Sarah (Croft) Holme (abt. 1630 - 1676)

Born about 1630 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England

Wife of Thomas Holme — married 5 Aug 1649 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England

Descendants

Died 10 Apr 1676 at about age 46 in Brigurteen, County Wexford, Ireland

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Biography

Sarah Croft was born the daughter of William and Maudlin Croft in Tewkesbury, England. She married Thomas Holme August 5 1649 in Tewkesbury.

Sarah may have had a brother, William Croft, who was named in documents of Captain Croft's company. Another James Croft, who arrived in Pennsylvania on Society, may also have been a relative.

The following month she accompanied her husband to Ireland, where he served with Cromwell's Parliamentary army In Ireland, Sarah took her place with the other wives caring for the sick and wounded. Sarah returned to her native home for the birth of her first son, Thomas, on June 19, 1651. Returning to Ireland, she joined her husband in Limerick where he had purchased a house, and for the first time in their three year marriage they were able to establish a household. It was during this time period that Sarah and her husband Thomas became Quakers.

Their daughter, also named Sarah, was born September 4, 1653 at their home in Limerick.^[1] Daughter Ester (or Hester) followed February 8 1654/55, but lived only a little over a year. Esther died less than two weeks after the birth of her sister Mary on May 10, 1656. Infant Mary died in September of that year, both infants are buried in Limerick.

In the spring of 1657 Thomas and Sarah, now pregnant with their fifth child, along with six year old Thomas and 3 year old Sarah, moved to the townland of Dongeare in county Wexford. Daughter Susanna was born in their new home July 19, 1657, followed by a second son named Samuel born there September 20, 1658. The family then returned for a while to Tewksbury, England, where a daughter named Elinor was born on September 26, 1659.

The family then came back to Ireland where they were living in Bregurten, somewhat nearer Wexford, by the birth of daughter Hester, named for the infant who had died in Limerick, February 27, 1661.

In 1662 Sarah was incarcerated in the Wexford prison for her activities as a Quaker. She was arrested for traveling to Wexford prison to visit her husband and other Quakers also there, including Thomas & Mary Loe.

A third son was born to Thomas and Sarah in April of 1663 who they named Tryall. Another son, William, was born March 5, 1665/66. Their eldest son Thomas, died at the age of 17 in Bregurteen in 1668, followed by 14 year old Susanna in the Summer of 1671. Both were buried at Corlecan.

Sarah herself died April 10, 1676 and her husband buried her beside their children Thomas and Susanna in a laurel-enclosed circle at Corlicane. Three months later Sarah was followed by the eldest of their remaining children, Samuel, who died July 11th, 1676.

Thomas and his remaining children returned to England, later emigrating with William Penn to Pennsylvania.

Children of Thomas & Sarah (Croft) Holme

• Thomas Holme, born June 19, 1651 in Tewksbury, England; died 1668 at the age of 17, buried at Corleacan.

• Sarah Holme, born September 4, 1653 in Limerick, Ireland

• Ester (or Hester) Holme, born February 8, 1654/55 in Limerick; died May 1656

• Mary Holme, born May 10, 1656 in Limerick; died September 1656

• Susanna Holme, born July 19, 1657 in Dongeare, County Wexford; died summer of 1671 and buried at Corlecane.

• Samuel Holme, born September 20, 1658 in Dongeare; died July 11, 1676 and buried at Corlecane.

• Elinor Holme, born September 26, 1659 in Tewksbury, England

• Hester Holme, born February 27, 1661, Bregurten, County Wexford; married Silas Crispin; Hester was named for the sister who had died in Limerick.

• Tryall Holme, born April 1663 in Bregurten

• William Holme, born March 5, 1666 in Bregurten

Sources

Corcoran, Irma. Thomas Holme, 1624-1695 Surveyor General of Pennsylvania. American Philosophical Society (1992). Google books

1. ↑ note: this is not the same child as Susanna, daughter of "Mester and Sarah Hulme" who as born August 1 in Tewksbury the same year.

See also:

• "Thomas Holme (1624-1695) Pennsylvania's First Surveyor-General", Processional Surveyor magazine online part 1

• Tewkesbury Parish (Gloucestershire, England), Baptism Register 1607-1629, p. 15, Sara Crafte baptised 6 May 1621; "Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1538-1813," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 July 2019), image 17 of 26 (subscription required); citing P329/1 IN 1/3, Gloucestershire Archives.

• Add sources here.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Andrea Powell for contributions to this profile