Helen Kerr, 1764-1826

[heiserca]

Helen is buried at Chirnside churchyard - the inscription says:

In Memory of
Helen Carr Wife of James
Clezy Who Died 15th April
1826 Aged 62 Years

That puts her birth roughly 1764.  The only Helen Carr/Kerr that has been found born 1764 in Berwickshire was at Ayton, daughter of William Ker(r) and Margaret Burn.  How to be certain if she is the one who married James Clazie/Clezy?  Does anyone have a record of this particular Helen marrying someone else?

There were also Kerr/Carr families that lived at Edrom, Mordington, and elsewhere.  Anyone already have them sorted out, with an extra Helen, not married to someone else?

[Sharon01]

Hi,

More Helen's for you

1760 Helen Kerr, Swinton & Simprin, Berwick (George Ker,​ Jannet Whitlaw)
1760 Helen Carre Longformacus, Berwick (Robert Carre)
1763 Helen Ker, Coldstream, Berwick  (James Ker)

John Clezy born 11/03/1798 Longformacus, Berwick. Parents James & Helen Kerr

Sharon

[heiserca]

Thanks, Sharon.  Those Helens born 1860 & 1863 are a century too late - did you maybe mean to say they were born 1760 & 1763?  If so, where could their records be found? The cemetery inscription leaves us fairly certain that our Helen Kerr was born in 1764, give-or-take a year.

[Sharon01]

Oops sorry, I will modify my post. Records are for 1760's.

Sharon

[Sharon01]

These records can be found on Scotlands People.

www.scotlandspeople.gov.u

Sharon

[heiserca]

Those records are also available (free!) at Family Search.

Helen Kerr, christened on 29 Nov 1764 at Ayton, still seems the most likely wife of James Clazie/Clezie, in three respects:

1.  Her birth year, 1764, matches the age shown on the tombstone at Chirnside:  “Helen Carr Wife of James Clezy who died 15th April 1826 Aged 62 Years”

2.  Names of her children match those of the parents of Helen from Ayton: 1st daughter was called Margaret, 2nd son was William, consistent with William Ker(r) & Margaret Burn.

3.  Ayton, where this Helen Kerr was born, is only about 6 miles from Hutton & Chirnside, home of the Clazie/Clezie family, much closer than any of the other Helens that have been suggested.

Helen born 1764 at Ayton seems to fit, on so many different levels.  Until new evidence comes along, I am satisfied that she was likely the wife of James Clazie/Clezie.

[Sharon01]

I know they are free on family search. Thought maybe might get a little more info from SP records.

Their son John was born Longformacus, so I would not rule out Helen Carre.

Sharon

[heiserca]

Thanks, will keep Longformacus in mind.  Births of their children zigzagged back and forth throughout Berwickshire:
- George 1787 at Hutton
- Margaret 1789 at Polwarth
- Alicia & Helen 1793 at Manbank Mill near Edrom
- William about 1796 not sure where
- James, 1802, Joseph, 1803, Thomas & Mary, 1809, all at Fogo.

Eldest son, George, married Jean Lockie, born at Chirnside, but her parents originally came from Mertoun, in far southwes Berwickshire.  George & Jean moved to Edinburgh about 1823, emigrated to Canada in 1832, and became my ancestors.