Version 6.01

11 February 2025

David March © 2014

WILLIAM KERR

William Kerr was born in Scotland in about 1778. Using Henderson directories and census records, it appears that he was working for the Canadian National Railway (CNR) and living with a Robinson family at 506 Ave H South in 1915 and 1916.

Dora, a daughter in this family definitely signed the quilt. There was also a Mrs Robinson who signed who may have been her mother, but none of the Robinsons nor William Kerr signed in the same square on the quilt, so there is no definite link.

By 1918, when the quilt was likely signed, a William, working for the CNR, was living at 719 Ave H South. It is presumed that he married, Jemima (b 1887) some time after 1919 as that is when she first arrived in Saskatoon from Scotland.

By 1920, William, who was still working for the CNR, was living at 210 Spadina Crescent and the family was still there in 1922.

William James Kerr, was born in 1921 and was 6 weeks old at the time of the 1921 census. William Sr died on 14 January 1953 and Jemima on 2 May 1967. Both died in Saskatoon and are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

William is one of two William Kerrs known to be living in Saskatoon in 1918 when the quilt was made. Either could be the one who signed it, but the family’s association with people who did sign the quilt and their residence in 1918 gives some reason to think this William was the more likely signer.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Kerr 2 Tree.

Candidate 1

Candidate 2

William Kerr was born in Scotland in about 1881. According to his obituary, he first lived in Manitoba when he came to Canada in 1906. He had a sister, Jennie, who was living with him & his family in 1911. Mrs O Stephens (possibly Jennie as there is a Jenny Stephens in 1939 Saskatoon Henderson Directory) and Mrs J Cameron were sisters mentioned in his obituary.

Around 1910, he married Annie Cameron in Nokomis, Saskatchewan. Annie who was born in 1884 in Glasgow, Scotland came to Saskatchewan in 1908 and had at least 2 siblings: William (Bill) and Donald (b 1893). Donald was also living with William and Annie at the time of the 1911 census.

After their marriage, they lived in Govan, Saskatchewan. Anne and William Kerr had four children, Jessie (b 1911), Alexander C (Curly) (b 1913), William C (Bill) (b 1916) and Margaret Cameron (Peggy) (1923-1989).

The family moved to Saskatoon in 1917 where William Sr Kerr became a member of the Saskatoon Fire Department and remained with them until his death on 13 August 1939. The family first lived at 513 5th St, moved to 723 Main St by 1918 and, by 1919, were living at 1017 9th St which is where Anne was still living at the time of her death on 21 August 1963.

Both William and Anne are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery as are their daughters.

William is one of two William Kerrs known to be living in Saskatoon in 1918 when the quilt was made. Either could be the one who signed it.

This family tree can be found on Ancestry under the title 3rd Ave Kerr 3 Tree.