Robert W. Kirk was a London-born man whose life connects the family history of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain with the uncertain years surrounding the First World War. Born in Chelsea, London, in 1877, Robert came from a family headed by Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres. Later records identify him as the husband of Rosa Elizabeth Moore and the father of a large family. His life ended on December 6, 1917, at No. 22 General Hospital in France.
Although Robert W. Kirk isn’t a widely known historical figure, his story is valuable for another reason. Genealogical records can preserve the lives of ordinary people whose names might otherwise disappear from history. In Robert’s case, surviving family information gives us a starting point for understanding his parents, wife, children, and final years. At the same time, some parts of his biography remain uncertain, which makes careful research especially important.
Quick Bio Information
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert W. Kirk |
| Birth Year | 1877 |
| Birthplace | Chelsea, London, England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Father | Robert William Kirk |
| Father’s Years | 1851–1893 |
| Mother | Eliza Ayres |
| Mother’s Years | 1852–1931 |
| Spouse | Rosa Elizabeth Moore |
| Spouse’s Years | 1881–1942 |
| Marriage | Recorded In Genealogical Records |
| Children | Eight Children Recorded |
| Known Child | Robert Kirk, 1903–1977 |
| Known Child | May Rosa Kirk, Born 1905 |
| Known Child | William Kirk, 1908–1982 |
| Known Child | Herbert Harold Kirk, Born 1911 |
| Known Child | Ernest George Kirk, Born 1914 |
| Death Date | December 6, 1917 |
| Deathplace | No. 22 General Hospital, France |
| Historical Period | Victorian And Edwardian Britain / First World War Era |
The family details above are drawn from the available genealogical profile. The record lists eight children, although not every child’s later life is documented in the same level of detail.
Robert W. Kirk’s Early Life
Robert W. Kirk was born in 1877 in Chelsea, London. His childhood therefore unfolded during the later Victorian period, when London was experiencing major population growth, industrial development, and social change. Chelsea itself had a long-established identity within London, and Robert would have grown up in a city that was becoming increasingly modern while still retaining many features of Victorian life.
The available record does not provide a detailed account of Robert’s childhood, schooling, interests, or early employment. That absence is important to acknowledge. Rather than filling the gaps with speculation, it is better to recognize what the surviving genealogy actually establishes: Robert was born in Chelsea in 1877 and was the son of Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres.
Robert W. Kirk’s Parents
Robert’s parents were Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres. The genealogical record gives Robert William Kirk’s years as 1851 to 1893 and Eliza Ayres’s years as 1852 to 1931. These details place Robert W. Kirk within a family whose own history began several decades before his birth.
His father’s relatively early death in 1893 would have been a significant event in the family’s history. Robert W. Kirk was approximately 16 years old at that time, based on his reported 1877 birth year. His mother, Eliza, lived considerably longer, with the record giving her death year as 1931. This creates an important family timeline: Robert grew up under his parents’ care but lost his father while still a teenager.
Robert W. Kirk’s Family History
The family history attached to Robert W. Kirk provides several clues about his life and relationships. Ancestry’s profile identifies him as the son of Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres and records Rosa Elizabeth Moore as his spouse. The same profile connects Robert and Rosa with eight children.
For genealogy readers, this family structure is perhaps the most useful part of the available information. It provides several generations that can be investigated through birth, census, marriage, and death records. The profile also shows historical records associated with a Robert Kirk, including entries connected with the 1891, 1901, and 1911 England censuses. Because names such as Robert Kirk were common, however, each record needs to be matched carefully before it can confidently be assigned to the same individual.
Robert W. Kirk and Rosa Elizabeth Moore
Robert W. Kirk married Rosa Elizabeth Moore, according to the genealogical record. Rosa is listed as having been born in 1881 and having died in 1942.
Their marriage became an important part of Robert’s adult life because the couple built a sizable family together. The record identifies eight children associated with their family. While the available profile does not provide a complete narrative of their marriage, the children’s birth years show that their family was growing during the early years of the 20th century.
Rosa’s survival until 1942 also means that she lived for decades after Robert’s death in 1917. That difference is significant when considering the family’s later history, because the children would have continued growing up and forming their own lives after their father’s death.
Robert W. Kirk’s Children
The available family-tree record states that Robert W. Kirk and Rosa Elizabeth Moore had eight children. Among those listed are Robert Kirk, born in 1903 and recorded as dying in 1977; May Rosa Kirk, born in 1905; William Kirk, born in 1908 and recorded as dying in 1982; Herbert Harold Kirk, born in 1911; and Ernest George Kirk, born in 1914.
The profile also contains additional names, including Frederick John Widley, William Widley, and another Robert Kirk with incomplete dates. Because these entries appear alongside the eight-child family listing, they require additional verification before a definitive relationship is assigned to each person. This is a good example of why genealogy articles should distinguish between information appearing in a family tree and relationships independently established through original records.
Robert W. Kirk’s Working Life
One of the unanswered questions surrounding Robert W. Kirk concerns his occupation. The currently accessible profile does not provide a reliable occupational biography. The historical-record section identifies entries from the 1891, 1901, and 1911 England censuses, but the publicly visible information does not provide enough detail to establish his profession with confidence.
That gap shouldn’t be treated as evidence that Robert had no particular occupation. Instead, it shows the limits of the currently available profile. Census schedules, marriage certificates, directories, employment records, and other archival material could potentially reveal what Robert did for a living. Until such records are verified, it is more accurate to leave his occupation open.
Robert W. Kirk in Early 20th-Century Britain
Robert’s adult years coincided with a period of enormous change. He lived through the transition from Queen Victoria’s reign into the Edwardian era and then into the First World War period. Britain was becoming increasingly urban and industrial, while improvements in transportation and communication were changing everyday life.
For Robert and his family, these wider developments formed the backdrop to ordinary events such as work, marriage, parenthood, and residence. His children were born between the early 1900s and the middle of the 1910s, meaning his family was expanding at the same time Europe was moving toward one of the most disruptive periods in modern history.
Robert W. Kirk and France
The most striking detail in Robert W. Kirk’s biography is his death in France on December 6, 1917. The genealogical profile gives his place of death as “No, 22, Gen, Hos, France,” which corresponds to No. 22 General Hospital in France.
This detail immediately raises questions about why Robert was in France and what happened to him there. The date is also historically significant because it falls during the First World War. However, the location alone does not prove that Robert was a soldier. He could have been connected to the war in another capacity, and the available genealogy profile does not establish his military status.
Did Robert W. Kirk Serve in World War I?
It is tempting to describe Robert W. Kirk as a First World War serviceman because he died at a military-era hospital in France in 1917. However, responsible biography requires more than an assumption based on location and date.
The currently available record does not provide a military rank, regiment, service number, unit, enlistment date, or confirmed cause of death. Therefore, his military service should be regarded as an unanswered research question rather than a confirmed fact. A service record, medal index entry, casualty record, or other authoritative military source would be needed before making such a claim.
This distinction makes the Robert W. Kirk story more reliable. It also gives future researchers a clear direction: establishing why he was in France may reveal the most important missing chapter of his life.
Robert W. Kirk’s Death in 1917
Robert W. Kirk died on December 6, 1917, at No. 22 General Hospital in France. This is one of the clearest facts in the available record.
His death occurred when he was about 40 years old. At the time, his family included several young children, including Ernest George Kirk, who had been born only a few years earlier in 1914. His death therefore came during an important period in his children’s childhoods.
The available record does not state the cause of death. It would be inappropriate to describe him as having died from wounds, illness, combat, or another specific condition without documentary evidence. The hospital location confirms where his life ended, but additional records are required to explain the circumstances.
What Happened to His Family?
Robert’s death left behind his wife, Rosa Elizabeth Moore, and their children. Rosa lived until 1942, meaning she survived Robert by roughly 25 years.
Several of their children are also recorded as having lived well into the 20th century. Robert Kirk is listed as living from 1903 to 1977, while William Kirk is recorded as living from 1908 to 1982. These later dates show that Robert W. Kirk’s family continued across multiple decades after his death.
For descendants researching the Kirk family, these later generations may provide valuable links to additional records. Census returns, marriages, electoral registers, death certificates, and other documents could potentially expand the family story considerably.
Robert W. Kirk’s Family Tree
The available genealogy creates a straightforward starting point for a Robert W. Kirk family tree. At the older generation are Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres. Their son Robert W. Kirk was born in Chelsea in 1877. Robert later married Rosa Elizabeth Moore, and the couple are recorded as having eight children.
Among the children identified by name are Robert Kirk, May Rosa Kirk, William Kirk, Herbert Harold Kirk, and Ernest George Kirk. Other entries appear in the same family profile, but some have incomplete information or require further confirmation.
This makes the family tree useful but not necessarily final. Genealogical profiles are strongest when their information can be compared with original certificates and official records.
Robert W. Kirk’s Historical Timeline
Robert W. Kirk’s known life can be followed through a relatively simple timeline. He was born in Chelsea, London, in 1877 to Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres. His father died in 1893, while his mother lived until 1931. Robert later married Rosa Elizabeth Moore, and their family grew to eight recorded children. Their children included Robert in 1903, May Rosa in 1905, William in 1908, Herbert Harold in 1911, and Ernest George in 1914.
Robert’s life ended on December 6, 1917, at No. 22 General Hospital in France. These dates provide the framework for his biography, while questions about his occupation, journey to France, military connection, and cause of death remain areas for further research.
What Records Tell Us About Robert W. Kirk
Robert W. Kirk’s profile demonstrates how different kinds of records can help reconstruct an ordinary person’s life. The available historical-record section references England census entries from 1891, 1901, and 1911. Such records can be especially useful for confirming ages, households, relationships, occupations, and places of residence.
At the same time, Ancestry explains that its profiles are created by collecting and matching historical information contributed through family trees. It encourages researchers to examine the underlying records and determine whether the information is accurate.
For that reason, the best Robert W. Kirk biography is one that combines the family-tree information with original civil registration, census, military, hospital, and cemetery records wherever possible.
Final Thoughts
The story of Robert W. Kirk is a reminder that genealogy isn’t only about famous names. Sometimes the most meaningful historical stories belong to people whose lives were recorded mainly through family relationships, census documents, civil records, and a final entry marking their death.
Born in Chelsea in 1877, Robert was the son of Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres. He later married Rosa Elizabeth Moore and became the father of a large family. His life ended in France on December 6, 1917, at No. 22 General Hospital, leaving behind a wife and children who continued their lives into the following decades.
There are still unanswered questions about Robert W. Kirk, particularly concerning his occupation, his circumstances in France, his possible connection to the First World War, and the precise cause of his death. Those gaps shouldn’t weaken his story. Instead, they show where further historical research can add depth. For anyone tracing the Robert W. Kirk family, his genealogy provides a valuable foundation from which a much fuller picture of his life and descendants can be built.
FAQs About Robert W. Kirk
Who Was Robert W. Kirk?
Robert W. Kirk was a man born in Chelsea, London, in 1877. He was the son of Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres, married Rosa Elizabeth Moore, and is recorded as having eight children. He died in France on December 6, 1917.
When Was Robert W. Kirk Born?
Robert W. Kirk was born in 1877 in Chelsea, London, England. The currently available genealogy profile gives the year and location but does not provide a full birth date.
Who Were Robert W. Kirk’s Parents?
His parents were Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres. The genealogy record gives Robert William Kirk’s years as 1851–1893 and Eliza Ayres’s years as 1852–1931.
Who Was Robert W. Kirk’s Wife?
Robert W. Kirk’s wife was Rosa Elizabeth Moore. The available record gives her birth year as 1881 and her death year as 1942.
How Many Children Did Robert W. Kirk Have?
The available family-tree profile states that Robert W. Kirk and Rosa Elizabeth Moore had eight children. Several are identified by name, including Robert Kirk, May Rosa Kirk, William Kirk, Herbert Harold Kirk, and Ernest George Kirk.
Where Did Robert W. Kirk Die?
Robert W. Kirk died at No. 22 General Hospital in France on December 6, 1917. The available profile does not provide his cause of death.
Did Robert W. Kirk Serve in World War I?
His presence at a hospital in France in 1917 places his death within the First World War period, but the currently available evidence does not establish that he served in the military. A military service or casualty record would be needed to confirm such a connection.
What Is Known About Robert W. Kirk’s Family History?
Robert W. Kirk’s family history connects him to parents Robert William Kirk and Eliza Ayres, wife Rosa Elizabeth Moore, and eight recorded children. Historical census entries from 1891, 1901, and 1911 are also associated with the profile, although individual records should be verified before being treated as definitive.
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