[74-83] DR MARCUS (MARK) G. KERR, b Nov. 12, 1815; d June 19, 1883; s Henry and Ann (Richards) Kerr [74-24]; m HERMINEA M. ————-, d Mar. 19, 1818; d Sept. 18, 1897. Physician. Dr. Marcus Kerr was the founder of the order of the ‘‘Knights of Friendship,” which was instituted May 23, 1859. He was professor of Materia Medica and General Therapeutics at the Woman’s Medical College, Phila., 1833-1867.
In 1856 Dr. Kerr was living in Norristown, Pa.
Children (8):
“Be it remembered that I, Herminea M. Kerr, widow of Mark G. Kerr, late of the City of Philadelphia, Doctor of Medicine, deceased, being of sound mind and memory have thought proper to make and hereby do make my last Will and Testament, that is to say:
First-—I direct all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease.
Item—lI give and bequeath to my son, Henry W. Kerr, One thousand dollars.
Item—I give and bequeath to Rebecca Kerr, widow of my late husband’s brother Richard F. Kerr, Five Hundred dollars and I give and bequeath to his five children: Archanna V. Treen, Mary Pennel, William B. Kerr, Herminea Dehaven, and Annie Kerr One hundred dollars each.
Item—I give and bequeath to Eliza Kerr, widow of my late husband brother John J. E. Kerr, if she be living at the time of my decease One thousand dollars: if she be not living at the time of my decease then I give and bequeath said One Thousand dollars to her three children Emma E. Holiedge, Alva Kerr, and Harry Kerr in equal shares.
Item—I give and bequeath to each of my three nieces Louisa T. Pfaff, Elyonta H. Cole, and Theresa C. M. Boone Five Hundred dollars.
Item—TI give and bequeath to each of my three cousins Alfred Herman, William Augustus Herman, and Isabella 8. Bright Five Hundred dollars toward getting homes for themselves.
Item—I give and bequeath to each of my two cousins Amanda Herman, and Elmira Wynkoop the sum of Two hundred. dollars and I give and bequeath to Mrs. Deborah Shaffer now and for some time past in my employ the sum of Five Hundred dollars.
Item—I give and bequeath to each of my two friends Eliza B. Copeland and Fannie G. Watt Griffiths Fifty dollars.
Item—I give and bequeath to each of the four children of my niece Susanna Roberts, deceased, namely Harry Roberts, Joseph Roberts, and their two sisters, Mamie and Theresa One hundred dollars.
Item—I give and bequeath to the Montgomery Cemetery Company the sum of Two hundred dollars on condition that they agree to keep and do keep my lot in their Cemetery situate near Norristown, Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, as to their enclosures, improvement, &c in good order and repair.
Item—I give and bequeath to my friend, John White, attorney at Law Five hundred dollars.
Item—I give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my estate both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever the same may be at the time of my decease unto my said friend, John White, attorney at Law his heirs and assigns. In Trust nevertheless to convert my said real and personal estate into money and for that purpose I hereby authorize and empower him my said Trustee to sell and dispose of all or any part of my said Real Estate at public or private sale or sales for such price or prices and wpon such terms and conditions as to him may seem best and to grant and convey the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof his her or their heirs and assigns free from all liability for or on account of the application of the purchase money. Provided however that in no event shall my said Trustee sell that part of my real estate in Denver, Colorado, in and to which I have the whole or entire exclusive title during the lifetime of my two sons, Henry W. Kerr, and Edgar L. Kerr, and to safely invest at interest the net proceeds of said personal estate and said Real Estate when sold.
And in further trust from and immediately after my decease to pay from the net income of my real estate unsold by him and the income from all other Sources the sum of Six hundred dollars annually or such larger sum as he may deem necessary in monthly payments for the board, clothing, &c of my said son Edgar L. Kerr now in the Pennsyl-
vania Hospital for the Insane where he has been for a number of years, and to pay the same to him should he become sane for and during all the term of his natural life.
And in further trust from and immediately after my decease to pay to my said son Henry W. Kerr the sum of Six hundred dollars annually in equal monthly payments and should my son be sick or afflicted, then to pay to him such larger sum as he my said Trustee may deem best for and during ail the term of his natural life said payments to, for, or on behalf of my said two sons to be free from their or either of their debts, contracts, or engagements.
And in further trust from and immediately after the decease of my said sons to pay unto the Grand Chamber of the Order of Knights of Friendship or to such Trustees appointed by said Grand Chamber of the Order of Knights of Friendship for receiving the same the sum of Two Thousand dollars said bequest to be known as the Mark G. Kerr Bequest in memory of the founder of Said Order Mark G. Kerr, M. D., my deceased husband; the said sum of Two Thousand dollars to be safely invested by the said Grand Chamber of the Order of Knights of Friendship or the Trustees appointed by them and the said sum of Two thousand dollars with the accumulation of interest thereof together with any money derived or received from other sources to be held by the said Grand Chamber of the Order of Knights of Friendship or the Trustees so as aforesaid appointed by them In Trust for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a Home for the care and support of the aged and indigent members of said Order and the Orphans of the members thereof and such other needy or dependent persons as said Grand Chamber of the Order of Knights of Friendship may from time to time determine and for no other purpose or purposes whatsoever.
And in further trust from and immediately after the decease of my said sons to pay unto my three nieces Louisa T. Pfaff, Elyonta H. Cole, and Theresa C. M. Boone, the sum of One Thousand dollars each.
And in further trust from and immediately after the decease of my said sons to pay unto the Franklin Reformatory home for Inebriates now located at Nos. 911, 913, and 915 Locust Street, Philadelphia, the sum of Five hundred dollars.
And in further trust from and immediately after the decease of my said sons to pay unto Rebecca Kerr, widow of my late husband's brother Richard F. Kerr and his said five children the sum of Five thousand dollars to be divided equally between them share and share alike.
And in further trust from and immediately after the decease of my said sons to pay unto Eliza Kerr, widow of my late husband’s brother John J. E. Kerr, and her three children the sum of Three thousand dollars to be divided equally between them share and share alike.
And in further trust from and immediately after the decease of my said sons to divide the rest residue and remainder of my said residuary estate into Five equal parts and to pay one of said parts thereof unto Rebecca Kerr, widow of my said brother in law, Richard F. Kerr, and his said five children, to be divided equally between them, share and share alike; to pay one other of said parts thereof unto my said sister-in-law Eliza Kerr and her three children to be divided equally between them share and share alike: to pay one other said part thereof unto my said niece Elyonta H. Cole; to pa¥ one other of said parts thereof unto my said niece Louisa T. Pfaff and to pay the remaining part thereof unto my said niece Theresa C. M. Boone.
I hereby nominate and appoint my said friend, John White, attorney-at-law, Executor of this my last Will and Testament.
In Witness Whereof I, Herminea M. Kerr, the Testatrix, have to this my Will Written on two sheets of paper set my hand and seal this Twenty-first day of August, A.D., One Thousand eight hundred and ninety seven.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the above named Herminea M. Kerr as and for her Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our name at her request as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testatrix and of each other.”
Charles Ouram
John Meier ‘ “Herminea M. Kerr (Seal) (Seal)”’ Probated—-Sept. 24, 1897. [Phila. Will Book, p 915, No. 513.]
Parents’ family: [74-24] Ann Richards and Henry Kerr