Delilah Holmes 1783 : Short Biography

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One of my g-g-g-grandmothers was Martha Holmes, of Donaghmore Parish, Co. Donegal; and my g-grandmother was born Martha Holmes Wray (named after her grandmother).

A Holmes relative, Nick Holmes, has done extensive genealogy work on this Holmes family, as well as inter-related families (Wray, Stewart, McCurdy, etc.).
There is still a very small area called "Holmestown", not far from Castlefinn, where our original Holmes progenitor settled.  All the Holmes families in that area of Donegtal are said to originate from this one original settler, Robert Holmes, who emigrated from the Isle of Wight to Co. Donegal in 1654-55.

I am attaching a link to Nick's page where he explains about Robert Holmes' arrival in Donaghmore, Donegal, etc.:
https://holmes.org.nz/family.php?tree_id=1&id=F0613&main_person=I1989

If your ancestor was, indeed, related to mine (and it appears to be very possible), then we are 'cousins', albeit distant!

...Lynne

Lynne Henry

Sunday 6th September 2020 05:31AM

I found one William Holmes in my line born at about the right time (1767), and he even served in the United States during the War of 1812, but he died without issue, so your William Holmes must have been from another earlier split in the line, and I don't have much information from back then.

I do understand there may be/is a Holmes pedigree registered with PRONI in Belfast if you might like to search further.

And - oh yes - there still are Holmes families in the area who are related to *my* Holmes line, at least.  :-) 

...Lynne

Lynne Henry

Sunday 6th September 2020 05:46AM

Thank you both. I think there must be a link to the Martha Holmes of whom you speak. William Holmes came from Scotland, but is believed to have settled in Killygordon, Ireland, probably sometime before 1808. It's fascinating to learn that there is a link to the Holmes' line in Ireland. I never knew much about them other than my grandmother was adamant that they were Protestant. I appreciate the insights.

Regards,

Pam Boyle

Map

Sunday 6th September 2020 04:54PM

When researching the Holmes of Donaghmore Parish it is helpful to know there is a very small townland called Scotland, or New Scotland. That had me flummoxed for some time because I thought my GGG-grandmother Sarah Holmes came from the country of Scotland. If you get to the tree on WikiTree managed by Nick Holmes you will be able to access the Holmes genealogy charts made by H.D. Baskerville in 1927--this is what is registered at PRONI. I have not researched Baskerville's sources, but in terms of my twig on this tree it looks very accurate. My GGG-grandmother was Sarah Holmes, daughter of Charles Holmes II, son of Charles I, son of James, son of Robert from Isle of Wight. Sarah Holmes was the sister of Elizabeth Holmes McCorkell. If your William Holmes is part of this family, you will be in great shape. 

Regards, Cathy D

CathyD

Friday 1st April 2022 05:57PM

Hello, cousin Cathy.  ;-) 
You and I, at least, are related, although waaaaay back.
My g-g-g-grandmother was Martha Holmes, daughter of Benjamin Holmes (who was son of Charles Holmes I, and brother of Charles Holmes II) and his wife Martha (Stewart) Holmes,
who married a George McCurdy
One of their daughters, Mary Elizabeth (McCurdy) Wray, married my g-g-grandfather, William John Adams Wray,
and one of their daughters, Martha Holmes (Wray) Hobson, was my maternal Irish g-grannie.
...Lynne (Henry) Courtney

Lynne Henry

Sunday 3rd April 2022 07:05PM