KERR, TOMAS [SSNE 2791]

Surname

KERR, KARR, CARR

First name

TOMAS, THOMAS

Title/rank

MAJOR GENERAL

Nationality

SCOT

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

Thomas Kerr served in Filip von Mansfeld's recruited infantry regiment in 1621 for which regiment he recruited troops in the Netherlands (although their nationality has not been ascertained). He was promoted to captain in 1622. He served as lieutenant colonel for the late James Seaton's [SSNE 3474] Riga regiment in 1623. Kerr later served as lieutenant colonel with Melchior von Wurmbrandt's recruited infantry regiment in Riga in 1625 and became a full colonel for a regiment stationed in the same location in 1629. In July that year Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna intervened on his behalf with the governor of Estonia, Philip Scheding, to facilitate Karr's access to land which had been donated to him by the Swedish Crown. Apparently the previous holder of the same land had pawned the property to pay off his debts. Kerr was one of several signatories to a letter to Axel Oxenstierna after the peace of Prague while in Magdeburg on 11 August 1635. This ensured their continued support for Sweden. His military career continued and he was eventually promoted to major-general at which rank he served in 1636. Thomas Kerr's Regiment of Foot served in the Scots Brigade at the Battle of Wittstock in September that year. His regiment was reported as totally destroyed at that battle. Kerr died in 1637, apparently fighting the enemy. Letters from his son and compensation to his widow can be found in the Oxenstierna correspondence.

Sources:

Swedish Riksarkiv, P. Sondén, Militärachefer i svenska arméen och deras skrivelser; Swedish Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1621/4; 1622/2,4,5; 1625/5,6; 1626/3-6,8,9; 1633/11,12,25,26; R. Liljedahl, Svensk Förvaltning i Livland 1617-1634 (Uppsala, 1933), pp.330 and 463; Rikskansleren Axel Oxenstiernas skrifter och brefvexling, first series, IV, p.561 and XIII, pp.482-485. 

Thanks to Dr Adam Marks for the following - TNA, SP 80/9 General King's account of battle of Wittstock (24 September 1636) ff.275-276.

Dr Bernd Warlich also points out the following source: Bogislav Philipp v. Chemnitz, Geschichte des Schwedischen Feldzuges in Deutschland unter dem Oberbefehle des Feldmarschalls Johann Baner von Juni bis December 1636. Königlichen Schwedischen In Teutschland geführten Krieges […]. part. 3, 1. book, (Stockholm, 1855), p.40. Thomas Kerr may previously have been confused in some sources with James Kerr [SSNE 6968]. 

Robert Monro in His Expedition (2 vols., London, 1637) does not mention Thomas Kerr, but only one 'James Carre, Colonel to a Regiment of Scots. and since Major General [vol. II, List of the Scottish Officers in Chiefe, 02].

Some accounts were filed by him in relation to Colonel James Johnston [SSNE 2739] and can be found in: Riksarkivets ämnessamlingar. Personhistoria https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0069764_00159#?c=&m=&s=&cv=158&xywh=503%2C2086%2C3790%2C2186

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0069764_00181#?c=&m=&s=&cv=180&xywh=1595%2C386%2C6547%2C3775

See also directly concerning him from Gustav II Adolf in 1632: https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/A0069770_00062#?c=&m=&s=&cv=61&xywh=3252%2C537%2C2430%2C1401

Service record

SWEDEN, VON MANSFELD

Arrived 1621-01-01, as LIEUTENANT

Departed 1624-12-31, as CAPTAIN

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, MELKER WURMBRANDT, RIGA

Arrived 1625-01-01, as LT. COLONEL

Departed 1632-12-31, as LT. COLONEL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY

SWEDEN, THOMAS KARR, RIGA

Arrived 1633-01-01, as COLONEL + CHIEF

Departed 1637-12-31, as MAJOR GENERAL

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY