Help with Kerr in Paisley please

[Eidde]

I'll look forward to it - 4th cousin twice removed! (I think - I never was very good at working those things out).

Eddie

[mabl]

Not sure where you have reached in your searches but having just found this request thought I would add my piece.  Gavin Kerr (1787-1870) is my GGGGrandfather married to Catherine Smith in 1809 and had  8 children (7girls and 1 son) one of whom Isabella (1820-74) is my GGGrandmother married to William Gillespie in 1849.   (Gavin subsequently married Jean Hogg in 1823 and had 2 further children) You can find a picture of Gavin Kerr in the Paisley Museum and his obituary in Paisley Library.  His will is also available through Scotlands People website which gives a good rundown of his family.

He was a thread manufacturer - John Kerr & Sons - his father John Kerr was married to Janet Dunlop in 1778- they had 4 children - Gavin, Thomas John and Agnes.  Their house address was 27 Gordon's Lane and the Manufactory at 28 Gordon's Lane.  Hope this is of some interest

[Eidde]

Hello mabl

Another distant cousin! We'll have enough for a reunion soon!

Gavin was my GGGGrandfather too and I'm descended from his son John.  Blanched (see above) is also descended from Isabella.

Thanks for the extra information. I might have a look at Gavin's will in due course, but I think the picture and the obituary will be beyond my reach for some time.  Is the picture a photo or a painting?  Do you know where the obituary appears - is it an old newspaper?

Eddie

[Blanched]

Hello mabl,

How interesting to hear from another distant cousin. I'm not descended from your Isabella but from John Kerr & Janet Dunlop's daughter Isabella. She was baptised on 9 February 1800. I've got a couple of other children for John & Janet too (all on the IGI) - James, baptised 12 Mar 1795 & Janet baptised 4 Oct 1798 (2 earlier Janets b. 11 Mar 1790 & Janet b. 7 Nov 1793 must have died in infancy). I have information on the descendents of Gavin, John & Isabella but not on any of the others.

I'm interested in the 8 children to Gavin & Catherine. I've only got 6 - Janet, Agnes, Catherine, Margaret, John & Isabella. I have no information on Margaret apart from her birth but have been able to follow up the others & the 1 surviving daughter of Gavin's 2nd marriage, Jean born 1826.

Best wishes, BlancheD

[mabl]

Sorry not to respond before.  I have the words of the obituary from a newspaper in Paisley Library archives but forgot to get the reference.  Also will need to check out the picture - he was in a group of Paisley worthies.  Will try to visit the Museum this week and get back to you.

[Eidde]

Many thanks for this, Mabl. I managed to get a transcription of the obituary - one of the librarians at the Paisley Library was kind enough to do that for me.  But any help you can provide with the picture would be much appreciated.

All the best

Eddie

[moutonmaster]

Hello!

Eidde, I was very surprised to find someone mentioning EBK on the internets...and can only think that with names like DeSales in your signature and a residence of Sydney, you are my uncle!

If so, hello.

If not, hello, and how are you related?

I have EBK's birth cert scan if you'd like it, along with some photos. Her father was indeed Thomas Kerr.

Would be keen to hear what you have on the French side too!

D

[Eidde]

Hi D

I am indeed your uncle - nice to hear from you!

I'll send you a personal message - you may not be able to reply through the same system (until you have made 3 posts here) so I'll include an email address.

[mabl]

I visited Paisley Museum at the weekend and found the painting that I had previously mentioned.  It is of a group of Paisely men at Paisley Cross in 1868.  I was wrong to say it included Gavin Kerr it is in fact William Gillespie (my gt gt grandfather) who married Gavin Kerr's daughter isabella.  The painting is by James F Christie and I was told it had only recenly come out of store for the current exhibition that is on.  There is also a John Kerr in the painting which has a Key to identify all the characters in it. Not sure if that is a relative. I found a copy of this painting in a book entitled The Paisley Thread Industry by Matthew Blair published in 1907.