Angeline F. Cruikshank Kerr in Her Husband's Will

“I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Angeline F. Kerr one thousand dollars…to be paid her as soon after my decease as convenient."

“Also I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Angeline F. Kerr my mansion house and lot in which I now reside situate in the Borough of Blairsville for her own use and occupancy and also all my goods and chattels consisting of beds furniture etc during her natural life or so long as she remains my widow which ever may first occur and at her death or marriage my property and goods and chattels to go or revert to my estate for the benefit of my heirs hereinafter named”

When her husband John Kerr died in 1880, Angeline F. (Cruikshank) Kerr, pictured here, received $1,000 from his estate, equal to about $24,000 in 2015 dollars.

She was also left the use of her home and furniture during her lifetime—unless she remarried. Women in the 19^th-century typically had little control of property.

Angeline Cruikshank Kerr is the 3rd-great-grandmother of Elizabeth K. (Elizabeth – Kenneth – Kenneth – Charles Marchen Kerr (1884-1961) – Milton C. Kerr (1856-1926) – Angeline F. Cruikshank (1821-1904))

Note: The Kerrs owned property on the east side of Walnut Street in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, in the area of what is today Charley Park. Their “mansion house,” which was on the 5th lot above North Street, is probably still standing. Many old houses are visible there using Google Maps Street View.

Further information:

Quotes from the Will of John F. Kerr, 1879. Indiana County   Pennsylvania, Index of Wills 1803-1900, page5-003. Shared by user “Amanda May” on ancestry.com.

More information regarding women and property rights: https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/awhhtml/awlaw3/property_law.html

Relative monetary value calculated at http://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/compare/