My wife's ancestors - Kerr - Contents

John James Kerr

Autograph of Harriett Russ.
Fragment of lost letter to her dau Mary.
See larger and full size.

John James Kerr,
born 18 Mar 1799.
Descendant of Robert III, King of Scotland and of Henry I.
See entry in Wyndham Marsh genealogy.
His father came to Plas Issa, Wales, through a 2nd marriage in 1814.
John James became officer in Royal Navy.

His father came to Maesmor, Wales, through a 3rd marriage in 1829.
His children were born in various places as he travelled with the Navy.
His son was born at Selsey, near Portsmouth, in Apr 1830.
He was appointed Lieutenant in Royal Navy on 13 Aug 1830.
He is listed as Lieutenant in [Navy List, Sept 1830].
His son was born in Jersey, Channel Islands, in 1832.
His son was baptised at Boulogne-sur-Mer, NE France, in 1836. At son's baptism he is listed as Lieutenant, living Rue de l'Hopital, Boulogne-sur-Mer (outside the old city, see map).
At dau's birth 1838, he is living at the port of Harwich, Essex. Lieutenant in Royal Navy.
Another dau born Harwich in 1840.
They are listed in 1841 census at High St, Llangollen Abbot (or Llangollen Abad), Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales (see map, some distance E of his father's house Maesmor).
His dau was born 1842 or 1843 at Llangollen.
His father died 1843.
His son Frank possibly born Northampton in 1844.
Still listed as Lieutenant in [Navy List, Jan 1850].
His step-mother died 1859.
Listed as Lieutenant on half-pay in [Navy List, Mar 1860].
They moved to the area of Crickhowell, NW of Abergavenny, SE Wales (see map).
They are listed in 1861 census as living in lodgings at Oak House (unidentified), Crickhowell. He is Lieutenant.

Commander in Royal Navy:
Appointed Commander 1 July 1864.
Listed as Commander in [Navy List, June 1865] and [Navy List, Mar 1870].

He moved to Moor Park, Llanbedr, near Crickhowell, Wales.
He wrote letter of 2 Feb 1870 from Moor Park to his son-in-law Arthur Augustus Gibbon. After death of Arthur's mother.
Listed as Commander on retired list in [Navy List, June 1870] and [Navy List, Dec 1871].
They are listed in 1871 census at Moor Park. He is "Retired Commander R.N."
At death he is described as "Captain in the Navy, on half pay". But can't see how he could be Captain (already retired as Commander). Described as Captain at his son Frank's mar.

John James dies, 1872:
He died 3 Jan 1872, age 72 yrs [GRO.UK] at Druid's Altar, Llangenny (or Llangenau), just E of Crickhowell, just S of Moor Park, Wales (see map).
See Druid's Altar on 1888-89 map from old-maps.co.uk.
Not listed in [Navy List, Mar 1872].
He is described as deceased, "of Northampton", at his son Frank's mar, Sept 1872.

[House Book of Arthur Augustus Gibbon] records payment of a periodic allowance to (his mother-in-law) "Mrs. Kerr", late 1870s to early 1880s.
Harriett is listed in [UK census, 1881] at Cwmbach, near Glasbury, Brecon, Wales (some distance N of Crickhowell, see map). She is widow, living on (navy) pension.
She is NOT Harriett Kerr, died Islington, 4th qr 1893 [GRO.UK].
[House Book of Arthur Augustus Gibbon] refers to "Mrs. Harriet Kerr" on 16 Aug 1900. This could be her. She would be a great age. Can't find any other candidate for "Mrs. Harriet Kerr" who was alive in 1900.
John James and Harriett had issue:

1. Katherine Kerr.
   She witnessed mar of her sister Myfanwy in 1859.
   See "Kate Kerr" in Gibbon autographs, dated 2 Apr 1861.
   See another autograph of "Kate Kerr".
   "Kate Kerr" registered death of her father, 1872. She was then living Druid's Altar, Llangenny, Wales.
   [House Book of Arthur Augustus Gibbon] refers to "K. Kerr" on 25 Dec 1906.

   
   

2. William Kerr,
   of Maesmor Hall,
   eldest son, born 5 Apr 1830 (or poss. 1831), Selsey, W Sussex, just E of Portsmouth (where father was probably was in the navy).
   NOT born Maesmor.

   
   

3. Howard Kerr,
   born 15 July 1832.
   [1871 census] says he was born in Jersey, Channel Islands, where his father must have been with the Navy.
   Looks like it says he was born "St. Hellene", but must be St. Helier.

   
   

4. John Manners Kerr,
   born 2 Oct 1834 [according to baptism].
   He was bapt 19 Oct 1836, at Boulogne-sur-Mer, NE France, in the British Protestant Chapel (also called the "Chapel of the High Town"), Rue St Martin, in the old town or the "high town" (see map).
   The 1834 birth date is written in the bapt entry among the 1836 baptisms.
   Perhaps the 1834 date is an error for 1836, and he was born 2 Oct 1836.
   Major in British Army.
   Not to be confused with his grandfather, General John Manners Kerr (died 1843), who he is named after.

   
   

5. Mary Kerr,
   Mary Isabella Elizabeth Kerr, Isabella would be after grandmother Isabella Errington,
   though her daughter's grave has her as "Mary J. E.",
   born 10 Feb 1838, Harwich, Essex [GRO.UK].
   She is listed as living Crickhowell, Wales, at mar 1861.
   She mar 5 Oct 1861 to Arthur Augustus Gibbon [born 3rd Feb 1829] and had issue.
   They mar at Crickhowell parish church (Established Church). See mar cert.
   Mar cert and family bible and newspaper and some family papers say married 5 Oct.
   Other family papers say 15 Oct but think this is error.
   Arthur worked in the War Office, London. She was from a military family. That may be how they met.

   
   

6. Augusta Kerr,
   Augusta H. Grace Kerr, born 1840, Harwich, Essex.
   "Augusta Kerr" wit the marriage of her sister Mary in Oct 1861.
   See an autograph of Augusta, cut from a note to her sister Mary.
   She is at home in 1871 census, unmarried.
   [House Book of Arthur Augustus Gibbon] refers to Augusta Kerr in 1878-79.
   (todo) See death of Augusta Kerr, [GRO.UK], 2nd qr 1881, age 37 (born 1844), Hastings, vol 2 b, p 27.
   [House Book of Arthur Augustus Gibbon] refers to payment "For Turfing A. Kerr's grave in Hastings cemetery" on 6 Mar 1883.

   
   

7. Myfanwy Kerr,
   Myfanwy Jane Kerr, Myfanwy is a Welsh name,
   born 1842 or 1843, Llangollen [census].
   She is listed as living Twickenham, London, at mar 1859.
   She mar 1859 to Rev. Charles Edward Partington [bapt 11 May 1826] and had issue.
   She was age 16 or 17. He was age 33.
   They mar at St Mary's, Twickenham. See entry in par records, London Metropolitan Archives.

   
   

8. Frank Kerr,
   Francis William Caesar Kerr, born 1844, youngest son.
   Apparently born in Northampton [1861 census].

John James Kerr just appointed as Lieutenant in [Navy List, Sept 1830].
See full size.

John James Kerr and family listed in 1841 census in Llangollen, Wales.
His brother Frederick Kerr listed with them.
See full size.

John James Kerr listed as Commander on retired list in [Navy List, Dec 1871].
See larger and full page.

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Moor Park, Llanbedr, near Crickhowell

Moor Park, Llanbedr, near Crickhowell, Breconshire, Wales.
John James Kerr was living here in 1870-71.

Moor Park, Llanbedr, near Crickhowell.
From Streetmap.co.uk.

Moor Park.
From old map. Revised: 1916. Published: 1920.

Moor Park.
From modern satellite view.
See street view of entrance.

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Children

Signature of Augusta Kerr in a book.
See full size.
The book is a copy of the poetry of John Milton, dated 1844. See cover page.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• John James Kerr's death, The London Standard, Wednesday, January 10, 1872, page 7.