Here’s an enquiry I received in the last week from Julie Roberts, resident in Lincolnshire but with local family. I think folks might find this an interesting challenge, particularly in respect of an unfound grave in Ogley Hay (presumably St James or the nearby cemetery).
Somewhere in the environs of the the church is an unfound grave to a noted serviceman – can we locate it? Image from my 365daysofbiking journal.
I’ll let Julie explain:
Hi, I love your blog.
I would like to contact a local family history enthusiast who I could talk to about my grandmother’s family. She was Jessie Kerr, born in Brownhills but her mother was from Elgin and her father Charles Campbell Kerr was from Ayrshire.
He was an army training officer and I do have further details of addresses etc. He was a soldier of some repute and was buried at Ogley Hay church yard (I have the funeral notice from the paper) but I have never succeeded in finding it.
My family now live in Cannock, I’m in Lincolnshire but I’m keen to trace Scottish family connections.
Any help would be gratefully received
Yours
Julie ROBERTS (nee Eccleshall)
Thanks to Julie for a great enquiry and challenge for the researchers: If you can help please do comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or hit me up on social media.
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May be on the wrong track
James Chambers KERR [Parents] was born in Dec 1876 in Walsall, Staffordshire, England. He died on 22 Nov 1922 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. James married Mary Jane READ “Jessie” in 1904 in Cannock, Staffordshire, England.
James was counted in a census 1881 in 25 Whittimere St, Walsall, Staffordshire, England. He was counted in a census 1891 in Norton Canes, Staffordshire, England. He was counted in a census 1901. He was counted in a census 1911 in Bridge Street, C, Brownhills, Staffordshire, England.
[Notes]
Mary Jane “Jessie” READ [Parents] was born in 1878 in Norton Canes, Staffordshire, England. Jessie married James Chambers KERR in 1904 in Cannock, Staffordshire, England.
[Notes]
They had the following children.
F i
Jessie KERR was born in 1906 in Brownhills, Staffordshire, England.[Notes]
M ii Living.
M iii Living.
Try this link, it may help
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~kevinreed/family/findex7.htm#KERR
You are on the right track! Jessie Kerr’s Grandfather was Charles William Kerr of Stewarton, Ayrshire. His son was James Chambers Kerr and my grandma was his daughter. So I missed a generation.
It was Charles William Kerr who was buried at Ogley Hay and also his wife, Christina Ross Kerr born in Nairn, buried in Ogley Hay cemetery March 1898.
I have the funeral cards for both and notice of Charles’ funeral from the Walsall Free Press 8th May 1897
that concludes
‘Had the notice not been so short it is probable that the whole of the Walsall Volunteers would have paid their last respects to the old veteran by attending his funeral.
The impressive burial service was conducted by the Rev W A R Hill and the internment took place in the new burial ground attached to the Ogley Hay Church’ – May 3rd
Are these graves still in existence?
The graves will still be there, but many of the markers are fallen or laid flat and overgrown, or are otherwise illegible (my last visit was about 3 years ago). The vicar may have access to, or know where to find, burial plot records, so, even if there is no legible marker, it might be possible to find the grave. It may even be possible to place a marker.
I am happy to help with ancestry, but my subscription to Ancestry only allows very limited access to Scottish records.
Bridge Street would be in Clayhanger.
I will have a look at the online newspaper archive to see if I can find out more.
My broadband is not great in my current location, so please bear with slow replies.
Best wishes, Andy
Thanks Andy – is this St James Ogley Hay?
Findmypast has a Record Transcription (which you may have seen):
1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Skene’s Close, 1, High Street, Nairn, Scotland. Christina Kerr, age 3, born Forstrose, Nairnshire, with family.
Can forward further details
Andy
Just realized this is a red herring!
Thanks Andy – Christina Kerr was born Kinnaird (there are millions of them in Nairn) and married an Ayrshire Kerr – thought for one minute you could be on to something as Charles and Christina’s eldest daughter was named Christina Kerr and they may have visited Nairn at census time but wee Christina was born in 1863. I’m still looking for all their burial places in Brownhills thanks
Hi Julia. Don’t know if you received a message I tried to send before but I live in Hednesford & I also have Scottish roots. I have found some information about Charles Kerr with a wife Christina including his attestation papers if this is of interest to you please contact me . Denise
That sounds interesting and I’ve no idea what attestation papers are could you explain?
Charles and Christina Kerr are my grandma Jessie Kerr’s grandparents. Charles was in the army at Fort George, near Nairn and Christina was from Nairn. They had their first daughter in Rosshire and 9 more children in Burton upon Trent army accomodation and various addresses in Walsall and Brownhills. How are you connected to Kerrs?
Brownhillsbob
Tried to email you, but email returned. Can I please have your email address. Google mail would not go through.
Cheers from NZ
I have your email! Will sort in next few days
Cheers
Bob
Jessiekerrhopley@gmail.com –