| Ker Papers | Public Record Office of Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Collection | |
|---|---|
Identifier |
D/2651 |
Description |
Family papers and correspondence of the Ker family of Portavoe, Co. Down, merchants and landowners, c. 1720-c. 1850, charting the emergence and development of the family from the early 18th century onwards. Descended from David Kerr, a merchant of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, the family fortunes were established by three of his sons who went on to become prominent merchants, in particular, his son David (d. 1770) who set up in business in London and later, in 1765, purchased the Portavoe estate near Groomsport, Co. Down. He was succeeded by his son David (d. 1811), who took over the family’s business concerns and, with his brother, Richard Gervais Ker, extended the family’s landed interests in Counties Down and Antrim. These were further strengthened by David’s son (another David), who married the daughter of the 1st Marquess of Londonderry in 1814 and bought the Southwell estate at Downpatrick, Co. Down, in 1834. The archive itself falls into three main groups of material, namely family papers, c. 1720-c. 1850 comprising genealogical notes, wills and settlements, the correspondence of David Ker of Portavoe and London, 1779-1811, and the correspondence of Richard Gervais Ker of Red Hall, 1799-1822. Among the correspondence of David Ker are letters concerning negotiations for the purchase of the Red Hall estate in Co. Antrim, 1779-80, letters from letters David Ker to his brother, Richard, 1799-1822, including his copy out-letter book, 1791-1811, which relate in the main to the management of the estates at Portavoe, Montalto and Clough, but which also touch upon Lord Downshire's support for David Ker in obtaining the parliamentary seat for Blessington in 1796, and the civil unrest in Cos Antrim and Down before and during the 1798 Rebellion. There are also some business letters and accounts of David Ker. The correspondence of Richard Gervais Ker which relates principally to family affairs, but also contains business letters from Carew Ellers, London, for the firm of Ker, Brookland & Priest, 1793-1794, and letters from Benjamin Porter on a Continental tour, 1818-1820. The collection also includes letters from David Stewart Ker and his wife, Anna Dorothea Ker, on a tour of the Middle East, 1845-1946; and correspondence, etc, relating to the election of D.S. Ker as an independent candidate for Co. Down, 1852. |
Strengths |
Of great interest to those researching the social and economic history of the rise of a family of country merchant class to county society. |
Physical Characteristics |
Approx. 400 documents occupying 10 PRONI boxes |
Languages |
English |
Contents Date Range |
1720 - 1850 |
Collection Type |
Collection.Archive.Text |
Accrual |
Policy: Active
Method: Indefinite Loan
Periodicity: Irregular |
Access |
The collection is stored in secure, closed accommodation and can be requested for on-site consultation using an in-house document ordering system. Access is supervised and for research and/or reference purposes only. |
Description or Catalogue |
See PRONI reference D/ 2651for catalogue of the papers. The catalogue is available for consultation in PRONI's Public Search Room. See also http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/private/ker.htm" target="new_window">http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/private/ker.htm for a more detailed introduction to the collection. |
Publications Note |
Archive collection |
| Collector | |
|---|---|
Name |
Ker Family |
History |
The family is descended from David Ker, a merchant of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, who had taken a lease of the first fall on Sir Robert Adair's mill-race at Ballymena, c.1710. He married Jean Boyd of Clontfinnan near Clough, Co. Antrim, and had a family of eleven children of whom three were prominent merchants: William in Ballymena, Hugh in Dublin, and David in London. David Ker settled in London and traded at Cateaton Street, first as Ker & Elmes, then after 1755 as Ker, Elmes & Priest, and later after 1758 as David Ker & Co. In 1765 he purchased the Portavoe estate near Groomsport, in the Ards. He died in 1770 and was succeeded by his son, David, during whose lifetime the firm traded as Ker, Pope & Dyson and later as Ker, Brookland & Priest. In 1785 he purchased the Clough and Magheraknock estates in Co. Down from Arthur Annesley and in 1800 that of Montalto at Ballynahinch, Co. Down, from the 2nd Earl of Moira. In 1796 David was successfully returned to the Irish House of Commons representing Blessington, Co. Wicklow, then controlled by Lord Downshire. His brother, Richard Gervais Ker, High Sheriff of Co. Antrim in 1791, bought the Red Hall estate at Ballycarry, Co. Antrim, in 1780 from Sir Archibald Edmonstone. David Ker died in 1811, and was succeeded by his son David, who married, in 1814, the daughter of the 1st Marquess of Londonderry and in 1834 bought the Southwell estate at Downpatrick, Co. Down, from the representatives of Lord de Clifford. |
| Owner | |
|---|---|
Name |
Ker Family |
History |
The family is descended from David Ker, a merchant of Ballymena, Co. Antrim, who had taken a lease of the first fall on Sir Robert Adair's mill-race at Ballymena, c.1710. He married Jean Boyd of Clontfinnan near Clough, Co. Antrim, and had a family of eleven children of whom three were prominent merchants: William in Ballymena, Hugh in Dublin, and David in London. David Ker settled in London and traded at Cateaton Street, first as Ker & Elmes, then after 1755 as Ker, Elmes & Priest, and later after 1758 as David Ker & Co. In 1765 he purchased the Portavoe estate near Groomsport, in the Ards. He died in 1770 and was succeeded by his son, David, during whose lifetime the firm traded as Ker, Pope & Dyson and later as Ker, Brookland & Priest. In 1785 he purchased the Clough and Magheraknock estates in Co. Down from Arthur Annesley and in 1800 that of Montalto at Ballynahinch, Co. Down, from the 2nd Earl of Moira. In 1796 David was successfully returned to the Irish House of Commons representing Blessington, Co. Wicklow, then controlled by Lord Downshire. His brother, Richard Gervais Ker, High Sheriff of Co. Antrim in 1791, bought the Red Hall estate at Ballycarry, Co. Antrim, in 1780 from Sir Archibald Edmonstone. David Ker died in 1811, and was succeeded by his son David, who married, in 1814, the daughter of the 1st Marquess of Londonderry and in 1834 bought the Southwell estate at Downpatrick, Co. Down, from the representatives of Lord de Clifford. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
Name |
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland |
Address |
2 Titanic Boulevard |
Website |
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Access Control |
The Record Office is open to the general public on weekdays between 9.15 am and 4.45 pm, with late night opening until 8.45 pm on Thursday evenings. The Office is closed on the main public holidays and is closed annually for two weeks late November/early December. All readers are required to register their membership on their first visit to the office for which some form of identification will be asked. Registration and admission to the office is free of charge to the public, although certain commercial users (i.e. solicitors, journalists, television reporters and professional genealogists) are subject to a fee. Disabled access facilities, self-service microfilm and a chargeable copying service are provided. |
Role |
Government agency with responsibility for official and private records |
Phone |
0442890534800 |