Here's an article that appeared in Detroit Genealogical Society Newsletter. It was sent to me by Jane Devlin of Lake Orion, MI
Calling The Marr Families of Early New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Canada, Michigan
On September 4, 1874 this notice appeared in a Lansing, Michigan newspaper: "Marr Family Convention, September 1, 18774: On Tuesday afternoon, representatives to the number of 26 held a meeting in this city at the Chapman House and formed a state organization for the purpose of proving their right to the Marr estate in Scotland... the meeting Tuesday brought together uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces who had not seen each other for years.." As far as the writer knows, this was the only meeting held. It seems evident that it was sparked by the descendants of Lawrence Marr. Data on this family appear in a number of sources, but the "Marr Family Chart," by William Price Marr (1919) - a copy in the Library of Congress - show the family:
LAWRENCE(1) MARR is "believed to have gone from Scotland to Ireland, and then to America" in 1736; he may have settled in Hunterdon Co., New Jersey first, then moved to Upper Mt. Bethel Twp., Northampton Co., PA where a number of the family lived until 1800. His children were: John, b. 1741; David, b. 1743; Alem; Lawrence, b. 1748; Joseph, b. 1750; William b. 1751.
DAVID (2) MARR, b. 1743; died shortly after 1800; m. Sarah ---. David was an early pioneer of Long Point, Ontario and an extensive account of him and some of his family is given in the history of the area. He settled on "Marr's Hill" in Woodhouse at the beginning of 1800. Children of David and Sarah were: Mary, b. 1764; Ann, b. 1767; Elizabeth, b. 1769; Sarah, b. 1771; Lawrence, b. 1773; Eleanor, b. 1775; Susanna, b. 1777; Rachael, b. 1779; Martha, b. 1782, David, b. 1784; Margaret, b. 1786; Judith, b. 1788 and David, b. 1790.
JOSEPH (2) MARR, b. 15 June 1750; d. 18 Sept, 1796 at Northumberland Co., PA; m. 1776 Susanna Price, daughter of David and Hannah (Frampton) Price. Joseph moved from Mt. Bethel to Milton, PA in 1792. Children of Joseph and Susanna were: Mary, b. 1775; Hannah, b. 1777; David, b. 1779; William, b. 1782; Joseph; and Alem, b. 1787.
WILLIAM (2) MARR, b. 1751, said to be buried in Cherry Valley PA; m. Ann --- and lived in Mt. Bethel, PA. Records are sketchy. It is thought, but not proved, that William was the father of the Marr brothers who emigrated to Markham, York Co., Ontario in 1801. The four brothers were: William, who died in 1862 aged 92 years; Joseph; John who died in 1808; and Alem. The petition of John Marr from Stamford "humbly sheweth that your petitioner came into the province about two years ago from Pennsylvania with three of his brothers and their families and with his mother and sister (who are since married) who constituted your petitioner's family, his father being deceased. That your petitioner has a yoke of oxen, et cetera... and prays your Excellency to give him a Lot in Markham for immediate settlement. Granted Nov. 9, 1801." Another source mentions a James and Mary Marr of Mt. Bethel, PA, who also went to Canada and settled in Markham Township. Please contact this writer if you are connected with the William Marr branch.
THOMAS (2) MARR, b. 1753 is said to have died enroute to Canada. He had lived at Mt. Bethel, PA. Charles S. Marr, elected Secretary of the Meeting in Lansing, Michigan was a grandson of this Thomas whose children were: John; Richard, b. 1778; Lawrence; and Michael Loomis.
It appears that probably those individuals who attended the Marr Convention in Lansing were either descendants of the above persons or of other brothers and sisters, or close relatives. Those at the conventions were: MICHIGAN: CHARLES S. MARR, Battle Creek; DANIEL R, MARR, Dowagiac, CORNELIUS M. CAMERON, son of ELIZABETH MARR, Flint; ERASTUS R,. MARR, Caro, Tuscola; JESSIE {my gg- grandfather} , EOS, HARLAN, and CRYUS, Howell, Livingston County; MRS. EUNICE MARR BUTLER, Waterloo, Jackson Co.; PARKER MARR and P.O. NILES, Berrien Co./ A.N. RUNDIO and wife; ALBEAN BUTLER, son of EUNICE MARR BUTLER; Adrian; J.W. MARR, Edwardsburg, Cass Co.; GEORGE MARR, Hickory Corners, Barry Co. ILLINOIS: DENNIS MARR, Waukegan; DAVID CAMPBELL and wife, Durand; and HARRIET KETCHUM, Rockford. IOWA: JAMES F. MARR, Fort Madison; and J.W. Cushman, Sheridan, Cucas Co. WISCONSIN: R.P. MARR, Kenosha. INDIANA: DAVID MARR and P.O. ANGOLA, Steuben Co. LOUISIANA: J.M.B. TUCKER, husband of CALEDONIA MARRS, Natchitoches. CANADA: JOSEPH MARR, Woodhouse, (Mrs. Cambell, Mrs, Ketchem and the wife of A.N. Rundio were sisters, the daugs. of Mollie, a dau. of JAMES MARR, Gratiot Co., MI) {end of article}
Another short article in another DGS newsletter gave the information that John Marr was born in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northamption County, Pennsylvania, 1 September, 1800, son of John and Barbara (Brooks) of Pennsylvania and Markham Township, York County, Ontario. He married in Markham 31 December 1822 to Esther Noble, daughter of Stephen and Ester (Smith) Noble who came there from West Springfield, Massachusetts. John Marr came to Howell, Michigan in 1839.