I am still looking for any information on the DICK and JOHNSTONE families from Dundonald area, FRAIL (any spelling), McGINNIS (any spelling)and Murphy from Dalry, Kilmarnock and Kilwinning. I have a new e-mail address.

Barbara,
I would be interested in any info on Murphy in Kilwinning area. My g-grandparents were Jane or Jean Murphy and Matthew Kerr married in Kilwinning in 1849. Their son [my grandfather[ was Thomas Brown Kerr born in Kilwinning in 1863.
Thanks,
Barbara

Barbara, Here is a quick (most of what I know) run-down of my Murphys: Hugh Murphy b. ca 1812 in Ireland, m. Ellen Burns 1833 in Co. Armagh. He was listed as living when Ann Murphy McGinnis died in Dalry 1865. She & Edward McG. were married in Kilwinning in 1852 and lived in Dalry. Her brother, John, also was there. Children of Hugh and Ellen: John,b. 1834, Ann, b. 1835, Ellen, b. 1839, Mary b. 1843, all born Ireland.

I don't know for sure that Hugh went to Scotland. Ann may have gone with her brother, John. I do have specific dates and places for these people, if you think that would help you.

Barbara,
Thank you so much for your quick reply. All I know of my g-grandmother is, her name, Jane or Jean Murphy, married to Matthew Kerr in Kilwinning in 1849, and they lived in Kilwinning while their children were born between 1855 and 1870. Also there was a connection to Ireland but I don't have any information on it. I am at a standstill on this branch of my family.
Thanks again,
Barbara

Have you read all the birth certificates for Jean & Matthew's children? The is lots of data on 1855, especially, and more than in USA for any year in 19th century. Did they die in Scotland? If they did, the death certificates will be very helpful. Good luck. Oh, by the way, my grandfather's sister, Elizabeth Frail, married Archie Kerr in Kilwinning in the 1870's. I don't have the date at my fingertips. There were lots of Kerrs, but could be related.

Barbara, Yes, I found the birth cert. for my grandfather and 5 siblings. I do believe there could be more as my grandfather talked of having many brothers. As for death certs. I do not, as yet, know the year that Jean died but do know it was Scotland. Matthew died in Alabama 3-6-1894, while visiting his son, Thomas Brown Kerr, my grandfather. Thomas died in Michigan in 1953 and his brother Robert died in Georgia in1955. I know there were many relatives in Scotland and also many in the same area in Alabama. So perhaps our Kerrs could be related. My grandfather named one of his sons Archie. I ordered some microfilm of Kilwinning census at the FHL in hopes that will give me some direction to explore.
Thanks,
Barbara M.

I am interested in the names DOUGLAS and KERR in the Kilwinning area. My ggg grandfather Edward DOUGLAS married Agnes KERR at Kilwinning in 1822. Agnes KERR's parents were John KERR and Agnes GILLIES. please feel free to contact me if you think we are interested in the same KERR family.

Ian, My knowledge is limited on my ancestors in Scotland. At this point my info is, my ggrandfather was Matthew Kerr born in Scotland 1-1818, married in Kilwinning to Jane Murphy 1-27-1849 and died in Blossburg, Ala. USA, 3-6-1894 while visiting his son, [my grandfather] Thomas Brown Kerr, born in Kilwinning, 5-17-1863. Since my grandfather's middle name was Brown, I have to assume there is the surname of Brown also in my ancestry. Several years ago I had heard someone in my family had researched the Kerr name back to the 12th century in Scotland but as yet I have found no evidence of it.
I have been hoping to connect with someone researching the same family line.
Regards, Barbara

Hi Barbara - I am also in the position of not knowing a great deal about my DOUGLAS/KERR connection in Kilwinning at this stage but am still looking. I am hoping to get hold of a microfilm which may contain some additional birth information. I will keep your info on file in case there is a connection at some stage in the furture.
Regards

Ian

Hi, Ian; Thanks for your response. I have at this time, on order, several microfilms at the FHL which should arrive any day now and hopefully will find some info. If I find any thing of interest that might make a connection, I will e-mail you.
Thanks again,
Barbara

Unfortunately, I don't know who the parents of Archie Kerr, my father's uncle by marriage, were. The descendants of Archie and Elizabeth are not particularly interest in that line, and I have not had time to look. If I ever run across anything, I will be sure to post it to this site. Good look.

Barbara,
Just recently checked the 1871 and 1881 census for Kilwinning. Found my g-grandparents Matthew and Jane[Murphy} Kerr on Back St or Back Row. Their oldest son was Archiebald age 23 in 1871 and not at home in 1881. Could this be your Archie Kerr? He would be the older brother of my grandfather [Thomas Brown Kerr born 5 17 1863}. If you want any more of the info I found on this family e-mail me.
Regards,
Barbara

You are a dear! That most certainly could be our Archibald Kerr. I would like to have whatever you know, and perhaps I can get his death certificate from Alabama. The problem is, that state did not require certificates until the 1920's, however, some counties did record them. It should give his parents' names. Maybe I can get his descendants interested if they realize data is available. Thank you SO much.
Barbara

Barbara, If your Achiebald Kerr died in Alabama, it would seem more likely that he was related to my grandfather[Thomas Brown Kerr b 5-17-1863] since Thomas also went to Alabama after leaving Scotland. I don't have a lot of info yet but here's what I have so far.
1871 Census for Kilwinning, Village of Bensley page 12
52 Back St.
Matthew Kerr Head 53 yrs coal miner born in Dalry
Jane " wife 43 " born in Kilwinning
Archiebald " son 23 " coal miner " " "
James " son 21" " " " " "
Jane " daug 18 " Bonnet knitter " " "
William " son 15 " coal miner " " "
Matthew " son 10 " scholar " " "
Thomas " son 8 " "" " " "
Mary " daug 6 " " " "
Robert " son 9 mo " " "
On the 1881 they lived on the same st and only the last 3 children were at home.
Matthew and Jane {Murphy] Kerr were married 1-27-1849 in Kilwinning. I don't have confirmation on that date.
Thomas [my grandfather] came to USA in the late 1880s and settled in Alabama and was a coal miner. His father Matthew came to Alabama and died there 3-6-1894 in Blossburg, Jefferson County, Alabama.
Do you have a date for the death of Archiebald in Alabama?
There are supposed to be some old records with the health dept in Alabama but as yet I haven't tried contacting them. I am also trying to locate Matthew death cert. Thomas and his family move to Michigan in the early 1900s and I don't have any one to contact in Ala.
Hope this helps!
Barbara

BINGO! Elizabeth Frail (my father's aunt) lived at Bensley Square. She and Archie went to Jefferson Co., Al in the early 1880's. My grandparents and several friends from Kilwinning went in 1884. They were mostly coal miners. I will look for the data their descendants gave me 20 years ago. As I told you, they are not particularly interested in this branch of the family. I think perhaps they consider them the "poor relations"! If I can get to AL with time to spare, I can probably find a death certificate or perhaps they can they me where he and Lizzie are buried. I will e-mail you.

I'm researching Mary McCaig who married Hugh Friel in Kilmarnock. Hugh was born in Dumbarton, Sct.

Can you give me any dates? My family was in Kilmarnock in 1815, and possibly earlier and later. They lived in Kilwinning a long time. The only Kilmarnock record I have is an OPR for a birth in 1815. I haven't tried to research the census for 1841, which may be useful, if I ever have time!