David Shank Kerr

     David Shank Kerr was born on 8 July 1810 at Cornwallis, Kings Co, Nova Scotia. He was the son of James Kerr and Elizabeth Brown. David Shank Kerr married Elizabeth B. Briscoe, daughter of Charles J. Briscoe and Elizabeth A. Laurence, on 1 July 1844 at St Andrews, Charlotte Co, New Brunswick; They were married by Rev. Dr. Alley. David was then of Frederiction, barrister, the youngest son of late Colonel Kerr of Nova Scotia, and Elziabeth was the youngest daughter of C.J. Briscoe, Esq., of H.M. Customs, St Andrews.¹ David Shank Kerr died on 6 August 1886 at Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick, at age 76. He was buried at Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John, Saint John Co, New Brunswick.
     David was named after David Shank, a captain in the Queen's Rangers. By 1812, Davis Shank had risen to the rank of Major-General.
David S. Kerr studied law for more than five years at Dorchester and Amherst, admitted attorney in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in 1835, called to the Bar of New Brunswick in 1837. At Fredericton he entered into a partnership with L.A. Wilmot (later Lieutenant Governor)[A.D. Gates, 1989].²