Searching for Kerr Clan

Kerr is a really common name in Co. Antrim. Looking at the 1901 census there were 1508 of them. I really need a bit more information to assist you.

1. Roughly when was James born?
2. What denomination was he?
3. What were the other childrens names?
4. Any ideas of their approx. years of birth?
5. Roughly when did they all leave Ireland`?

Hi there!  thanks for the reply.... So I double-checked and his name is Francis James Kerr was born 07 October 1862, Belfast Ireland, and died 24 Dec 1937 in Montreal. He married a Sarah (nickname Sally d. 1902).  No Idea of denomination....I was brought up in Montreal protestant though ;)    He had a child with Sarah (Sally) called Luciel Helene Kerr (b. 1895 in Whitehaven, Eng).  

He then remarried to a Mary Hunter and had another child called Jean Hunter Kerr. (b. 1920 in Montreal).  It seems he left Ireland in or around 1920's?     thanks for whatever you can do.... I am planning a visit to Irelan in the spring and would love to connect with distant relatives!   thanks, Emily

Emily,

I think the daughter Francis had by Sarah/Sally was Lucy Helena Kerr, birth regd Whitehaven Jan ? Mar 1896 Volume 10b page 622. You can order a copy of that from GRO in Southport, England for ?9.25. That should confirm the mother?s name.

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

Francis?s own birth is before the start of statutory birth registration in Ireland (1864) so you won?t get a birth certificate for him. You might find his baptism but ideally you need to know his denomination. You?ll also need to know his father?s name, but you should get that from his marriage certificate in Canada.

I think he married Sarah Kendall in Whitehaven Jan ? Mar 1884 Vol 10b page 792.

There?s a death for Sarah Kerr registered in Whitehaven Oct ? Dec 1902 vol 10b page 421. Aged 45. That might be her.

The 1901 census for England & Wales has this family (4 children, not just Lucy) at 46 Queen St, Whitehaven:

Francis was a steamship agent and born in Ireland. The rest were born in Whitehaven, so I?d expect the marriage took place there too. So it looks as though he moved from Belfast to Whitehaven around 1884, if not a little before.

Here?s Kendall in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Windsor_Ward/We…

Kendall seems to have moved back to England by 1919. There?s a record of him marrying a Miss Fluck there in Prescot. Lancs in March 1919. (Liverpool).

Elwyn

Hi Elwyn:  Wow   thank you so much!     Just a little confused by your last paragraph though:

"Here’s Kendall in 1911:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Antrim/Windsor_Ward/Wel...

Kendall seems to have moved back to England by 1919. There’s a record of him marrying a Miss Fluck there in Prescot. Lancs in March 1919. (Liverpool)."

The link goes to a Kendall Kerr. Who is Kendall? ....you mean Lucy Kendall or Frances???    You said there's a record of "HIM marrying a Miss Fluck.."

Oh sorry   - I see that Kendal Kerr is their son!!!   

Kendall Kerr married Louise Fluck, marriage registered in Prescot, Lancs,  Jan - Mar 1919 Vol 8b page 1083. Don?t know what happened to that couple after that.

Francis, his 3 daughters and Lucy Kendall (sister in law and housekeeper) are all at 24 Kilmailing Rd, Cathcart, Glasgow in the 1911 census. The 3 girls are all unmarried. Francis is a commercial traveller, in glass. No idea of what happened to them after that. Can?t see any marriages or deaths in the civil records. Perhaps they left the UK?

Thanks for your efforts Elwyn!
Best wishes Emily

Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

James, Florence, Fanny & Lucy all sailed from Glasgow to Halifax in 1914. Kendall & Louise Kerr sailed from Liverpool to Montreal on 5.10.1923 on the Montcalm. (Last UK address Ivy Cottage, Nut Grove, St Helens, Lancs). So that removes Francis John and all his family from the UK and Ireland.

Any remaining family in Ireland would have to be Francis James siblings (assuming he had some). So you need at least his parents/father?s name from one of his marriage certificates (English marriage certificates don?t have the mother?s name), and then you would need to search parish records in Belfast to try and find his baptism c 1862, and then that of any siblings.  Since his son Kendall was Methodist, I would start with Methodist and Church of Ireland baptisms.

A search on the rootsireland site, for Francis Kerr baptised 1862 +/-5 years in Co Antrim, produces 2 possible matches. It?s a subscription site and so you will need to pay to see what they are. And you?ll still need his parents or fathers name to know if either is right.

Wow - this is amazing Elwyn!   I have Francis James Kerr's parents name at home in a doc.  I will find it tonight....and get it back to you!    Again, thank you for putting so much effort into this search - it is much appreciated!    Emily