Tag Archives: orphaned

Banghart Lineage, Kerr

Ethel Reen Kerr – 1910 U.S. Census – Childhood

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Widow, adult child, adoptive child and spinster sister.  A somewhat unusual arrangement.  A fragmented family come together to form a farmer’s household.  As of April 15, 1910 the U.S. Census showed a family in transition.  The four members at dwelling #159 were Ethel Reen Kerr (Age 9), Ellen (Weston) Tenniswood (44), Ralph Tenniswood(19), and Dinah Weston (46).

Ethel Reen Kerr - 1910 U.S. Census
Ethel Reen Kerr – 1910 U.S. Census

Ellen Amelia(Weston) Tenniswood (1865 – 1916) is the head of household.  Her husband John Tenniswood (1835 – 1907) having died in previous years.   Ellen has an unusual distinction, she married her older sister’s husband.   Her older sister Elizabeth Weston (1849 – 1885) was married to John but Elizabeth died young, about age 36.  The widower found a new wife in a younger sister.  And Ralph Lee Tenniswood (1891-1965) is a son from that latter marriage of Ellen and John Tenniswood.

Dinah Weston (1863 – 1910) is yet another sister of Elizabeth and Ellen but she never married and is about the same age as Ellen.

Ethel Kerr and her great-aunt Ellen Tenniswood
Ethel Kerr and her great-aunt Ellen Tenniswood

Lastly, Ethel Reen Kerr (1900- 1996) is identified as an adoptive daughter but that is not official.  Ethel’s mother, Mary Ann “Mae” Tenniswood (1872 – 1900) died at about age 28 soon after giving birth to Ethel.  Ethel’s father George Kerr took the older children to a new household and soon remarried.  Whereas newborn Ethel Reen went to the household of Ellen Tenniswood (her great-aunt/step-grandmother).  

Ralph Lee Tenniswood is her half-uncle. Because while John Tenniswood was the father of both Mary Ann and Ralph, Mary Ann and Ralph had different mothers.

Ethel had a tumultuous life.  Her mother Mary Ann died in 1900.  Her grandfather John Tenniswood died in 1907.  In August 1910, Dinah Weston passed away, soon after the census was collected.  In 1916, Ellen Amelia (Weston) Tenniswood died.  But by 1920, Ethel was married and starting her own family.

Kerr

Joseph Kerr Biography

LINEAGE CONNECTION:  Joseph Kerr (b.1843, Ontario- d.1912, Sanilac Co, MI) was orphaned at age 4, and according to his biography, he was raised by an uncle.  Joseph would marry Mary Jane Woolner and father George Kerr (1869- 1942) and many other children.

His son George would have many children including daughter Ethel Reen Kerr (1900 – 1996).   Ethel would later marry Olin Lyle Banghart (1898 – 1954) and they would have seven children, five boys and two girls. Three sons and one daughter are now deceased: Erskane (1920-2007), Orlin Verne(1928-2003), Joel Dale(1934-2013), and Verna Jean(1924-2002). (Representing the author’s connection)  

Around the end of the 19th century, communities would support the publication of local histories.  These histories were typically focused around the male land owners in the area.   The link is to Joseph’s 1884 profile.

Joseph Kerr Biography 1884

The biography says Joseph’s wife is Mary Jane Woolner and that her parents are Isaac Woolner and Ann.   My other research suggested Mary Jane’s mother’s name was Bridget Connor of Ireland.  Bridget and Isaac married after they were both widowed.   Ann could be a her middle name and Connor may, or may not, be her maiden name.  This requires further research in Canada.

Joseph Kerr Death Certificate

The State Of Michigan has made all death certificates from 1897 – 1920 available on a public website.

Seeking Michigan

In genealogical research, when you hit a spot where you are unable to extend your research, it is said you’ve “hit a brick wall.”

Joseph’s parents are a wall. Joseph’s death certificate says his parents were Robert Kerr and Mary Robison from Ireland.  Joseph was born in April 1843 but he didn’t know the day.  If data is accurate, we can deduce both died about 1847 in Canada (Joseph was 4 yrs. old.) Since the parents were born in Ireland, they must have an immigration.  Joseph was born in Canada so he might have been christened.  A Kerr or Robison uncle was involved for many years, importantly, this uncle could have been a head of household during the 1851 Canada Census.  But more history is needed to trace his roots back to the Old World.  No suggestion Joseph Kerr’s line was ever Irish Catholic.

HISTORICAL NOTE:  In 1843, when Joseph was born, Canada was not yet independent from Great Britain.    His 1867 arrival from the Dominion reflects Canada’s rise to a self-governing colony of Great Britain.

Origin of Scottish Clan name Kerr:  From the Old Norse kjrr meaning marsh dweller, in western Scotland, from Gaelic ciar meaning dusky. Sometimes spelled as Kerr, Carr, Kere, Carre, Keer.   A clan from the 96 miles “Border” region between England and Scotland.  Scottish moving to Ireland brought the name with them,  but the Irish also Anglicized O’Carra to Kerr.