b. 6 Jan. 1694 Hilston Park, Monmouth m. 16 July 1719 CATHERINE (2) SURPLUS (b.9 Mar. 1703 Kittery, d. 1770) d. of exposure 1750, wrecked off Cape Cod bur. Frost Burying ground, Eliot, ME
John was a mariner and was a descendant of the noble house of Marr whose name he assumed upon coming to America in 1717. He was first known as John de Mar, but then changed his name to John Marr.(1)
This belief prompted a number of John's descendants (mostly descendants of Dennis) to form an organization to recover the Mar estates and wealth in Scotland thinking they were dealing with an estate worth $80 million. On 24 Apr. 1833 they all signed a document giving their lawyer Arthur McArthur $20,000 to begin the legal chase. Over the next 40 years they spent an additional $50,000 to try to prove their claim and all of this in 19th century dollars! Unfortunately they lost their case due to misconceptions, poor home work and bad advise. All of this activity alerted the Erskine heirs in Scotland who were fighting among themselves for the title. The birth of John Erskine alias Marr was recorded in Llangattock-vivon-Abel near Hilston Park and the village of Newcastle, but during the 1840's the records of this parish mysteriously disappeared. John Marr of Rochester, NY, a lifetime student of Marr genealogy wrote in 1903 that: "I have never heard in all my eighty years of life any doubt expressed that John of Kittery was other than the son of John Erskine, Earl of Mar."(2)
For a complete discussion of all the arguments concerning this link between John of Kittery and Sir John Erskine see The Descendants of John and Catherine Marr of Kittery by James F. Jamison.
Dodavah Curtis of Kittery, yeoman, his wife Elizabeth and Withers Berry of Kittery, yeoman sold for £10 to John Marr of Kittery, Mariner, one acre of land in Kittery "beginning at North West Corner of the sd Mars own land & runs West South West to the Country Road... comes in a Little Gore a Little below sd Mars House..."
On 7 Nov. 1724 William and Elizabeth Godsoe of Kittery gave to his son-in-law John Marr and Catherine his wife 256 pole of land on the road from Woodman's Ferry in Kittery.(3) On 13 Aug. 1721 William deeded additional land to John and Catherine. John and Catherine sold their home to John Jr. 24 Dec. 1740.
Issue- all children born in Kittery, ME
Ref:
(1) The Descendants of John and Catherine Marr of Kittery- James F. Jamison, p.242 (2) Ibid- p.241 (3) York Deeds- Vol.XIV, p.190
Old Kittery and Her Families- Everett S. Stackpole, pp.604-5 Saco Valley Settlements- Gideon T. Ridlon, p.904 John Marr Founded Maine Branch of Family- William Mountain, Downeast Ancestry, Vol.2, No.4 (Dec. 1978), p.20 American Ancestry- Vol.VII, p.186
Return to Home Page
bpt. 3 Oct. 1725 Kittery, Maine m.1. 19 Mar. 1746/7 Mercy Mitchell 2. 1 Jan. 1752 LYDIA (5) HILL d. before 9 July 1791
James lived on the south side of the Spurwink River. On 26 Nov. 1748 Israel Mitchell of New Meadow, York Co., yeoman sold to James Marr of Scarborough, shipwright for £400 old tenor notes all his interest in the estate of his grandfather John Tiney of Scarborough, decd and of his father William Mitchell of Scarborough, decd, his mother being Elizabeth Mitchell now Elizabeth Harsken. Witnessed by Samuel Small and Moses Hanscom.(1)
"Know all Men by these presents that we John Marr of Cape Elizabeth... Cordwainer, and James Marr of Scarborough... yeoman, and Daniel Marr of Scarborough abovesaid Yeoman, and Dennis Marr Guardian for Rufus Marr, and Mercy Libby wife of Reuben Libby, and Lydia Fogg wife of George Fogg, and Cathran Marr, and Abigail Marr the lawful and sole heirs of James Marr late of Scarborough deceased, have and do by these presents divide all the Real Estate of our honoured Father James Marr deceased, Except our Mothers thirds, in manner following, viz.
First we set off to John Marr one piece of Land, containing about five acres... bounded... by Spurwink River adjoining John Sawyer... and Ebenezer Libby's lanse which he takes as his full share.
Nextly we set off to Lydia Fogg the wife of George Fogg one piece adjoining John Marr at the River...
Nextly we set off to our Sister Cathran marr, one piece of Land, beginning by the said River...with one piece containing by estimation three acres... joining Tyler and Hasty... to John Watsons land...
Nextly we set off to our sister Abigail marr one piece of Land adjoining Cathrans lot by the River...
Nextly we set off to Mercy Libby the wife of Reuben Libby the remaining strip of land left between Abigail and Lydia from the said River...joining Col. Jordan, Simonton's and mitchells marsh...
Nextly we set off to our Brother James marr one piece of Land containing nine acres... adjoining John Watson _____ & Anthony Libby...
Nextly we set off to Daniel marr seven acres of wood and pasture next joining James' nine acres...
Nextly we set off to our brother Rufus marr seven acres and one half next adjoining to Daniels seven acres...
In Witness whereof we hereunto set our hands and Seals this ninth of July in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred & ninty one.
John Marr, James Marr, Daniel marr, Reuben Libbee, Mercy Libee, Cathran Marr, Abigail Marr, George Fogg, Lydia Fogg, Dennis Marr as Gardian."(2)
Issue- all children born in Scarborough
(1) York Deeds- Vol.28, p.92 (2) Cumberland Co. Deeds- Vol.28, p.540
The Libby Family in America: 1602-1880- Charles Thornton Libby, pp.38-9 Saco Valley Settlements- Gideon T. Ridlon, pp.904-5 John Marr Founded Maine Branch of Family- William Mountain, Downeast Ancestry, Vol.2, #4 (Dec. 1978), pp.20-2 The Descendants of John and Catherine Marr of Kittery- James F. Jamison, p.2-5