Andrew Todd Kerby

Biography

Sources differ on Andrew Todd's birthplace, Detroit or Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, but agree on the date of 17 February 1797. Parents John Kerby and Alice Donaldson from Ireland. "Kerby's first [children were baptized] on 7 Aug 1816 ... by the Reverend Robert Addison at Niagara Falls" [1] It is said his grandfather went off to fight and die in the campaign to capture Quebec in 1759. His father John Kerby (1754-1841), had been an appentice to a silversmith; later was a successful trader with the North West Fur Company in the "Great West", and spoke serveral native languages., where he married Alison Donaldson (1760- ), marrying in 1781. He suffered an injury, which ruptured him, and he turned to farming. He purchased 200 acres at Gross Point, near Detroit.

Andrew Todd lived in Brant county, Upper Canada in 1821 and married Margaret Macklem who died in 1824 leaving two infant sons. Andrew was a Captain of the 3rd regiment, Gore Militia between 15 April 1823 and 1831.

In 1828, he married Sarah Ann Ransom who died in 1842 again leaving him with children.

He married his third wife, Mary Racey, in 1844. He had a fanning mill in Brantford township in 1852, [2] and a business in Melbourne, Australia. A Melbourne newspaper advertised: FOR SALE. 50 Barrels American Corned Beef, 200lbs. each, for sale, from the ship Wm. Frotheringham. Apply to ANDW. T KERBY & CO, 19 Flinders-lane west. [3]

"He was many years Warden of St. James Church, at Dundas; was Magistrate and Lieutenant in the Militia, and served in the British army under General Wolfe." [4] Andrew Todd Kerby died 14 May 1868 in Goderich, Ontario.

Sources

1. A Memoir of Colonel the Honourable James Kerby, his life in letters. Welland County Historical Society, Cruikshank, E. A.
2. 1851 Census of Canada West citing microfilm C-11713
3. The Argus (Melbourne, Australia). Images may be seen at Trove Digitised Newspapers
4. Historical Outline of the Ransom Family of America and Genealogical Record of the Colchester, Conn. Branch Wyllys C. Ransom (Richmond & Bachus Co., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1903)
5. Denisons of Toronto family tree.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kerby-114