RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: chrisrob200 on Thursday 22 October 20 10:11 BST (UK)
-
Good Evening
Hope everyone is well.
I am tracing Edward without much success.
Edward married Evelyn Carnation Small on 12/4/1924 at the Presbyterian Manse, Gympie St, Northgate, Qld. On the marriage cert he gives his birth place as Newcastle, NSW and age as 26 years.
His parents are listed as John Kerr (Builder) and May Moss. Edward was employed as a Tin Smith at this time and was residing at Leichardt St, Fortitude Valley, Qld.
The next we see Edward is on 14 November 1937 when he died at age 38 whilst living at 171 Beattie Rd, Balmain, NSW and was listed as a Carpenter and Invalid Pensioner. Wife Evelyn is the informant Edwards father is listed as John (Carpenter) and mother not listed. Again place of birth is listed as Newcastle, NSW.
I have established Edward & Evelyn were tenants at the 171 Beattie Rd property and very shortly after the death of Edward, Evelyn returned to Brisbane with their 3 children to live with her parents.
I have been unable to find any birth records for Edward in Newcastle, NSW or anywhere else with parents John & May. I also cannot find any marriage records for John & May nor any birth/death records that can be linked to them.
None of them appear in any Electoral Rolls.
There is a family story that Edward tried to enlist in the Army during WW1 but was too young and he managed to enlist using his mother's maiden name. I am not sure of this however no miitary records have been found. It is believed he was in the Light Horse.
Any pointer anyone could give me will be very much appreciated.
Stay safe
Regards
Chris
-
You might want to ask the moderator to move this to the Australia board.
Jamjar
-
Thank you for the advice, I will do that.
Regards
Chris
-
Edward and parents certainly do seem hard to find!
Doesn't really help, but I notice an Alma Maud SMALL (wife of Albert SMALL) died at 171 Beattie St, Balmain in October 1937 - a relative of Evelyn? or just a coincidence?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1186382
-
Edward married Evelyn Carnation Small
I think her middle name was actually 'Coronation', being born on the day that King Edward VII was to be crowned but he suddenly became ill.
Debra :)
-
Edward married Evelyn Carnation Small
I think her middle name was actually 'Coronation', being born on the day that King Edward VII was to be crowned but he suddenly became ill.
Debra :)
Evelyn Carniton Small
Event date: 26/06/1902
Event type: Birth registration
Registration details: 1902/C/8800
Mother: Annie Boge
Father/parent: John Small
Evelyn Carnation Small
Event date: 12/04/1924
Event type: Marriage registration
Registration details: 1924/B/34686
Spouse: Edward Kerr
Evelyn Coronation Kerr
Event date: 10/07/1942
Event type: Death registration
Registration details: 1942/B/57217
Mother: Annie Boge
Father/parent: John
Jamjar
-
Edward and parents certainly do seem hard to find!
Doesn't really help, but I notice an Alma Maud SMALL (wife of Albert SMALL) died at 171 Beattie St, Balmain in October 1937 - a relative of Evelyn? or just a coincidence?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1186382
Online tree doesn’t have him as her brother.
Birth: 20187/1877 SMALL Albert parents George S and Susan RYDE
Marriage: 6020/1921 SMALL Albert E to RICHARDS Alma M BALMAIN SOUTH
Death: 23980/1964 SMALL Albert Edward parents UNKNOWN BALMAIN
SMALL Albert Edward Death notice 14JUL1964 Death 86 late of Balmain Sydney Morning Herald 15JUL1964
Alma: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123734493/alma-maud-small
Albert: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123734492/albert-edward-small
Jamjar
-
The next we see Edward is on 14 November 1937 when he died at age 38 whilst living at 171 Beattie Rd, Balmain, NSW and was listed as a Carpenter and Invalid Pensioner. Wife Evelyn is the informant Edwards father is listed as John (Carpenter) and mother not listed. Again place of birth is listed as Newcastle, NSW.
There is a family story that Edward tried to enlist in the Army during WW1 but was too young and he managed to enlist using his mother's maiden name. I am not sure of this however no miitary records have been found. It is believed he was in the Light Horse.
Any pointer anyone could give me will be very much appreciated.
Stay safe
Regards
Chris
Evelyn and Edward KERR appear on the Electoral Roll in Northgate QLD in 1929.
They are at Nudgee Rd and he is a vendor.
I do wonder where a tinsmith would acquire the advanced horsemanship skills to join the Light Horse!
Sue
-
He sold pies on a cart in Northgate in 1927
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182125177
Sue
-
Edward KERR was a tinsmith at Northgate when the house he was occupying burnt down.
An inquiry was held.
1925
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182740724
Sue
-
Electoral Roll QLD 1928
KERR Edward carpenter Nudgee Rd Northgate
KERR Evelyn Carnation Nudgee Rd Northgate
1929
KERR Evelyn Carnation Nudgee Rd Northgate
Where is Edward?
1936
KERR Edward Cavendish Rd Nundah
KERR Evelyn Carnation Cavendish Rd Nundah
Ancestry Anglican Parish BDM
18 June 1921 St Thomas Church Balmain West
Groom: SMALL Albert Edward 43y bachelor carter
Res: Great North Rd Ryde born Ryde
Parents: SMALL George commission agent (dec)
DRURY Susan
Bride: RICHARDS Alma Maude 29y spinster
Res: Great North Rd Ryde born Balmain
Parents: RICHARDS Robert moulder (dec)
CATTERILL Mary
Witnesses James REDDY Mary No***g P***L
-
Hi Everyone
Thank you very much for your contribution.
I didn't know about the fire, that's interesting. I had heard about Edward selling pies at the Doomben Racecourse but wasn't sure - seems it is true.
As for Edward's WW1 time nothing found and that is strange. Tinsmith being in the Light Horse comment is a valid point I hadn't thought of.
I was lead to believe that it was the Kerr family that lived in or around Balmain, NSW however with the find of part of the Small family also living at 171 Beattie Rd, perhaps it was the Small family. I will investigate this further. That little bit of misinformation may have sent me on a wild goose chase.I have to admit that I had tunnel vision on the Kerr surname and didn't even check for the Small family.
I have some question marks about Edward's surname - no birth records, no Military records under Kerr or Moss, no death for his mother May Kerr. No electoral records for John & May Kerr. No death for John Kerr with a wife May. No marriage records for John Kerr and May Moss. Something doesn't add up here and I don't know what it is.
Thanks again
Regards
Chris
-
Yes. It does not add up.
One does like to think there is an innocent explanation for the lack of information but I'm afraid it is possible that Edward KERR was not who he said he was.
Some of the reasons for adopting an alias might be,
Deserter from a ship or the forces
A previous marriage still in place.
A child maintenance order.
Crime
Sue
Adding a link to
Australian Light Horse - Full Index, Embarkation Roll: MOR to MOY
http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/2005526/australian-light-horse-full-index-embarkation-roll-mor-to-moy/
You might like to browse the MOSS surname as it is said he used his mother's maiden name on enlistment
-
I do wonder where a tinsmith would acquire the advanced horsemanship skills to join the Light Horse!
Sue
My grandfather was a butcher when he joined a Light Horse regiment.
As an aside my Grandparents and uncle lived in Beattie St, Balmain.
Jamjar
-
That's interesting.
I suppose there was need for all sorts of support skills.
One just imagines they were all horsemen soldiers, but perhaps not.
Sue
-
He rode a horse in the regiment. He was only 5’3’ and 132lbs, so jockey material. ;)
They must have received some sort of horsemanship training, on the fly.
Jamjar
-
Started to doubt tales of my maternal grandfather's Light Horse service in the Boer War. Wasn't to be found in the Australian records.
But by diligent perserverance -and a sheer fluke- I found him on the IMPERIAL Light Horse Roll! This is a War Office record held by the National Archives (UK) in Kew.)
His name had been mis-recorded on the original, corrected in red ink, but then mistranscribed, and reproduced on other lists of members of the ILH roll. His next of kin and their address, in Australia, appear on the original, as do those of his soon-to-be brother in law.
Evidently they'd gone to South Africa together at some stage, then enlisted in the Imperial Light Horse on the 5.12.1900. He was 17 and my gt uncle 22.
In 1913 the ILH, as the 5th Mounted Rifles, fought in the German South-West Africa Campaign as part of South Africa's contribution to World War I.
Individual members served in the German East Africa campaign and in Egypt, Palestine and France.
This info may be useful for seeking "Colonial" ancestors not appearing in their own national archives. It may be a possible line of enquiry about Edward Kerr.
-
Thank you very much for your help.
Regards
Chris
-
I have learned a bit more about Edward.
Edward was mates with a fellow Ernie Colebourne (someone said that they "ran" together - not a compliment I think) and they ended up marrying 2 sisters. On checking I found Ernest Arthur Colebourne b.1898 Brisbane who married Phyllis Pretoria Small in 1924, Btisbane. Phyllis is a sister of Evelyn Small who m. Edward.
Further information is that Edward & Ernie joined the WW1 forces on the same day. I found the records for Ernie and he joined up 28 May 1918 in Brisbane, Qld. Both were supposedly in the Light Horse however Ernie's records do not support that.
This also suggests Edward was in Brisbane from sometime prior to 1918. I did find Edward today in the 1936 Electoral Roll living with his wife Evelyn in Brisbane:
1936 Electoral Roll
Name: Edward Kerr
Gender: Mle
Electoral Date: 1936
Electoral Place: Nundah, Lilley, Queensland, Australia
He was also there in the 1928 Electoral Roll but missing in the 1929 Electoral Roll although Evelyn was listed on this one - jail maybe??
Regards
Chris
Regards
Chris