Searching for Annie's Parents

This is the last third in a series detailing my research of Annie Katy Hotz (Shimitz) Holmes and her family.

Let's first review what I've already covered in the first two parts of this series.

Mr. Emery Holmes of Iowa City in the County of ---- and State of Iowa of the age of 22 years, and Miss Annie Hutz of Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois of the age of 22 years. Married 18 Jan 1903, Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
(Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920, FamilySearch.org)

Annie Hotz, age 6 was found on the 1885 Iowa State census:
Iowa State Census, 1885 @FamilySearch (index only). Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 15, family 79:
Franklin Simitz, age 35
Barbra Simitz, age 38
Mary Simitz, age 4
Mary Hotz, age 9
Anna Hotz, age 6
Rosa Hotz, age 4


Annia Shimitz, age 16 was found on the 1895 Iowa State census:
1895. Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, Ward 3
Barbra Shimitz, age 49 born Bohemia
Annia Shimitz, age 16 born Iowa City, Iowa
Rosa Shimitz, age 14 born Iowa City, Iowa
Frank Shimitz, age 7 born Iowa City, Iowa
(I found this transcription on the Iowa Genealogy Forum here.).


The Frank Shimitz found with Annie on the 1895 census had a marriage record listing his parents: Frank J Shimitz, age 33 b. Washington County, Iowa, son of Frank Shimitz and Barbara Vrchoticky married 7 Sep 1920, Riverside, Washington, Iowa to Pauline Shebanek, age 30 b. Washington County, Iowa, daughter of Paul Shebanek and Rose Soukup. (Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch, Index only.)


Now that we're caught up I expanded my search. I was unsuccessful in my efforts to find Annie Hutz, Annie Hotz or Annie Shimitz (with additional other spellings)  on the 1900 census.


I did find Barbara and Frank Shimitz on the 1900 census:
Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, Ward 3, ED#84, sheet 10B, family 237.
Barbara Shunitz, self, born Oct 1846 Bohemia, widowed
Frank Shunitz, son, born Mar 1888 Iowa.

On the 1900 census I also learned that Barbara was the mother of 4 children, all 4 still living. This supports my theory that she was the mother of Mary, Annie and Rosa Hotz and Frank Shimitz and step-mother of Mary Shimitz.


A search for Rosa Hotz led to a marriage record. Miss Rose Hotz, age 28 b. Richmond, Iowa, daughter of James Hotz and Barbara Kichoticky married 22 Sep 1908, Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa to Joe Heisner age 29 b. Iowa City, Iowa, son of Joe Heisner and Margaret Meintzer. (Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch, Index only.)

Only the first two letters of Barbara's last name differ between Frank's marriage record and Rose's. I believe the error was on Rose's record.


Now that I had the name James Hotz I went to try and find the family on the 1880 census index. I believe I have found them listed as Katz. Since I only have access to the index I can't evaluate the record for myself. The grouping, ages and location all fit.

Lime Creek, Washington, Iowa, page 6C.
James Katz, age 32 b. Czechoslovakia
Barbara Katz, age 29 b. Czechoslovakia
Mary Katz, age 4 b. Iowa
Annie C Katz, age 1 b. Iowa


The next record I found was for the death of James Kotz, age 36 born Bohemia, died 18 Aug 1880 Richmond, Washington, Iowa. (Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990 @FamilySearch.) Very close name but once again I am stuck working from just an index. Also the age is different by 4 years from the 1880 census which may or may not mean anything. But note that James Kotz died in 1880 in Richmond, Iowa and Rose Hotz was born about 1881 in Richmond, Iowa per her marriage record.


I also found a marriage record for James Hotz to Barbara White on 4 Feb 1874, Johnson County, Iowa. (Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch, Index only.) This seems to match up with a couple starting a family about 1875 or 1876 (Mary Kotz) and Johnston County and Washington County are next to each other. However the surname White pretty much threw out my previous theory. Or did it?


I did much fruitless searching and seemed to be stuck. I don't remember exactly what search terms I was using but I chanced upon this link:

LEADING EVENTS IN JOHNSON COUNTY IOWA HISTORY, Pioneer Publishing Co., Chicago, 1911, pages 897-906

THE BOHEMIANS IN JOHNSON COUNTY
By B. Simek (pronounced Shimek)

The nucleus of the Union township colony was formed by Peter Kodl (Cole) and Frank Vrchoticky (usually known as Bily or White), and soon after Thomas Neuzil, Hibl, Hrade, and others from Iowa City and Newport township followed.

I was then able to find Barbara with her parents on the 1870 census.
Clear Creek, Johnson, Iowa, page 13, family 89, all born Bohemia.
Frank White, age 50y
Catharine White, age 53y
Barbara White, age 24y
Mary White, age 19y
Frank White, age 17y
Ann White, age 15y
Joseph White, age 15y
James White, age 11y
Catharina White, age 8y
Rosa White, age 5y


I did not research Barbara's parents any further. For now I am satisfied that Annie was the daughter of James Hotz and Barbara "White" Vrchoticky and step-daughter of Frank Simitz.

1 Frank, 2 Frank, 3 Frank, More?

This is the second in a series detailing my research of Annie Katy Hotz (Shimitz) Holmes and her family.

Yesterday I wrote about finding Franklin and Barbra Simitz on the 1885 Iowa State census index at FamilySearch. I then went looking for the 1880 census record and found three Frank Simitz in Highland, Washington, Iowa and two of them had wives named Barbara. Read on, I found more.

Frank #1. I have listed him as #1 simply because he is found first on the 1880 census, page 87B.

United States Census, 1880 Index at FamilySearch
Highland, Washington, Iowa
Page 87B
Frank Simitz, age 33 b. Czechoslovakia
Barbary Simitz, age 28 b. Czechoslovakia
Joseph Simitz, age 7 b. Iowa
Wm Simitz, age 4 b. Iowa
Mary Simitz, age 2 b. Iowa
Emma Smitz, age 4M b. Iowa

Frank #2, listed several entries after Frank #1 on page 88A

United States Census, 1880 Index at FamilySearch
Highland, Washington, Iowa
Page 88A
Frank K. Simitz, age 57 b. Czechoslovakia
Mary Simitz, age 50 b. Czechoslovakia
Josephine Simitz, age 20, b. Czechoslovakia
Katherine Simitz, age 17 b. Iowa
Annie Simitz, age 15 b. Iowa
Michaal Simitz, age 13 b. Iowa
Joseph Simitz, age 9 b. Iowa

Frank #3 was listed just after the Joseph Simitz above, based on the entry numbers.

United States Census, 1880 Index at FamilySearch
Highland, Washington, Iowa
Page 88A
Frank Simitz, age 29 b. Czechoslovakia
Barbary Simitz, age 28 b. Czechoslovakia

*************************

Frank #1

1870. I have been unable to locate Frank Shimitz on the census. Barbara Urbin is found in Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, Ward 3, page 8, line 31. Urbin, Barbara, age 18 born Bohemia, housekeeper in the home of Rufus Lumbard.

1872. Frank Schimits married Barbara Urbin, 1 Apr 1872, Washington, Iowa. (Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch, index only, no parents names given.)

1880. Frank, Barbara and 4 children, Highland, Washington, Iowa. (See record above.)

1885. Kansas State Census, Elk Creek, Republic County, KS, Clyde P.O.
Shimitz, Frank, 34, farmer, b. Bohemia
Barbry, 39, b. Bohemia
Joseph, 12, b. IA
Emma, 5, b. IA
AnRosy, 3, b. IA
(I do not have access to this record. I found it transcribed on the Iowa Genealogy Forum here.

1900. Lone Pine & Wrights Precincts, Banner, Nebraska, ED#3, sheet 2B.
Frank Shimitz, head, born Aug 1846 Bohemia, married 27 years (marriage abt 1873)
Barbia Shimitz, wife, born Dec 1851 Bohemia, married 27 years
Anton Shimitz, son, born Jan 1872 Iowa
Della Shimitz, daughter, born May 1885 Kansas
Silvester Shimitz, son, born Dec 1890 Nebraska
Emma Everts, daughter, born Dec 1880 Iowa
Dan H Everts, son-in-law, born Aug 1870 Pennsylvania
Ervin Everts
Eunice L Everts
Anton Urban, father-in-law, born July 1819 Bohemia
Mary Urban, mother-in-law, born Dec 1825 Bohemia

This is where I stopped researching Frank #1. I suspect but have no proof that he is the nephew of Frank #2. I do not believe that the AnRosy Shimitz shown on the 1885 census was the wife of Emory Holmes.

*************************

Frank #2

1870. Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 15, family 103.
Frank Shimmitz, age 43 born Bohemia
Mary Shimmitz, age 42 born Bohemia
Frank Shimmitz, age 19 born Bohemia [Frank #3]
Mary Shimmitz, age 14 born Bohemia
Josephine Shimmitz, age 11 born Bohemia
Kate Shimmitz, age 8 born Bohemia
Annie Shimmitz, age 5 born Iowa
Mike Shimmitz, age 3 born Iowa

1880. Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 88A
Frank K. Simitz, age 57 b. Czechoslovakia
Mary Simitz, age 50 b. Czechoslovakia
Josephine Simitz, age 20, b. Czechoslovakia
Katherine Simitz, age 17 b. Iowa
Annie Simitz, age 15 b. Iowa
Michaal Simitz, age 13 b. Iowa
Joseph Simitz, age 9 b. Iowa

Frank Simitz, age 29 b. Czechoslovakia [Frank #3]
Barbary Simitz, age 28 b. Czechoslovakia

1885. Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 13, family 70
Franklin Simitz, age 56
Josefine Simitz age 24
Mike Simitz, age 17
Joseph Simitz, age 14
(Iowa State Census, 1885 @FamilySearch, index only)

I did not find Frank #2 in any other census records nor did I find a death or cemetery record but truthfully I did not search very hard.

I did find several entries in Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch (index only) for a son of Frank Simitz and Mary Koura. He is recorded as both Mates F Simitz and W.F. Simitz, born about 1868 and married to Frances Tellin in 1893. This would match up with Michaal and Mike in the above census records. Catherine Shimets marriage to Frank Hosick in 1882 lists parents Frank Shimets and Mary Horak. Joseph's marriage to Agnes Boher or Balaor in 1891 lists only father, Frank Shimitz.

*************************

Frank #3

1870. Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 15, family 103.
Frank Shimmitz, age 43 born Bohemia
Mary Shimmitz, age 42 born Bohemia
Frank Shimmitz, age 19 born Bohemia [Frank #3]
(see above for siblings)

1880. Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 88A
Frank Simitz, age 29 b. Czechoslovakia
Barbary Simitz, age 28 b. Czechoslovakia

NO children listed in the household. (Listed just after his parents, see above.)

1884. Frank Shimets marries Barbara Choe, 15 Jan 1884. (Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch, index only)
This record has me very perplexed! Is it for our Frank Simitz or someone else? Was Barbara's last name really Choe or was it mis-indexed or perhaps misspelled on the original record? This record does not go along with anything else I have found but I feel it is better to include it here rather than just ignore it.

1885. Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 15, family 79.
Franklin Simitz, age 35
Barbra Simitz, age 38
Mary Simitz, age 4
Mary Hotz, age 9
Anna Hotz, age 6
Rosa Hotz, age 4
(Iowa State Census, 1885 @FamilySearch, index only)

His father, Frank #2, was listed on page 13. There is no indication in this index record as to the relationship of the children in the home to the adults.

1895. Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, Ward 3
Barbra Shimitz, age 49 born Bohemia
Annia Shimitz, age 16 born Iowa City, Iowa
Rosa Shimitz, age 14 born Iowa City, Iowa
Frank Shimitz, age 7 born Iowa City, Iowa [Frank #4]
So it appears that Frank #3 may have died between 1885 and 1895. There are no daughters in the home named Mary and son, Frank, was born after the 1885 census. Annie and Rosa were recorded with the same last name Shimitz but it is unclear when they started using that surname or if they commonly used the Shimitz surname.
(I do not have access to the 1895 Iowa State Census, I found this transcription on the Iowa Genealogy Forum here.)

1900. Mary Shimitz, age 19, married Frank Haisman, age 25, 10 Jun 1900 Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa. I believe this is the Mary Simitz listed with Frank and Barbara on the 1885 census, however the Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 index at FamilySearch does not list her parents names.

1900-onward. Since Frank disappears from the record I will wait and include records from 1900 onward a future post. For now I will share just one more record that does list Frank #3.

1920. Frank J Shimitz [Frank #4], age 33 b. Washington County, Iowa, son of Frank Shimitz [Frank #3] and Barbara Vrchoticky married 7 Sep 1920, Riverside, Washington, Iowa to Pauline Shebanek, age 30 b. Washington County, Iowa, daughter of Paul Shebanek and Rose Soukup. (Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 @FamilySearch, Index only.)

My theory is that Frank #3 had two different wives, both named Barbara. Based on census records, especially the 1885 census, my theory is that Frank married Barbara (surname unknown) about 1879. They were the parents of Mary Shimitz who was born about 1881 and later married Frank Haisman. Barbara (surname unknown) then died between Mary's birth and the 1885 census. At some point between 1881 and 1885 Frank married Barbara Vrchoticky Hotz, a widow with three daughters. And this blending of two families is what is found on the 1885 census. Frank J Shimitz [Frank #4] was born about 1887 so Frank #3 died sometime after that.

I'm still stuck on the 1884 marriage to Barbara Choe. Was this a very corrupted version of Barbara Vrchoticky Hotz or does this record belong to a different Frank?

Obviously more research is needed here. I hope to clear things up just a little more tomorrow when I focus on my search for Annie's parents.

Searching for Annie's Maiden name

This is the first in a series detailing my research of Annie Katy Hotz (Shimitz) Holmes and her family.

I was recently contacted by two very distant cousins who are looking for more information about their ancestor, Annie, who I have in my tree. I had her listed as Anna Katy Simitiz and one of them asked where my information came from. When I looked it up I determined that her name came either from the cousin who was asking or another cousin who has a tree at Ancestry.com. So I decided to find a more reliable source. I do not have a subscription to Ancestry.com so I turned to several other sources and often I had access to only an index.

Annie was the wife of Emory O Holmes. Emory was my 3rd cousin, 2x removed so what I had researched on him was minimal. Emory O Holmes was the son of Watson Arabia Holmes and Mary Jane (sometimes Jennie) Loan and was born 22 Sept 1884.

[Iowa Births and Christenings, 1830-1950 @FamilySearch (index only). Three records. Emory Holmes, 4th child of Watson A. Holmes (b. Canada) and Mary J Loan Holmes (age 30 b. Iowa), born 22 Sep 1885 Pleasant Valley Twp, Johnson, Iowa.]

I have Annie's birth as 4 Aug 1879, the exact date given by cousins. On the 1910 census she was born abt 1882 and on the 1920 census Born abt 1881. I could not locate an Annie Shimitz on the 1900 or 1880 censuses at FamilySearch despite the number of spelling variations that I tried.

I also did not find a marriage record by searching for Annie Shimitz so I decided to search instead for Emory Holmes and quickly found their marriage record at FamilySearch, however, her name was listed as Annie Hutz.

MARRIAGE LICENSE


State of Illinois, Cook County } ss, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
TO ANY PERSON LEGALLY AUTHORIZED to SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGE GREETING:


Marriage may be Celebrated between Mr. Emery Holmes
Of Iowa City in the County of ---- and State of Iowa of the age
of 22 years, and Miss Annie Hutz of Chicago
in the County of Cook and State of Illinois of the age of 22 years.


Witness, PETER B. OLSEN, County Clerk and Clerk of the Court of said
Cook County, and the said Court, at my office in Chicago, this 16 day of
Jan'y A. D. 1903. [signed] Peter B. Olsen
County Clerk and Clerk of the County Court


STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF COOK} ss, I, Denis Hayes a Catholic Priest
hereby certify that Mr. Emery Holmes and Miss Annie Hutz
were united in Marriage by me at Chicago in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, on
the 18 th day of January 1903
Denis Hayes
______ __ R_ses Church


Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920, FamilySearch.org

Emery Holmes was said to be of Iowa City and thus far I have only found one Emory Holmes in that area. The record says that Emery was age 22 and I suspect he lied just a bit. Annie's age is off by just a year (actually a few months). Emory and Annie Holmes had a son, Leonard J Holmes, who was born in Illinois 1903. I am confident that this is the correct marriage record.

Now that I had the maiden name of Hutz I went back to searching in the census indexes. I could find nothing for Hutz but I did find Anna Hotz.

Iowa State Census, 1885 @FamilySearch (index only). Highland, Washington, Iowa, page 15, family 79:
Franklin Simitz, age 35
Barbra Simitz, age 38
Mary Simitz, age 4
Mary Hotz, age 9
Anna Hotz, age 6
Rosa Hotz, age 4

So now I had found the Simitz name associated with Annie. The question was why were three children named Hotz with the Simitz family? Note that there were two girls in the home named Mary and also two children, Mary Simitz and Rosa Hotz both age 4.

I next looked at the 1880 census where I found two listings for Frank and Barbara Simitz. Tomorrow I will tackle sorting them out.

The 99+ Genealogy Things Meme

Becky Wiseman has brought back this meme at Kinexxions that she originally ran in 2009. There are a few other versions out there and she provides links.

Feel free to modify the list to suit your needs... If you wish to participate in the meme, simply copy the text below and paste it into your blog (or into a note on facebook or Google+ if you don't have a blog) and annotate the list accordingly. We're on the 'honor system' here, no one is going to check up on you! Participation is up to you, no tagging of other bloggers required. And, if you've done it before, you can do it again.

So let's play! I modified a couple to suit myself. Numbers 104-113 I found on Sheri's list at The Educated Genealogist. My comments are [in brackets].

If you've done this in the past, indicate which answers have changed. (And please link back to Becky)


The list should be annotated in the following manner:
Things you have already done or found: bold face type

Things you would like to do or find: italicize (color optional)

Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type

1. Belong to a genealogical society.
2. Researched records onsite at a court house.
3. Transcribed records.
4. Uploaded tombstone pictures to Find-A-Grave.
5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents).
6. Joined Facebook.
7. Helped to clean up a run-down cemetery.
8. Are a member of the Genea-Bloggers Group on Facebook.
9. Lectured at a genealogy conference.
10. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
11. Been the editor of a genealogy society newsletter.
12. Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
13. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
14. Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
15. Talked to dead ancestors.
16. Researched outside the state in which I live.
17. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
18. Cold called a distant relative.
19. Posted messages on a surname message board.
20. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
21. Googled my name.
22. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
23. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
24. Have been paid to do genealogical research.
25. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
26. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
27. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
28. Responded to messages on a message board or forum.
29. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.
30. Participated in a genealogy meme.
31. Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.).
32. Performed a record lookup for someone else.
33. Went on a genealogy seminar cruise.
34. Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space.
35. Found a disturbing family secret.
36. Told others about a disturbing family secret.
37. Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
38. Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby.
[Actually I'm passionate about my hobby.]
39. Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person.
    [Unclaimed Persons]
40. Taught someone else how to find their roots.
41. Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure.
    [Not much and easily found again]
42. Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
43. Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher.
44. Disproved a family myth through research.
    [I'm not a Princess :-( ]
45. Got a family member to let you copy photos
    [Have taken my old flatbed scanner on the road].
46. Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records.
    [Several thousand images worth]
47. Translated a record from a foreign language.
48. Found an immigrant ancestor’s passenger arrival record.
    [Husband's ancestors. I've seen my ancestors ships of arrival listed in books]
49. Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
50. Used microfiche.
51. Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
52. Visited more than one LDS Family History Center. [Haven't been to one yet]
53. Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
54. Taught a class in genealogy.
55. Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
56. Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century.
57. Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century.
58. Can name all of your great-great-grandparents.
59. Found an ancestor’s Social Security application.
    [Husband's grandmother]
60. Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.
61. Used Steve Morse’s One-Step searches.
62. Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
63. Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research.
64. Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
65. Visited the Library of Congress.
66. Have an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower.
    
67. Have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
68. Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone.
69. Became a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
70. Can read a church record in Latin.
71. Have an ancestor who changed their name.
72. Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.
73. Created a family website.
74. Have more than one "genealogy" blog.
75. Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
76. Have broken through at least one brick wall
77. Visited the DAR Library in Washington D.C.
78. Borrowed a microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center.
79. Have done indexing for Family Search Indexing or another genealogy project.
80. Visited the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
81. Had an amazing serendipitous find of the "Psychic Roots" variety.
82. Have an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War.
83. Have an ancestor who was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War.
84. Have both Patriot & Loyalist ancestors.
85. Have used Border Crossing records to locate an ancestor.
86. Use maps in my genealogy research.
87. Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK.
88. Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors.
    [Actually a cousin]
89. Visited the National Archives in Kew.
90. Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
91. Found a cousin in a foreign country.
92. Consistently cite my sources.
93. Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors.
94. Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
95. Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more).
    [Several cousins]
96. Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone.
97. Organized a family reunion.
98. Published a family history book (on one of my families).
99. Learned of the death of a fairly close relative through research.
100. Have done the genealogy happy dance.
101. Sustained an injury doing the genealogy happy dance.
102. Offended a family member with my research.
103. Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts. 
104. Joined a group at GenealogyWise
105. Joined a National Genealogy Society
106. Used Google+ for Genealogy
107. Have an ancestor who came to America as an indentured servant.
108. Have visited a NARA branch.
109. Have taken online genealogy or history course.
110. Have an ancestor who served in WWI or WWII.
111. Discovered a blacksheep ancestor.
112. Joined a lineage society.
     
113. Visited the Allen County Public Library.

Thomas Berry and the Church of England

Thomas David Berry was born 8 September 1829 in Blockley, Worcester, England and Baptized on Sunday 18 October 1829 at St Peter and St Paul's Church in Blockley. So began Thomas' lifelong association with the Anglican Church. 



St Peter's and St Paul's sits in the center of town and a church (perhaps the original foundations of the current church) are traced back to at least 1086 and the Domesday Book. In The history of Blockley in the county of Worcester, Alfred J Soden 1875 is found:

In his collections, Bigland describes the parish church of Blockley as consisting of a "spacious nave, and north aisle of the middle ages. The chancel, of the Saxon style, is probably the same structure that is described in Domesday Book."

Rev Soden describes in detail many of the changes, reconstructions and additions made to the church. A major renovation was undertaken in 1838 but overall I believe the church appeared as depicted in this 1871 picture for all of Thomas' time in Blockley.

Also included in the book is this diagram of the inside of the church.

I was unable to find any photos of the inside of the church that I can share here but there are photos of St Peter and Paul's Church, at Church Crawls. The pictures of the interior make the church seem much smaller than the outside views. I wonder at the age of the baptismal font. Was it the one used when Thomas was baptized or was it the one used when for his children?

The Berry family were poor and the men worked six days a week as agricultural laborers and the women and children worked in the silk mills. I don't know how much of a role the church would have played in their day to day life. I assume, but have not verified, that his parents and two of his children are buried in the cemetery. Thomas, his wife Jane and five of their seven children left the poverty of Blockley behind in 1874 to start a new life in Canada.

The family was enumerated on the 1881 census in Gloucester, Russell County (now part of Ottawa, Carleton County), Ontario, Canada. Dist 104, sub dist E, div 2. pg 31, family 142. Thomas gave his occupation as miller and for religion was written England. I have not discovered which church they would have attended at that time but that is where Thomas' youngest child, Amelia, would have been baptized.

Thomas moved to the Bytown section of Ottawa by 1899. On the 1901 census he listed his occupation as sexton. I also had recorded that he was listed as sexton and that he lived at 118 Nelson St. in the 1899 city directory so I started looking on google maps for Anglican churches near Nelson St and I quickly found two. All Saints on Chapel St wasn't old enough but St Alban's on King Edward Ave seemed very likely and I learned quite a bit about the history of the church but found nothing to link the Berry family to it.

So I decided to revisit the city directories to see if I could determine when he moved to Nelson St and when he was first listed as sexton rather than laborer. He is found just outside the city in the 1888-1889 directory and at 66 Nelson St in the 1889-1890 edition. His occupation was given as laborer until the 1895-1896 Ottawa City Directory when he was listed as the sexton of St. John's Church.


I quickly found St. John the Evangelist Church in Ottawa but after reading the history of the church I learned that the current St John's was Grace Church until 1913. The St John's that Thomas Berry was the sexton of was located at the corner of Sussex and Rue George, less than 3/4 of a mile from where Thomas lived. St John's on Sussex St burned in 1912 so there are no recent photos of the church. I was able to find a photo from c.1870.

Thomas died in 1907 and his wife, Jane, in 1914 and with their deaths my branch of the Berry family's association with the Anglican church ended. My great-grandfather Joseph and my grandfather, Kimberly were both members of the Congregational Church.

In writing this for the 109th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy I spent several hours learning more about the Church of England and learned much about the history of the religion and a little of the theology but I am left with many unanswered questions such as how Thomas felt about his church and why he chose St John's rather than another?

Carnival Poster by footnote Maven.