In the 1901 census, the family is found in the townland of Letter. The head of the family was the mother, Ellen, a widow, 75 years old, speaking Irish only. There are three children, Phillip (36, ?recte 56), Diarmuid or Jeremiah (50), and Sorcha or Sarah or Sally (30), as well as a farm servant, John Duffy. All the household could speak Irish. From Diarmuid's baptism record, the parents were Philip Kerr and Nelly McCarron. From Diarmuid's marriage records, the father was deceased by 1894.
It is interesting to note that three of the family had material in Irish published by Éamonn Ó Tuathail in Béaloideas:
"A Northern Medley", 4:2, 1933, pp 204–13 at 207 (item VI) from Phil;
"Ashy Pet", 2:2, 1929, pp 148–54 from Diarmuid;
"Seanchus Ó Inis Eóghain", 11, 1941, pp 83–115 at 115 (items 12, 13, 31, 33) from Sarah.
Whereas Phil and Sarah were both unmarried in 1901, Diarmuid was a widower. He had married Marget Doherty, also of Letter, on 17/01/1894 but she died later the same year. Diarmuid remarried on 26/01/1902, to Maggie Diver, again of Letter. By the census of 1911 in Letter, Diarmuid (64) was head of the household, of which Philip (68) and Sarah (62) were still members. With his wife Margaret (38), Diarmuid had now seven children: Ellen (8), Mary (6), Annie (5), Philip (4), Catherine (3), Patrick (2) and Bridget (3 months). The census form is somewhat ambiguously completed but it seems that only the three older members of the household claimed to speak Irish.
Phil died on 27/11/1932, aged 84, and a bachelor; Sally died on 30/11/1932, aged 76, and a spinster; both deaths were registered by Philip Kerr, Letter, a nephew. Diarmuid died on 19/01/1934, aged 73, and a widower; the death was registered by Mary Brennan, Leenan, a daughter. The Kerrs are probably buried at Letter, but there is no marked grave.
Little remains of the Kerr home. Diarmuid's son, Joseph, built a new house opposite, but later emigrated to England.
Reilig Leitreach.