Edwin Vespasian Kerr
ID # 8542, (1849-)
| Father | Rev. Sylvester L. Kerr (1832-1896) |
| Mother | Susannah Dawdy (1832-1906) |
| Baptism | Edwin Vespasian Kerr was baptized in 1849. |
| Marriage | He married Sarah Antoinette Bell on 15 January 1867 at Grey County. MS248 reel 7, Vol. 13, page 160 Grey County Marriage Register Extracted from a list of marriages solemnized by Rev. Thomas Stevenson, a minister of the Canada Presbyterian Church for the year ending 31 December, A.D. 1867 Edwin Vespasian Kerr, 22(?), born Canada West, residing St. Vincent (township). Parents Sylvester Kerr and Susan 'Dady'. Antoinette Bell, 18, born Canada West, Residing St. Vincent (township). Parents George Bell and Mary S. Wight. Witness John McKay of St. Vincent. On 15 Jany, 1867 We may only guess why Edwin's age is shown as 22. He was much closer to 18. The 1851 census, which was not begun until January of 1852, asked the question: What is your age as of your next birthday? His age is shown as 3 and this likely means he was born in 1849. The question for the 1861 census was similar, but this census was begun in early January of 1861. Here, his age is shown as 12, which again, would place his birth in 1849. |
| Note | That Edwin's middle name was Vespasian we may take from the registration of his marriage in 1867 in Grey County to Antoinette Bell. The first hint of this is to be found in the 1861 census at Oakville where Edwin, age 12, is shown as Edwin U. or Edwin V. Edwin married Antoinette Bell in 1867, apparently fudging his age a bit, for he showed himself to be 22 when he was closer to 18. Edwin is with his parents as of the 1871 census at St. Vincent Township. He is shown as married, which was initially counterintuitive, for it was reasonable to wonder if he was a widower. Antoinette also appears in the 1871 census at St. Vincent. Initially, she is difficult to find, for she is indexed by Ancestry as Keer, rather than Kerr. She is in the Purdy household which is listed on page 79 of sub-district H. With her is daughter Emma, age 3. Antoinette, fuller name Sarah Antoinette, married again in 1878 at Markdale to Henry Hurd. He is shown as a bachelor and she as a widow. So far as Henry is concerned, this is wrong, for Henry was previously married and had a family. Henry had married an Ann Jane McTavish in 1864 in Grey County, probably in Euphrasia Township, but she went to an early grave, dying in 1875. No death registration has been found for Edwin Kerr nor for Ann Jane McTavish Hurd, though for Ann Jane we have at least a cemetery transcription. Such has been sought for Edwin, for the Bruce-Grey branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society has an excellent array of them available, but, if he is buried in Grey County, his gravestone has not survived. At best, we must believe Edwin Kerr to be deceased prior to Antoinette's remarriage in 1878. |
Child of Edwin Vespasian Kerr and Sarah Antoinette Bell |
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| Last Edited | 17 Apr 2021 |