Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Birth and Childhood 1.2 Marriage and Family 1.3 Death and Burial 2 Occupations 3 Addresses 4 Census 5 Sources

Biography

Birth and Childhood

John Kerswell was the son of John Kerswell (1834-1911) and Hannah Griffin (1836-1913). John was born at Pitminster, Somerset on 20 Nov 1870 and baptised at All Saints Church, Trull on 29 Jan 1871. ^{[1] [2]}

John was one of six children:

• William Uriah Kerswell (1860-1934) - brother born at Bradford on Tone, Somerset ^{[3] [4] [5]}
• Henry Kerswell (1862-1878) - brother born at Bradford on Tone, Somerset ^{[6] [7] [8]}
• Eliza Jane Kerswell (1865-1957) - sister born at Trull, Somerset ^{[9] [10] [11]}
• Elizabeth Emma Kerswell (1867-1939) - sister born at Pitminster, Somerset ^{[12] [13]}
• John Kerswell (1870-1929)
• Emma Kerswell (1878-1950) - sister born at Trull, Somerset ^{[14] [15] [16] [17]}

Baptism register shows Elizabeth's mother as Anna.

Marriage and Family

John married Lily Garland (1880-1979) at Taunton, Somerset on 19 Jul 1898. ^{[18] [19] [20]}

At their marriage both Lily and John incorrectly reported their ages; they maintained these incorrect ages for most of the rest of their lives (see Kerswell Garland Marriage for details).

John and Lily Garland had seven children:

• Lilian May Kerswell (1898-1997) - daughter ^{[21] [22] [23] [24]}
• Sidney John Kerswell (1899-1983) - son ^{[25] [26] [27] [28]}
• Ivy Pretoria Kerswell (1901-1978) - daughter ^{[29] [30] [31] [32]}
• William Henry Kerswell (1903-1988) - son ^{[33] [34] [35]}
• Edith Mary Kerswell (1905-1990) - daughter ^{[36] [37] [38] [39]}
• Reginald Walter Kerswell (1907-1988) - son ^{[40] [41] [42] [43]}
• Ethel Joy Kerswell (1911-1997) - daughter ^{[44] [45] [46]}

Death and Burial

John Kerswell died at Bathpool, Somerset on 9 Aug 1929 age 58 and was buried at St Augustine's Church, West Monkton. ^[47]

John committed suicide by lying on the railway line (Somerset Coroner Inquest 10 Aug 1929) see John Kerswell Death for more details. John's mother also committed suicide, see Hannah Kerswell Death for more details.

His wife Lily died at Monkton Heathfield, Somerset on 3 Nov 1979 age 99 and was buried at St Augustine's Church, West Monkton. ^[48]

Occupations

The records show the following occupations for John:

• 1891, Farm Servant (1891 Census)
• 1898, Farm Labourer (GRO Cert, marriage to Lily)
• 1898, Farm Labourer (Baptism register, of Lilian)
• 1901, Carter On Farm (1901 Census)
• 1901, Labourer (Baptism register, of Ivy)
• 1911, Carter On Farm (1911 Census)
• 1911, Labourer (Baptism register, of Ethel)
• 1920, Farm Labourer (GRO Cert, marriage of Lilian)

The records show the following addresses for Lily Garland:

• 1898, Shirt Collar Sticher (GRO Cert marriage to John)
• 1939, Household Duties Unpaid (1939 Register)

Addresses

The records show the following addresses for John:

• 1871, Pitminster (Birth (self))
• 1871, Eastbrook Cottage, Pitminster (1871 Census)
• 1881, Bradford-on-Tone (1881 Census)
• 1891, Dawes Green, Trull (1891 Census)
• 1898, Dawes Green, Trull (Marriage to Lily)
• 1898, Turkey Court, Wilton (Birth of Lilian)
• 1901, Hearswell, Trull (1901 Census)
• 1911, Hyde Lane, Bathpool (1911 Census)
• 1911, Bathpool (Birth of Ethel)
• 1929, Bathpool, Somerset (Death)

Census

1871 Census ^[49]

Locn: Pitminster, Somerset.       Addr: Eastbrook Cottage, Pitminster.

Name	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
=======	====	====	==	========	=========
Kerswell, John	Head		35		Somerset
Kerswell, Hanna	Wife		38		Somerset
Kerswell, William	Son		11		Somerset
Kerswell, Henry	Son		9		Somerset
Kerswell, Eliza J	Daughter		6		Somerset
Kerswell, Elizabeth	Daughter		4		Somerset
Kerswell, John	Son		0		Somerset
Griffin, Jane	Niece		2		Somerset

1881 Census ^[50]

Locn: Bradford-on-Tone, Somerset.       Addr: Bradford-on-Tone.

Name	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
=======	====	====	==	========	=========
Kerswell, John	Head	Married	50	Farm Labourer	Wiveliscombe, Somerset
Kerswell, Anna	Wife	Married	45	Washerwoman	Trull, Somerset
Kerswell, John	Son	Unmarried	10	Scholar	Pitminster, Somerset
Kerswell, Emma	Daughter	Unmarried	7	Scholar	Trull, Somerset

John shows correct age.

1891 Census ^[51]

Locn: Trull, Somerset.       Addr: Dawes Green, Trull.

Name	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
=======	====	====	==	========	=========
Burrows, Henry James	Head	Married	32	Farm Servant	Taunton, Somerset
Burrows, Susan	Wife	Married	28		Oakford Devonshire
Sparks, Emma	Wife's Daughter		6		Hillfarrance, Somerset
Burrows, Elizabeth Annie	Daughter		4		Trull, Somerset
Burrows, Walter	Son		1		Trull, Somerset
Kerswell, John	Lodger		20	Farm Servant	Pitminster, Somerset

John shows correct age.

1901 Census ^[52]

Locn: Trull, Somerset.       Addr: Hearswell, Trull.

Name	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
=======	====	====	==	========	=========
Kerswell, John	Head	Married	26	Carter On Farm	Bishops Hull, Somerset
Kerswell, Lily	Wife	Married	23		Wilton, Somerset
Kerswell, May	Daughter	Unmarried	2		Wilton, Somerset
Kerswell, Sidney	Son	Unmarried	1		Wilton, Somerset

John shows incorrect age.

Lily shows incorrect age.

1911 Census ^[53]

Locn: Bathpool, Somerset.       Addr: Hyde Lane, Bathpool.

Name	Relation	Status	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
=======	====	====	==	========	=========
Kerswell, John	Head	Married	37	Carter On Farm	Trull, Somerset
Kerswell, Lily	Wife	Married	33		Wilton, Somerset
Kerswell, May	Daughter		12	Scholar	Wilton, Somerset
Kerswell, Sidney	Son		11	Scholar	Wilton, Somerset
Kerswell, Ivy	Daughter		9		Wilton, Somerset
Kerswell, William	Son		8		Staplegrove, Somerset
Kerswell, Edith	Daughter		6		Bradford on Tone, Somerset
Kerswell, Reginald	Son		3		Bradford on Tone, Somerset

John shows incorrect age.

Lily shows incorrect age.

Sources

1. ↑ GRO Birth Certificate, 1870/Dec/Taunton/5c/360, copy held by Trevor Ellis.
2. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 08 Jul 2017), entry in Trull Parish for John Kerswell, 29 Jan 1871.
3. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 19 Jul 2017) entry 1860/Mar/Wellington/5c/427 for William Kerswell.
4. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 02 Jul 2017), entry in Bradford on Tone Parish for William Kerswell, 12 Feb 1860.
5. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Death Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 19 Jul 2017) entry 1934/Jun/Axbridge/5c/516 for William Kerswell.
6. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 02 Dec 2016) entry 1862/Jun/Wellington/5c/414 for Henry Kerswell.
7. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 02 Jul 2017), entry in Bradford on Tone Parish for Henry Kerswell, 27 Apr 1862.
8. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Burial Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 02 Dec 2016), entry in Pitminster Parish for Henry Kerswell, 24 Jan 1878.
9. ↑ Eliza Kerswell birth date from 1939 Register (see census data citation).
10. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 05 Dec 2016) entry 1865/Jun/Taunton/5c/440 for Eliza Kerswell.
11. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 08 Jul 2017), entry in Trull Parish for Eliza Kerswell, 9 Apr 1865.
12. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 02 Dec 2016) entry 1867/Jun/Taunton/5c/401 for Elizabeth Kerswell.
13. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 08 Jul 2017), entry in Pitminster Parish for Elizabeth Kerswell, 14 Jul 1867.
14. ↑ Emma Kerswell birth date from 1939 Register (see census data citation).
15. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 05 Dec 2016) entry 1874/Jun/Taunton/5c/373 for Emma Kerswell.
16. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 08 Jul 2017), entry in Trull Parish for Emma Kerswell, 29 Mar 1874.
17. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Death Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 05 Dec 2016) entry 1874/Sep/Taunton/7c/156 for Emma Loader.
18. ↑ GRO Marriage Certificate, 1898/Sep/Taunton/5c/544, copy held by Trevor Ellis.
19. ↑ GRO Birth Certificate, 1880/Jun/Taunton/5c/368, copy held by Trevor Ellis.
20. ↑ Ancestry, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 09 Jul 2017), entry in Wilton Parish for Lily Garland, 20 Jun 1880.
21. ↑ GRO Birth Certificate, 1898/Sep/Taunton/5c/305, copy held by Trevor Ellis.
22. ↑ Spencer, Joseph Houghton: "A copy of the registers of the Church of St. George, in the parish of Wilton", 1890, S&N Genealogy Supplies. Baptism entry for Lilian Kerswell, 25 Sep 1898.
23. ↑ GRO Death Certificate, 1997/06/Taunton A59B/247, copy held by Trevor Ellis.
24. ↑ Burial for Lilian Kerswell known by Trevor Ellis (confirmed 13 Nov 2017).
25. ↑ Sidney Kerswell birth date from 1939 Register (see census data citation).
26. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 05 Dec 2016) entry 1899/Dec/Taunton/5c/295 for Sidney Kerswell.
27. ↑ Spencer, Joseph Houghton: "A copy of the registers of the Church of St. George, in the parish of Wilton", 1890, S&N Genealogy Supplies. Baptism entry for Sidney Kerswell, 25 Aug 1901.
28. ↑ Death for Sidney Kerswell known by Trevor Ellis (confirmed 07 Nov 2017).
29. ↑ Ivy Kerswell birth date from 1939 Register (see census data citation).
30. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 03 Nov 2017) entry 1901/Sep/Taunton/5c/288 for Ivy Kerswell.
31. ↑ Spencer, Joseph Houghton: "A copy of the registers of the Church of St. George, in the parish of Wilton", 1890, S&N Genealogy Supplies. Baptism entry for Ivy Kerswell, 25 Aug 1901.
32. ↑ Ancestry. Civil Registration Death Index [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 03 Nov 2017) entry 1978/Sep/Taunton/23/1175 for Ivy Parsons.
33. ↑ William Kerswell birth date from 1939 Register (see census data citation).
34. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 02 Nov 2017) entry 1903/Mar/Taunton/5c/284 for William Kerswell.
35. ↑ William Kerswell date of death from Bristol probate index. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar, Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 02 Nov 2017).
36. ↑ Edith Hooper birth date from GRO Death Index entry (see death citation).
37. ↑ Edith Kerswell birth date from 1939 Register (see census data citation).
38. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 02 Nov 2017) entry 1905/Mar/Wellington/5c/255 for Edith Kerswell.
39. ↑ Ancestry. Civil Registration Death Index [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 02 Nov 2017) entry 1990/Sep/Taunton/23/1282 for Edith Hooper.
40. ↑ Reginald Kerswell birth date from GRO Death Index entry (see death citation).
41. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 02 Dec 2016) entry 1907/Sep/Wellington/5c/254 for Reginald Kerswell.
42. ↑ Death for Reginald Kerswell known by Trevor Ellis (confirmed 07 Nov 2017).
43. ↑ Ancestry. Civil Registration Death Index [database on-line]. Ancestry.co.uk (accessed 02 Dec 2016) entry 1988/Aug/Taunton Deane/23/1267 for Reginald Kerswell.
44. ↑ Ethel Kerswell birth date from 1939 Register (see census data citation).
45. ↑ Free UK Genealogy. Civil Registration Birth Index [database on-line]. FreeBMD website (accessed 03 Nov 2017) entry 1911/Jun/Taunton/5c/242 for Ethel Kerswell.
46. ↑ Free UK Genealogy, Parish Baptism Register [database on-line]. FreeReg website (accessed 02 Jul 2017), entry in West Monkton Parish for Ethel Kerswell, 5 May 1911.
47. ↑ GRO Death Certificate, 1929/Sep/Taunton/5c/316, copy held by Trevor Ellis.
48. ↑ GRO Death Certificate, 1979/Dec/Taunton/23/1362, copy held by Trevor Ellis.
49. ↑ The UK National Archives. 1871 Census Returns of England and Wales [database on-line]. Ancestry website (accessed 01 Jan 2000), entry Class: RG10, Piece: 2367, Folio: 105, Page: 7 for John Kerswell.
50. ↑ The UK National Archives. 1881 Census Returns of England and Wales [database on-line]. Ancestry website (accessed 01 Jan 2000), entry Class: RG11, Piece: 2361, Folio: 14, Page: 19 for John Kerswell.
51. ↑ The UK National Archives. 1891 Census Returns of England and Wales [database on-line]. Ancestry website (accessed 01 Jan 2000), entry Class: RG12, Piece: 1873, Folio: 84, Page: 17 for John Kerswell.
52. ↑ The UK National Archives. 1901 Census Returns of England and Wales [database on-line]. Ancestry website (accessed 07 Sep 2016), entry Class: RG13, Piece: 2273, Folio: 88, Page: 26 for John Kerswell.
53. ↑ The UK National Archives. 1911 Census Returns of England and Wales [database on-line]. Ancestry website (accessed 20 Nov 2017), entry Class: RG14, Piece: 14227, Schedule: 8 for John Kerswell.