Sunday, September 23, 2012

HICUZ 92


Copyright 1990 et seq, Donald Rowe

Reminder, your acceptance of this newsletter signifies that you will not use its contents 
to alter, and thus disrespect in any form or way, the historical religious beliefs, no 
matter what they were – or were not – of family members mentioned herein.

This specifically refers to performing LDS ordinances using any of the data in this or 
other HICUZ posts.


 
 









LDS Temple Ordinances


Temple ordinances

LDS Church members perform rituals (termed ordinances) within temples. They are taught that temple ordinances are essential to achieving the condition of Exaltation (Mormonism) after the final judgment. They are also taught that a vast number of dead souls exist in a condition termed as spirit prison, and that a dead individual upon whom the temple ordinances are completed will have a chance to be freed of this imprisoning condition. In this framework ordinances are said to be completed on behalf of either the participant, or a dead individual the same sex as the participant ("on behalf of the dead" or "by proxy").
Ordinances performed in the temple include:
§                    Baptism and confirmation on behalf of the dead
§                    Priesthood ordination on behalf of the dead
§                    Washing and anointing (or "Initiatory" ordinances)
§                    The endowment
§                    The sealing ordinance is a marriage ceremony explained below
Most ordinances are performed by proxy only on participants who have already completed the ordinance. Similarly, most ordinances are completed only one time for a participant in a lifetime and all subsequent temple ordinance participation is seen as acting for a dead individual. Baptism, Confirmation, and Priesthood Ordination are performed exclusively in temples when on behalf of the dead. The Initiatory, Endowment, and Sealing ceremonies are today performed only within a temple.
The Sealing ordinance can be performed on behalf of dead couples; and so long as the two participants are of opposite sex they do not have to be married. It is also performed on behalf of living couples who wish to be legally married. In this manner, the ordinance is typically performed as a celestial marriage, with the idea the marriage bond literally lasts after their death; "time and all eternity". A "time only" modification can be made to the ordinance; such as when the surviving widow of a celestial marriage wishes to legally remarry.

I wish to acknowledge the tremendous contributions of cousin Wendy Wroe of Hertfordshire England to research in general, and to knowledge of our Wroe family in particular. She expended innumerable hours of research and uncovered and shared priceless records (wills and marital records) of our family. Beyond this she shared her analysis techniques, which hopefully will assist in connecting several unrelated Wroe families in England together and perhaps to ours. 

Recent Gerhard family discoveries – using www.familysearch.org .

The results are for the Dech family in/around Macungie, Lehigh County, PA.
Estella Dech was the first wife of Harry E. Gerhard, Nancy’s paternal grandfather. Harry E. Gerhard, age 20, married Estella, age 21, on 5 July 1900 in Macungie, Lehigh, PA. Jonas W. and Mary E. (Shimer) Gerhard (Nancy’s paternal great grandparents) signed for Harry E. Gerhard’s wedding, as he was under age.

1880 US Census for Lower Macungie, Lehigh, PA - lists parents as Reuben (farmer), age 31 (born 1849) and Maria Lichtenwalner Dech, age 29 (born 1851). Estella Dech was age 1 (born 1879), and her brother Victor “J. C.” Dech was age 4 (born 1875).

PA Marriage records – records show Victor Dech married Farney Egner on 10 October 1896 in Emaus, Lehigh, PA.

1900 US Census for Salisbury township, Emaus borough, Lehigh, PA – lists Victor Dech, age 25 as living with his wife’s parents, Charles B. Egner, age 46 and Amanda C. Egner, age 42. Victor’s wife Farney was given as age 25. Farney’s brother Thomas C. Egner was given as age 18.

1910 US Census – shows Victor Dech and wife Farney living in Allentown, Ward 13, Lehigh, PA. No children are shown.

1920 US Census - shows Victor J. C. Dech, age 45, and wife Farney I. Dech, age 44, living in Lehigh, PA. No children are shown.

1930 US Census - shows Victor J. C. Dech, age 55, and wife Farney I. Dech, age 54, living in Allentown, PA. No children are shown.

Divorce of Harry Edgar Gerhard Sr. from Estella Dech
My notes from research at Allentown concerning the divorce note the record is recorded in Continuance Docket 69, page 202. Harry is cited as the defendant. My notes show -
31  Dec 1917 – Liber presented. Subpoena allowed.
29 Jan 1918 – Sheriff’s return served 1/4/18 on Harry E. Gerhard.
4 Mar1918 Petition for alimony, pendent elite etc filed. 
Service accepted 3/16/18 by H. W. Schantz. 
24 June 1918 – Libellant deposits $75.00 as per rule of court.
24 June 1918Austin A. Glick appointed as Master (Court Attorney) and Examiner.
13 August 1919 – Masters report filed.
19 Jan 1920 – Divorce granted.

A copy of the of the divorce papers by Estella Dech from Harry E. Gerhard Sr. was requested in March 1995. The request was made to the Department of Health and Human Services, Wilkes Barre Data Operations Center, 1150 E. Mountain Drive, Wilkes Barre, PA 18702. The response of 22 March 1995 stated ... “The information that you requested on Harry Edgar Gerhard Sr. is Confidential and cannot be disclosed.”

1910 US Census of Allentown City, PA - conducted 26 April 1910, Supervisory District 9, and Enumeration district 162, Ward 13, Sheet 11A, for family 226. Data shows Gerhard, Harry E., age 29, merchant of carriages; Stella E, age 31, wife; Dorothy E. age 9; Grace E. and Jonas Albert both shown as age 2/12 (2 months old). 

The children of Harry Edgar Gerhard Sr. and Estella Dech (or) Frances Jane Edwards:
            Source: “The Johann Peter and Elisabeth (Schmidt) GERHART FAMILY of
            Earlington, Franconia Township, Montgomery County. The Two Hundred Fiftieth
Anniversary of the Gerhart Family in America, 1739 27 August 1989,”

            Dorothy Estella Gerhart, b 15 Nov 1900
            Ruth Kathryn Gerhart, b 6 Mar 1902
            Jonas Alfred Gerhart, 11 Sep 1909
            Grace Gerhart, b 11 Sep 1909 (My notes suggest Jonas and Grace were twins)
            Harry Gerhart, b 
            Edgar H. Gerhart, b
            Doris Jane Gerhart,  b 26 Oct 1926
            Infant Gerhart, b
            Katie A. Gerhart, b

As this court data shows their divorce was granted in 1920, after two years of litigation, suggests that neither Estella nor Harry could remarry before that date. 

Siblings of Jonas W. Gerhard - The Allentown, PA Morning Call newspaper on page 1, on 18 March of 1905 reported the obituary of Ezekiah Gerhard, the father of Jonas W. Gerhard, Nancy’s paternal great grandfather.  The obituary states – “Ezekiah Gerhard, the aged drover off Coopersburg, who while walking in his sleep on Wednesday night tumbled down stairs and fractured his jaw, besides sustaining other injuries, died Thursday morning. Deceased is survived by his wife and these children: Mrs. Charles K. Haring of this city; Dr. Alfred G. Gerhard, Philadelphia; Llewellyn G. Gerhard, Coopersburg; Jonas W. Gerhard, Macungie.”

MacKenzie family discoveries

1860 US Census for NYC, NY – 4th D, 8th Ward -  Reflects J. LeBarriere, age 43, born France on page 93, family 782.

NY Births and christenings, 1640 – 1962, 1883 – Reflects Maria Fence under entry of Jennett Brogan. Jennett Brogan, b 6 Feb 1883. Father John J. Brogan, mother Maria Fence. Film 1322179.

NY Births and christenings, 1640 – 1962, 1880 – under entry for Thomas Byrnes Brogan, born 4 July 1880. Gilm 1322154.

1850 US census for Southfield, Richmond County, NY
John Fence, age 37, born France.
Catherine O. Fence, age 38, born Ireland
Mary J. Fence, age 8, born NY
Maria Fence, age 6, born NY
John Fence, age 3, born NY
Janet Fence, age 0, born NY

A separate (but possibly related) family followed, on same page of 1850 census.
            William D. Fence, age 32, born Ireland
            Mary Fence, age 25, born NY
            Elisebeth Fence, age 5, born NY
            Thomas Fence, age 4, born NY
            Mary A. Fence, age 1, born Ireland

1860 US census for Town of Southfield, Richmond County, NY
Maria Fence, age 15, born (1845) NY. Page 64, family 505, film 803850.

Some questions initially came to mind as to whether family traditions that Jean G. LaBarriere’s wife was a Seminole. Seminoles typically are in Florida, and I thought it improbable that she would have traveled from the Florida area to NYC.

MacKenzie family tradition from Cuz Heather corrected me.Heather said QUOTE Jean immigrated through Florida and brought his Seminole wife to NYC. The rumor was, Jean was an explorer and first went from France to Florida, where he met Catherine Ann (Seminole), took her for his wife, they relocated to NY, and had a family. I don't know where I heard it, how much is true or fiction, but thank you so much for the leads.

Data on Anselm McDonald – printed 26 April 1995 from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) – an individual record of McDonald, Ansalem (Anselm), born 1842 in Castle Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It reflects LDS Ordinances (Temple Ordinances) were performed in Arizona reflecting his LDS Baptism on 10 Jan 1989, his LDS endowment on 18 Feb 1989, and being sealed to parents on 24 Feb 1989. The LDS data was recorded on Batch and sheet 5006357 and 35, Source Call # 1553295 (on film). Anselm McDonald was the father of John Angus McDonald, and thus Nancy’s maternal great grandfather. All records, less these LDS records, reflect that Anselm McDonald was a lifelong Roman Catholic.

Excerpts from an O’Connor cousin’s letter, quoting a first hand witness.

QUOTE - (The cousin) is the one with the price on his head. He was arrested during the Easter (1916) Uprising, attempted to escape, and when his partner was killed, made his way back into prison without the guards being aware of his involvement.

Also, ask him about the funeral of our (O’Connor) great grandfather. The Black and Tan stopped the funeral procession and turned them back without allowing them into Abbeyfeale. The mourners then had to carry the casket cross country to the river and along up to the cemetery without being seen to get him buried. They had to return the same way. UNQUOTE


The Black and Tans (Irish: Dúchrónaigh) were one of two ad hoc paramilitary units employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) asTemporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland, the other body being the Auxiliaries. Composed largely of British World War I veterans, the unit's nickname arose from the colour of the improvised khaki uniforms initially worn by its members. Although established to target the Irish Republican Army, the Black and Tans became notorious through their numerous attacks on the Irish civilian population.

Instructions to Listowel RIC, 19 June 1920

See also: Listowel mutiny
On 19 June 1920 Lieutenant-Colonel Gerald Smyth made a speech to the ranks of the Listowel RIC in which he was reported as having said:[11][12][13]
Now, men, Sinn Fein have had all the sport up to the present, and we are going to have the sport now. The police are not in sufficient strength to do anything to hold their barracks. This is not enough for as long as we remain on the defensive, so long will Sinn Fein have the whip hand. We must take the offensive and beat Sinn Fein at its own tactics...If a police barracks is burned or if the barracks already occupied is not suitable, then the best house in the locality is to be commandeered, the occupants thrown into the gutter. Let them die there—the more the merrier. Should the order ("Hands Up") not be immediately obeyed, shoot and shoot with effect. If the persons approaching (a patrol) carry their hands in their pockets, or are in any way suspicious-looking, shoot them down. You may make mistakes occasionally and innocent persons may be shot, but that cannot be helped, and you are bound to get the right parties some time. The more you shoot, the better I will like you, and I assure you no policeman will get into trouble for shooting any man.
The report in the Irish Bulletin noted that the content of the speech proved too much for many of the RIC men who refused to carry out the order and one officer, Constable Jeremiah Mee, put his gun on the table and called Smyth a murderer. He and 13 others resigned, actively changing sides in the conflict with many joining or assisting the Irish Republican Army. Mee became a confidant and ally of Michael Collins.
Less than a month after his controversial instruction to the unit, Smyth was shot dead by an IRA party led by Dan "Sandow" O'Donovan.

Wroe family discoveries – Data partially from a 1994 letter from Cuz T David Wroe, for Radcliffe, Lancashire records
T David Wroe had:
1.      Richard Wroe m Elizabeth Allen 13 March 1654, Radcliffe, Lancashire.
2.      Francis Wroe, son of Richard Wroe de Hagg – baptized 6 June 1659.

www.familysearch.org search Sep 2012 reflected:
1. Richard Roe m Elizabeth Allens 13 Mar 1654 at St. Mary’s parish, Radcliffe,
Lancashire.
2.      Francis Rowe, son of Richard Rowe, born 30 May 1659, baptized 6 June 1659. film 0547139, 0844812.

Data on Richard Wroe – printed 30 November 1993 from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) – an individual record of Wroe, Richard christened 29 June 1800 in the Cathedral, Manchester, Lancashire, England. It reflects LDS Ordinances (Temple Ordinances) performed in IF (Idaho Falls, ID) reflecting his LDS Baptism on 26 Feb 1980, his LDS endowment on 18 Apr 1980, and being sealed to parents on 20 May 1980. The data reflects these LDS Temple Ordinances for a period of time, 1800, that actually predates the establishment of Mormon beliefs, 1820s by Joseph Smith Jr.  All records, less these LDS records, reflect that our Wroe ancestors were lifelong Church of England/Anglicans.

Additional Wroe reflection - old data I had but had not analyzed reflects many other Wroe ancestors have had LDS ordinances performed on them. 

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