I just returned from spending Christmas thru New Year with Mum (now age 90) in San Diego, where I related to her most of the recent information I've gleaned from this and other discussions on RootsChat. Probably due to her grandfather's divorce and resulting family disgrace, she had previously known little more of her Kerr ancestry than her mother (Winnifred Violet Kerr), grandfather (the Rev. John Kerr), aunts, and uncles. She was thrilled beyond words to learn of her great-, great-great-, great-great-great-, and great-great-great-great-grandparents!
So I wanted to start my first posting for the new year with a HUGE "Thank you!" to all of you who have provided this information -- particularly csc and Stoop in this particular discussion. I might have learned it someday, but probably not in Mum's lifetime, so I am extremely grateful to all of you! I know that you have graciously shared with me information that has taken you enormous time, and possibly considerable expense, to acquire.
It does seem that we've reached a barrier of sorts, however. I've noticed with the Kerrs, as well as other surnames, that little seems to be known of them prior to 1700. In this discussion, we've traced the Kerrs back to James (b. 1718) and his brother William, but no further. The same appears true of the Bells, Tweedies, Moffats, Dicksons, Johnstones, and others ... nothing prior to 1700. Does anyone know the reason for this? Are there no records prior to this time? Or do they exist, but not yet online? Any suggestions -- short of me flying to Scotland -- how we take these lines further back?
I have found considerable information online about the Kersland Kerrs, Ferniehirst Kerrs, Cessford Kerrs, etc. from Norman times to about 1600 or 1650, so it would seem that we are only two or three generations from being able to link our Dumfrieshire Kerrs to their origins ...
