My wife's ancestors - Kerr - Contents

William Kerr, of Maesmor Hall

St. Catherine's Church, Maerdy.
Kerr memorials are inside this church.
From street view. See also Geograph.
Not to be confused with the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel up the road at Dinmael. See street view.

William Kerr,
of Maesmor Hall,
born 5 Apr 1830 (or poss. 1831).
See entry in Maesmor tree by Lavinia Phillips.
Not at home in 1841 census.
In 1851 census he is living at Maesmor Hall with his step-grandmother Catherine Lloyd and her sisters.
Listed as "gentleman", living Maesmor, at mar 1852.

At son's birth 1853 William is listed as "gentleman", living "Esgair Leferin" (must be Esgair Llyverin), Pennal, W of Machynlleth, W coast of C Wales (see map).
His dau was born in Gibraltar in 1856 or 1857, where he may have been with the army.
They are listed in 1861 census at Llanenddwyn, Merionethshire. He is "Captain Militia". They have 3 servants.

Moved back to Maesmor by 1871:
They later lived at Maesmor Hall.
They are listed in 1871 census at Maesmor Hall, living there with the last Lloyd sister Grace Lloyd. William is "Captain Militia". They have one servant. (Grace Lloyd has 8 servants.) Their children are not listed there.
He was on the committee which managed the estate of Elizabeth's sister Jane Parry after 1872. In an affidavit 27 Jan 1873 he said "I have unfortunately not the slightest doubt that she is and has been unsound mind and is incapable of managing her own affairs".
The committee contributed to the building of St. Catherine's Church, Maerdy, near Maesmor (built 1878, NOT St. Katherine's).
[Hubbard, 1986] says that William Kerr gave the land for the church, and is also credited as being the "designer" of the church.
They are listed in 1881 census at Maesmor Hall. He is "J.P." They have 6 servants. From here.
Listed in [Burkes LG, 1886] as Major of Northampton Militia.
After her sister Jane died 1889, Elizabeth was administratrix of estate, settlement dated 10th March 1890.
They are listed in 1891 census at Maesmor Hall. He is "living on his own means". They have 5 servants.
He is listed in [Walford, 1892] as a Justice of the Peace for Denbighshire and also as Hon. Major of the Northampton and Rutland Militia.
They are listed in 1901 census at Maesmor Hall. They have 5 servants.

Elizabeth dies, 1908:
She died 11 May 1908, age 95 yrs.
See probate. Granted 5 Jan 1909 to William.

William dies, 1911:
He died 10 Mar 1911, age 80 yrs.
(todo) See death of William Kerr, age 80, Corwen, [GRO.UK], 1st qr 1911, vol 11 b, p 253,
See probate. Probate of William Kerr, of Maesmor, granted 22 July 1911 to "Mary Susan Kerr", widow.
Mary Susan is listed in 1911 census at Maesmor. She has 4 servants. Signs herself "Mrs. S. Kerr" [Susie Kerr].

Mary Susan dies, 1961:
She died 16 May 1961, Bath, age 94 yrs (an amazing 131 years after her husband was born, and 148 years after her husband's first wife was born).
William had issue by 1st wife Elizabeth:

1. William John Kerr,
   born 7 Feb 1853, "Esgair Leferin", Pennal, W of Machynlleth, Wales [GRO.UK].

   
   

2. Cecile Kerr,
   Cecile Catherine Vincent Kerr.
   Spelt thus in signature on mar cert. "Cecil" and "Catharine" would be wrong.
   One family tree lists two children Catherine Kerr and Vincent Kerr, but this would be confusion with Cecile's middle names.
   She was born 1856 or 1857.
   Census entries say she was born in Gibraltar as a British subject. (Her father was Captain in Militia.)
   At home in 1861 census.
   Not at home in 1871 census, maybe at boarding school.
   At home in Maesmor Hall in 1881 census, unmarried.
   Living Maesmor as at mar 1887.
   She mar 6 July 1887 to Rev. Clement Todd Davies and had issue.
   They mar in Rhyl, Denbighshire, N Wales. See mar cert from here.

   
   

3. Howard Kerr,
   Howard Manners Kerr.
   Not listed in 1861 census.

4. Elizabeth Kerr.
   Not listed in 1861 census.
   Listed by Robert Deloyde.

   
   

William Kerr on p.584 of [Walford's County Families, 1892].

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References

• Clwyd (Denbighshire and Flintshire) in The Buildings of Wales series, Edward Hubbard, 1986.
  • DINMAEL entry (covers St.Catherine's Church and Maesmor).

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Sources yet to be consulted

• "William Kerr of Maesmor" referred to in papers, 5th Jan 1904, Gwynedd Archives, Caernarfon and Dolgellau, XD2/3794.

• St. Catherine's Church, Maerdy.
  • Has stained glass windows in memory of William and Elizabeth Kerr (or maybe just Elizabeth).
  • A brass plaque to William Kerr in the church.
  • Possibly the old Llangwm memorials were moved here.