Margaret Kerr

     Margaret Kerr was born in 1784 at Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. She was the daughter of James Kerr and Elizabeth Brown. A bond for the marriage of Margaret Kerr and an unknown person was signed on 9 October 1807 at Halifax Co, Nova Scotia.¹ She married James B. Buchanan on 24 December 1807 at Cornwallis, Kings Co, Nova Scotia.² Margaret Kerr died on 14 July 1826 at Amherst, Cumberland Co, Nova Scotia. She was buried at Amherst, Cumberland Co, Nova Scotia.
     Nova Scotia Marriage Bonds lists Margaret Kerr, spinster and James Buchanan, bachelor as having taken out a marriage bond on 9 October 1807. They were "directed to Rev. Mr. Norris, Cornwallis" [Microfilm #15927].
Margaret's father had written in his letter of 1826 that the Buchanan's had five children: a girl of 16, a boy aged 15, a boy who had died, and another two girls. We only have knowledge of two girls: Charlotte and Caroline, whose brief history we learn from Elderkin notes.
At some time, Margaret was separated from Mr. Buchanan on grounds of cruelty and was living in Amherst near her brother. She was diagnosed as ill with hepatitus, and when her father visited her, he said she was ill with "phthisis pulmonalis". He then treated her with bluestone, ipecac, and digitalis, but he showed little hope for her future. She died soon after, on 14 July 1826, aged 41.
Archie Gates indicated that Margaret's husband may have been the James Buchanan who died at Dorchester, New Brunswick 25 September 1826.