The Remaining Kerrs of Stornoway in 1911

These two families are those of my great granduncles Alexander John and Malcolm.

They, together with their older sister (my great grandmother Mrs Annie Maciver) were the surviving children of Malcolm Kerr of Direcleit and Mary Macdonald of Orinsay.

51 ½ Bayhead St – 5

Alexander J Kerr, 55, G&E, Dock Labourer, b. Stornoway

Mary, 44, Wife, G&E, b. Stornoway

Married 7 years, both children still living. Of the four children from Alexander John's first marriage to Margaret Macarthur (1858-1902), the eldest, Donald, was in Canada whilst the youngest, Alexander John, can be seen below. The eldest of the two girls, Catherine Isabella, had died of tetanus aged 6 but 18 year-old Mary was also still in Stornoway.

Alexander J, 14, Son, G&E, School, b. Stornoway

Murdo, 6, Son, G&E, School, b. Stornoway

Margaret, 3, Daughter, G&E, b. Stornoway

29 Bayhead St – 6

Malcolm Kerr, 52, G&E, Cooper, Fishcuring Yard, b. Stornoway

Margaret, 41, Wife, G&E, b. Stornoway

Married 3 years with no children, these four being Malcolm's from his first marriage to Marion Macleod (1867-1905):

Mary, 15, G&E, Domestic Servant, b. Stornoway

Malcolm, 13, G&E, School, b. Stornoway

John, 11, G&E, School, b. Stornoway

Duncan, 9, G&E, School, b. Stornoway

One thing that slightly mystifies me is why Alexander John was working as a Dock Labourer at this time for, according to his Obituary in the Stornoway Gazettee , he had owned & sailed the 'Lady Louisa Kerr' following the loss of the 'Crest' in 1903.

I can only assume that, by 1911, the competition from steam ships had already proved too much and that even then 'the picturesque sailing coaster has been almost completely squeezed out of existence.'...