An addendum to the post above;
- while it has not been possible to find out whether Lammonbie Mill was the actual Mill of the 1503 Douglas-Drysdale ‘brothers’ story, or even whether this mill was in existence some 500 years ago, it has been possible to do some background checks on Mr Kerr, the narrator of the above story from 1909.
Mr Kerr was christened ‘John Rogerson Kerr’ when born on 25th May 1849 in Dryfesdale, Dumfriesshire and in 1874 he married Annie Bell (of Wamphray) in Tundergarth but they had no children.
In the 1901 Scottish Census, Mr and Mrs Kerr were recorded as residents of
Carstairs in Lanarkshire, where he was employed by the
Railway company as a “Permanent way Superintendent”.
In the 1911 Scottish Census at Dryfesdale, Mr and Mrs Kerr, 62 and 65 years old respectively, were then retired and living in Lockerbie, Mr Kerr also reported his occupation as “Retired Superintendent of Way, Engineering Department,
Caledonian Railway Co.”
Mr Kerr died in 1918 and photographs of his family memorial, in Dryfesdale Cemetery, may be seen here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/238465400/john-rogerson-kerrMr Kerr’s
Grandfather, Charles Kerr, was indeed born in
1777, in Dryfesdale, but it has not been possible to find out whether he was a ‘Baron officer’ to Mr Johnstone-Douglas of Lockerbie. Nevertheless, Mr Kerr’s Grandmother on his mother’s side was called Nicholes Johnston and his Great Grandmother was called Rachel Johnston - so the family connections were there - there is no real reason to doubt Mr Kerr’s information about his
Grandfather’s employment on the Johnston-Douglas estate .
Charles Kerr died in 1859, so he did have some opportunities to speak to Mr Kerr, his Grandson (until he was 10 years old) his gravestone is in Applegarth & Sibbaldbie Churchyard, Dumfriesshire and the memorial inscription reads as follows:
In Memory of
James KERR in
Lockerby Mill [Hill], 4th August 1806 aged 80 years
Also Raghall [Rachel] JOHNSTON, his spouse, who died 12th January 1802 aged 66 years
Also James KERR, son of Charles KERR in Lockerby, who died 23rd February 1804 aged 7 months
Also Jannet KERR, daughter of said James KERR, who died 11th July 1819 aged 52 years
Also James KERR, son of the said Charles KERR, who died February 3rd 1829 aged 23 years
Erected by Charles KERR, son above James KERR and Rachel JOHNSTON
[Reverse of stone]
In Memory of
Helen WILLIAMSON, spouse of Charles KERR, Lockerby, who died 2nd January 1837 aged 60
Also above
Charles KERR, who died 22nd August 1859 aged 82 years
Also William KERR, their son, who died at New York 19th November 1835 aged 36 years
From this inscription we can see that Mr Kerr’s
Great Grandfather was called James Kerr and that, as advised by Mr Kerr, he resided in
Lockerby Hill [farm].It has not been possible to find any relevant information about Mr Kerr’s
Great Great Grandfather and Lammonbie Farm.
Regards
