in search of robert kerlin

The last few weeks, I have been going over the photos and info that I gathered a few years ago when we spent about 1 hour at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.

The Kentucky Death Records are very informative, that is how I could find the address of the last house that Henry lived in.

As I went through the records, the ties that bound the various people buried in the Kerlin plot became somewhat clearer:

Part Lot No. 2 Section A

Name Henry T. Kerlin SQ. Feet 540

Care

Sept. 28, 1876

—————————————————————————————–

Burial No. /Name Of Deceased /Date Of Burial

1. Henry T. Kerlin 10/25/1888

2. Mrs. Mary S. Kerlin 3/14/1880

3. Mary Eliza Kerlin…………../187-

4. Lizzie H. Kerlin………………/187-

5. Child Of Henry T. Kerlin./187-

6. William R. Kerlin…………../187-

7. Robert Kerlin 2/12/1877

8. Westley B. Kerlin 12/3/1876

9. James H. Kerlin 3/24/1895

10. Mrs. Della Macquaid Livingston 12/3/1897

11. Miss Irene Riddle 12/2/1902

12. Mrs.Mary Riddle Kerlin 7/5/1933

Now, if you look at the information, you can see that Henry bought the plot shortly before Westley died. I cannot find Westley’s death in the Kentucky records, perhaps he died elsewhere.

There is a lovely monument on the plot ( one of the first plots as one enters the cemetery). Henry and Mary, his first wife, obviously had buried four babies ( burials 3, 4, 5 and 6) in another cemetery and at this time had them moved to Cave Hill. Next to the babies, lies their Mother, the first Mary( burial 2). Next to this Mary, lies Henry ( burial 1). On his other side, lies his second wife, another Mary ( burial 12). And then two people I have yet to identify.

Across the plot lies Westley ( burial . Perhaps Henry bought the plot to provide a more attractive place for his poor dead babies, but Westley was the first *fresh * burial made at the plot. Next to him, lies a certain Robert Kerlin ( burial 7) and next to Robert, Henry’s only surviving child ( ok, obviously at least for a while), James ( burial 9) .

Uh, wait a moment, Robert Kerlin ? Died 1877 ?

Uh, which Robert Kerlin is this ?

Well, it does not seem to be one of O.B.’s children, he had two Robert’s, but for the one listed in the Death Records, no match. Plus, while there was contact with Uncle Henry, I suspect that most of O.B.’s family was buried at Eastern, read : give up all hope of finding them, and that the family at this point was not close enough to be buried together.

Who is the Robert Kerlin buried next to Westley ? It’s not a child of Henry’s. Well….

Dead a year after Westley, buried next to Westley, across the plot from Henry’s wives and children and Henry himself, I have to wonder if this Robert Kerlin is Robert A. Kerlin, my great great great grandfather, a tailor, the older brother of Henry, the younger brother of Westley.

Could be, makes sense, is logical if one looks at the plot.

But what happened to Jane T. Carothers , his wife?

What happened to John W. Kerlin and William O. Kerlin , the sons left after little Henry ran off to St.Louis and married Maggie Carbis ?

Do you know, there is one of those Family history centers just about a 15 minute bus ride and a 20 minute walk away from here . I wonder if I could get US microfilms to view here.

I only have to wait a few more years and then Meggie will be old enough for me to look into this.

Pins and needles.

The Kerlin’s are buried in Section A, Lot 2 at Cave Hill cemetery, which is just to the right as you enter the cemetery on Entrance Avenue. ( On this map, it is at the beginning of the road marked solid white line, at the top).

Last week, I finally cleaned up all of my sites, which had been bashed to bits last summer. And now I find my thoughts returning to Robert Kerlin.

For you see, last summer my family went on a road trip, which included visiting cemeteries in Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Mount Pleasant, Ohio. As the children put it, during the trip, they met a lot of their American relatives, both dead and alive.

I took many pictures, received a few new documents, and while I want to share these things, I was a bit spooked by the many searches made for one photo- that of my Great Grandmother- during these last few months.

But the urge to work on this site is very strong, and once I can figure out a way to share without getting a heebie jeebie feeling, hopefully, I will resume work on this site shortly.

During my vacation in the States, all of my sites were h**ked. Some were easy to fix, some not so.

I have about 5000 pages to correct.

This site was hit the hardest : everything was wiped out. Through the help of friends, I have been able to retrieve most of the posts. For the moment, however, I have decided to deny access to photos and documents ( well, I certainly hope that this has worked). Too many Google searches looking for photos of my family.

Once I clean everything else out, I can come back here and decide what to do.

You are always welcome to send me an email or leave a comment, should you wish to view certain files.

But, you know, I am human. I’m pretty pissed off that this site was obliterated, that people are looking for pics of my great grandmother, so, give me a good story, and I’ll send the file.

In the 1880 census, we can see that Mary Ann has taken the boys out of the city and seems to be trying to establish Samuel ( now a Kerlin) as a farmer.

Burrell Township, Indiana county, PA, June 16th & 17th:

Mary A Carvis ( Carbis), 58 ,W, F, married, Keeping House, born in PA, father born in PA, mother born in Md. ( 1822)
Harry Carbis, W,M, 18, son, single, works on farm, born in PA, father born in England, mother born in PA. ( 1862 )

Samuel Kerlin, W,M, 22, grandson, single, farmer, born in PA, father born in Ohio, mother born in PA. ( 1858)

It is interesting to note that while Samuel Carbis doesn’t seem to be around, Mary Ann does not tick the box for being widowed.

In an attempt to find Sam Kerlin in the 1860 census, I look once more for Maggie Carbis, for Henry Kerlin. Nada. While the children eat lunch, I decide to look at the census of 1860 once more. One thing I know about the Carbis family is that they usually live next door to each other. Maybe I can find Henry or Maggie somewhere on their street.

And then I look at the Carbis’ neighbors. Oh, look ! A blacksmith lives next door to them, a certain John Joyce. With Margaret, 20, his wife. And a three year old boy named Samuel C….. Could be Carbis, could be Curlin, could be Curtin. And a six year old girl named Rachel Logan, just like Mary Ann Logan Carbis’mother.

What is going on ? I know that Maggie Carbis married Henry Kerlin. Sam Kerlin’s death certificate said that they were his parents and he grows up in the Samuel Carbis home.

Look at the 1860 census again.

In 1860, the Carbis family is living in Collins Township, Allegheny county, PA.

This is the census I have been looking for for a very long time, for Maggie Carbis and Henry Kerlin marry in November of 1856, their son, Sam Kerlin, is born in September of 1858, and by 1870, Sam is living with the Carbis family.

Taken June 19, 1860

The household includes :

Samuel Corbis ( Carbis), 45, m., River Mate, real estate worth $2500, personal estate worth $600, born in England. (1815)
Mary A. Carbis, 39, f., wife, born in PA ( 1821)

Virginia Carbis, 17, f., born in PA (1843)

Anna Carbis, 12, f., born in PA ( 1848)

Pauline Carbis, 9, f., born in PA ( 1851)

Julia Carbis, 7, f., born in PA ( 1853).

I had suspected that Julia Murphy was another sister, and here she is. But I had never stumbled across Anna before.

Maggie is gone, but I knew that. The question remaining is where is her son, Samuel ?

On August 19, 1870, 20th Ward of Pittsburgh :

Samuel Corbis ( Carbis), 57, M, W, Steamboat Mate, real estate valued at $16, 000, personal estate valued at $ 2,000, born in England, father of foreign birth, mother of foreign birth, male citizen of the U.S. over 21. ( 1813)

Mary A. Carbis, 48, F, W, keeps house, born in PA . ( 1822)

Harry J. Carbis, 8, M, W, born in PA, attended school during the year. ( 1862)

Samuel Carbis, 13, M, W, born in PA, attended school during the year. ( 1857)

Thomas Murphy, 23, M, W, clerk, born in New Jersey, married within the year ( 1), male citizen of the U.S. over 21. ( 1847)

Julia G. Murphy, 17, F, W, asst H. keeper, born in PA, married within the year ( 1). (1853)

Julia has married and is living with Samuel and Mary Ann, as is Sam Kerlin.

As one looks at the census more closely- Virginia and Pauline are next door :

Clarence Gelston, 24, M, W, Letter Carrier, value of real estate: $ 2500, value of personal estate : $ 100, born in PA, male citizen of the U.S. over 21. ( 1846)
Pauline Gelston, 19, F, W, Keeps H, born in PA, father of foreign birth.( 1851)

Blanch Gelston, 3, F,W, born in PA. ( 1867)

Clarence Gelston, 1, M, W, born in PA. ( 1869)

And one house further, is Virginia :

Simeon Burd, 27, M, W, Carpt, real estate value : $ 5500, personal estate, value : $ 900, born in PA, male citizen of the U.S. over 21. ( 1843)
Virginia Burd, 27, F, W, Keeps H, born in PA, father of foreign birth. ( 1843)
George T. Burd, 9, M, W, born in PA. ( 1861)
Eugene N. Burd, 4/12, M, W, born in PA. ( 1870)

In 1850, the Carbis family is listed as living in the borough of Lawrenceville, county of Allegheny, PA.

August 20, 1850.

The family :

Rachel Logan, 56, female, born in Maryland. ( 1794)
Samuel Carbours ( Carbis), 38, male, Mate on Steam Boat, born in England. (1812)
Mary Anne Carbis, 28, female , wife, born in PA. ( 1822)
Margt E. Carbis, 9, female, born in PA. ( 1841)
Virginia L. Carbis, 6, female, born in PA. ( 1844)
Annie J. Carbis, 1, female, born in PA. ( 1849)
There are Maggie and Virginia. But who is Annie ? Is that an early nickname for Pauline ( Agnes Pauline Carbis) ?