Ker

The Ker family came from Scotland to Ireland in the late 17th century and were associated with Newbliss, county Monaghan, from about 1730 when it was purchased by Andrew Ker from the representatives of Gilbert Nicholson to whom it was granted by Charles II in 1667. Andrew’s son Robert built the first family residence there which was replaced early in the 19th century. The Kers developed the village and promoted the linen industry. The Reverend Andrew Ker, rector of Aghabog, son of Robert Ker of Newbliss, had two sons Alexander Ker, a barrister, who built Newbliss House in 1814 and Andrew, a doctor. Dr Ker succeeded his brother Andrew and was in turn succeeded by his niece and heiress Mary Ker who married the Reverend Richard Foster. In 1854 the Fosters’ only daughter Marianne married André Allen Murray, son of André Allen Murray of Lough Oonagh, and took the additional name of Ker. The Murray Kers lived at Newbliss and owned an estate mainly in the parish of Killeevan, barony of Dartree but also in the parishes of Aghnamullen, Aghabog , Donagh , Tedavnet , Errigal Trough and Ballybay. Their estate was compiled of 3,605 acres in 1876. Their second daughter, Mary Isabella Murray-Ker, was resident at Newbliss in 1900. Her only surviving sibling Sarah of Beech Hill, Monaghan, married Fitzjohn Robert Irwin of Kilkee, county Down in 1880. Another branch of the Ker family lived at Mountain Lodge in the parish of Aghnamullen. John Ker was a brother of Robert Ker of Newbliss and had a son Colonel John Ker of Mountain Lodge who was succeeded by his nephew William Alexander Williams of Mount Carmel who took the additional name of Ker in 1846. Mount Carmel was advertised for sale in 1854 and demolished in the 1940s, see Archiseek.com

Associated Families

Houses

Name	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Newbliss	Newbliss	Killeevan	Clones	Newbliss	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H559232 OS Sheet: 17 Discovery map: 28A
Mount Carmel	Mount Carmel	Aghnamullen	Cootehill	Cormeen	Cremorne	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H669156 OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 28A
Mountain Lodge/Farmoyle House	Mountain Lodge Demesne	Aghnamullen	Cootehill	Cormeen	Cremorne	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H663133 OS Sheet: 23 Discovery map: 28A
Drumbrean Cottage	Drumbrean	Aghabog	Cootehill	Aghabog	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H612239 OS Sheet: 18 Discovery map: 28A
Drumbrean	Drumbrean	Aghabog	Cootehill	Aghabog	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H615237 OS Sheet: 18 Discovery map: 28A
Lisalea	Lisalea	Killeevan	Clones	Newbliss	Dartree	Monaghan	OSI Ref: H559238 OS Sheet: 17 Discovery map: 28A
Bracklagh	Bracklagh	Drumlumman	Granard	Kilgolagh	Clanmahon	Cavan	OSI Ref: N389828 OS Sheet: 41 Discovery map: 34

Archival sources

Fine and recovery 1762 and 1769 relating to the property of the Kerr family at Rosefield, Co Monaghan. Copy of private Act of Parliament 1773-1774, for vesting in trustees the estate of Thomas Tenison of Rosefield. M.6143-45; National Archives of Ireland
Lease of land in Bellabeagh [Ballybay], Tullycorbit parish, for 41 years, Francis Lucas, Castleshane, to Andrew Ker, Corryhagan, parish of Aghnamullen, 1 March 1697. Templetown Papers D585/3; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Copy of grant of arms being Kerr quartering Williams to William Alexander Williams of Mount Carmel on him assuming the name and arms of Ker under licence and out of respect of his maternal uncle, John Kerr of Mountain Lodge, 10 Sept 1846. GO Ms 107, 354-55 ; National Library of Ireland
Copy of royal licence to William Alexander Williams of Mount Carmel to take the name of Ker, 17 Aug 1846. GO Ms 152, 28-29; National Library of Ireland
Rental of the Forster of Killeevan estate 1802-22, includes rental of Murray Ker estate Co Monaghan, 1822-1938. MIC661/1; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
Rent rolls of the Murray Kerr estate, Newbliss, 1840-43, 1852-54. Business Records 8-9; National Archives of Ireland
Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Ker, 10 Jan 1851, Vol 5 (7), MRGS 39/002, (microfilm copy in NUIG), includes Mountain Lodge; National Archives of Ireland
Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Ker, 1 July 1851, Vol 9 (4), MRGS 39/004, (microfilm copy in NUIG) – just Mountain Lodge; National Archives of Ireland
Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Ker, 8 Feb1854, Vol 26 (23), MRGS 39/011, (microfilm copy in NUIG) – Mount Carmel ‘lately erected’; National Archives of Ireland
Encumbered Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Foster & Ker, 17 Feb 1857, Vol 44 (31), MRGS 39/021, (microfilm copy in NUIG) - Mary Ann Foster m Andre A.M. Ker; National Archives of Ireland
Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Ker, 7 May 1867, Vol 85 (41), MRGS 39/041, (microfilm copy in NUIG); National Archives of Ireland
Rent Book for Newbliss, 1859-1864; bog rental; hand drawn map of Crossreagh with list of tenants and a return of arrears of rent on 1 January 1937 and rates accruing since that date to 1 January 1938. Ref. 1987:30a & 30b1-5; Monaghan County Museum
Rent Books for Newbliss, 1840-1843, 1852-1854; Monaghan County Library (Clones Branch)

Contemporary printed sources

SHIRLEY, Evelyn Philip. ''The History of the County of Monaghan''. London: Pickering and Co, 1869: 186-188
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Clones Union, 76, 77; Cootehill Union, 16, 29
LEWIS, Samuel. ''A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland''. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: I, 96 (Mountain Lodge); II, 137 (Newbliss)
ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Monaghan: I, 17 (Drumbrean); 74 (Mount Carmel); 75 (Mountain Lodge)
PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. ''Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion...'', HC 1906, c, 177: 89 (Newbliss)
''GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Granard Union, 1 (Bracklagh)

Modern printed sources

BENCE-JONES, Mark. ''A Guide to Irish Country Houses''. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 223 (Newbliss)
''Clogher Record'': MCMAHON, Theo and O’NEILL, Brendan. The Ker Estate, Newbliss, Co. Monaghan, 1790- c. 1830. XII, No 1 (1985), 110-126.