George Wildon Pieritz (1808 - 1884)

Born 3 May 1808 in Preußen

Husband of Emily Watson (Hitcham) Pieritz — married 19 Dec 1837 (to 1838) in St Nicholas, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England

Husband of Sarah Elizabeth (Hillier) Pieritz — married 21 Sep 1847 (to 24 Jul 1884) in St Nicholas, Rochester, Kent, England

Died 24 Jul 1884 at age 76 in High Ham, Somerset, England

Biography

George Wildon Pieritz was born in Klecko, Poland ^[1] (Cambridge Alumni says Prussia) on 3 May 1808, the son of Jewish parents, merchant Joachim Pieritz and his wife, Emily Moritz. He became a rabbi at the age of 18. ^[2] He became a Christian about 1834 and, sponsored by Frederick William III King of Prussia and the historian, August Neander, ^[3] he was baptised in the Christian faith at Sankt Nikolai, Berlin on 9 June 1835. ^[4] He was part of the Mission to the Jews of Palestine 1837-1840 ^[5].

There is a marriage record dated 19 December 1837 at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk giving a marriage for George Wilson Pieritz to Emily Watson Hitcham daughter of John Hitcham. ^[6] Emily was actually the daughter of Edward Morris Hitcham and his wife, Emily Watson. The marriage index says Emily Watson Hitcham married George Wildon Purity. ^[7] Emily died in the spring of the following year at Shoreditch as Emily Watson Pieritz. ^[8]

It was presumably after the death of his wife that he joined the mission to Jerusalem. Among other projects was the building of a church in Jerusalem. In July 1840 a young architect, William Curry Hillier, arrived in Jerusalem to supervise the work. William survived barely a month, dying of typhus in August. If they had not met before then this must have been when George made contact with William's family.

After his time with the mission George went to Caius College, Cambridge to continue his education. He was ordained deacon in 1846 and priest in 1847, ^[5] the year of his second marriage. On 21 September 1847 at Rochester in Kent he married Sarah Elizabeth Hillier ^[9][10] sister of the William Curry Hillier who had died in Jerusalem in 1840 and daughter of William Curry Hillier of the Royal Navy and his wife, Ann Batten. Together they went on a mission to Ahmenabad in India. ^[5] Two children were born to the marriage in India, Augustin Hillier ^[11] and Anna Latitia ^[12]

By 1861 the family was back in England. ^[13] Augustin died early in 1864 ^[14]and was buried on 1 February at St Andrew, Cambridge. ^[15] Later that year George was appointed rector of Hardwick in Cambridgeshire, ^[5] a post which held until 1870. Thereafter he had no cure of souls.

In 1884 George and Sarah were living at 33 Iffley Rd, Oxford, but he was at High Ham in Somerset when he died on 24 July 1884, leaving an estate valued at £234 19s 7d. Sarah obtained probate on 8 August. ^[16][17] George was buried at St Mary and St John, Cowley, Oxford. ^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ On This Day in Messianic Jewish History [1]
2. ↑ On This Day in Messianic Jewish History [2]
3. ↑ SS Mary & John Churchyard Parish of Cowley St John, Oxford
4. ↑ Baptismal record Sankt Nicolai, Berlin (9 June 1835 Gabriel Wildon Pieritz born 3 May 1808 son of Joachim Pieritz and Emilie Moritz)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Venn Cambridge Alumni: Pieritz, George Wildon
6. ↑ Marriage record, Yarmouth, Norfolk (19 December 1837 George Wilson Pieritz, son of Joachim married Emily Watson Hitcham daughter of John Hitcham) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only
7. ↑ England and Wales marriage index (Registered Yarmouth 1837 4th qu Emily Watson Hitcham married George William Purity Vol 13 Page 824) The marriage index gives all the information needed to obtain a copy of the marriage certificate
8. ↑ England and Wales death index (Registered Shoreditch 1838 2nd qu Emily Watson Pieritz Vol 2 Page 357). The death index has all the information needed to obtain a copy of the death certificate.
9. ↑ Marriage record, St Nicholas, Rochester, Kent (21 September 1847 Sarah Elizabeth Hillier married George Wildon Pieritz) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only
10. ↑ England and Wales marriage index (Registered Medway 1847 3rd qu Sarah Elizabeth Hillier married George Wilden Pieritz Vol 5 Page 477) The marriage index has all the information needed to obtain a copy of the marriage Certificate.
11. ↑ Baptismal record Ahmenabad, Bombay, India (19 August 1849 Augustin Hillier Piority born 17 July 1849 son of George Wildon Piority and Sarah Elizabeth)
12. ↑ Baptismal record, Ahmenabad, Bombay, India (13 October 1850 Anna Latitia Pieritz born 10 September 1850 daughter of George Wildon Pieritz and Sarah Elizabeth)
13. ↑ Census of England 1861
14. ↑ England and Wales death index (Registered Cambridge 1864 1st qu Augustine Hillier Pieritz Vol 3b Page 396) The death index has all the information needed to obtain a copy of the death certificate.
15. ↑ Burial record St Andrew, Cambridge 1 February 1864 Augustine Hilliar Pieritz born 1850 VIewed at Ancestry. Text only
16. ↑ National Probate Calendar (8 August 1884 Gerge Wildon Pieritz of 33 Iffley Rd, Oxford. Died 24 July 1884 at High Ham in Somerset. estate £234 19s 7d. Administration granted to Sarah Elizabeth Pieritz the relict)
17. ↑ England and Wales death index (Registered Langport 1884 3rd qu George Wildon Pieritz aged 76 Vol 5c Page 257) The death index gives all the information needed to obtain a copy of the death certificate.
18. ↑ Burial record St Mary and St John, Cowley (29 July 1884 George Wildon Pieritz aged 76) Viewed at Ancestry. Text only

Further Reading

• British Mission to the Jews in nineteenth century Palestine