Part 763gh – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Search For Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – Episode VI

Good Day,

Tuesday night’s supper: Chicken Masala, Aloo Dum, and Kathhal Dopyyaza. The house smells of spices… The one thing of preparing and cooking Indian food; the many, many, many, many, many, many, and many spices. Wednesday night’s supper: Stuffed Zucchini in Marinara Sauce and Mediterranean Corn Pudding. One never knows what type of dish we might be experimenting in this kitchen. Tonight, Sushi. Tomorrow’s menu… Stay-tuned.

The search for the genealogy of great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes certainly has become an intriguing one.

From the 28 October 1878 filing of the document, "Real Estate of Hannah Gallagher, a Minor", see Part 762g, I realize that I need to examine and research the detailing of her named elder siblings: “John F. Gallagher, Mary A. Gallagher, and Ellen, who intermarried with Lawrence Little, all of full age…” I also believe that it is key to understand what I can about the guardian relationship between James Harley and Hannah Gallagher. (See Part 760g.)

My first question is “Why was James Harley appointed guardian of the minor, Hannah Gallagher?” My next question, “Why wasn’t one of Hannah Gallagher’s elder brother or sisters appointed as her guardian?” Third question – “Is this great-grandmother Hannah?”

I’m not going to try to answer my three questions in this Posting… but I just hope to continue with my research and follow this path. I’ve got to try every door. My trek and search is to determine whether this is great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes.

Now the 28 October 1878 filing with the Orphans’ Court, the “Real Estate of Hannah Gallagher, a Minor” has now introduced Hannah Gallagher and three elder siblings; John F. Gallagher, Mary A. Gallagher; and Ellen (née Gallagher) Little. From the 16 September 1878 filing, “Appointment of Guardian for Hannah Gallagher, a Minor” we learn that Hannah Gallagher “is a minor child of Daniel Gallagher late of the township of Cass, in said County of Schuylkill, deceased…” The October Filing indicates “That the said Daniel Gallagher died in 1860, and that subsequently the said Bridget Gallagher died intestate…” All-things-being-equal I now search for possible US Censuses in Cass Township in Schuylkill County prior to 1878 and before 1860, which may include, at least the Mother, Bridget Gallagher and her four children, John F., Mary A, Ellen, and Hannah.

As the filing of the documents in the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County were in September and October of 1878, my next thought was to see if I could find the closest dated US Census with the intention of discovering the listings of great-grandmother Hannah. Going backwards in time the previous Census would have been 1870.

Eureka!!! And guess what I found? From The National Archives and downloaded via Ancestry.com, Image 5 of 73.

The 1870 US Census for South Cass Township, in the County of Schuylkill, Pennsylvania… dated 29 August 1870. Five members of the Gallagher Family – John, Daniel, Ellen, Mary Ann, and Hannah.

The following is my Clooz 3.0 reporting of the above highlighted 1870 US Census.

Next, the search for a possible 1860 US Census. Stay-tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 762g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – 1878, A Puzzling Search – Episode V

Good Day,

And now comes the interesting part of trying to solve the puzzle of the life and genealogy of great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes. Cross-referencing the Docket 17 of the Orphans' Court of Schuylkill County Index, (see Part 761g) I was able to find images of the actual document beginning at Page 336.

The Document beginning at Page 336 is titled Real Estate of Hannah Gallagher, a Minor. And before I continue, I must point out that this research and documentation does not, at this point, confirm that I have discovered the 100% certain genealogy of great-grandmother Hannah. This is one of the doorways that I have opened in my search to prove the Family Line.

According to my read and transcription of this Document, from Docket 17 and filed 28 October 1878, it appears that James Harley, the Guardian appointed, on behalf of Hannah Gallagher, the minor, is conducting a transaction to sell a specific property in the City of Philadelphia. This property at one time belonged to her grandparents Francis and Helen O'Donnell. It appears that as both of Hannah's parents had passed away, her father, Daniel Gallagher in about 1860 and her mother, Bridget (née O'Donnell) Gallagher sometime after, that they had both died without leaving a direct will for the disposition of property.

From my limited understanding and analysis, Hannah and her three older siblings: John F. Gallagher, Mary A. Gallagher, and Ellen (née Gallagher) Little, all were beneficiaries of the property after the deaths of their grandparents and parents. The Document is an explanation of the $600.00 value of the property and the amount that Hannah may have possibly received, $21.43. (I am not a lawyer nor a real estate broker and therefore, I cannot explain how the calculation was figured out.)

The following are the four pages; Pages 336 through and including 339, from Docket 17 of the Orphans' Court of Schuylkill County. I have downloaded from Item 4 of the microfilm FHL [2134782]

And my transcription -

336

Real Estate of Hannah Gallagher, a Minor.

In the Orphans’ Court, held at Pottsville, in and for the County of Schuylkill.

The petition

of James Harley, who was on the sixteenth day of September, A.D. 1878, appointed
by your Honorable Court Guardian of the personal and estate of Hannah Galla-
gher, a minor child of Daniel Gallagher, being over the age of fourteen years. –

Respectfully represents – 

That the said minor is seized in fee 

of one-fourth of one seventh of All that certain lot or piece of ground and
the buildings thereon erected, situate on the south side of Luinard Street, in
the First Ward of the City of Philadelphia, beginning at the distance of one
hundred and twelve feet eastward from the east Ninth Street, con-
taining in front or breadth on the said Luinard Street eleven feet six inches,
and in length or depth southward at right angles with the said Luinard
Street fifty feet, boundend on the north by the said Luinard Street, on the
west by ground now of late of Samuel P, Dutton, on the south by ground
now or late of Robert Clark, Jr., on the east partly by the head of a three-feet
wide alley leading eastward eleven feet six inches to another two-feet wide
alley, leading eastward eleven feet six inches to another two-feet wide
alley leading northward in said Luinard Street, and partly by ground
granted to John N. Reeves. [Being the same premises which Julius F. Vogel
and Adeline R. Vogel, his wife by indenture bearing date the twentieth
day of December, A.D. 1856, and recorded at Philadelphia in Deed Book
R.D.W. Nv. 107, page 342, rc. granted and conveyed to Ellen O’Donnell, wife
of Francis O’Donnell, in fee Subject to the payment of ^a certain yearly ground
or sum of Twenty five dollars and fifty cents ($25.50).

That the title of the said minor is derived by descent as heir-at-law of 

Ellen O’Donnell, her grandmother, and her mother, Bridget Gallagher, to wit:
the said Ellen O’Donnell died intestate, seized in fee of the above described
premises, leaving to survive her her husband, Francis O’Donnell (who has
since departed this life intestate] And seven children being the issue of
the said Francis O’Donnell and Ellen O’Donnell, of whom the said Bridget,
who intermarried with Daniel Gallagher was one. That the said Daniel Gal-
lagher died in 1860, and subsequently the said Bridget Gallagher died intestate,
leaving her surviving a husband, four children, to wit – John F. Gallagher, Mary
A Gallagher, and Ellen, who intermarried with Lawrence Little, all of full
age, and a minor child, Hannah Gallagher.

That all of said children have agreed to sell and convey their undivided 

interest in said property to one Benjamin Durham, of the City of Philadelphia
Carman, at the rate or price of Six hundred dollars, for the whole of said property
in fee, subject to the aforesaid yearly ground rent; and your petitioner is
serious of joining in said conveyance, as the Guardian of the said minor, in order
to make a full and complete title to the said purchase, for the whole of said
premises, the said price offered for the same being a full and ample price for
it, and as he believers more than it would bring at a public sale of the same,
and he also believes it would be for the benefit and interest of the said minor
that said real estate should be sold.

Your petitioner therefore prays that the Court will make an order author-

izing and directing him to sell the said undivided interest of the said
minor in the above described real estate, at private sale, to the said Benjamin
Durham, of the City of Philadelphia, Carman, and be permitted to join in a

337

deed of conveyance to him in fee, for the price or sum above specified.

And he will ever pray, & c.,

James Harley.

Schuylkill County, ss.:

James Harley, the above named petitioner, being duly sworn 

according to law, doth depose and say that the facts set forth in the foregoing
petition are just and true, and are the statement of the said minor’s real estate
are just and true, to the best of his knowledge and belief.

James Harley

Sworn and subscribed before me this nineteenth }
day of October, A.D. 1878. }
J.F.G. Keimscus, J.P. }

Decree:

And now, to wit: Oct. 28, A.D. 1878, upon consideration of the within written
petition and accompanying affidavits, it is ordered and decreed that James
Harley, Guardian of Hannah Gallagher, make sale of the undivided interest of
his ward therein named, in the real estate therein described, at private sale unto
Benjamin Durham, of the City of Philadelphia, Carman, for the price or sum of
twenty-one dollars and forty three cents ($21.43) in cash, her proportionate share,
and that he be authorized to unite in a conveyance of the same with the other
parties in interest unto the said Benjamin Durham, of the City of Philadelphia, his
heirs and assigns, upon payment of the purchase money, and the he enter security
in the sum of $50.00/100.

By the Court

Richard Rahn,

Clerk OC.

Know all men by these presents, that we James Harley, Guardian of the 

person and estate of Hannah Gallagher, a minor child of Bridget Gallagher and Daniel
Gallagher, late of the township of Cass, in the County of Schuylkill, and State of Penn-
Sylvania, deceased, and Solomon Phillips, both of said Count of Schuylkill, are
held and firmly bound to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the sum of Fifty
dollars, lawful money of the United States, to be paid to the Commonwealth of Penn-
sylvania, her certain Attorney and assigns, to which payment, well and truly to
be made, we bind ourselves, jointly and severally, our heirs executors and admin-
istrators, firmly by these presents.

Sealed with our seals, dated the 19th October, in the Year of our Lord one 

thousand and eight hundred and seventy-eight.

Whereas, by virtue of an order of the Orphans’ Court of said County of Schuylkill, 

made the 21 October, 1878, in the year aforesaid, the said James Harley, Guardian
afore- said, sold certain lands in said order mentioned, the estate of the said Hannah
Gallagher, to one Benjamin Durham, of the City of Philadelphia, for the sum of twenty
on dollars and forty-six cents; and the said Court upon the return thereof by the
said Guardian on the twenty-eighth day of October, A.D. 1878, did order and decree
that upon the said James Harley filing in the Office of the Clerk said Court, a bond
to the Commonwealth in the sum of Fifty dollars, with Solomon A. Phillips as his su-
reties, who are approved by the Court, conditioned for the faithful appropriation of
the proceeds of said sale, the said sale should be confirmed.

Now the condition of this obligation is such, that if the said James Harley, Guar-

dian aforesaid, shall faithfully appropriate the proceeds of said sale, then the
above obligation to be void, or else to be and remain in full force and virtue.

398

James Harley, ( Seal )

S. A. Philips, ( Seal )

Sealed and delivered in presence of }
Lewis Garrison, }
J.F.G. Keimscus. }

This bond approved.

By the Court,

Richard Rahn

Clerk O.C.

Jesse A.T. Laws, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says 

that he is a real estate broker, and has been in the business for twenty years,
and that he is familiar with the value of real estate in the City of Philadel-
phia, and that he has seen the property situate on the south side of Luinard
Street in said City, beginning at the distance of112 feet eastward from the
east side of Ninth Street, containing in from on the said Luinard Street 11 feet
6 inches, and in length or depth Southward at right angle with said Luinard
Street 50 feet, and estimated its value, and believe that six hundred dollars,
subject to said yearly ground rent of $25.50, would be a full price for the same,
and more that it is worth and more than it would sell for at public sell, and
he believes the offer of six hundred dollars is an advantageous one, and that
it would be to the interest of the parties to sell the same for the said sum.

James A. T. Laws.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 25th }
day of October, A.D. 1878. }
James P. Petit. }
( Seal ) }

E.G. Mintzer, Jr., being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that 

he is a real estate broker, and that he is familiar with the value of real estate in
the City of Philadelphia, and that he has examined the property situate on
the south side of Luinard Street, in the First Ward of the City of Philadelphia
beginning at the distance of 112 feet eastward from the east side of Ninth Street,
containing in front on the said Luinard Street eleven feet six inches, and in length
or depth southward of that width at right angles with said Luinard Street fifty
feet, and estimated its value and believes that six hundred dollars, subject to
said yearly ground rent of Twenty-five dollars and fifty cents, would be a
good price for the same, and at the present time more that it would sell
for at a public sale.

E.L. Mintzer, Jr.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 20th }
day of October, A.D. 1878. }
James P. Petit, }
Notary Public. }
(Seal ) }

George Lodge, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that 

he is a real estate broker, and that he is familiar with the value of real estate
in the City of Philadelphia, and that he has examined the property situate
on the south side of Luinard Street, in the First Ward of the City of Philadel-
phia, beginning at the distance of one hundred and twelve feet eastward
from the east side of Ninth Street, containing in front on the said Luinard Street
eleven feet six inches, and in length or depth southward at right angles with
said Luinard Street fifty feet, and estimated its value, and believe that six
hundred dollars, subject to said yearly ground rent of Twenty five dollars and

389

fifty cents, would be a full price for the same, and more than it would sell for at
a public sale, and he believes that the offer of six hundred dollars is an advanta-
geous one, and would be to the interest of the parties to sell the same for said
price as it is its full marketable value.

George Lodge

Sworn and subscribed before me this 22d }
day of October, A.D. 1878 }
James P. Petit, }
Notary Public }
( Seal ) }

Filed 28 Oct., 1878.

Putting aside the issue of the sale of the property in the City of Philadelphia, I am intrigued at the detail of family relationships and connections that are included in this Document. I will be detailing that information in my subsequent Postings on A Genealogy Hunt, so you will have to stay-tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 761g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – 1878, A Puzzling Search – Episode IV – Docket 17 Index

Good Day,
The typical daily torrential rains haven’t hit us as yet, but it is overcast and the type of day to snuggle up with either a good book or a decent movie, as long as the power keeps on.

The search and research for great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes is certainly taking me into types of documents that I would never have expected to have to review. Lesson learned – all types of sources are game in the search for details of the life and times and the genealogy of an ancestor and relative.

Having located Docket 17 of the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County, I was pleasantry surprised to discover an Index. Downloaded from Item 4 of the microfilm FHL [2134782] and Page 172, is the G-Index for Docket 17.

And lo and behold, I note two entries for the name Hannah Gallagher.

I presented Page 289, the Appointment of Guardian for Hannah Gallgher, a Minor, including my transcription in Part 760g.

Stay tuned for Episode V. I should have the actual pages starting with Page 336 of Docket 17.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 760g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – 1878, A Puzzling Search – Episode III – Appointment of Guardian

Good Day,

Following up with my previous posting Part 759g – Episode II, I discovered this document, an Appointment of Guardian for Hannah Gallagher, a Minor from Docket 17 of the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The filing date of the entry was 16 September 1878.

At this point in my research and search, I'm not saying that this is great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes. This is purely a possibility based on a couple of coincidences. I will be revealing the coincidences in upcoming Episodes of my search for great-grandmother Hannah.

Here is the Appointment of Guardian entry from Docket 17 of the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County Register. I downloaded the image from Item 1 of the microfilm FHL [2134249].

And here is my transcription –

289

Appointment of Guardian for }
Hannah Gallagher, a Minor }

To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans’

Court of Schuylkill County:

The petition of Hannah

Gallagher respectfully represents –

That the petitioner is a minor child of Daniel Gallagher
late of the township of Cass, in said County of Schuylkill, deceased, above the age of
fourteen years, is a resident within said County, and has no guardian to take care
of her person and estate. She therefore prays the Court to admit her to make choice
of a guardian for that purpose.

And she will ever pray, & _____,

Hannah Gallagher

Now, to- int: September 16, 1878, the above petition being read and heard in open
Court, the Court permit the said Hannah Gallagher to make choice of a Guardian.
Whereupon the said Hannah made choice of James Harley, of Minersville, as her
guardian; and the said Court having confirmed said choice, appoint said James
Harley as guardian of said Hannah Gallagher, and direct that he enter in bond
in the sum of Two hundred dollars; and the Court approve of Patrick Duffy, of
Minersville, as surety of said Guardian.

By the Court,

Richard Rahn,

Clerk, O.C.

Filed 16 Sept. 1878.

At this juncture in my research, the question is exactly what is the relationship between Hannah Gallagher the Minor and her chosen guardian, James Harley? I may have found a possible connection in the 1860 US Census, but you will have to stay tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 759g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – 1878, A Puzzling Search – Episode II – Indexes

Good Day,

As I wait for two blustery events down here in Tampa Bay, Isaac and the RNC, I keep my mind and thoughts fixed on the search and research for information and data of the genealogy of great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes. Following up with my previous posting Part 758g – Episode I, a number of references to a Hannah Gallagher listed in the Indexes of the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

Before you continue reading, I must make the point that this entries may not refer to great-grandmother Hannah. There are, as I eluded to in Part 758g, some possible coincidences. I am continuing to research and investigate other data to determine whether this may or may not be great-grandmother Hannah.

Here are the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County Index references to Hannah Gallagher. The Indexes are a bit confusing, but definitely enlightening once I figured out what was going on.

First from Item 2 of FHL [2134782], the Index.

Next the summary information.

Note that the entry for Hannah Gallagher references the date 16 Sept. 1878 and O.C.D. (sic Orphans' Court Docket) No. 17 Page 299.

Stay tuned for the next Episode.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 758g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Great-Grandmother Hannah (aka Hanora Gallagher) Holmes – 1878, A Puzzling Search – Episode I

Good Day,

In the course of my genealogy search and research there are many doors that keep opening as I follow down various paths. All this work is my attempt to piece together the generations and re-create the branches of the Family Tree.

A critical branch of the Brunhammer Doherty Family Genealogy and Tree is the branch that provides evidence of the Mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA. This is Andy’s Maternal Line. This line would follow from Andy from his mother, Myrtle Frances Gertrude (née Doherty) Brunhammer, from her mother and Andy’s grandmother Hannah Myrtle (née Holmes) Doherty, from her mother and Andy’s great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes… And so on…

And this is where I am delving into, and I have walked through a number of doors. At present there are a number of Family Trees that have been placed on Ancestry.com that indicate that great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes’ parents were Daniel and Bridget Gallagher. The issue is that no source of proof of this relationship has been provided on any of the information accessible through Ancestry.com. I am not discounting the possibility that great-grandmother Hannah’s parents may have been Daniel and Bridget Gallagher. I have been able to discount a similar family unit from the 1860 US Census of Reading, Pennsylvania made up of parents Daniel and Bridget and daughter Hannah Gallagher. It is just a coincidence that this family unit did exist.

I did learn that from related Family History, great-grandmother Hannah’s mother may have died while she, great-grandmother Hannah was a very young girl. The story includes the notion that great-grandmother Hannah’s father may have “disappeared to Canada”. It, the tale, further relates that the very young great-grandmother Hannah was “adopted by a family who may have owned an ice-cream store.” These tales may center on about the Pennsylvania Counties of Carbon and Schuylkill.

And so the focus of attention in my research is to hone in on documentation and data around the early 1850s to and including the 1890s, centering in and on the Counties of Carbon and Schuylkill. In the course of my research I have also discovered and presented the listing of great-grandmother Hannah, also known as Hanora and as Anna, on the US Federal Censuses of 1900 through and including 1930. All this research can be found on earlier Postings of A Genealogy Hunt.

Most recently I have found documentation from the Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania Orphan’s Court. As I am not too well tuned into the legal system and names of the specific agencies, I had to look up a definition for Orphan’s Court. Here are ones that I found, online.

Orphans Court

A probate court (also called a surrogate court) is a specialized court that deals with matters of probate and the administration of estates. From Wikipedia.

In some jurisdictions, the court in which adoptions are finalized. An orphan’s court handles estates and trusts of minors and other incapacitated persons. From Nation Adoption Center.

Last night, at the local Family History Center I reviewed two microfilms that I had acquired from the Family History Library from Salt Lake City. The two microfilms: Orphans’ Court Dockets, FHL [2134249] Docket, v. 15-17, 1871-1880 and FHL [2134782] Index, ca. 1811-1935 provided me with an interesting find. The name of the find – Hannah Gallagher. The dates of the Documents – 1878.

I will be downloading, transcribing, and reviewing the Documents. Stay tune for my write up and possible discoveries in my next Posts.

I took a few liberties with the above inserted cartoon by Dale Wilkins entitled “American Maze”. I superimposed the sign reading “Welcome To Genealogy…"

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 757h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Holmes Family Timeline

Good Day,

At times I need a picture, a visual representation of the genealogy that I have been researching and of which I have been writing. Two such good tools, apart from Ancestry and Descendant Charts, are Timelines and Document Summary Reports. I have created a new Holmes Family Timeline.

This Holmes Family Timeline begins about 1875/6 with the Marriage of great-grandparents John and Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes. There are many different software in the market that have the capability of creating Timelines. I used Excel.

Upon entering various documents and data to Clooz 3.0 I am able to produce a number of unique reports. The following report is an Individual Person report identifying those documents that I have on file and to date, entered into my Clooz database. It is a tremendous method of organizing that which I have on file that may make mention of and/or pertain to a specific individual with my genealogy research.

The Personal File # is my method of coding my document and data files. The reset of the information is data that was entered in from each individual document as specific to great-grandmother Hannah.

Please contact me if you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, and comments.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 756h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1930 Fifteenth US Census – Great-Grandmother Anna (aka Hannah) Holmes – Lansford, Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

Just got back from my Dentist. I’m typing with only my right hand as I can’t feel the left side of my body. With the new numbing chemicals in use, the grinding and the drilling, and the filling is certainly one walk in the park. While making my next dental appointment on December 19, I had to ask "Why do I need clean teeth if the world's gonna end 2 days after?"

Back to my genealogy search and research of the Holmes Family.

This time the search for great-grandmother Hannah Holmes was a bit more complicated. On the 1930 US Census she is listed as “Anna Holmes”. The enumerator, Burris Kressly, obviously missed out on an “H”. My immediate reaction was if the enumerator was ‘ard of ‘earing, would not Mr. (or Ms.) Kressly have listed great-grandmother as “Anna Olmes”. One will never know… but the lesson learned in the search for names in the pursuit of genealogy, it is key to realize that an ancestor’s name may be spelled, sounded, or transcribed in many different ways.

The reasoning to finding the names of ancestors is to try searches of many types of arrangements and similarities. In the case of great-grandmother Hannah, I have now found at least three different opportunities of her name: Honora, Hannah, and Anna.

According to the Fifteenth Census of the United States great-grandmother Anna (aka Hannah) Holmes, on 14 April 1930 was living by herself, in her home at 202 West Patterson Street in the Borough of Lansford, in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. The following is the Census image of Sheet No. 3B from The National Archives as downloaded from Ancestry.com.

The following is my United States Federal Census Population Schedule, 1930 CUSOA000006 as created by Clooz 3.0.

All-things-being-equal great-grandmother Hannah may have passed away in about 1935. If anyone has any documented details could you please contact me.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 755h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1920 Fourteenth US Census – Holmes Family – Lansford, Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

Today’s first Post of the genealogy of the Holmes Family Line is the Fourteenth United States Federal Census dated 8 January 1920. Only three members of the Holmes Family: great-grandparents John and Hannah and their youngest daughter, grandmother Myrtle are at home. The address is 403 West Kline Alley in Lansford in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. These three persons are critical connections of Andy’s Blood Line.

I have downloaded and highlighted the image of Sheet No. 9B. My source is The National Archives as provided via Ancestry.com.

There are two items that are puzzling to me. The first one is at great-grandfather John Holmes at Line 79 in Column 13, “Year of immigration to the United States”. The initials “MH” have been entered. There are two other similar entries at Line 52 and Line 95. At present I do not know what the “MH” stands for, especially as the response called for in this Column is supposed to be a Year. All three persons including great-grandfather John’s “Place of Birth” was entered “Pennsylvania” but something seems to have been written over the “Pennsylvania”. There are eight other instances of the initials “MH” in Column 12 that are written over the response initial for “Single, married, widowed, or divorced.” In each of these cases there is a year entered in Column 13 for the “Year of immigration to the United States”.

The second item is also in Column 13, “Year of immigration to the United States”. It is on Line 81, grandmother Myrtle Holmes's line. The number "10" is inserted. Grandmother Myrtle was born in Pennsylvania. I have no clue as to the meaning of the number "10". I certainly need some explanation…

Here is my Clooz 3.0 reporting of the United States Federal Census Population Schedule, 1920 CUSPA0000010.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 754h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1910 Thirteenth US Census – Holmes Family – Lansford, Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

Getting The Pack prepped and ready for their morning scramble is at times quite a chore. Getting them to pay attention, get their business over and done, and keep them all walking in the same direction is certainly a mind-boggle when I haven’t fully awoken.

Well it is Monday morning and the street activity is enough to send one back to bed for at least another couple of days. First The Pack was interested; north, south, east, and west in a couple of cats meandering home from the nightly sojourns. Then the squirrels’ acrobatics in the oak trees heighten The Packs’ concentration. Next the neighbors seem to have all exited their homes at exactly the same time… a suburbia line up at the starting lines. Three pickups of earlier riser appointments. Next the two riding lawnmowers chopping the week’s growth of green lawns. Now a school bus, empty but for its dry run of the start of the scholastic season.

The Pack is attentive and yapping at every and any distraction, while tangling my legs in the weaving of their leashes. Promise of a great breakfast does not hurry up Taylor, Bella, Tinker, and Radar. And then the topper… The Pack is astounded. The old Dude from a couple of streets over has traded in his three-wheeler and comes put-putting down the middle of the street, strapped into his new motorized Hoveround. He waves… The Pack howls. And I just shake my head. Good morning, and breakfast.

And what did my early morning comic adventure have to do with genealogy? Nothing… but it is just the start of another day into my search for the Holmes Family Line and Ancestry.

Today’s first Post is a continuation of my following the Holmes Family and Ancestors in Pennsylvania. The date is 28 April 1910 and the Holmes Family is now, according to the 1910 US Federal Census living on the south side of Bertsch Street in the West Ward of Lansford Borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. There are six members of the Family in the household; great-grandparents John and Hannah, granduncles Warren, Richard, and Elmer, and grandmother Myrtle.

From The National Archives via the Internet through Ancestry.com I have downloaded the image of Sheet No. 18A which enumerates the Holmes Family.

Using Clooz 3.0 I have included the information into my database and produced the following reporting – United States Federal Census Population Schedule, 1910 CUSPA000009.

I certainly appreciate the assistance from Helen and other family members and relatives regarding Holmes Family tales and history. These stories definitely help the course of my search and research. Definitely contact me if you have some and any family tales, information, data, and documentation.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 753h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1900 Twelfth US Census – Holmes Family – Lansford, Carbon County, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

Still haven’t had the guts (no pun intended) to crack open a can of Scottish Haggis… but the idea of McHaggis, Scottish Macaroni and Cheese, Haggis Omelet, Pâté au haggis, and Scottish Tacos all seem “somewhat” interesting. And so this morning I settled for a breakfast of smoked herring, fried eggs, fried green tomatoes, and onions, followed by a homemade “Starbucks-like” coffee… I can just imagine the somersaults my blood sugars are fending for their Olympic challenge.

Well enough of my repast. Back to my Holmes Family genealogy search and research.

In the pursuit of recreating the configuration of the Holmes Family Tree I have gathered and discussed the 1850 and the 1880 US Censuses from Tamaqua and Rahn in Schuylkill County. Also I have deliberated on the 1891 Schuylkill County Directory based on the 1890 US Federal Census. Today I am now highlighting the John and Hannah Holmes Family in the 1900 US Census.

It appears that at some time between 1890 and prior to the 12th or 13th of June, 1900 the Holmes Family relocated to Abbott Street in Lansford in Carbon County.

Here is the image, courtesy of The National Archives and downloaded from Ancestry.com, of the page from the Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900.

There is at least one error in the reporting in this page of the Census at Line #7 which reports great-grandmother Hannah Holmes. Column 11 – “Mother of how many children” reports that great-grandmother Hannah had “12” children. This is a correct number count. In the next Column, number 12 – “Number of these children living” lists the total at “9”. As of 12 June 1900, this US Census reporting is not correct. The number should be “10”. Great-grandparents John and Hannah had lost twin sons, Oliver and Oscar, at birth. The enumerator, who took the Census information, must have incorrectly asked the question, “Number of these children living?”, and inadvertently added “Number of these children living… at this house?” At the date of the Census nine Holmes children were living at the Abbott Street address.

Great-grandparents John and Hannah’s eldest daughter, grandaunt Rebecca Marian had married Robert Mitchell on 11 November 1896. She was living with her fireman husband and their children John E. and Allie in Rahn. The 1900 US Census “Number of these children living” number, with respect to great-grandmother Hannah, should have read “10”.

As heretofore mentioned I am using the Clooz 3.0 reporting to substitute for my transcription work. Here is my United States Federal Census Population Schedule, 1900 CUSPA000008 report highlighting the Holmes Family.

Any questions, thoughts, ideas, comments, and family history are definitely welcomed.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 752h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1891 A Directory of The Eleventh Census – Holmes Family – Rahn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

And who says you can’t find the 1890 US Census? Well almost, that is. In my search for the genealogy and history of the Holmes Family of Pennsylvania I stumbled across a great discovery. I found A Directory of the Eleventh Census of the Population of Schuylkill County… published in 1891 by E.E. Schartel in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

What does this mean?

This is a Directory “giving the names and ages of males and females, published by Cities, Boroughs, Wards, Townships, Precincts or Towns in connection with A Business Directory…” It is the reproduction and publication of some of the data of the 1890 US Census which “was largely destroyed in a fire in the U.S. Commerce Building in 1921." Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania was one of the counties in the United States that actually repeated the 1890 US Census data in a separate publication, the 1891 Directory.

And we have lucked out. On Page 733 of the Schuylkill County Directory I have been able to find our Holmes, even though spelled Holms, Family in Rahn Township. The entry includes great-grandparents John E. and Hannah and their children, as the date, granduncles John H., Warren T. William V., Richard B., and grandaunts Rebecca, Alice M., Katie, and Dora.

Here is a highlighted copy of Page 733.

My Clooz reporting, DIRPA000001.

If you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, information, and data please email me.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 751h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1880 US Census – Holmes Family – Rahn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

My genealogy search at this moment is the Holmes Family Line. I am in the process of gathering, researching, putting out feelers, and checking out leads, all in the efforts of re-creating the Holmes Family Tree.

Assuming the great-grandfather John Eugene and great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes were married at some time before or in 1876, I have begun my recreation of the Holmes Family with the 1880 US Census in Rahn Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. (I am still searching for the actual Marriage Registration.)

Here is the highlighted copy of the 1880 US Census Page 39.

I have included my reconstruction of the equivalent Clooz United States Federal Census Population Schedule, 1880 CUSPA000007 report.

If anyone has information regarding the marriage of great-grandparents John and Hannah, I would certainly appreciate hearing.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 750g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy - My First Retraction – Great-Grandmother Hannah (aka Honora née Gallagher) Holmes – I Goofed!!!

Good Day,

I got carried away trying to prove a relationship connection of great-grandmother Hannah (aka Honora née Gallagher) Holmes. I wrote about this relationship in my Post “Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1860 US Census – Gallagher Family – Reading, Pennsylvania”. I have since removed this Post from A Genealogy Hunt as I have since found information that actually puts the relationship connection into question. This new Post is the replacement of my previous Post.

The relationship connection that I wrote about and am referring to is:

“Today I have discovered the 1860 US Census which reports the Gallagher Family of North East Ward Reading, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Ancestors of Andy, this is his great-great-grandparents Danl (possibly Daniel) and Bridget Gallagher. Included in the household, as of 7 July 1860, are their two children Hannah, aged 6 years, and John, aged 3 years. Hannah will eventually, also becomes great-grandmother Hannah (Honora, née Gallagher) Holmes.”

Here is the 1860 US Census which was the source of my mistake.

I am at fault to assume that great-grandmother Hannah’s parents were Danl and Bridget Gallagher as presented in the 1860 US Census of Reading, Pennsylvania.

In due course of my research I have found that there are a number of public Holmes Family Trees on Ancestry.com that indicate and use the relationship connection that Hannah Gallagher’s parents were Danl and Bridget Gallagher. What I overlooked is that not one of these Holmes Family Trees includes any source citations that may justify the relationship.

I have since discovered that there appears to be more credible details that actually prove that the 1860 US Census of Reading, Pennsylvania between Danl and Bridget Gallagher and their daughter Hannah, who was born about 1854, MAY NOT have been the parents of great-grandmother Hannah (aka Honora née Gallagher) Holmes.

Regarding the 1860 US Census Gallaghers I have discovered a number of City Directories specific to Reading, Pennsylvania. The years of the Directories range from 1866 through and including 1889. I am able to follow this 1860 US Census Gallagher family through the Directories. The most critical of this research is the 1879/1880 Reading Directory.

On Page 133 of the Reading Directory there are three entries that are key:

Gallagher, Bridget, widow Daniel, h 526 N 10th

Gallagher, Hannah, operator, bds 526 N 10th

Gallagher, John, helper, bds 526 N 10th

Here is the image of the Page 133.

As this Directory was published in 1879 it could be deduced that the information may have been gathered in late 1878 and early 1879. Since there is an entry for Hannah Gallagher, on Page 133, who is boarding at 526 North 10th in Reading, there is a high degree of certainty that this is not great-grandmother Hannah (Honora née Gallagher) Holmes.

The following is the inside cover front page of the Reading City Directory.

Great-grandmother Hannah, based on the information that I discovered in the Calvary Episcopal Church Register was living at this time in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, in Pennsylvania. By 19 July 1879 she and great-grandfather John Eugene Holmes had had, in Tamaqua, three children: granduncle John Herbert, born 10 June 1876; grandaunt Rebecca Marian, born 22 December 1877; and grandaunt Margaret Alice, born 19 July 1879.

I have since sent out five emails to the creators of the Family Trees, which include our Holmes Family, at Ancestry.com. I am asking the question as to where they, the Family Tree owners, may have obtained the information that link great-grandmother Hannah (aka Honora née Gallagher) Holmes to Danl and Bridget Gallagher of Reading, Pennsylvania. To date I am still awaiting responses.

The lesson I learned… Check out ALL information provided on the Internet. Ensure that the source citation is credible. I am not disputing that great-grandmother Hannah (aka Honora née Gallagher) Holmes’ parents may have been named Daniel and Bridget Gallagher. All I am proposing at this point is that the 1860 US Census of Reading, PA's Danl and Bridget Gallagher may NOT be our great-grandmother Hannah’s parents and Andy’s gg-grandparents.

And does anyone have any information who may have been the parents of great-grandmother Hannah (aka Honora née Gallagher) Holmes?

The search continues...

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 749hs – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1850 US Census – Holmes and Scott – With This Dash I Do Thee Wed – Tamaqua, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

And now the information and data...
...just keeps pouring in…

In genealogy research, material evidence is sometimes revealed in a simple dash. Two such simple dashes on the 1850 US Census from the South Ward Borough of Tamaqua in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania reveal that gg-grandparents Audley and Rebecca (née Scott) Holmes were married sometime between August 1849 and August of 1850. Column 10 of the 1850 Census is titled “Married within the Year”. Obviously the only two dashes on the Census Page which are inserted at gg-grandmother Rebecca Holmes’ Line #15 and gg-grandfather Adley (albeit Audley) Holmes’ Line #27 indicate logically that they had most recently been married.

Here is the highlighted image of the Page from the 1850 US Census. It is from the collection of The National Archives in Washington, DC and downloaded via Ancestry.com.

The following is my Clooz Reporting – United States Federal Census Population Schedule, 1850 – CUSPA000002 as re-created for the Scott Household.

We are introduced through this 1850 US Census to a number of family members and relatives. It appears that the listed Head of Household on Line #14 is ggg-grandmother Rebecca Scott. She is gg-grandmother Rebecca (née Scott) Holmes’ mother. Also in the house, on Line #21, is gggg-grandmother Susanna Scott. She must have been ggg-grandmother Rebecca’s mother-in-law.

Another two key facts from the 1850 Census data is that Alexander Scott, Line #17, and Alice Scott, Line #18, both were born in New York. The next son, on Line #19, William Scott was born in Pennsylvania. The implication to this could be that the Scott Family emigrated from Ireland to New York. After a couple of years the Scotts then moved to Pennsylvania.

Also included in the 1850 US Census is a possible piece of evidence that may provide a clue to the solving of the Mystery of the Murder of gg-grandfather Audley Holmes. The date of the recording of the Census in the South Ward Borough of Tamaqua is 30 August 1850. GG-Grandfather was murdered and supposedly thrown from a bridge over the Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre about 40 miles from Tamaqua. This occurred just about four years later on 16 December 1854. His occupation on the 1850 Census is listed as “Carpenter”. From my readings, the Waters Street Bridge, over the Susquehanna River was being rebuilt and refurbished at about that time for a completion in 1855. Could gg-grandfather Audley have been working as a Carpenter on that Bridge? I’m still waiting for the mail.

Overwhelmed yet? More yet to come. Stay-tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 748b – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – 1900 US Census – GG-Grandmother Rebecca (née Scott)(formerly Holmes) and Richard Boyd - Tamaqua, Pennsylvania

Good Day,

Thank you Helen for sending me the 1987 Holmes Family Genealogy work as compiled by Betty Holmes Herring. Working from the collected information provides tremendous leads that can now be researched and supplemented to the Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy.

My focus today is gg-grandmother Rebecca (née Scott), widow of gg-grandfather Audley Holmes, and of her second husband Richard Boyd. According to 1987 papers gg-grandmother Rebecca and Richard Boyd had four children.

I have since discovered from the 1900 US Census from Seek Village of Rahn Township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania that gg-grandmother Rebecca had a reported total of seven children. Documentary information indicates and she had three with gg-grandfather Audley Holmes and four with Richard Boyd.

Here is the copy of the 1900 US Census highlighting gg-grandmother Rebecca (née Scott) (formerly Holmes) and Richard Boyd. Reported on the 1900 Census is the Year that gg-grandmother Rebecca, all-things-being-equal, immigrated to the United States from Ireland. The Year was 1833; gg-grandmother Rebecca had been in the United States for 67 years. All-things-being-equal gg-grandmother Rebecca (née Scott) was an infant of about one year old when she arrived from Ireland.

The image of Page from the 1900 US Census was downloaded from Ancestry.com. I have created a new Brunhammer Doherty Clooz Database. This database will be my means of recording all documents including information and data of the Brunhammer Doherty genealogy. Here is the reporting of the United States Federal Census Population Schedule, 1900 CUSPA000001.

My number coding CUSPA000001 is my way of cross-referencing files in my collection. CUSPA000001 stands for Census United States Pennsylvania 000001.

I am still waiting for news from the Luzerne County Historical Society Research Team as to further news regarding the murder of gg-grandfather Audley Holmes.

My next Post will include an update of the Holmes Descendant Chart. Stay tuned.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 747t – Smith McCullogh Genealogy – 1887 Birth – GG-Grandfather Alfred Wade Trefry – Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Good Day,

The search and the research just keep going on and on and on, and on. Genealogy exploration is just one of those things, for one like me who becomes obsessed, that one can never get enough. I pride myself that I do look for credible documentary justification for each piece of evidence that I chance upon. And at the same time it is key to make sure that I keep the Family Lines separate and organized.

From Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics I discovered the 1920 Delayed Birth Registration for great-grandfather Alfred Wade Trefry. His actual birth date was 14 August 1887.

Accordingly the “Creation of these records began in 1908, when modern-day civil registration commenced in Nova Scotia. Individuals born in the province before 1908 who wanted their births officially recorded… were able to do so for many years after 1908 via a ‘delayed registration’ procedure at the Vital Statistics Office.” It was great-great-grandmother Veronica (née Rustemeijer) Trefry who initiated great-grandfather Alfred’s 1887 Birth Registration.

Here is the Register entry -

My transcription –

597733 No. 733

Name Surname First 1 – Trefry, Alfred Wade
Sex 2 – Male
Date and Place of Birth 3 – Aug. 14, 1887. Arcadia
Name of Father 4 – Trefry, Chas. Knowles
Maiden name of Mother 5 – Rustemeijer, Veronica
Residence of Father 6 – Arcadia, Yarmouth Co., N.S.
Occupation of Father 7 – Master Mariner
Place of Birth of Father 8 – Arcadia, N.S.
and
Race of Father 9 – White
Name of Physician in attendance 10 – Dr. J. Farish
Name of Person making Return 11 – Veronica Trefry
Address of Person making Return 12 – Arcadia, N.S.
Date of Return 13 – May 27, 1920.
REMARKS 14 – Affidavit of mother.

Under Remarks state whether
Birth is Twin, Triplet, Ill-
gitimate or Still-birth.

This is now the third spelling of gg-grandmother Veronica’s maiden name that I have discovered: Rustemeijer, Rustemeir, and Rustemeyer. All-things-being-equal and as this is gg-grandmother Veronica’s recorded affidavit, it may be considered that the actual spelling of her maiden name could have been Rustemeijer.

The top image is of Yarmouth Light, Nova Scotia.

And the search continues…

Enjoy,

Jim

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