this is from "Tercentenary of New England Families, 1620 - 1920", American
Historical Society, 1919.
pp. 215 - 216.
"CARR
The surname Carr, though common in England and Ireland as well as in America
is distinctively Scotch in origin. The earliest record of the name is in
the Domesday Book, complied in the eleventh century. William Karre, who
accompanied William the Conqueror into England, became the founder of the
earliest families of Carr and Kerr, in England and Scotland. The posterity
of this Norman ancestor settled in the North of England on the borderlands
between England and Scotland; at a later date many went to the North of
Ireland. In England the Norman-French Karre became Carr, just as Knut
became Canute. In Scotland the surname has remained Karr, Kerr and Ker.
The names of four of the family appear on the Ragman's Roll, a list of the
Scotch baronets who swore fealty to Edward I. at Berwick in 1291 and a few
years later. They were: Andrew del Ker, of Stirlingshire; Henry Ker, of
Edinburghshire; Nicholas Kerre, of Peebleshire, and William Ker, of
Ayrshire. The Kerrs appear among the East Border clans in 1547; in the
Middle Marches in 1587; in Berwick in 1590; in Roxburgh and Lauderdale in
1597. The family has been represented from time immemorial in Berwickshire,
Roxburghshire, Edinburghshire, Wigtonshire, Ayrshire, all tracing authentic
pedigrees from the beginning of the fourteenth century A. D. The Kerrs and
Carrs possess, or at different times have held, the Dukedom of Roxburgh; the
Marquisats of Beumont, Cessford, Lothian, and Roxburgh; the Viscountcy of
Boxmouth; the Lordships of Caverton, Ker, and New Battle. Many have been
members of the Scotch Parliament. The surname signifies 'stout', accounding
to Hanna.
The pioneers to America from Scotland, England, and Ireland during the
colonizing period of our history were numerous. The first of the name to
come to the shore of New Enlgand was George Carr, who with his wife Lucinda
was a passenger on the 'Mayflower'. At a later date came Caleb Carr,
founder of the most notable branch of the family in America, a figure of
note in the early affairs of the Rhode Island Colony, of which he was
president in 1695.
(I) CALEB CARR, immigrant ancestor and progenitor, was born in London,
England, December 9, 1616, the son of Benjamin and Martha (Hardington) Carr;
he embarked in the ship 'Elizabeth and Ann', at London, in 1635, coming to
America with his older brother, Robert Carr, in whose family he remained
until he reached his majority. At an early age he became active in public
affairs in Newport, and in 1654-1658-59-60-61-62 he served the Colony as
general treasurer. On January 30, 1671, he was allowed L4 for services done
by him. On April 11, 1676, he was appointed one of the commissioners 'to
take care and order the several watches and wards of this island, and
appoint the places.' This year he bought the services of an Indian captive
(taken by Providence men). In 1679-80-81-82-83-84-85-86-90-91 he was
assistant for Newport. In 1687-88 he was chosen justice of the General
Quarter Session and Inferior Court of Common Pleas. In May, 1695, he was
elected governor to succeed Governor John Easton, who had been in office for
the five preceding years. Up to this period, for most of the time, public
service had been rendered gratuitously by civil officers. It was now
enacted that the governor should have ten pounds a year, the deputy governor
six pounds, and the assistants four pounds each. Governor Carr did not live
long enough to reap much reward for the discharge of his duties as chief
magistrate. He died in Newport, December 17, 1695, the fourth governor who
died while in office. He was buried in a small family burying ground on the
north side of Mill street, between Thomas and Spring streets, Newport.
Caleb Carr married (first) Mercy ----; (second) Sarah Pinner, daughter of
Jeremiah and Frances (Latham) Clarke, and widow of John Pinner; she was born
in 1651, and died about 1706.
(II) EDWARD CARR, son of Governor Caleb and Mercy Carr, was born in Rhode
Island, in June, 1667. In 1698 he was made a freeman, and thenceforward
until his death took a prominent part in official life. In 1669 he was
deputy to the General Assembly from Jamestown. He filled the office again
in 1702-03-05-06-07-09, serving at the same time as clerk of the Assembly.
From 1701 to 1707 he served as member of a committee appointed to
audit the
accounts of the colony. Edward Carr was a resident of Jamestown, and was
a
large landowner there. On October 6, 1686, he married Hannah Stanton, who
was born November 7, 1670, and died in 1712. She was the daughter of John
and Mary (Harndel) Stanton, and granddaughter of Robert Stanton, founder of
the family in Rhode Island.
(III) SARAH CARR, daughter of Edward and Hannah (Stanton) Carr, was born in
Jamestown, Rhode Island, December 28, 1708. On October 12, 1732, she
married Resolved (2) Waterman, son of Captain John and Anne (Olney)
Waterman. (See Waterman IV)"
followed by the GREENE family origins.
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Beth Hurd
Johnston, RI USA
beth(a)the-hurds.com
http://www.the-hurds.com
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