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John Holmes was born in 1675. He died in 1736.
James Boon & wife Elizabeth sold to John Holmes. 14 September 1717, 80 acres joining John Barefield in the Elm Swamp and Tuscarara path.[1]
John Holmes & wife Dorothy sold to Francis Pugh of Nansemond Co., Virginia 80 acres on Elm Swamp & Tuscarara path adjoining John Barefield. 10 November 1725[2]
As shown by the conveyances, until November,1725 John Holmes' spouse was Dorothy. He must have married Tamar in 1726 or later.
It would seem that John should be the son of Edward Holmes of Nansemond County and that he had a brother named Edward who was also in Chowan and Bertie. What I have so far can be viewed here.
Holmes, John. Edgecombe County. Feb 28, 1735-1736. May Court, 1736.
•Birth: ABT 1675 in North Carolina
•Death: 28 FEB 1736 in Bertie County, North Carolina
Father: Edward Holmes b: ABT 1640 in Nansemond, Virginia Mother: Elizabeth Wingfield
Marriage 1 Tamar Byrd b: 1691 in Probably Fishing Creek, Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Children
1.Edward Holmes b: ABT 1717 in Bertie Co, NC
2. Mary Holmes b: 1692 in Bertie Co, NC
3.John Holmes b: ABT 1713 in Chowan County, NC
4. Hardy Holmes b: ABT 1711 in Chowan County, NC
5. Ann Holmes b: in Chowan County, NC
6.Charity Holmes b: in Chowan County, NC
7.Dorothy Holmes b: ABT 1720 in Chowan County, NC
8. Rose Holmes b: in Chowan County, NC
9. Gabriel Holmes b: ABT 1719 in Chowan County, NC[4]
FamilySearch: John Holmes Sr. KCV3-WFG birth: about 1677, Edgecombe Co. NC death:from 28 February 1735/36 to May 1736, Edgecombe Co. NC father: Edward Holmes LV4S-ZL9 mother: Elizabeth Whinfield GQ2V-D6K spouse: Dorothy Hardy GQ2V-9M7
FamilySearch places a John with parents John and Dorothy Holmes, but that John Holmes was born 13 Nov 1713 in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England.[5]
A prevailing theory is that John was born between 1675 and 1687 in Chowan, Carolina, which later became Bertie County, North Carolina.[6] He was a son of John Holmes and Dorothy UNKNOWN, of Nansemond County and moved to Bertie County, North Carolina,[6] although this relationship is unproven, and any time of such a move is unknown.
John married twice. The name of his first wife is not known, but she may have been a Hardy, as many of that name lived in close proximity, and Hardy was often used as a given name among John's children and grandchildren.[7] John married as his 2nd wife to Tamar Byrd.[7] After John died, Tamar married as her 2nd husband to Patrick Carr, and as her 3rd husband to an unknown Molten/Moulton.[7]
Apparently there is erroneous information concerning a "Bible Record" of this family. Researcher Michelle Taunton cautions that the Bible record "most often quoted by Holmes researchers was obviously not a contemporary recording of John Holmes's life, and all the info contained in the Bible record comes straight from his will."[7] It implies, or is misinterpreted to imply, that Tamar was John's only wife, and the mother of all his children. However, after recording the marriage to Tamar, it lists his children, not their children, in exactly the same order as John's will.[7]
In John's will, Mary is specifically named as his youngest child. A slave girl was provided to Tamar for her use until Gabriel, the youngest son, reached the age of twenty-one.[7] In the will of Patrick Carr, who was Tamar's 2nd husband, the wishes of John Holmes are reinforced by specifying that Tamar would have the use of the slave woman until Gabriel Holmes reached twenty-one.[7] This shows that the wife of Patrick Carr was the same as the widow of John Holmes Jr.
When Tamar made her will in 1763, she named only five children.[8] First was Mary (Holmes) Scott, (no other Holmes children), listing her before the four Carr children, all in the same order as in Patrick Carr's will, presumably in order of birth. This strongly suggests that Tamar was mother of only Mary Holmes, and not the older Holmes children.
Gabriel Holmes, brother, who became Governor of North Carolina.[9]
An abstract of his will, probated in Edgecombe (Bertie) County, shows a will date of 28 Feb 1735/6 and May Court, 1736. It lists his children, as follows (sons, and then daughters), and lists his wife as Tamar.[10] The additional child by his second marriage is named in his second wife's will, and is below appended to the names of children. A daughter Beatrice or Beatrix is not found in any sourcing close to original or secondary sourcing.
James Holmes-19843 - John Holmes bequeathed a mulatto man called James to his son Hardy in his will.
The Research Notes are embedded in the Sources section.
and Research Notes
See also:
Thanks to Allan Thomas for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Allan and others. First-hand information as remembered by Steve Stam, Friday, February 6, 2015.
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A FindAGrave profile mostly makes sense out of the scenario and also has some will documents in place that coincide with what is outlined on this profile. I think that Dorothy (Hardy) Holmes is the most likely first wife, and some reasonable information can be found on John, Dorothy and Tamar (though they do not have Tamar's 3rd marriage), here:
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/243770196/john-holmes: accessed 28 December 2022), memorial page for John Holmes (1677–1735), Find a Grave Memorial ID 243770196; Burial Details Unknown, Johnston County North Carolina; Maintained by V. Andrew Burch (contributor 48671296).
edited by Renee Newman
It would seem that John's son, John Holmes Jr, may be the John Holmes listed as John Jr in a Bertie County record and is also the one called Rev John Holmes. John Holmes witnessed a deed for him "1734 John Homes Jr to James Wood 300 acres in Albemarle County NC on Conariton? Swamp. Granted to John Home Dec 22 1724. Signed John Homes. Witnesses: John Homes and James Holland". Maybe that deed has caused some confusion? It would also seem likely that some of the other Holmes/Homes men in the area would brothers or cousins of John and Edward. I am not finished yet but here is what I have on them, right now. Does anyone have more or can anyone provide reasoning for the parents he is currently connected to?
edited by Renee Newman
I wrote to you separately about the limitations I am working under, regarding health.
Seems a good place to start, though, to clarify that the generation of John who fathered John is where the confusion originates?
Notes on this profile indicate that the spouse is not the mother of many of the children.