KERBY, John (1784-1867) — London
Bookseller, publisher, bookbinder and stationer. For a map-game produced with William Bowdery, see the entry for Bowdery.
Born at Charlbury, Oxfordshire, and baptised 22 Nov 1784, the son of Edward Kerby (1750?-1820) and his wife Ann Cournock (1747?-1840), who had married in 1779. He joined James Kerby (fl.1784-1811) and William Bowdery to form ‘Kerby, Bowdery & Kerby’ in or before 1809, the business becoming ‘Bowdery & Kerby’ by 1814. He married Lydia Callar (1782-1825) of Kentish Town at St. Marylebone 8 Jul 1815. His wife died in childbirth in 1825, “leaving a deeply afflicted husband and five young children to deplore their irreparable loss” (English Chronicle, 29 Nov 1825). Bowdery retired in 1850, leaving Kerby to continue the business with a son, also John Kerby (1819-1905), trading as ‘John Kerby & Son’ 1851-1866, although Kerby had retired by 1861, when resident in Porchester Terrace with two unmarried daughters, a cook and a housemaid. He died at home 25 Oct 1867 aged eighty-two and was buried at St. Mary, Hayes, Middlesex, 1 Nov 1867. His will was granted probate 27 Nov 1867, his effects stated at under £8,000.
Juvenile Library, 190 Oxford Street — 1811-1866
— 7 Porchester Terrace, Bayswater (home) — 1825-1867
BBTI. BNA. Brown. Census 1861. LG. LHD. Whitehouse.