John James Kerr
- Sources yet to be consulted:
- John James Kerr's death, The London Standard, Wednesday, January 10, 1872, page 7.
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.
He
mar 15 Apr 1827 to
Harriett Russ
[or Harriet].
She was born 1808 or 1810 or 1811,
Parkstone,
Poole, Dorset, dau of James Russ.
She is "Harriett" in census.
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.
John James and Harriett
had issue:
- 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.
-
William Kerr, of Maesmor Hall,
eldest son,
born 5th Apr 1830 (or poss. 1831),
Selsey, W Sussex,
just E of Portsmouth,
where father prob. was in the navy,
NOT born Maesmor.
- 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.
- John Manners Kerr,
Major in British Army,
named after grandfather,
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.
He is
listed as
Lieutenant
in Ceylon Rifles
at mar 1860.
His residence listed as
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool.
He
mar 19 Apr 1860
to Ellen Lawson [born 1839 or 1840, Nova Scotia, Canada, dau of Robert Lawson, merchant].
They mar
at St.Andrew's (Church of Scotland) church, Rodney St, Liverpool.
See mar cert.
Her residence listed at mar as St.Michaels Hamlet, Toxteth Park (think Liverpool).
They are listed
in 1871 census at 9 Ashburnham Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire
(see map).
He is
Captain
in Army, on half pay.
[Burkes LG, 1886]
lists him as Captain in 27th Regiment,
and also served in
62nd Regiment
and Ceylon Rifles.
He is described in probate as
Major
in the Army Pay Department,
late of Plymouth.
He died 30 Aug 1887, "Grand Hotel", Plymouth, Devon, age 50 or 52 yrs.
See probate granted 14 Oct 1887 to his widow Ellen.
She is listed as of 4 Honeywell Rd, Wandsworth Common, London.
She is listed
in 1901 census
as living with her son at Cathay House, Royal St, Sandown, Isle of Wight.
She is "living on own means".
John Manners Kerr and Ellen had issue:
- Arthur M. Kerr,
born 1861 or 1862, Columbo, Ceylon,
[House Book of Arthur Augustus Gibbon]
refers
to "Arthur Kerr"
in 1878-79,
he is listed in
1881 census
at 6 Golf Place, St Andrew's, Scotland,
he is lodger, Army Student,
his cousin
William John Kerr
was also in St Andrew's at this time,
living with mother on Isle of Wight in 1901 census, he is "tutor", unmarried,
he is listed in
1911 census at
Elm Hurst, Elm School, Penrhyn Rd, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey
(can't identify this school),
he is Boarder, Schoolmaster, unmarried,
died 1928, Bletchingley Infirmary, Surrey, age 67 years.
- Robert Kerr,
think Robert H. Kerr, born 1864, Ceylon,
at home in 1871 census.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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,
mar 1859, Twickenham [her age 16 or 17, him age 33] to Rev. Charles Edward Partington [bapt 11 May 1826]
and had issue.
- Frank Kerr,
Francis William Caesar Kerr,
born 1844,
youngest son,
apparently born Northampton [1861 census].
Living
at home in Apr 1861 census.
"Frank Kerr"
wit the marriage of his sister Mary in Oct 1861.
He
went to Australia.
There is a
photo taken in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia,
in 1871.
He
mar 23 Sep 1872, Parish Church of St Paul, Rockhampton,
to
Emily Mary Perrier
[eldest dau of David Perrier].
See notice
in The Rockhampton Bulletin,
October 1, 1872, page 1.
[House Book of Arthur Augustus Gibbon]
refers
to "F. Kerr" in
1882.
Frank and Emily had issue:
- Howard David Campbell Kerr,
born Rockhampton, 19 June 1873,
alive in 1875.
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.
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.
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.
Frank Kerr, 1871.
Photo taken in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
See larger
and full size.
See back.
Howard David Campbell Kerr, 1875.
Photo taken in Brisbane, Australia.
See larger
and full size.
See back.
