Illustration by Christal Tillett

Their youngest child William was born in 1843; he died on 20th July 1843 aged just one month. His mother Hepzibah died on the 29th June 1843. As this was about the time William was born, she presumably died in or as complications from childbirth.

Hepzibah’s husband William was a master blacksmith and following Hepzibah’s death he re-married, to Elizabeth.

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The eldest daughter of Hepzibah and William was Hannah.  Hannah was working as a heald striker from the age of 15.  A heald striker job is in the manufacture of the heald.  Heald is the part of the loom which carries warp threads (front to back yarn) and raises and lowers them as needed to form the shed where the shuttle passes left to right.

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Hannah married John Bell Kerr a travelling draper and linen merchant from Dumfries and Galloway.  Together they had four sons who all entered skilled trades such as an accountants clerk and solicitor. They also had a daughter, Janet.  At least three of Hannah’s sisters lived with her.  Her husband owned property and so was eligible to vote.

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Frances, the second eldest of Hannah’s sister lived with the John and Hannah, and worked as a servant before Frances married.  After John’s death both Harriet and Mary lived with their sister Hannah, neither appeared to have married but had their own jobs, and so income. Harriet was a dress maker and Mary was a milliner. Perhaps thanks to her son’s skilled trades, Hannah was able to keep a servant in later life. Her sons appear to have remained living with her during their late 20s, and gave her grandchildren.  Hannah remained the head of the household.

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Mary and Harriet are both buried in the same grave as their parents Hepzibah and William. Mary died aged 42 years and Harried aged 49. Their step mother Elizabeth lived until aged 89 years and is also buried with them.

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Hepzibah and William had a son George. He appears to have married two different women called Elizabeth. The first of whom had three children who died in infancy. She died in 1853 aged just 31 years. George went on to marry Elizabeth Morris. They had a son Joseph who was born in 1856. Sadly he died aged four months and Elizabeth died in February 1857. It seems likely that she may also have died from complications related to childbirth. Her death notice states that she died suddenly. Both of George’s wives and their infant children are buried at Square Chapel

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For more information about maternal and infant mortality see:

Maternal and Infant Mortality​​​​​

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​Researched by Sonya Midgley

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