Government spy. John Ker, born John Crawfurd, was the eldest son of Alexander Crawfurd of Fergushill and his wife Elizabeth Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell of Southburn. In 1697, he took the surname Ker, the name of his wife Anna, daughter of Robert Ker or Kersland. Her only brother had been killed at the Battle of Steinkirk, 1692, and the estate had passed to an elder sister, Jean, who sold it to John Crawfurd, who took the title and arms of Ker of Kersland. Ker published his life story as “The Memoirs of John Ker of Kersland, Parts 1, 2, and 3” in 1726. (Sources: “Ker, John (1673-1726),” DNB; Paterson, James. History of the County of Ayr. 1:425-26.)
Government spy. John Ker, born John Crawfurd, was the eldest son of Alexander Crawfurd of Fergushill and his wife Elizabeth Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell of Southburn. In 1697, he took the surname Ker, the name of his wife Anna, daughter of Robert Ker or Kersland. Her only brother had been killed at the Battle of Steinkirk, 1692, and the estate had passed to an elder sister, Jean, who sold it to John Crawfurd, who took the title and arms of Ker of Kersland. Ker published his life story as “The Memoirs of John Ker of Kersland, Parts 1, 2, and 3” in 1726. (Sources: “Ker, John (1673-1726),” DNB; Paterson, James. History of the County of Ayr. 1:425-26.)
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