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John Kerr (Virginia politician)

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For other people named John Kerr, see John Kerr (disambiguation).
John Kerr
4th [[Virginia]]
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 15th district
In office
March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1815
Personal details
Born(1782-08-04)August 4, 1782
Caswell County, North Carolina, US
DiedSeptember 29, 1842(1842-09-29) (aged 60)
Danville, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, US
Resting placeYanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina
SpouseElizabeth Williams
Children2 sons including John Kerr Jr., 4 daughters
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
BranchNorth Carolina Militia
War of 1812War of 1812

John Kerr (August 4, 1782 – September 29, 1842) was a Baptist minister who also served two term in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Virginia's 15th congressional district [1][2]

Early life and education[edit]

Kerr was born near Yanceyville, in Caswell County, North Carolina across the Dan River from Virginia's southern border. His father, also John Kerr, operated a plantation in Caswell County, North Carolina using enslaved labor.[3] He received a private education suitable for his class, as well as studied theology.[4]

Career[edit]

After being licensed as a Baptist minister in 1802, in 1805 Kerr accepted a position in Halifax County, Virginia.[5]


This John Kerr was elected a U.S. Representative for Virginia's 15th Congressional district and served from March 4, 1813, to March 3, 1815, and after winning re-election, from October 30, 1815, to March 3, 1817.[6][7]

He then resumed his ministry and became pastor of the Baptist churches of Arbor and Mary Creek, before moving to Richmond, Virginia in March 1825, where be served a pastor of the First Baptist Church until resigning in 1832. In the 1830 U.S. Census, he owned 11 slaves in Richmond.[8]

He relocated to a farm in Pittsylvania County, Virginia near Danville in 1836.

Personal life[edit]

He married Elizabeth Williams, whose grandfather Robert Williams had been a prominent patriot in Pittsylvania County during the American Revolutionary War. She bore two sons, Nathaniel Williams Kerr and John Kerr, Jr. who also would become a U.S. Congressman. Bartlett Yancey was his cousin and, and John H. Kerr would be his grand-nephew. A native of the area, Kerr was licensed as aminister in 1802 and moved to Halifax County, Virginia in 1805; he later lived in Pittsylvania County, Virginia as well.

Death[edit]

Kerry died at his home near Danville, but his remains were returned to the family plot in Yanceyville.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography (1915), vol. 2, p. 115 available at hathitrust.org
  2. ^ "KERR, John - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  3. ^ 1810 U.S. Federal Census for Caswell County, North Carolina p. 24 of 58
  4. ^ Tyler
  5. ^ Tyler
  6. ^ "KERR, John - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  7. ^ Cynthia Miller Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978 p. xxvi
  8. ^ 1830 U.S. Federal Census for Monroe Ward Richmond, Virginia p. 39 of 80

External links[edit]

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 15th congressional district
March 4, 1813 - March 3, 1815 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 15th congressional district
October 30, 1815 - March 3, 1817 		Succeeded by


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