In November 2024 I was able to visit PRONI for the first time. This wasn’t a research trip per se. I was in Belfast on holiday, but I was able to spend much of one day exploring the records. One of the items I found there involved my ancestor the Rev William Homes of Strabane. In his 1703 will (PRONI D623/B/3/6) James Hamilton of Strabane Merchant asks that “William Maxwell of Strabane aforesaid merchant, Oliver McCausland of Rash Esq., Mr William Homes, minister of Strabane and my son-in-law Thomas Willson merchant to be overseers that this my will be duly performed and to give their best assistance and advice to my said executrix in the management thereof.”
Hamilton is one of the very few people from Strabane that are mentioned in the Reverend’s diary which seems to commence in 1715 with his move to Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard, but does record the births and deaths of certain family members and others in Ireland prior to their emigration. “Aug 27th 1703 – Mr James Hamilton Senr Straban departed this life, he had been long ill he was a man very affectionat and kind to his friends in his dealings with men and that gave evidence of true piety especially in his last sickness, he left his family in tolerable good circumstances. He died about two of the clock in the morning and was buried the Lord’s day following.”
It is probably this same James Hamilton who was one of a small group of people that attended the wedding of the Reverend and his wife Katherine Craighead as recorded in the Reverend’s diary: “Mr. William Homes [the diarist] and Katheren Craghead were marryed Sept 26th 1693 by the Revd. Mr. Craghead of Londonderry in his own house about 8 at night in the presence of Mr. Thomas Craghead, Mr. James Hamilton, John Wilson, James Smith and his spouse, and those of Mr. Cragheads own family. It was a Tuesday.”
Reverend Holmes also appears in the records of other families named in James Hamilton’s will. William Maxwell and his daughter Mary Maxwell both left Homes bequests in their 1709 wills (PRONI T581/3 p,192,202), and Homes was a witness to and named overseer in the 1693 will of Thomas Willson’s father, Thomas Wilson Sr. (PRONI T1026/6 p.20). This begs the question as to if the John Wilson who attended the Reverend’s wedding was John Wilson, brother of Thomas Jr?
The diary of the Rev William Homes of Strabane is available online at the Congrgational Library and Archives.
A transcript of the will:
In the name of God amen, I James Hamilton of Strabane in the county of Tyrone, merchant being sick and weak of body, but of sound and perfect memory … make this my last will and testament in manner following. That is to say I … bequeath my soul to almighty god (our creator) … my body to be buried in the church yard of Strabane in decent manner as my executor & other my nearest relative shall think fit and as for what worldly state and interest wherewithal God hath been pleased to bless me … I here bequeath and dispose of the same as followeth. Item Item my will is that all the debts I justly owe shall be paid by my executrix out of such assess and effects as shall come to her hand I leave and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Hamilton during her natural life the townland of Tullyards with George Blewart’s holdings and parks and meadows which I kept in my own hands these several years past all in the parish of Leckpatrick together with my dwelling house and all other my houses tenements, parks and parcells of land in Strabane with all the appurtenances to be held and enjoyed by her during her natural life as aforesaid. Item I further leave and bequeath all my plate and household furniture to my said wife. Item I leave and bequeath to my son James Hamilton my silver sword and belt, my case of pistols and my saddle. The reason I leave him no more is because I have done sufficiently for him already. Item whereas by an indenture bearing the date the 7th of February 1798 made between me the said James Hamilton senior and my son James Hamiton junior of the first part and Archibald Richardson, Esq., Andrew Stewart, gent of the second part, James Moore Esq. and William Okinlek? of the third part and Hanna Moore the now wife of my son James of the fourth part, I have conveyed and made out unto the said James Moore and William Okinlek and their heirs the two townlands of Ardnebluske and Tullyards in the parish of Leckpatrick with my dwelling house and several other houses and tenements parks and parcels of land in Strabane aforesaid in trust and to and for several uses intents and purposes in the said indenture mentioned ans as there remain yet a possibility of reversion and return of all the said land tenements and … to me or my heirs … if my said son James shall happen to die and his issue begotten or to be begotten by him on the body of Hanna his wife become wholly extinct (my wife having first had her lifetime of Tullyards) to my daughter Catherine Hamilton during her natural life, and after her decease to her lawful issue and failing such issue to my daughter Marjory during her natural life and after her decease to her lawful issue and failing such issue to my daughter Margaret during her natural life and after her decease to her lawful issue and failing such issue, then to my daughter Lillias during her natural life and after her decease to her lawful issue forever. Item my will is that such of my said daughters as come to the enjoyment of said lands shall pay the sum of fifty pounds to my daughter Margaret. Item my will is and I hereby leave and bequeath my dwelling house and all other houses tenements parks and parcels of land in Strabane (my wife first having her life time of them) to my daughter Marjory Hamilton during her natural life and after her decease to her lawful issue and failing such issue to my daughter Margaret during her natural life and after her decease to her lawful issue and failing such issue, then to my daughter Lillias during her natural life and after her decease to her lawful issue forever. Item I leave and bequeath all the debts due to me and all my stock and market ware at home and abroad to my three daughters Catherin, Marjory and Margaret to be divided amongst them by my executrix and the overseers herein after named or the major part of them as they shall think fit and proper …. And bequeath to my grandchild Elizabeth Wilson the sum of twenty pounds sterling to be paid her by my daughter Marjory when she comes to the enjoyment of the house tenements, parks and parcells of land in Strabane aforesaid. I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Hamilton to be Executrix of this my last will and testament …. William Maxwell of Strabane aforesaid merchant, Oliver McCausland of Rash Esq., Mr William Homes, minister of Strabane and my son-in-law Thomas Willson merchant to be overseers that this my will be duly performed and to give their best assistance and advice to my said executrix in the management thereof. Hereby revoking all wills by me formerly made and declaring this to be my last will and testament. Item it is my will that my executrix and overseers in the distribution of my goods, chattels, stock and merchant ware aforesaid amongst my said daughters shall have a .. regard to them according to the agreed seniority and minority. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this 29th day of April 1703. Ja: Hamilton. Signed, sealed and published in the presence of William Maxwell, Thomas Willson, Arthur Maxwell, Hugh Brown. (PRONI D623/B/3/6)
Holmes Genealogy 
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