RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Dumfriesshire => Topic started by: chinakay on Saturday 26 August 06 19:39 BST (UK)
-
Anybody looking into the children of William KERR and Janet (Jenet) BELL. William was born 1798 in Sanquhar, and Janet 1797 at Bonshawside, Annan. They married 1819 at Moffat and raised their children there:
John Bell KERR was born in 1819, an unnamed female in 1820, Agnes in 1822, Robert in 1824 and William in 1826. There may have been other children but that’s all I’ve found so far. All four adult children are found in Halifax WYS in 1841 and 1851, working as drapers and tea dealers. John Bell died young, in 1846, and his widow Hannah BIRCH never remarried. Robert married Sarah SUNDERLAND (my g-g-grandparents) and lived until 1904. Agnes disappeared from the censuses but apparently died unmarried in Hx in 1880. William emigrated to New Zealand in 1859.
-
I am looking for a Helen Kerr. All I know is she married a James Clazey in the mid to late 1700s. Moffat is present both as a last name and a location in the Clazey line...several Moffats were witnesses at baptisms...and another Clazy married a Janet Moffat. These are all also late 1700s and early 1800s...on a more modern note...the Toughs...my grandmother, Laura May Tough, had a brother named Robert Birch Tough...never have been able to figure out where the Birch came from except it has to be a maiden name of someone!
The Toughs are found in Aberdeen but after locating them in the 1841 Census there, Alexander Tough declared that he was born out of county! Still cannot locate where he was born. That Alexander would have been my grandmother's great-greatgrandfather.
Sharon
-
Hi, I was very interested when I read your your post re the Kerr's of Moffat and the fact that they were tea dealers and drapers and the connection to Bells. The information has a great deal in common with my Kerr ancestors, which may be coincidence, or suggest a link.
My GGG Grandfather James Kerr, born 1801 Thornhill, Dumfries was a Draper. James Kerr was the Son of Thomas Kerr born around 1773 and Janet Black. He was a Tanner and Currier in Thornhill. James became a Scottish Draper and moved to Peterborough and Spalding, Lincolnshire, where he settled. His brother, Thomas was a Tea Dealer and Draper and moved to Poole, Dorset. His youngest sister Helen Moffat Kerr ( I have not worked out the significance of Moffat) lived in Spalding for a time, before returning to Thornhill as a school teacher. Two further sons William and George I believe became Drapers, a daughter, Janet married a Draper and the 2nd son John, Became a blacksmith in Penpont. The eldest son Robert, took over the family business in Thornhill in 1834. One of his sons was Kirkpatrick Smith Dickson Kerr (Elizabeth Smith was Robert's wife), who also became a Draper. The family continued to spread and follow the occupation of Draper throughout the 1800's and 1900's. I believe this included a branch of the family maintaining a Draper's shop in Thornhill into the 1900's.
Your mention of Bell struck a cord and having checked my notes, the 1861 Census shows Kirkpatrick Kerr is recorded as a Draper 4 Eng Street Dumfries, lodger living with Ann Dickson 43, widow head (presumed, but unknown and not proven relation) and Robert Bell 28 and Louse Bell 30, also lodging at the house. Perhaps these were also relations and your ancestors provide the link?
If I look at the English Census and connections to Kerr Drapers and Tea Dealers in Spalding, Peterborough, Dudley, Dorset and Devon, where I know my Kerr ancestors lived, I can also find further Kerr Drapers who I suspect may be related. For example they certainly shared lodgings with Mitchell's McKay's and Munro's who all later married some of my Female Kerr ancestors and a Peter Kerr, also living in Peterborough and a Draper was a witness at James's Wedding.
I have not proven these links but I suspect that Thomas Kerr (1773), whose birthplace I have not confirmed, had brothers who went on to have children who were Drapers and Tea Dealers that seem to have spread out to form quite an extended family business! (all originating back to various Dumfries parishes).
So based on the information, I guess I can hardly claim any certain link to your Kerr line - it may be no more than an interesting coincidence but alternatively there may be a connection. I hope this was of some interest and would be interested any thoughts you have on the subject.
Finally you may be interested in the following will from Scotland’s People, if you are not already aware of it (I guess to confirm any link you would need to order up the will online):
Kerr Jane 19/11/1890 or Bell, wife of James Kerr, Painter, Meadow Cottage, Millmeadows, Moffat, County of Dumfries, d. 10/09/1890 at Meadow Cottage, intestate Dumfries Sheriff Court SC15/41/22
Regards, Patrick
-
John Tough, one my relatives, used to visit his great-grandfather who owned Myrtle Bank in Moffat. According to John, his great -grandfather put in roads. His great-grandfather had a brother George who married a McKay...another brother, Alexander was my great-grandfather.
Sharon
-
good morning patrick, big big welcome to rootschat
Joe
-
This is my first post. I am quite interested in the Kerr families of Dumfriesshire. My 3rd g-grandfather was James Tweedie b. abt 1795 Lochmaben. He married Isabella Kerr b. abt 1782 Pleacairn, Dalton Parish. Isabella's parents were John Kerr and Margaret Esbie. I have no other information on them. Dose this family sound familiar to anyone?
-
Can't believe I missed these posts! And for so long! Sorry everybody, is anyone still there? :-[
Birch...the brother of my gggfather married Hannah Birch...so after reading Sharon's post I'm wondering if the Birch family was originally from Scotland. Hannah and her husband John Bell Kerr had 5 children, and the middle one was Robert Moffat Kerr.
Patrick, so very interesting about so many Kerrs being drapers and tea dealers. I'm sure there's something to it...although I don't see any of the names you mentioned in my bunch, blood is thicker than water as they say and families do tend togo into business together. A young person's best bet is to follow his father's bisuness, as that's what he knows best. I do have a Dickson, btw...Janet Dickson married William Kerr, grandfather of John bell Kerr and of his brother Robert, who is my gggfather.
Isn't it amazing what may turn up when you least expect it?
Cheers,
China
-
I am looking for a Janet Kerr who was born 1807 Dumfries. She married William McGowan. I also have Isabella Kerr who married James Tweedie. Isabella was b. abt 1782 Pleacairne, Dalton Parish, Dumfries. Her parents were John Kerr and Margaret Esbie.
-
First time post so here goes.
Just received a Marriage Cert for a Archibald Barclay Bolt & Marion Jane Kerr.
Marion aged 22 Spinster of Heath Avenue, HALIFAX, father Robert Moffat Kerr Solicitor.
My line is Bolt but very interested to know about Marion and her parents.
-
Hi. I am looking for a Janet "Jane" Kerr who was born 1807 Dalton, Dumfries, Scotland. She married William McGowan. Her parents were James Kerr and Janet Neilson. I have no other information on her parents. If any of you run across this family, I would appreciate anything you have on them.
Thanks
Brenda
-
Here's another contribution to the Kerr drapery business.
My great grandfather William Kerr was born 1849 at Kells, Kirkcudbright, but his parents Richard Kerr and Mary Lorimer were from Dumfries (Keir and Kirkmahoe respectively - both quite close to Thornhill). William first appeared in Whitehaven in 1871 where he was a Master Draper (age 22) with his sister Jane as housekeeper.
William's other sisters Margaret and Agnes were also in Whitehaven by 1881 where they were Milliners and Drapers; brother John let the side down by becoming a Stationer.
William's occupation at various times was also recorded as Travelling Draper.
There were other Kerr drapers in Whitehaven (Joseph and John - also originating in Keir) who I believe are William's cousins.
-
Might as well put my Kerr's in too, also in the clothing business, in case there is a link.
My earliest is James Ker/Kerr Tailor b1771, from Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright, and wife Catherine Wilson, As far as I know they married in Troqueer, they had sons Richard Mundell Ker/Kerr, William, Thomas and John daughters Sarah Whitehead Kerr, Elizabeth Martin Ker/Kerr.
James Kerr.
-
hi maineyusa
I dont know if you have this info but here goes: your janet kerr and william mcgowan are in dalton cemetery, dumfriesshire. type in mouswald cemetery inscriptions on your browser and go to the home page, you will find a list of cemeteries, click on dalton.they are no:5, i was looking for a relative, rachel mcgowan who married my ggggggrandfather benjamin bell approx 1770
AKC
-
hi again mainyusa, i found these when researching my own kerrs,
johnkerr and margaret esbie, pleacairn, dalton, dumfriesshire had william on 21/5/1780 and gavin on 16/2/1778.
AKC
-
I do have the burials, thanks, as I met a living cousin in rootschat, and he so graciously went to the cemeteries and took pictures of the graves for me. I also found them on the Dalton Cemetery Inscriptions website. I have had some luck with others associated with this line in Scotlands People website, and have two birth records dated 1691 and 1742. I am hoping to find something on this Kerr line.
Thanks
Brenda
-
Has anyone established links between the Dalton Kerrs and the Kerrs from Mouswald. My line were resident in Cleughbrae, Mouswald, Torthorwald, and Terregles just beyond Dumfries. Iam interested in tracking the movement of Kerr families in the area. Regards stoop.
-
I hope Ihave not posted this twice as I was distracted . Has anyone knowledge of links between kerrs of Mouswald and Dalton, my line were living in Mouswald, Torthorwald, Terregles and Cleughbrae. regards stoop.
-
Hi again, I am also researching the Kerrs and Bells of Dalton, Mouswald, Cummertrees etc. They have married into Davidsons, Irvine,s,Imrie,s, Dicksons etc. I have found them in Ayrshire, Moffat, Carlisle, Liverpool and some have emigrated to America and Canada.I am still looking for Janet Hetherington who married George Bell ( Cummertrees area ) approx 1798, they had Benjamin, Janet, Rachel, Mary, Ellen, George, Richard and Charles , also Mary Dickson who married George Kerr of Dalton approx 1795- 1800. They had Robert, Janet,Mary, Annie, Anna, and Susan (she married Adam Harkness and lived in Moffat ).
AKC
-
John Tough, one my relatives, used to visit his great-grandfather who owned Myrtle Bank in Moffat. According to John, his great -grandfather put in roads. His great-grandfather had a brother George who married a McKay...another brother, Alexander was my great-grandfather.
Sharon
hi Sharon I'm writing on behalf of my wife to find out about her great grand father john tough who lived in myrtle bank prior to moving to england, his son Percival tough is my wifes grandfather and her mother is nee tough her great grandfather donated a park to the people of moffat any info would be appreciated,my wife jeanette also has a cousin called john tough from darlington england.
thanks john.
-
I can send you his email if you would like to talk to him. He is there in Northern England...freezing according to him! The connection to John...his great grandfather and my great grandfather were brothers...I come down from Alexander who first emigrated to South AFrica, back to England and eventually to Rochester, NY USA.
You can email me at (*) and will send it along.
Sharon
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least three postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
-
Not Moffat, but more Kerr folk - buried Lochmaben old cemetery.
"To the memory of Thomas Kerr in Esbie who died January 26th, 1764 aged 75
years. Also Jannet Sandert his spouse who died May 4th 1767 aged 75 years.
Also Thomas, Robert and Elizabeth, Thomas and James all children to George
Kerr joiner in Rosebank. Also George son of the above who died 20th
December, 1808 aged 72 years. Also Christina Burgess his spouse who died at
Lochmaben 19th December, 1819 aged 77 years. Also William Kerr son of John
Kerr who died --- 1817 aged 12 years, and Jean Kerr his daughter who died
10th March 1833 aged 16 years. Also Helen Bell spouse to the said John Kerr
who died 13 January, 1833 aged 50 or 56 years. Also Jean and Christina their
daughters - Jean died at Lockerby March 1837 aged 14 years and Christina
died at Ohio, America August 1835 aged 21 years. George Bell their son also
died in America aged 31 years."
-
I noticed the Jardine...my grandmother was a Jardine before she married George Spry. Her family tree is pretty complete through the PEI Canada website...her line goes to an Andrew Corrie Jardine. After Andrew things get a bit murky. But the place where they settled was Prince Edward Island in Canada. My grandmother died 4 years ago March...she was 97...made sure all of us were quite aware of the Jardine line...my father's name, now 83, is Malcolm Jardine Spry...born in Canada but living in South Carolina.
Sharon
-
A useful resource for Kerr and others.
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~leighann/index.html
-
Thankyou for the inscriptions and the link. Maybe some day we will get all these Kerr's linked together.
Brenda
-
Hi,
I am Robert Moffat Kerrs great great granddaughter. Marion Jane Kerr had a sister called Agnes Sophia. Their mother died in 1879. Agnes and Marion were both very young when she died (Possibly childbirth of Marion...unsure at this time). Robert remarried a Catherine Kershaw and had 4 more children. He and his brother John were soliciters in Halifax. Robert died in 1905 aged 55 years. His death cert reason was weak heart. John Milton Kerr was convicted of fraud in 1910 and was in prison on the 1911 census.
Agnes Sophia married Ernest Ellis and lived in Bridlington.
I would love to know more about Marion and Archibald. Where was Archibald from?
-
Who is Archibald? ???
Jamjar
-
Archibald Barclay Bolt. "Shetland" had a post regarding Marion and Archibald. I don't know what happened after they married. Marions sister Agnes Sophia was my great grandmother, so I,m keen to know if Marion had any Kerr descendants.
-
Hello I am wondering if anyone can help me find out more about Joseph Kerr and Mary Douglas?
Margaret Kerr is their daughter and my husbands g-grandmother and was born 3rd August 1849 at Keir, Dumfries, Married John Hastings on December 31, 1874 in the parish of Morton, and died on June 4th 1912 at Hazelwood, Thornhill.
Margaret's mariage was witnessed by a John Kerr and a James Kerr who may be brothers (or uncles?), but while I have quite a bit on Margaret, I know nothing abut her father and mother and would be most grateful for any assistance.
-
Hello DLG,
Joseph was the younger brother of my 2xgt grandfather Richard Kerr - see my post of 3 Nov 2008. He had a son Joseph (b 1846) who was also a draper in Whitehaven, with another brother John (b 1854).
I've looked at some notes I had (mainly IGI info), but would need to go back and check these. Joseph Kerr m Mary Douglas 17 Jul 1839, Keir. They had 8 children, including a James and a John.
The parents of Richard (b 27 Mar 1807) and Joseph (b 7 Apr 1809) were James Kerr and Margaret Glendining.
I hope you find that of interest. I'll PM you if I find more details.
-
A post here some while ago mentioned a Kerr who was a joiner. I’m picking up on that slender reed, grasping at straws to find the origin of my Kerr ancestor.
James Kerr Clezie was born 1816 at Edrom, Berwickshire. Kerr middle name was from his paternal grandmother, Helen Kerr, born about 1764, died 1826, buried at Chirnside, Berwickshire. James moved with parents to Edinburgh about 1823, then the whole family emigrated to Canada, 1832. James and his father were described as joiners, carpenters, cabinetmakers.
There was a Helen Kerr b. Nov 1764 at Ayton, parents William Kerr & Margaret Burn, who were likely born about 1725. Ayton is just a few miles from Edrom, the Clezie home. Of all the Helen Kerrs found around that time, she seems the likeliest to be my ancestor. But roughtly the same time, there was at least one other Helen Kerr, in Dumfriesshire! Can anyone tell me what became of her? This boils down to eliminating the impossible; whoever is left will probably be my ancestor. I'm looking for evidence...