Adelaide (Harman) Kerr (1851 - 1928)

Born 14 Apr 1851 in Canada West

Ancestors

Died 16 Dec 1928 at age 77 in Sterling, Deep River Township, Arenac, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Marie Svedahl [send private message]

Biography

Adelaide was born 1851 in Canada West. She passed away 1928 in Sterling, Deep River Township, Arenac, Michigan, United States.

NOTE:

• The 1861 census says Adelaide is not a member of Charles and Rebecca’s family - while Charles’s brother, John and Angeline, are missing their daughter, Adelaide. It seems she was not with her parents in 1861, instead she was off visiting her aunt and uncle in Mariposa, 25 miles further East of where her mother was in Uxbridge.
• I went looking for John and Angeline’s daughter, Adelaide, and found this one married to David Kerr - she fits in quite nicely. But with only one adopted child we aren’t able to get a DNA test to verify my guesses. Having said that, on the 1900 census she said she had two children - one of whom was still living - so did she have a previous marriage? Or was she referencing their adopted son?
• Have “Married” her to David Kerr but not completely sure it is correct.
• She went from being called “Adeline” to “Lilly A” between 1861 and 1878. It would help if we knew where the “Lillie” came from. Note: her father’s brother, Lewis Harman, has a daughter Lillie Emma Harman born in 1874. So a name in the family.
• Lillie Adelaide Kerr - has her maiden name recorded as Harmon in two places:
  • her Son’s 1915 marriage certificate
  • her 1928 death certificate filled out by her husband.
• Her death certificate gives her parents as John Harmon born Canada (correct) but has her mother as Adeline Gould born Pennsylvania - where it should be Angeline Schell - but Gould has been suggested as Angeline’s mother’s maiden name. So not a name he made up. Having said that - how sure are we that Angeline’s maiden name is Schell?
• The marriage certificate is the problem - most of the information about Lillie is wrong:
  • from the surname Miller - (unless she was married before - her sister married a Miller, so maybe she did too)
  • to her age (unless just asked if she was over 21),
  • her birth place of Detroit (unless residence and place of birth were switched)
  • and her mother’s first name (given as Lilly, same as hers)
  • only thing correct is her Father’s name.
    • Makes you wonder what condition the clerk was in!

Sources

1851 Canada Census McGillivray, Huron Co, Ontario

• John Herman, 28, labourer
• Angelania Herman, 24
• Mary Ann Herman, 5
• Matilda Herman, 2
• Adalade Herman, 1

1861 Canadian Census Mariposa, Victoria, Canada West

• Charles Harman, M, 42, Upper Canada, Married, Labourer
• Rebeca Harman - F, 41, Upper Canada, Married
• Libby Harman - F, 19, Upper Canada
• Peter Harman - M,13, Upper Canada
• David Harman - M, 8, Upper Canada
• Charles Harman - M, 3, Upper Canada
• Adelade Harman - F, 8, Upper Canada - not a member of the family

1878 Marriage Ontario Archives

• Name: David Kerr, 21, Farmer of Turnberry, Huron, Ontario
  • Born about: 1857 in Ontario
  • Son of: Joseph and Ann Kerr
• Spouse: Lilly Miller, 21, of Mariposa?
  • Born about: 1857 in Detroit
  • Daughter of: John and Lilly Miller
• Married: 16 Oct 1878 in Turnberry, Huron, Ontario, Canada
• Witnesses: Thomas Blackstock, Jr and Sarah Nicholson

1880 US Census Marlette, Sanilac, Michigan

• David Kerr 21 Canada Laborer, parents born Canada and Scotland
• Lillie A Kerr 22 Canada, parents born unknown

1900 US Census Adams, Arenac, Michigan

• David Kerr Head 42, b Feb 1858, md 21 years, imm 1879, Father b Ireland, mother b Scotland, Farmer
• Lillie A Kerr Wife 43, b April 1857, mother of 1/2 children living, imm 1859, Father b Canada, Mother b PA
• Elmer J Kerr Adopted Son 6, b Oct 1893 Michigan, Father b Ireland, Mother b England

Son’s 1915 Marriage City of Seattle, King, Washington

• Elmer J Kerr, 21 single, Barber, born Michigan
  • Son of: David Kerr, born Canada and Lillie A Harman born Canada
• Spouse: Elizabeth Rea, 19, single, born Pennsylvania,
  • Daughter of: Fred Rea, born England, and Elizabeth Freelove born Pennsylvania
• Married: 22nd of January 1915 in Seattle, Washington

1920 US Census Deep River Township, Arenac, Michigan

• David Kerr 61 Canada imm 1879, Parents born Scotland Farmer
• Lilly Kerr 65 Canada imm 1856, Father b Canada, Mother b PA

1928 Death Michigan Deaths

• Lillie Adelaide Kerr, 77
  • Died: 16 December, 1928 in Sterling, Arenac, Michigan
  • Born: 14 April (no year but age of 77 = b 1851) in Canada
  • Daughter of: John Harmon, born Canada and Adeline Gould born Pennsylvania
  • Spouse: David Kerr
  • Informant: David Kerr

• Death: "Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952"
  Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, Michigan; Death Records
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60872 #1234255 (accessed 7 February 2024)
  Lillie Adeliade Kerr death 16 Dec 1928 (born 14 Apr 1851), daughter of John Harmon & Adeline Gould, in Sterling, Arenac, Michigan, USA.