As I was working on my family history I wanted to focus on my 2nd Great Grand Aunt Amy Morse Ferrier. I wasn't able to locate her birth record but once I discovered her family church, St. John's Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I was able to obtain information on her birth by using the church's records.
It's a beautiful church located on the corner of Chestnut and Mulberry streets. The church is located right around the corner from the family home. St. John’s was founded in 1853 at its present location. It was the first Episcopal congregation in Pennsylvania to be established without a pew rental system, and so was originally called St. John’s Free Church. Wealthy and poor parishioners were able to come together as equals in their worship of God, an unusual practice at that time for Episcopal congregations.
I began looking for the church's records to see what I could learn about Amy M. Ferrier. Luckily I found some documents online that answered some of the questions I had. Her Baptismal records listed her birth date (September 4, 1873), baptismal date (November 9, 1873), and each of her parents names as well as the name of the church, city and state it was located in. I then found her Confirmation record which verified she was confirmed on March 23, 1890.
Through the records that were provided by St. John's Episcopal Church and the information I have found on ancestry.com I am now able to put together a bit of a family story about my 2nd Great Grand Aunt - Amy Morse Ferrier.
I wish I had a photo of her, but I don't. I've searched over the internet but no luck. I think it would make this story a little more complete .. to see ... visualize .. what my Aunt looked like. Maybe someone out there has a photo and if they do I certainly would love to see her.
You see .. this story doesn't end with the church records. Her life went on way beyond her young years with her family and her church upbringing. I will share some more of what I learned about her below.
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| Confirmation Record |
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| Baptismal Record |
Ms. Amy Morse Ferrier was born in Lancaster, Pennslyvania to Isabelle (nee Heller) and John A. Ferrier. They lived on Mulberry Street in the same city. Amy was baptized at 2 months of age and later took her first Communion at 16 years of age. Ancestry records indicate she lived in the same home until she was 27 yrs(year of 1900). I can't locate her in 1910 in any records but then I find her in 1920, at the age of 47, living with a woman friend. Ten years later, at the age of 57, she is living at Henry T. Long Asylum for the Aged in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She seems so young to be in an asylum for the aged. But by then both of her parents, John and Isabelle, have passed on and maybe she wasn't capable of caring for herself. She never married. Amy was the youngest of 12 children (if my records are correct) so she comes from a large family. Maybe she was a spinster and happy with her life. I don't want to assume anything. In 1940, at the age of 66yrs., Amy is living in the same place but the name has changed to the Henry T. Long Home for the Aged. I lose her again in 1950 but then find information that she passed away on December 15, 1952 at the age of 79.
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| Henry T. Long Home for the Aged, Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
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| Henry T.Long Asylum for the Aged, Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
This home actually looks live a very nice retirement home. I'm sure my 2nd Great Grand Aunt had many happy years there.
Warm Regards,
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