Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—Aldis Barnaby Kersey

 Aldis Barnaby Kersey was born in January 1822 in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England to Aldous “Aldis” Kersey 1800-1851 and Charlotte Adams 1796-1867.  He was the second of nine children and was baptized on March 22, 1822 at St. Margaret’s Church in Lowestoft. Just like his father, Aldis Barnaby became a baker.  These were the known children of Aldis and Charlotte Kersey, nee Adams.  Note that only 5 of their children survived to adulthood.

1.      Robert Kersey 1820–1821 infant

2.      Aldis Barnaby Kersey 1822–1895

3.      James Adams Kersey 1823–1888 never married.

4.      Francis Kersey 1825–1907

5.      George Adams Kersey 1827–1858

6.      Caroline Kersey 1828–1830 infant

7.      Emily Adelaide Kersey 1830–1830 infant

8.      Charlotte Adams Kersey 1834–1858 married Alexander Rabbinowitz on March 12 1855 in Lowestoft and died childless in October 1855.

9.      Maria Barber Kersey 1836–1836 infant

Aldis Barnaby Kersey first married on August 9, 1842 in St. Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England to Louisa Jarrell Long.  He was 20 years old and she was 23 years of age. The marriage was witnessed by Aldis’ younger brother James and Louisa’s sister Amelia.

It appears there were severe problems within the marriage from the start.  There were no children from the marriage, and perhaps the age difference created some tensions which resulted in many disputes.  By the fall of 1843, Aldis had had enough and lost his temper.  He was charged with assault and was sent to trial.  On October 16, 1843, he was acquitted of the charge and set free.  The court doesn’t specify the reason for the acquittal.  It may be that the unhappy couple decided to reconcile, or perhaps there wasn’t any basis for the charge of assault.

What is known is that the couple were no longer living together by 1851.  Although they had not divorced, Louisa had moved in with a mariner, Edward Peek (son of Royal Peake and Lydia Cole, both of whom are connected to the family tree).  Aldis was living with his parents and his status in the 1851 census was married.  Edward Peek is listed in the 1851 census along with Louisa Kersey, housekeeper and both are listed as married.  One problem being that Edward Peek was never legally married to Louisa since she was still legally married to Aldis B Kersey at that time. Their condition was only listed as married to avoid embarrassment with the census taker.

Despite, Louisa Kersey and Edward Peek living together, they had two children.  Rosa Ann Louisa Peek was born in 1856 followed by her brother, Edward George Peek, born in 1859.  It wasn’t until 1861 when Louisa shows up in the census for that year as Louisa Peek, having changed her name from Kersey, and is listed as the wife of Edward Peek.  This was most likely a common-law marriage since no marriage certificate can be found in the government registry.

It is unfortunate that Aldis and Louisa could never communicate with each other to at least discuss a proper divorce.  Instead, Aldis Barnaby Kersey married Jane Bringloe at St. John Timberhill in Norwich, Norfolk, England on April 18, 1859.  There was a bit of deceit on Aldis’s part because he listed his marital status as widower, despite knowing his wife was still alive.

 

It wasn’t quite one year into the marriage when Jane found out that Aldis wasn’t a widower, and that he had not been divorced.  On March 22, 1860, Aldis Barnaby Kersey was tried in the County Sessions at Bury St. Edmonds and he was found guilty of bigamy.  He was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment. 

The marriage between Aldis Kersey and Jane Bringloe was subsequently declared void.  Jane Bringloe eventually married George Heavers on September 5, 1870 in St. John’s Church in Lowestoft.  She married under her original maiden name and her condition was listed as Spinster. 

In 1871, Aldis was a 49 year old baker living as a lodger in a small rented space.  His status still showed him as married. In 1881, he was a master baker living with Sarah A R Kersey, his wife. He was 58 and she was 40 years old.  No record of that marriage exists.

By 1891, Aldis B Kersey was 69 years old, married and still worked as a baker.  There is no mention in any record of what happened to Sarah A R Kersey.

Aldis Barnaby Kersey, died in Lowestoft on April 19, 1895.  He was 73 years old.  His parents had died long ago, and only his brother Francis outlived him.  No wife to mourn him.  No children to grieve for him.  His tombstone merely states:

In Memory of

ALDIS BARNABY

KERSEY

Who died April 19^th

1895

Aged 73 Years

Genealogy:  Aldis Barnaby Kersey 1822-1895 was the son of Charlotte Adams 1796-1867 and her brother was John Curtis Adams 1797-1873 and his son was William Frederick Adams 1848-1907 and his son was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.