William Kerr
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William Nelson Kerr (1856 - 1925)

William Nelson Kerr
Born in Hutchensontown Glasgow, Scotlandmap
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 22 Mar 1876 in Otago, New Zealandmap
Husband of — married 2 Jan 1899 (to 1914) in Newton, Auckland, Auckland, New Zealandmap
Husband of — married 2 Sep 1914 in Christchurch, New Zealandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 69 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealandmap
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Profile last modified | Created 19 Dec 2015
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Biography

William was born in Glasgow about 1861.

He was married three times.

His first wife was Elizabeth Montgomery, whom he married on the 22 March 1876. [1]

William married Althea Beatrice Dorothy ILLING 02 Sept. 1914 at res. Rev. F. Rule, Christchurch at the ages of 53 / 36: divorced, 28 Aug. 1914 / widow, 31 March 1912: b: Glasgow / Waddington, Canterbury: occ: painter: parents: Gilbert & Agnes Kerr, nee NELSON, sea captain. Thomas & Elizabeth Margaret McCausland, nee McCAUSLAND. witness: James McCausland, Christchurch: Marion Thomson McCausland, Christchurch:

These are the children so far identified as being born to them...

  1. Margaret Nelson born 26 July 1878
  2. Gilbert Joseph 1880
  3. Ellen Montgomery Kerr (1881-1958)
  4. William Montgomery Kerr (1884-1953)


He married Margaret Colquhoun on the 2 January 1899.[2] However, their marriage did not go well - it is described in the divorce hearing...,

KERR v. KERR.

:William Nelson Kerr (Mr J. H. Upham) petitioned for a divorce from Margaret Kerr, alleging desertion. The petitioner stated that he was a painter and married the respondent on January 2 1899. Thev lived in Auckland for about nine months, where be had a good business. His wife complained about the dullness of the life, and left him for Sydney at the end of 1899. When going she said that she did not like Auckland or the people in it, She sold his furniture to a dealer while he was awav at work. He followed her to Sydney as soon as possible, and they were reconciled. In 1902 the respondent left Sydney for New Zealand on a holiday to see her people, but three months later wrote to say that she would not return to Australia. He sold up his business and followed her to Lawrence, Otago. and they were reconciled. They settled down in Christchurch, but in 1905, when times were bad and he had to curtail expenditure, she again grew dissatisfied. She said that she wanted to go to work as a housekeeper, selling the furniture when she went, Some time. afterwards he asked her to return, but she refused and told him to get a divorce. He had asked her several times to return, but without avail. Edward A. Goodwin, gardener, also gave evidence. A decree nisi, with the usual permission to move to have it made absolute, was granted. [3]

William's third and last marriage was to Althello Beatrice Dorothy Illing on the 2 September 1914. The marriage took place at the residence of the Reverend F Rule. [4]

William was living in Melrose Street when he heard that his eldest son, Gilbert J Kerr was on his way home...

Mr W. N. Kerr, Melrose Street, has received advice that his eldest son, Gunner Gilbert J. Kerr, Wellington Mounted Rifles, Sixth Reinforcements, is returning to New Zealand by the Northumberland, arriving on May 9.[5]

He died on the 29 September 1925, aged 64. [6] and his funeral was held on the 2 October, when he was buried in the Linwood Cemetery. His grave is in Block 13, Plot 44. He shares this plot with Elizabeth Margaret McCausland, his third wife's mother. [7] [8]

An obituary was published...

MR W. N. KERR.
Mr W. N. Kerr, for many years painter and signwriter to the Christchurch City Council, died last week. Mr Kerr was born in Glasgow and came out to Port Chalmers in the sailing ship "Janet Court" in 1874. In his youth he served as a naval cadet on board the Black Prince. He joined the naval forces sent out to the Soudan, and also saw some service during the Maori War.
In 1886 he joined the staff of the Seacliff Mental Hospital as painter and attendant and remained in that position til 1897.
He was a member of the Waikouaiti Rifles, and later joined the Sydney National Guards. He was a member of the Veterans' Association of Army, Navy, and Auxiliary Forces, and was also a member of several Masonic Lodges.
The funeral took place at Linwood Cemetery on Friday afternoon. [9]

Research

  1. Identify the rest of the children born to William and Elizabeth Montgomery
  2. Is Ernest Leslie Begg Kerr (1898-1958) a child of William and Margaret? He was born before they were married. He was born in Christchurch, whereas William and Margaret were in Auckland, Sydney, or Lawrence at this time. Usually in divorce hearings, there is some mention of the children involved. In this case there is none.

Sources

  1. New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages, https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/, accessed 31 March 2021, Marriage registration 1876/800 for Elizabeth Montgomery and William Kerr
  2. New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages, https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/, accessed 1 April 2021, Marriage registration 1899/1339 for Margaret Colquhoun and William Nelson Kerr
  3. Divorce Court, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19140528.2.106, Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16562, 28 May 1914, Page 10
  4. Transcriptions New Zealand, http://www.transcriptions.nz/, Details of marriage copeid from Canterbury Church Registers, :William Nelson KERR & Althello Beatrice Dorothy ILLING m. 2 September 1914 at res: Rev. F.Rule, Christchurch; ages: 53 / 36; div, 28 August 1914 / widow / 31 March 1912; occ: painter; born Glasgow, Scotland / Waddington, Canterbury; parents Gilbert & Agnes Kerr, nee NELSON, sea captain; Thomas & Elizabeth Margaret McCausland, nee McCAUSLAND, farmer; witness James McCausland, Christchurch, Marion Thomson McCausland, Christchurch
  5. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19190428.2.73, Star (Christchurch), Issue 12615, 28 April 1919, Page 6
  6. New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages, https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/, accessed 30 March 2021, Death registration 1925/8468 for William Nelson Kerr, age 64
  7. Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database, https://heritage.christchurchcitylibraries.com/Cemeteries/, Accessed 31 March 2021, Burial details for William Nelson Kerr
  8. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 31 March 2021), memorial page for William Nelson Kerr (1861–29 Sep 1925), Find A Grave: Memorial #124014096, citing Linwood Cemetery, Linwood, Christchurch City, Canterbury, New Zealand ; Maintained by Bruce Andrews (contributor 46996856) .
  9. Obituary, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19251005.2.68, Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18504, 5 October 1925, Page 10




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with William by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with William:

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Hi John, I finally received copies of the certificates I ordered from NZ BMD. I sent you an email with the copies of the certificates.
posted by Rose Boddy

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