Kerr Cemetery
Lot 6, Concession A, Dunwich Township
14369 Coyne Road, Dutton/Dunwich, ON, Canada
Dunwich Township, Elgin County, Ontario, Canada
Gravestone Inscriptions and Burials without Monuments
Elgin County Branch OGS
July 2003
Revised and formatted for the Internet and Mobile Devices 20 August 2017 by Bruce C. Johnson Jr.Latest revision 11 July 2010 by Carol VanHarn
Copyright by the Ontario Genealogical Society, Elgin County Branch 1982 – 2002
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microform reproduction, recording, or otherwise – without prior permission of the publisher.
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This is an abandoned cemetery that was taken over by the Township of Dunwich. The stones were moved into rows on the top of a sand knoll in the cemetery. Some were no doubt lost. The care of the cemetery is not as good as it used to be, since the Tait Bridge on the Coyne Road was removed, there is very little traffic by the cemetery.
The cemetery was transcribed in October 1981 by Shirley Campbell, Dora McArthur, Alice Paterson, Beth Panther, Mary Prud’homme and Don Carroll, for the West Elgin Genealogical & Historical Society.
FindAGrave gives this cemetery as the “Cambelltown Cemetery”
1. Grey granite:
Alexander ERSKINE / 1849 – 1929 /
2. Red granite, flat:
Elizabeth J. DOBIE / wife of / A. P. McMILLAN / 1849 – 1936 /
3. Red granite, flat:
Archibald P. / McMILLAN / 1842 – 1924 /
4. Grey sandstone pillar on cement base.
In / memory of / Dugald / McMILLAN / died / May 26, 1883 / aged 30 yrs / 9 mos / McMILLAN /
5. Small upright grey sandstone.
Mary E. / infant dau of / John and Janet / McMILLAN / died / Dec. 27, 1884 / aged 3 [illegible] / God blesses in an early death / and takes this infant to himself /
6. White sandstone, rose on top in circle
In memory of / Mary / dau of / Archibald P. and Elizabeth J. / McMILLAN / died / April 5, 1884 / aged / [in cement] /
J. A. McMILLAN / died / Feb. 4, 1892 / aged / 1 yr 8 mos /
7. White sandstone.
In / memory of / Alexander DOBIE / late of Liverpool / Master Mariner / died / Oct. 15, 1862 / AE 53 yrs / A native of Torthorwald / Dumfriesshire Scotland /
8. White sandstone, pointed top
In / memory of / William Currie / DOBIE / late of Liverpool / Master Joiner / died / July 14, 1873 / aged / 65 yrs and 6 mos / A native of Torthorwald / Dumfriesshire Scotland
9. Grey granite stone on granite base; round top, crown like with pointed top
Elizabeth DOBIE / died / Apr. 9, 1898 / aged 90 yrs & 10 mos / Sweet is the sleep our / parents take till in / Christ Jesus they awake / Then will their happy / souls rejoice, to hear / the blessed Saviours voice / Alex. DOBIE / died / Oct. 15, 1862 / aged 53 yrs / Wm. C. DOBIE / died / July 14, 1873 / aged / 65 yrs / & 8 mos
10. White granite slab; wreath inscribed at top. “She’s at Rest” inscribed over wreath
In memory of / Margaret McVANNEL / beloved wife of / John TEMPLETON / died Feb. 8, 1890 / aged 24 years / 7 ms & 27 dys / also Margaret / aged 11 days / As a wife devoted, as a mother affectionate / As a friend ever kind and true
11. White limestone slab with pointed top
Christy FINLAYSON / died / Sept. 15, 1881 / aged / 76 yrs / A native of Lochalsh, Ross-shire / Scotland /
12. White limestone slab, rounded top; emblem in circular space, clasped hands inside a wreath
In memory of / Annabella / wife of / Duncan D. FINLAYSON / died / March 1, 1873 / aged 50 yrs / a native of Lochalsh / Ross-shire / Scotland / Jesus has called the mother home / Her flesh lies mouldering in the tomb / God grant her offspring may be blest / and meet her in eternal rest / J. A. Campbell, Bothwell
13. Grey granite in four sectons
East – In memory of / Donald FINLAYSON / died June 11 / 1881 / aged 82 yrs / & 9 mos / A native of Lochalsh / Ross-shire Scotland / A loved one has gone from our circle / On earth we will meet her no more / She has gone to her home in heaven / and all her afflictions are o’er /
South – In memory of / John / youngest son of / Duncan & Mary / FINLAYSON / died Aug. 31, / 18[illegible] / aged [illegible] yrs. / The pains of death are past / [illegible] and sorrow cease / And life’s long [illegible] closed / His soul is found in peace /
North – In memory of / Christena / beloved wife of / Donald FINLAYSON / died Sept. 13, 1879 / aged 86 yrs / A native of Kintail / Ross-shire Scotland
West – Dry up your tears and weep no more / I am not dead but gone before / Remember me and bear in mind / You have not long to stay behind /
14. White limestone slab with double curved top, set in slab at angle; clasped hands and open Bible in circle
In memory of / Archibald / CRAWFORD / died / April 1, 1870 / aged / 61 years / & 4 mos / In memory of / Mary GILLES / beloved wife of / Archibald / CRAWFORD / died / Feb. 8, 1880 / aged 71 yrs / & 6 mos / Native of Argyle Shire Scotland / A few short years of evil past / We reach the happy shore / Where death divide friends at last / Shall meet to part no more /
15. White sandstone, willow on top
In / memory of / Betsy / daughter of / Archibald & Mary / CRAWFORD / who died / June 19, 1859 / aged 18 yrs / 5 mos & 1 day /
16. Grey sandstone,
on top INFANT, on front – Son of / Peter & Ann / CRAWFORD / Aug. 6, 1904 /
17. Four foot square spike of grey sandstone & cement base
In / memory of / Eliza / wife of / Thomas Caleb / ROGERS / died / July 18, 1886 / AE 80 yrs, 5 mos & 9 dys / Friends of physicians could not save / This mortal body from the grave / Nor can the grave confine it here / When Christ our Saviour shall appear / ROGERS /
18. Small white sandstone, small sleeping lamb on front
Only sleeping / In memory of / Infant son of / John & Maggie / BUCHANAN / who died / Feb. 28, 1880 / Sleep on sweet babe / and take thy rest / In God’s arms be ever blest /
19. White sandstone, small sleeping lamb on top
In memory of / John Alex. / son of / P. A. & B. CAMPBELL / died Dec. 23, 1881 / aged 1 yr & 11 mos / & 21 days / A tender babe that sleepeth here / Was much loved by parents dear / Few was his days, short was his race / But hope that Heaven’s his dwelling place /
(FindAGrave gives this as Campbelltown Cemetery)
20. Flat grey granite:
Daughter / Georgeanna M. / MAHON / died Nov. 11, 1909 /
21. Flat grey granite:
Mother / Minnie L. PHAIR / MAHON / died June 23, 1910 /
[a large grey stone on rectangular base, 4 feet tall, with MAHON inscribed on it apparently belongs in this plot]
22. White sandstone, badly broken, two willow trees and a tombstone on top
In memory of / William KERR / died / Dec. 7, 1852 / aged 68 years / a native of Rye Castle / Dumfriesshire / Scotland /
23. Dark grey granite on light grey base, rounded top
James ERSKINE / died / March 10, 1885 / aged 64 years / Margaret ERSKINE / died May 13, 1897 / aged 72 years / John ERSKINE / born June 1846 / died Jan. 1919 / ERSKINE /
24. Large red granite ornate cement base, olive branches on top, scrolls on top, design on each side
Flora B. / WILLIAMS / died / June 22, 1898 / aged 22 yrs / Walter HOOD / died Oct. 10, 1890 / aged 51 yrs / his wife / Mary McPHERSON / died Oct. 23, 1915 / aged 77 years / HOOD /
25. Pink granite, cement base
Malcolm McPHERSON Sr. / 1799 – 1890 / Malcolm McPHERSON Jr. / 1835 – 1912 / Alexander McPHERSON / 1828 – 1917 / McPHERSON, Lumley Doan /
26. Grey sandstone, 7 foot square tower, closed Bible on draped cloth, rose on top of open Bible held in hand. Bible says “Thy brother shall rise again / John XI.23 /
Peter McVANNEL / died / Sept. 15, 1891 / aged 21 years / A native of / Argyleshire , Scotland / McVANNEL /
27. Grey sandstone pillar, 6 feet, with draped urn on top of 18 inch square
South – At rest / In memory of / Alex THOMSON / who died / May 11, 1892 / aged 77 yrs / & 11 days / A native of / Skipness / Argyleshire / Scotland
West – At rest / In memory of / Agnes / wife of / Alex THOMSON / died / June 17, 1890 / aged 59 yrs / 9 mos & 21 ds / A native of / Renfrewshire / Scotland
North – Mary / THOMSON / 1852 – 1926 /
East – John THOMSON / born / Dec. 17, 1856 / died / Apr. 27, 1913 / Margaret / THOMSON / 1875 – 1925 /
Footstones: Father, Mother, John, Margaret, Mary
28. Grey sandstone pillar, 5 feet tall, top ornament broken off
East – In memory of / Charity A. / beloved wife of / Neil McBRIDE / died / Jan. 25, 1885 / aged 31 yrs / McBRIDE
South – In / memory of / Neil / McBRIDE / died / Jan. 16, 1913 / aged 71 yrs /
29. Light grey sandstone pillar, 6 feet tall, on cement base
East – In / memory of / James FORBES / died / Oct. 1, 1866 / aged 38 yrs, 4 mos / & 10 ds / My children dear, assembled here / Their Father’s grave to see / Must not forget that they must yet / Each one soon follow me / FORBES
South – In / memory of / James FORBES / drowned at / Ashtabula Ohio / July 21, 1884 / aged / 19 yrs & 3 mos / Farewell my brother dear / Farewell [illegible] / May we meet in heavenly bliss [illegible] / At God’s right hand no more to part again /
North – In / memory of / Mary / wife of / James FORBES / died / Mar. 3, 1883 / aged 50 yrs. 10 mos / & 12 dys / A faithful friend, a mother dear, / a tender parent lieth here / Great is the loss we here sustain / and hope in heaven to meet again
30. Light grey pillar, 6 feet tall, piece missing from top, crossed fern branches
In / memory of / Neil CRAWFORD / died Aug. 19, 1888 / aged / 49 yrs / CRAWFORD /
31. Red granite square on grey granite base; 6 feet tall, with four peaks on top
McRAE / Helen McRAE / died / Nov. 7, 1882 / in her 46th / year / John C. McRAE/ died / July 24, 1893 / in his 59th / year / Margaret / McRAE / died / Dec. 21, 1899 / in her 95th / year /
32. Pink granite on square grey concrete base; 7 feet tall
Thomas KERR / born in / Dumfries, Scotland / Dec. 20, 1815 / died Jan. 14, 1892 / Gone but not forgotten / Maggie A. KERR / born July 1846 / died June 1848 / Mary KERR / born / Jan. 10, 1816 / died / Nov. 12, 1900 / KERR
33. Grey marble stone on rectangular base, slanted top, 4 feet tall
In memory of / John W. KERR / died Mar. 30, 1904 / aged 80 yrs. 10 mos / Mary KERR / wife of the late / John W. KERR / died Mar. 22, 1926 / aged 93 yrs 9 mos / KERR /
Burials without Monuments
FINLAYSON – St Thomas Journal, 25 July 1917, Page 6, c3 – Died – Duncan FINLAYSON, 95th year, July 21. Funeral July 24 from his late residence Leitch St, Dutton to Kerr Cemetery. No monument found – CVH August 2005
FINLAYSON – St Thomas Times Journal, 25 July 1919, Page 1, c7 – Died – Mrs Mary FINLAYSON, 84th year, July 25, widow of Duncan FINLAYSON. Survived by 4 daughters and 2 sons. Funeral July 26 to Kerr Cemetery. No monument found – CVH June 2010