; that is to say
First I give up my soul to God who gave it. Secondly my body to be buried in a decent and like manner; also all my just Debts to be actuarially paid and afterwards all my worldly Property to be distributed and given in manner and form forlorn.
First I give to and bequeath unto my dear and loving Wife her living on my land during her natural life,
Secondly I give to my Said wife one black mare Saddle and bridle, likewise two milk cows, and four head of sheep and half my Stock of hogs; also give and bequeath to my Said wife one good feather bed, a bed stead with good furniture, likewise one cherry table, one cupboard with the furniture also all the kitchen furniture containing castings and cooking vessels, likewise all my chests and trunks, and one cotton wheel and cards, one flax wheel and one reel, also one weaving loom with all the slays and harnesses, likewise all the feathered foul of every kind, all which I give and bequeath to my Said wife for her support and comfort until her last expiring breath, then if there should be any of the said fore mentioned property, at or after her Decease I would wish it to be divided amongst my five oldest Sons, as may be thought best. Next I do give and Bequeath to my son James Kerr one of last spring�s Sorrel horse colt, and one milk cow, Next I do give and bequeath unto my Son David Kerr all that tract or parcel of Land whereon I now live to be his right and title claim and property always, I do also give to my said son David my bay prock mare also my plow and horse gears, one ax, one mattock, and one weeding hoe, also half of my Stock of hogs by giving James and Samuel each of them one breeding Sow if the Stock will admit of it, also all my Shop and Shoemakers tools, to be his right and title, Next I do give and Bequeath to my Daughter Mary Odil three dollars, Next I do also give and Bequeath to my Daughter Nancy McGowin three Dollars, all my other property not mentioned here, to wit all my young Cattle I give and bequeath to my five eldest Sons, viz William, John, Andrew, James, and Samuel, and lastly in order to put this my last will and testament into Execution I Nominate my three Sons to wit William, John, and, Andrew as my Executers to act for me in my Stead to give and deliver as I have here set forth, as I my Self might or could do was I to be personally present, in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and fixed my Seal this tenth day of November 1817.