Harrower Family Tree » Bryce Ker (1730-± 1810)

Sources

1. Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Births and Baptisms, 1730 KERR, BRYCE (Old Parish Registers Births 587/ 10 44 Dalry)

   19/04/1730 KERR, BRYCE (Old Parish Registers Births 587/ 10 44 Dalry)
   Births and Baptisms, Dalry 1730.
   Robert Kerr in Auchengree had a lawful son called Bryce born April 13th Baptized 19th

2. History of County of Ayr Vol 1, James Patterson, The History of County of Ayr Vol 1 Page 426-427

   The History of County of Ayr Vol 1 Page 426-427
   
   Auchengree
   
   There are several cadets of the Kersland family, small proprietors in the parish of Beith and Dalry.
   The more ancient and important of them are the Kers of Auchingree. Robertson, writing from family
   information, says that -
   Robert Ker, second son of Kersland, got the farm of Auchingree (extending to £97, 18s. 4d. valued
   rents) from his father, about the year 1530. His wife's name was Elizabeth Stewart. He was
   succeeded by his son,
   Robert Ker in Auchingree, denominated fair Robert, from his complexion. He married Margaret
   Gawan, sister of Hew Gawan in Bog. He died before 1609, in which year the decease of his wife
   occurred. Her will is designed "The Testament, & c., of vmqle Margaret Gawan, spous to vmqle
   Robert Ker in Auchingrie, wt. in the parochin of Dalry, the time of her deceis, Quha deceist in the
   moneth of November, 1609 zeiris," &c. She left "to hir maister, ye Laird of Kersland, ten punds. . .
   Item, to Bessie Campbell, her guid dochter vili. xiiis. iiiid. . . Item, the said Margaret Gawan levis the
   half of hir guidis and geir qt.sumevir, the debtis beand payit, to Hew Ker, hir youngest sone. Item,
   the said Margaret levis the rest of hir guidis and geir to Rot., Daniell, Jeane, and Elspeth Keris," &c.
   Robert Ker succeeded his father in Auchingree. He is mentioned as in Auchingree in the testament of
   Daniel Ker of Kersland, in 1614; and again, in that of William Stewart in Hiefield, in 1649. He married
   Elizabeth or Bessie Campbell, "of the family of Cesnock." On a stone in the wall of the old house,
   there still remain the initials R. K. B. C. 1638. He had two sons, the second of whom, Hugh, was
   ancestor of the Kers, portioners of Davidshill, another farm in the barony of Kersland.
   He was succeeded by
   Robert Ker in Auchingree. He is styled "younger in Auchingrie" in the testament of David Dunbar of
   Enterkin in 1643. He took part with the Covenanters, and was at the rencounter at Fenwick Moor, in
   1685, where he was wounded, and became afterwards lame for life. He was succeeded by his son,
   Robert Ker of Auchingree, who was born in 1670. He married Ann Gavin, in Lintseedrig. He acquired
   an heritable free right to this farm, which had been so long held under lease: as also to the
   neighbouring lands of Maulshead, now called Sidehouse, extending to £34 valuation. The disposition
   granted to both, by John Ker of Kersland, and Anna Ker, his wife, is dated in 1700. He was succeeded
   by his son,
   Robert Ker of Auchingree, who married Janet Muir, from Bloack, in the parish of Stewarton, by
   whom he had three sons, Robert, Bryce, and William. He was baron bailie on the estate of Kersland,
   after it was purchased by Mr Scot of Bavelaw. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
   Robert Ker of Auchingree. He lost his sight when young and died unmarried, at the age of 74. His
   brother, Bryce Ker of Auchingree, succeeded to the property. He married Agnes, daughter of James
   Gilmour of Clarkland, in Stewarton parish, by whom he had three sons and two daughters ------
   1. Robert.
   2. James, of Sidehouse.
   3. William, of Meadowhead.
   4. Jean, married to William Muir, portioner of Drakemyre.
   5. Janet, married to Alexander Ramsay, merchant, Beith.
   He was succeeded by his eldest son.
   Robert Ker of Auchingree. He married, in 1797, Margaret Workman, by whom he had two sons,
   Bryce and Robert, and five daughters, Margaret, Jean, Agnes, Mary, and Janet.
   Bryce Ker of Auchingree, the eldest son, succeeded.
   Auchingree is about two miles west of Beith, on the north side of the old road to Dalry.
   

3. Scotlands People - Old Parish Registers of Banns and Marriages, 1756 KERR, BRYCE - AGNES GILMOUR (Old Parish Registers Marriages 587/ 10 256 Dalry) 02/11/1756 KEER, BRYCE - AGNES GILMOUR (Old Parish Registers Marriages 616/ 50 9 Stewarton)

   17/09/1756 KERR, BRYCE - AGNES GILMOUR (Old Parish Registers Marriages 587/ 10 256 Dalry)
   Banns and Marriages Dalry 1756.
   August 1756
   Bryce Kerr in this parish and Agnes Gilmour in the parish of Stewarton gave up their names for proclamation 21st Aug: & were married Kilbirnie 17th Septr
   
   https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/view-image/nrs_opr_records/8348229?image=256&return_row=0
   
   02/11/1756 KEER, BRYCE (Old Parish Registers Marriages 616/ 50 9 Stewarton)
   Banns and Marriages Dalry 1756.
   August 1756
   Bryce Keer in Dalry & Agnes Gilmore bookd
   
   https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/view-image/nrs_opr_records/8978895?image=9&return_row=0

4. FAMILY RECORDS Compiled by Robert Reid 1912, Robert Kerr Family Records In 1900 compiled the “Family Records ” of the Dunlops of Dunlop, Loanhead, Hapland, and Borland; the Boyds of Kilmarnock and Bonshaw; the Reids of Stacklawhill, Bonshaw, Muirhead, Knowhead, Balgray, and Borland ; the Fergusons of Auchintiber, Fulwood, Oldhall, Fairliecrevoch, and Borland, and cadets; the Kers of Kersland, Triorne, Auchingree, Gatend, and cadets; the Gilmours of Grange, Brownhills, Nethergrie, and cadets: the compilation being dedicated to Angela Georgina Bartlett, Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and Sir Andrew Lusk, Bart., they being the oldest then living members of the connection. The edition was limited to one hundred copies, all subscribed for. As the 1900 edition is out of print, and I have been repeatedly requested by members of the connection and others interested in such works to issue another edition, and to include the genealogies of other families connected with those Whose genealogies were given in the 1900 issue, I consented to do so; and now include the genealogies of such families as the Longmuirs, Grays, Maxwells, Rankins, Cunninghames, Fairries, Blairs, Neils and Ralstons, and cadets of same, to all of whom I am indebted for information freely given concemiug their respective families. The bulk of the information now given has been collected from such reliable sources as—the Ofiice of Public Records; Sasines; the Advocate’s Library; the General Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths; The Signet Library at Edinburgh; the Commissary Ofiices, Glasgow; Paterson's History of Ayrshire and its Families; Robertson’s Ayrshire Families; Dobies Pont’s Cunningham; Dunlop’s Memorabilia of the Dunlops ; and from family papers and title deeds, which have been kindly placed at my disposal, with permission to make extracts therefrom for publication; and with the invaluable assistance of the late John Gemmill, K.C., of Ottowa, Canada, John Graham Dunlop, Esq., of Gairbraid, I.C.S., and Alexander Ferguson Reid, Esq., of Bonshaw, F.C.S. The compiler will esteem it a favour if subscribers, or others, who may happen to notice errors of any description in connection with their own, or other family data, will kindly advise him of the same, as in a work of this description it is almost impossible to compileso much data entirely free from errors. ROBERT REID, EAST BALGRAY. CALDWELL, IRVINE, 1912.

   1. From the book "FAMILY RECORDS" Compiled by Robert Reid 1912.
   ELEGY on Bryce Kerr.
   
   Bryce Kerr of Auchingree’s nae mair,
   Beneath yon stane ye’ll see his lair,
   There, he ance fam’d for warmth in prayer-—
   Lies cauld as lead.
   Men sae weel gifted were but rare,
   But now he's dead.
   
   He lived nae less than fourscore years,
   Then bade adieu to worldly cares,
   And ca’mly left this vale of tears,
   Without a grudge.
   Or yet expressing ony fears
   To meet his Judge.
   
   His life was sober and sedaut,
   And seldom mark’d wi’ ony faut,
   Except a strong desire to claut,
   Mair to his mailling ;
   But ne’er did God a man create
   Without some failing.
   
   While’s too,—through spite at Parish Kirks
   He’d gie his chaw twa. angry chirts,
   Till down his baird’s capacious lirks,
   The broo’ wad flow
   (Like “Aaron’s beard”), and to the skirts
   O’ his garments go.
   
   Yet it maun be by a’ confest,
   Wha’er his pairts put to the test,
   That, - unco’ few like him were blest
   Wi’ gospel light,
   Or to the same degree possess’t
   His gabie gift.
   
   And tho’ he ne’er was taught to speak
   In lang tailed terms derived frae Greek;
   Yet let the chaw ance in his cheek
   And FAITH his subject,
   E’en learned divines their mouths micht steek
   Wi’ a’ their logic.
   
   But now he’ll never mair harangue us,
   O death, ’twas cruel sae to wrang us,
   Thy grapple aim to lay alang us,
   And harshly pull
   The wisest man that was amang us
   Into thy hole.
   
   Had thou but seized some nae-worth creatur
   That mankind could hae wanted better,
   This would has been nae grievous matter,
   But Bryce to kill!
   It’s shockin Sirs, to human nature
   To hear the tale.
   
   And what a sad and doolfu’ stroke
   Thou’st ge’en John Gemmil’s little flock !
   Forbidden pastures now they’l pluck
   In spite o’ dykes,
   And John may e’en lay down the crook
   When’er he likes.
   
   Black, black to him was that sad night,
   When frae this footstool Bryce took flight
   To regions either dark or light,
   There's nane can tell,
   And left him here in waefu’.plight
   To herd himsl’.
   
   For since the holy karle’s dead
   Wha’ best kent whaur the flock to feed,
   Their inclinations may them lead
   To change o’ feed,
   And they may swallow some foul weed
   And spoil their bluid.
   
   But while auld Bryce wi’ life was blest,
   They ne'er o’ dainties roved in quest.
   For to the food that nourished best
   He weel cou’d lead ’em,
   And needed just to shake his fist
   To keep them feeding.
   
   O Bryce! O Bryce I had’st thou been spared,
   Weel we, the bloating flock, had fared,
   For to thy voice when’er it rair’d
   Frae braes or bogs,
   The weary Wanderers a’ repaired
   Wi’ cocking lugs.
   
   But truce wi’ making sic a maen,
   He’s now awa, and tears are vain,
   Let’s rather strive like him that’s gane
   To live and dee,
   And say to heaven’s will, “ Amen,”
   Sae let it be.
   

Historical events

• Birthday April 13, 1730
• Christening day April 19, 1730
• Day of marriage September 17, 1756

Same birth/death day

• Also born on April 13

About the surname Ker

• View the information that Genealogie Online has about the surname Ker.
• Check the information Open Archives has about Ker.
• Check the Wie (onder)zoekt wie? register to see who is (re)searching Ker.