Tom Kerr (1861 - 1914)

After Jane’s death Tom moved to Southwell Road, Bangor, Co. Down, where he lived until his death. Records show that Tom Kerr started his own grocery business in Belfast at 11 Dublin Road. The business apparently prospered, as newspaper classifieds from the Belfast Telegraph imply.The 1910 Belfast Street Directory records him as a “tea merchant and agent” at 32 Ann Street, Belfast. Another newspaper reference to Tom Kerr in the Belfast Newsletter, Tuesday, 20th March 1888 reported a court case relating four individuals who had broken into the premises of “Mr. Thomas Kerr, tea merchant, Ann Street, and stolen some money …”

Tom died at Pottinger’s Entry, Belfast from a “cerebral haemorrhage” without “medical attention” . His brother, James Kerr of Clintyfinnan is recorded as “The person causing the body to be buried.” He is buried in Belfast City Cemetery, where his second wife, Jane Woodside Kerr is also buried. A summary of his will reads as follows “Administration of the Estate of Thomas Kerr …… Commission Agent …………. granted at Belfast to James Kerr Farmer. Effects £928 14s. 11d”.

His last known addresses were 32 Ann Street Belfast (which is geographically close to Pottingers Entry) and 17 Southwell Road Bangor. James Kerr his nephew, related that Tom was said to have been “a bit too fond of the drink”. Perhaps this fact is related to his unattended death at Pottinger’s Entry, Belfast. Furthermore, the early deaths of both his wives may also have been a contributing factor to his drinking habits.