Thomas Berger Deetz

TBD wrote "I am sick and lonely--I am going to hire a housekeeper--if she pleases me, I will marry her" He hired the widow Christianna Schenkel Smith, married her, and two years later Ella May Deetz, was born. --TBD was 69 years old, Chris, his wife was 42, and baby Ella's half brother Charlie was 32.

GEDCOM Note

[Berger.ged]

The sponsors at Thomas' baptism were Peter Cooper and his wife, Susanna.

Around 1840, at the age of 12, Thomas Deetz moved with his parents to Zane's farm near Seller sville in Bucks Co., PA.

In 1850, Thomas Deetz, age 23 a coach maker, was still single and was living in Rockhill Twp. , Bucks Co., PA, in a hotel owned by Peter Knechel. (1850 census, microfilm roll #759, Buck s Co., PA, pg. 167A, Rockhill Twp., house #64)

Around 1851 Thomas started a business in Sellersville and shortly thereafter moved to Bloomin g Glen, Bucks Co., where, around 1855, he married his first wife, Susanna Moyer, who lived on ly about three years after their marriage. Thomas and Susanna had two children, who both die d in childhood. Thomas then returned to Sellersville where he married his second wife, Caroli ne Nase, around 1859. They were married 33 years.

In 1860, Thomas Deetz, age 32 a wheelwright, was living in Rockhill Twp., Bucks Co., PA wit h his second wife, Caroline Deetz age 30. There were no children in his household but livin g with them were Thomas' mother, Elizabeth Deetz age 65, William Schisler age 20 also a wheel wright, and William Harr age 16 an apprentice wheelwright. Thomas owned real estate valued a t $5500 and personal property of $1500. (1860 census, microfilm roll #1085, Bucks Co., PA, pg . 659, Rockhill Twp., house #353, family #406)

In 1870 Thomas Deetz, age 43 a carriage maker, was still living in Rockhill Twp. (Sellersvill e Post Ofc.), Bucks Co., PA with his second wife, Caroline Deetz age 39, and one son, Charle s Deetz age 5. Thomas had real estate valued at $6000 and personal property of $3000. Also li ving in their household were Venada Naff age 20 a domestic servant, Daniel Althouse age 2 2 a coach maker, Michael Nace age 18 an apprentice coach maker, and David Knapp age 27 a coac h painter. (1870 census, microfilm roll #1314, Bucks Co., PA, pg. 595, Rockhill Twp., house # 72, family #90)

In 1874 Thomas Deetz joined St. Michaels' Lutheran Church, Sellersville. His second wife, Car oline, joined the same church on 30 May 1875. Church records show that Thomas served as eld er continuously from May 1874-1904.

After Caroline's death in 1892, Thomas Deetz, now aged 68, was married a third time to Christ ianna Elizabeth Schenkel in 1896. In a pre-nuptial agreement with Christianna, signed 25 Jun e 1896, she relinquished all dower rights and agreed to accept only $500 of his estate if sh e survived him. He agreed that he would make no claim on her estate if he survived her. Th e witnesses at signing were: Henry G.(J?) Moyer, Samuel R. Kramer, and Samuel R. Kramer, J.P . (Recorded in Bucks Co. Deed Book 336, pg. 356,--not recorded until 14 august, 1907)

When their daughter, Ella May, was born in 1897, Tomas and Christianna lived at the corner o f Main and Walnut Streets in Sellersville in a big brick house with carriage shops in the rea r and a pretty ornamental iron fence around the front yard. (Source: Descendant Barbara Rhode s)

In 1952 Ella May (Deetz) Wagner donated $200 to St. Michael's church library in honor of Thom as B. Deetz.

(Genealogy Note: The inscription on Thomas' tombstone in St. Michael's Church cemetery show s that he died on 9 August 1907 at the age of 79 years, 3 months and 1 day. Subtraction of th at age from his date of death gives a birth date of 8 May 1828. However, the church record o f his baptism shows he was born 26 May 1828.)

A Brief History of Jacob Wismer and a Complete Genealogical Family Register With Biographies of His Descendants from the Earliest Available Records to the Present Time By A J Fretz, Eli Wismer

http://books.google.com/books?id=nwBgAAAAMAAJ

Page 67

V. Susan Moyer, bn. Oct. 11, 1834; died Mar. 26, 1858. Mrd. Thomas B. Deetz, Oct. 14, 1854. P.O., Sellersville, Pa. Carriage builder. Luth. Children:

VI. Emma Jane Deetz, bn. Mar. 3, 1856; died Sept. 25, 1857.

VI. Jacob Irwin Deetz, bn. Mar. 11, 1858; died July 17, 1858.