I was poking about the National Archives of Ireland’s website this week and was impressed with the number of books they have digitized. Included among these are various “Grants of Arms”.
I went looking for the arms shown here as this Holmes family originates in Donoughmore [Donaghmore], County Donegal where my ancestor the Rev William Holmes of Strabane was probably born.
This grant was to William Cuthbert Holmes of Victoria, British Columbia; son of Charles Holmes of Dublin, MD; eldest son of Benjamin Holmes, eighth son of Charles Holmes, son of James Holmes, son of Robert Holmes all of Carnone in the parish of Donoughmore, County Donegal.” (Grants and Confirmations of Arms Vol. K, #23, image 144)
Am I related? That is a question to which I have been trying to find an answer for over 30 years. The records from that time are sparse. There is nothing other than location in the documentary evidence found to date to support the relationship. YDNA testing could provide a strong indication, but to date no known descendants of the Carnone or Holmestown family have tested. One of the major goals of the Holmes DNA project is to find and recruit someone from the family to join the project.
Other Holmes Arms
Robert William Arbuthnot Holmes of Moycashel in the county of Westmeath, Esquire, one of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said county. Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Treasury Remembrancer and Deputy Paymaster for Ireland, Master of Arts of the University of Dublin, and of the Honourable Society of the Kings Inns, Barrister at few, Setting forth that he is the oldest son of Robert Holmes late of Moycashel aforesaid, who was third and youngest son of Richard Holmes of Prospect and Garryduff and Moycashel aforesaid, Esquires, deceased…
(Grants and Confirmations of Arms Vol. J, #118, image 241)
The Funeral Entries of Ireland also include Arms for some Holmes families.
Holmes / Usher
Mr [Peter] Holmes departed this mortall the 2nd of December and was buried the 3rd of the same month in St Michan’s Church in Oxmantown, Dublin 1675. He was married to Bridgett Usher daughter of Robert Usher of Cromlin by whom he had issue 3 sons and 4 daughters viz: George, Robert and Gilbert, Margaret, Ann, Mary, and Jone, the trueth of these premises is testified by supscription of Robert son and heire. (Funeral Entries, Vol. 14, p.178, image 190)
Holmes / Hamilton
Mr Geo: [George] Holmes departed this mortal life the 13th of November and was buried the same month in St Michans Church in Oxmantowne Dublin 1675 (Funeral Entries, v11, p.75) … and (Funeral Entries, Vol. 14, p.177, image 189)
Holmes / Fagan
Cicilie Holmes wife of Richard Fagan … she had issue John .. and Mary (Funeral Entries, Vol. 3, p.11, image 26)
Margery Homes
Daughter of William Homes of Lestershire, died … November 1630. She was married to James Watson, Sheriff of Dublin. She had issue Phillip, John, Samuel, Pheselli, Mary and Ann. (Funeral Entries, v17, p.167)
Sir Thomas Hume
Departed this life the fowerth day of July 1668 and was interred the fifth day of the same month in Christ Church Dublin 1668. (Funeral Entries, Vol. 14, p.90, image 102)
Humes / Hamilton
Dame Sidney daughter of James Hamilton of Mannorhamilton in the Co. of Leitrim, Esq., son of Sir Frederick Hamilton, knt who was son of Claud Hamilton, Lord Peasly [Paisley] in Scotland and Duke of Chatoldtrout in France, by Dame Katherine his wife daughter of Claud Hamilton, Lord Baron of Strabane, son of [James] Hamilton, Earl of Abercorn, who was son of the aforesaid Lord Paisley. The aforesaid Dame Sidney was married to the right Worshipfull, John Humes, Bart, son of Sir Gorge Humes of Northbarrick in Scotland, Bart who was the son of John Humes Knt who was the son of Sir Patrick Humes of Pollard, Bart, by whom she had issue many children … she died 20 January 1685 was buried in St Michans, Dublin. (Funeral Entries, Vol. 14, p.256, image 268)
Holmes Genealogy 
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