Alfred Kerry

Alfred Ernest was the son of Charles and Prudence Kerry (née Mills). Both his parents were born in Darlaston, Staffordshire. Charles was born in 1859 (reg. J/F/M Walsall), the son of Charles Kerry, a blacksmith. Prudence was born in 1863 (reg. J/F/M Stoke on Trent), the daughter of Thomas Mills, a stock taker. Charles (27), a blacksmith, married Prudence (22) at Wednesbury St John on 30 May 1882; they were both resident in Wednesbury. According to the information Charles provided on the 1911 Census they had ten children of whom only five survived infancy or childhood. Seven children have been traced on the census and birth/baptism registrations: Charles b. Darlaston 1883 bap. Darlaston St Lawrence 17 October 1883; Nellie (Ellen) b. Darlaston reg. 1886 (J/F/M) bap. St Lawrence 16 December 1885 (sic) d. reg. 1886 (J/F/M); Alfred Ernest b. Darlaston reg. 1887 (J/F/M) bap. St Lawrence 9 February 1887; Hannah Florence b. Darlaston reg. 1890 (J/F/M) bap. St Lawrence 22 January 1890 d. reg. 1886 (J/F/M); Daniel b. Darlaston 1891 (O/N/D) bap. St Lawrence 14 October 1891; Dora b. Nottingham 6 October 1893 bap Emmanuel Church 18 October 1893; Lily b. Nottingham 1898 bap. Emmanuel Church 17 August 1898 probably died 1901 (O/N/D). Charles and Prudence together with their two children Charles (6) and Alfred (4) were living in Darlaston in 1891. However, by the time of the birth of their daughter Dora in 1893 they had moved to Nottingham and were living at 27 Manning Street. By 1901 Charles and Prudence were recorded on the census at 50 Festus Street with their five children: Charles a labourer, Alfred a printer, Daniel (11), Dora (9) and Lily (2). In 1911 only two of the children, Daniel a carter, and Dora an embroiderer, were still living with their parents who were now at 125 Peas Hill Road. Although Charles recorded on the census that he and his wife had five surviving children it is likely that Lily (b. 1898), who has not been traced on the census, had died in 1901. Their two older sons, Charles and Alfred, have also not yet been traced on the census, although when Charles jnr. attested in 1915 he gave his address as 125 Peas Hill Road and was discharged to that address in 1919. The later CWGC record gives Alfred's father's address as CWGCof 119A Peas Hill Road St Ann's Well Road Nottingham. Prudence died in November 1919 (burial 21 November) and Charles snr. in 1926 (A/M/J Nottingham. Alfred's brother, Charles, attested on 11 December 1915 at the age of 32; he was employed as a fruiterer. He was not mobilised until 30 March 1916 when he was posted to the 4th Depot Royal Garrison Artillery (72612 Gunner). He served in France from 29 July 1916 and was not discharged to the Army Reserve (Class 'Z') until 21 October 1919. He was discharged to 125 Peashill Road, Nottingham, but later gave a contact address of Alfred Street Central, Nottingham. His sister Dora married Ernest Rowley (b. 25 October 1891) in 1918 and in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled they were living on Abbotsford Street, Nottingham; Ernest was a window cleaner (own account). The record of one other member of the household remains closed. Dora died in 1952. Daniel probably died in 1926 aged about 34.

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