Part 837hg – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – Search for the Marriage of Great-Grandparents John Eugene and Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – Pennsylvania?

Good Day,

Sometimes in the work of my search and research of genealogy I have a number of pokers in the fire. In this case it is the search of the vital records of the actual marriage of great-grandparents John Eugene and Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes.

According to the 1880 US Census taken in Rahn Township in the County of Schuylkill, Pennsylvania they were husband and wife as of 18 June 1880. Of their three children listed on the same Census, their eldest, granduncle John Herbert Holmes was 4 years old. (See Part 751h.) Further according to the Calvary Episcopal Church Baptism Register he was baptized 2 November 1876 and his parents are listed as Jno. Eugene & Hanora Boyd Holmes. This Church was located at Tamaqua in Schuylkill County. (See Part 768h.)

Following the two document leads and searching for great-grandparents John Eugene and Hannah (aka Honora)’s marriage I began a search for a registration in the Tamaqua area.

Today I received notice from The Historical Society of Schuylkill County that

The information that you are requesting would need to come from church records. It wasn’t until 1885 that Schuylkill County began keeping marriage records and it was 1893 when they started to keep birth records. We do have an index of marriages that appeared in the Pottsville Miners Journal newspaper for the timeframe that John & Hannah would have been married but they are not listed in the index. We don’t have any Episcopal Church records for the Tamaqua area.

Back to the drawing board. Where were great-grandparents John and Hannah married? I will searching.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 834h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Mystery of GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes – 1854 – And?

Good Day,

My investigation into the death and murder trial of great-great-grandfather Audley Holmes has not been shelved. I have not been deterred by the closed doors or barricades at the end of each pathway that I have, thus far, conducted an inquiry.

This week I received a new response to the continued investigation from the Luzerne County Historical Society.

January 18, 2013

Thank you for your request for additional research on the death of Audley Holmes. We spent another hour in searching the Luzerne Union and the Pittston Gazette newspapers for any further articles on Mr. Holmes or Margaret Burk, the accused murderer, but were unable to find anything. We search the Pittston Gazette from July 1855 to February 1st, 1856 and the Luzerne Union from July 1855 to January 16th, 1856.

In the last article we found from January of 1855, it was noted that the case was remanded for trial at the next term of Court. The next term was April and enclosed is an article regarding the April term of court, but there is no mention of a case involving Holmes or Burk having been heard

.

Here is an image of the copy of the article April Term of Court from the 4 April 1855 edition of the Luzerne Union.

The following are six of my previous 2012 posts regarding the mystery of the death and murder of gg-grandfather Audley Holmes. Check them out. Bring yourself up-to-date. Can you shed some light?

Jul 15 – Part 733h – 1854 Death and Burial – Great-Great-Grandfather Audley Holmes – Murdered?

Jul 17 – Part 734h – 1854 Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Jul 25 – Part 739h – 1854 Wiles-Barre, Luzerne County, PA – Murder Investigation

Sep 21 – Part 770h – 1854 Cold Case Opened – Who Dunnit?

Sep 29 – Part 771h – 1854 – She Was The Cook!!!

Sep 30 – Part 772h – 1855 – The Plot Thickens

We have some more pokers in the fire regarding the investigation. Stay tuned. If you have any ideas, or if you stumble upon any family treasured papers please let me know.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 773h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Mystery of GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes – 1855 – The News Gets Around

Good Day,

Before I continue with my research and search for the genealogy of gg-grandfather Audley Holmes I have to eat. I have to cook.

Last night's supper was a definite swing to another part of the cuisine globe. Gruibenknoedel, Romanian Cabbage Salad, and Stewed Potatoes. The Gruibenknoedel, (and I really do not know how to pronounce that one), are dumplings made of pork cracklins, aka chicarone de puerco, aka pork rinds mixed with flour, bread, spices, and parsley. The dumplings are simmered in water and then served in beef broth. To compliment the G-knoedel things I made a Romanian Cabbage Salad which is also known as a dry cabbage slaw. And to top it off, the Stewed Potatoes, aren't really stewed but sweet potatoes baked, then sliced, then layered with apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, then baked. Sort of a baked potato casserole. Supper was actually very, very good.

In my journey to discover clues and recreate the history of gg-grandfather Audley's murder and death the next piece of evidence is a short article from The Pittston Gazette. Pittston, Pennsylvania is approximately 9 miles from Wilkes-Barre, north east along the Susquehanna River. Dated 26 January 1855 and on Page 2 a quick clipping, without a heading or title was found.

Here is my highlighted image -

And My transcription -

The Pottston Gazette
January 26, 1855
Page 2

Margaret Burke, who has been in
prison since Holmes was found dead on
the ice, some weeks since, was brought
before his Hon Judge Conyngham, yester-
day, on a Habeas Corpus. The District
Attorney and Woodward for Common-
wealth. C E Wright and Ketcham, for
Margaret. She is twenty-five or thirty
years of age, and of rather pleasant coun.
Tenance, with a bright eye, and does not
look as if there was any great crime on
her conscience.

The hearing was in the Court House,
which was pretty well filled with the cu-
rious.

The prisoner was remanded for trial.
Record of the Times.

The above inserted image is a portrait of Judge John Nesbitt Conyngham from the Luzerne's Bank Portrait Show.

Stay tuned to what I think I have found next. Could be a coincidence? Not sure but I think I will also try to find a possible transcript of the Margaret Burke's trial if one exists.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 772h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Mystery of GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes – 1855 – The Plot Thickens

Good Day,

Researching one's genealogy requires me to constantly be looking up words and phrases. Words and phrases from the past, and try to understand exactly how they were used in context, and exactly what did those words and phrases mean at the time when they were used. I have to remember that I have to not attempt to use them in today's context and vernacular. My argument is that there could always be, in some cases a different meaning at a different time and age.

The three phrases and words, without being of a legal mindset, are “Habeas Corpus”, "remanded" and “Court of Oyer and Termiuer”. Both these phrases are used in the article that was next found revolving around the case of the murder of gg-grandfather Audley Holmes.

HABEAS CORPUS - A Latin term meaning "you have the body," refers to the right of every prisoner to challenge the terms of his or her incarceration in court before a judge.

REMANDED - To send back or recommit. When a prisoner is brought before a judge on a habeas corpus for the purpose of obtaining his liberty, the judge hears the case and either discharges him or not; when there is cause for his detention, he remands him.

OYER AND TERMINER - The name of a court authorized to hear and determine all treasons, felonies and misdemeanors; and, generally, invested with other power in relation to the punishment of offenders.

Well that is our legal lesson for today.

The 24 January 1855 edition of The Luzerne Union published on Page 2 a short article titled “Habeas Corpus Case”. The article refers to the fact that The Cook, “Margaret Burk” has been in jail for some time “on the charge of being concerned in the alledged murder of Adley Holmes...” (Note the different spelling of gg-grandfather Audley's name.)

The short article basically states and implies that she, Margaret Burk has been in jail since gg-grandfather Audley's body was discovered and she was arrested. The judge looked at the “facts and attending circumstances”. He then “remanded the Prisoner for trial at the next Court of Oyer and Terminer.”

And then, something you do not see in the Media as much these days, the reporter continues “It is not proper at this time to any of the testimony.”

Here is my highlighted image of the article from The Luzerne Union.

And my transcription -

The Luzerne Union
Page 2
24 January 1855

Habeas Corpus Case

The woman, Margaret Burk, who has been
in jail for some time on the charge of being
concerned in the alledged murder of Adley
Holmes, who, it will be remembered, was
found under the Bridge on the ice, one morning
in the early part of the winter; was brought
up yesterday on a Habeas Corpus before his
Honor John N. Conyngham. Nearly the whole
day was consumed in the examination of wit-
nesses. After a full investigation into all the
main facts and attending circumstances, the
Judge remanded the Prisoner for trial at the
next Court of Oyer and Terminer. It is not
proper a this time to give any of the testi-
mony. District Attorney Brundage and Wood-
ward represented the State. Ketchum and C,
E. Wright the Defence.

Stay tuned for the next installment. Will Margaret Burk(e) be found guilty? Who knows?

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 771h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Mystery of GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes – 1854 – She Was The Cook!!!

Good Day,

Now I really feel like I am delving into the depths of a cold, cold, cold case. Genealogy, the research and the search is definitely a “hold-your-breath-I-can’t wait-for-the-next-clue”.

We just received our next installment into the Mystery of the death of great-great-grandfather Audley Holmes. With the help of the Luzerne County Historical Society today’s mail provided a number of key newspaper clippings relaying additional information of the murder of gg-grandfather Audley.

From Page 2 of The Luzerne Union, dated Wednesday, December 13, 1854, one day after the affixed date of gg-grandfather Audley’s untimely death, see Part 770h,an article titled “Mysterious” provides us with some more insight.

And now the Mystery begins like a thriller novel... “On Monday about two o'clock, Mr. Ally Holmes...” Check that out. Great-great-grandfather Audley was also known as “Ally”.

We now know that he was “a contractor on the Lack.(awanna) & Bloomsburg R.R. (Railroad).” Does this mean that he could have been a Carpenter Contractor? From my sources “Construction began in Scranton in 1854. The first line ran from Scranton to Kingston, a distance of 17 miles (27 km), and opened on the morning of June 24, 1856.”

He “left home in company with the cook, Margaret Burk...” She was The Cook! She had his gold watch! See Part 739h where we were introduced to “The circumstance of his gold watch being found in the cook's possession...”

The mystery continues... “The woman came home with the horse and sleigh, but Holmes was not with her.” Ta-ta-da-dum... (Here's where the ominous music reaches the background and gradually strains into our ears.) “On Tuesday morning his dead body was discovered under the bridge across the river, between the toll-gate and the first pier.” Where's TSA when you need them?

This Luzerne Union's article provides a number of additional facts... and conjectures.

Here is my highlighted copy of the story “Mysterious”.

And my transcription –

The Luzerne Union
Wednesday, December 13, 1854

Mysterious

On Monday, about two o’clock, Mr. Ally

Holmes, in the employ of Mr. Tamany, a con- 

tractor on the Lack. & Bloomsburg R.R., left 

home in company with the cook, Margaret 

Burk, and come to Wilkes-Barre, for the pur- 

pose of getting her trunk, which was at the 

house of Charles Westfield. They pro- 

cured the trunk and started back about 8 o’-

clock in the evening. The woman came home

with the horse and sleigh, but Holmes was not 

with her. On Tuesday morning his dead body 

was discovered under the bridge across the riv- 

er, between the toll-gate and the first pier. –

His hat and cloak lay on the bridge immediate-

ly over where he was found – whether he fell 

through the bridge by accident, or came to his 

death by violence is as yet a mystery. A cor- 

oner’s inquest assembled soon after the discov-

ery of the body, and a full investigation of the 

case was had by the Inquest under the direction of 

Mr. Brundage, the District Attorney. Their 

verdict is that he came to his death by violence 

at the hands of some person unknown. There 

are many circumstances which seem to indicate 

that the man was met with foul play. We forbear 

giving testimony given by the woman, 

Burk, and other before the Inquest, as the 

District Attorney is endeavoring to find the 

guilty party, if any exist.

Stay-tuned for the next installment of The Mystery of the Murder of GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 770h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – News Flash – The Mystery of GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes – 1854 Cold Case Opened – Who Dunnit?

Good Day,

And the Murder Mystery continues…

As you, the reader of A Genealogy Hunt, and most interested descendant of great-great-grandfather Audley Holmes, know and have been following, I have opened the possible cold case of the 1854 murder of gg-grandfather Audley.

The questions are, of course: Who? What? Where? When? How? And Why?

Our first discovery, Part 733h and Part 734h, in the Calvary Episcopal Church of Tamaqua, in Pennsylvania, Parish Register, reveals that gg-grandfather Audley Homes was buried 16 December 1854. The scribe who entered the Burial Registration had entered the all descriptive, single word “Murdered”… Well deductively that answers two, maybe four questions. So I thought.

Who? – GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes, The Cook, Elizabeth

What? – Murdered

Where? – Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

When? – 16 December 1854

No answer to How? and Why?

I next discovered, with assistance from the Schuylkill County Historical Society, that my question Where? was actually directed to another location. According to the 23 December 1854 copy of the Miners’ Journal and Pottsville General Advertiser, gg-grandfather Audley may have been murdered near the Susquehanna River in Wilkesbarre in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. (See Part 739h.) The details in the news clipping opened up a number of questions. What was gg-grandfather Audley doing, to be murdered approximately 40 miles from his home in the Tamaqua area? Who was the Cook? Why did the Cook have gg-grandfather Audley’s gold watch? Who was Elizabeth? And what did the murder have to do with New York?

I contacted the Luzerne County Historical Society to continue with my investigation. My recent call revealed that the research is still ongoing.

Today, A Genealogy Hunt received an Anonymous comment affixed to Part 733h.

“Yes, Jim, his body was found near the Susquehanna River in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, on the morning of December 12, 1854. A woman by the name of Margaret Burk was accused and put on trial for his death, but I can find nothing on the trial or the results. I wish I could help with more details, but this is all I found. (Reported 24 January 1855.)”

Our questions have changed somewhat,

Who? – GG-Grandfather Audley Holmes, The Cook, Elizabeth, Margaret Burk

What? – Murdered

Where? – Susquehanna River, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

When? – 16 12 December 1854

And the plot thickens… Still no answer to How? and Why?

So who was Margaret Burk? Why was she held on trial for the murder of gg-grandfather Audley Holmes? What was the outcome of the trial? Who is the Cook? Who is Elizabeth? What happened to the gold watch?

And the search continues.

Who knows what lurks beneath the swirling waters of the Susquehanna River?

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 768h – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – When Is a Date the Correct Birth Date? – Granduncle John Herbert Holmes

Good Day,

In my genealogy search and research, and in response to a number of my past Postings, I was asked the question “How can there be a number of different dates concerning a specific event?” My response based on what I have been taught and learned is that a date for a specific event may change dependent upon who is giving the date and who is taking the response. Other factors for differences may be the recording and transcription errors over time, and information copied without a measure of source or documentation.

In some incidences, information relaying regarding details and dates may be compared to the children’s party game “Pass the message” or “Telephone”. Per Wikipedia, the game “is often invoked as a metaphor for cumulative error, especially the inaccuracies as rumours or gossip spread, or, more generally, for the unreliability of human recollection."

But now I have encountered a strange issue concerning a date; the birth date of granduncle John Herbert Holmes. According to the Parish Register of the Calvary Episcopal Church in Tamaqua, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, and per the 2 November 1876 Baptism Registration of granduncle John Herbert, his Birth Date is entered as 10 June 1876. All-things-being-equal and based on the two dates, the registered birth and the baptism, there would have been 145 days. The following are the actual Pages from the Calvary Episcopal Church Parish Register.

A normal and plausible rule-of-thumb accepted in genealogy is “the document closest to the event is considered the most likely to be accurate”. In this case, the Baptism Registration, I would venture to say, which is 145 days after granduncle John Herbert’s birth date could be, at least the most probable.

But here comes the monkey wrench, sort-of. On the 10 September 1918 World War I Draft Registration Card, and signed by granduncle John H(erbert) Holmes, his date of birth is entered as “June 9th, 1876”. Say what? Check it out. Below are the images of the two pages of the Registration Card, as provided by The National Archives and the United States, Selective Service System, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.

My questions are:

Even though there is only a ONE DAY difference reporting granduncle John Herbert’s birth date, between the Baptism Registration and the WWI Draft Registration, would I be safe in assuming that granduncle John Herbert may have made a mistake providing his birth date, when he was only 42 years old?

Did granduncle John Herbert’s parents, great-grandparents John and Hanora (aka Hannah) Holmes provide the incorrect birth date at granduncle John Herbert’s baptism?

Okay I know that this is not a big deal, it is only ONE DAY, but does this mean that it is extremely important to check and review all documents for credible information?

And can a general rule of thumb sometimes be allowed some flexibility?

Oh and by the way the name of the game "Pass the message" in Italian is: "Telefono senza fili". Translated: Cordless Phone... How apropos!

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 766gh – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Search For Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – Episode IX

Good Day,

In my search for the vital events and genealogy of great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes I decided that I would summarize some of the ages that I have found on certain possibly-related documents. The following is a Table presenting ages as presented on some of the Documents that I have on file that relate to all possible Hannah Gallagher and Hannah, Hanora, Honora, Hanna, and Anna Holmes.

Census	Date	Recorded Age	Recorded/Possible Birth Date
Hannah Gallagher
1860	03 Jun 1860	4/12	Feb 1860
1870	29 Aug 1870	12	1858
Hannah Holmes
1880	18 Jun 1880	25	1855
1890	-	-	-
1900	12 Jun 1900	45	Aug 1854
1910	28 Apr 1910	54	1856
1920	08 Jan 1920	55	1865
1930	14 Apr 1930	74	1856

I have not been able to confirm, as yet, that the Hannah Gallagher of the 1860 and 1870 Census and of the two Documents filed in 1878 with the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County is the same person as great-grandmother Hannah, aka Hanora, Honora and Anna as found in the 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 Censuses and the various Baptism Registrations from the Calvary Episcopal Church Register.

As previously discussed in my earlier Postings, and based on Family History, and on the various Family Trees that I have been able to find entered to Ancestry.com, there are a number of coincidences that could indicate that great-grandmother Hannah Holmes may indeed have been the referenced Hannah Gallagher.

I am still waiting for responses from the authors of the public Family Trees entered on Ancestry.com. I have also sent an inquiry and research request to the Historical Society of Schuylkill County in the hopes that there may be a slim chance of finding a marriage record of great-grandparents John and Hannah Holmes. I would tender a guess that their marriage, if there was one, may have occurred at some time before the 10 June 1876 birth of their first son, granduncle John Herbert Holmes.

The next image is my Clooz 3.0 Hannah Gallagher report summarizing 17 of the documents that I have on file.

Please note that four Birth Event documents of great-grandmother Hannah Holmes children are not included in the Hannah Gallagher report. I have not been able to find the Birth/Baptism Registrations for granduncle Richard Boyd Holmes, nor of the twins, granduncles Oliver and Oscar Holmes. Also, even though I have discovered the actual 1898 Baptism Registration for grandmother Hannah Myrtle (née Holmes) Doherty there is no indication of the names of her parents on the registration.

I would certainly appreciate questions, thoughts, ideas, facts, and sources regarding the life and times of great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes. Please feel to contact me via email.

And I am recuperating from my Olympic try-outs.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 765g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Search For Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – 1860 US Census – Episode VIII

Good Labor Day,

Yes, I do not do any labor, and therefore I do not know what I am celebrating. President Grover Cleveland signed the law setting aside the first Monday in September as Labor Day 28 June 1894.

The purpose of Labor Day, “…a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” (Per the US Department of Labor) And so I would think that somewhere and sometime ago, someone said “let’s take the day off and go to the beach.” Enjoy your Bar-B-Que in tribute.

My labor, albeit research and search of genealogy, continues. I am still trying to connect my search finds to ensure the timeline of great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes.

Next of my finds, which definitely connects to the Gallagher Family that I located in the 1870 US Census of South Cass Township in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, is the 1860 US Census of Cass Township. This listing, in Cass Township, is of the Gallagher Family and it now includes both parents Daniel and Bridget, and all five children: John, Daniel, Ellen, Mary Ann, and Hannah.

Here is the image of the 1860 US Census as downloaded from The National Archives via Ancestry.com.

And my Clooz 3.0 report CUSPA000012.

I have discovered five public Family Trees posted on Ancestry.com that include great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes. I have sent, since the beginning of August 2012, query emails to the creators/publishers of each Family Tree to communicate, compare information, and learn of their sources. I am still waiting responses. I will keep looking.

Enjoy,

Jim

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Part 764g – Brunhammer Doherty Genealogy – The Search For Great-Grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes – Episode VII

Good Day,

It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Two hurricanes and one tropical depression are far off in the Atlantic. At present their intended paths leave out the Sunshine State of Florida. Yeah!

My search for elements, hints, and clues of the genealogy of great-grandmother Hannah (née Gallagher) Holmes continues… and continues.

I believe I have found a possible and priceless clue, that all-things-being-equal, and if there is some smidgen of a similar piece out there, we might be on the right track. This could be the great-grandmother Hannah that we are looking for.

Part 762g and Episode V presented the recorded Document in Docket 17 of the Orphans’ Court of Schuylkill County “Real Estate of Hannah Gallagher, a Minor”. This Document is only a transcription of the original Document and was filed 28 October 1878. The other Document in Part 760g, Episode III “Appointment of Guardian for Hannah Gallagher, a Minor”, filed 16 September 1878 was also only a transcription, transcribed in the Docket.

I stumbled upon images of the actual Documents in my continued search; 17 pages. The amazing thing is the image of a possible original signature of “Hannah Gallagher.” The question is “Does someone possibly have something, anything, any paper or letter with great-grandmother Hannah’s signature that we could compare the two?

Here are the images of the original Documents as downloaded from Family Search from the Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 183-1994 Collection.

Enjoy,

Jim

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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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