Holmes Genealogy

As I have mentioned often, my ancestor the Rev William Homes was minister at Strabane from 1692 to 1714 when he emigrated to America. We know he had family in the area, so I spend quite a bit of time researching various Holmes families with roots in Strabane.

The earliest record of a Holmes in Strabane is the 1623 will of Archibald Campbell. The list of Campbell’s debtors includes Gabrial Holmes the elder of Strabane, tailor.

He appears again as Gabriel Homes of Strabane in the 1625 and 1626 Summoninster rolls, and as Gabriel Homes, Sr of Strabane in the 1629 Summoninster roll.

The 1631 muster list for the Abercorn Estate at Strabane includes Gabraell Homes, younger, likely a son of the elder Gabriel. He is listed as having both sword and snaphance (an early musket), which indicates that he was rather well to do for the times as these were both expensive items. The muster roll includes the following:

HOME, John – sword and snaphance
HOMES, Gabraell, younger – sword and snaphance
HOMES, George – sword and snaphance
HOMES, John – no armes
HUMES, John – sword only

We know little of the other men on the list. George Homes might be the Georg Home who died Mar 9, 1672 and was buried Patrick Street Old Graveyard, Strabane, Co. Tyrone. His gravestone reads:

HERE LYETH THE BODY | OF GEORG HOME WHO DECEASED THE 9TH OF MARCH 1672

One of the men named John Homes could be the John Holmes, carpenter who appears on a 1654 list of tenants on the Abercorn Estate (PRONI D623/B/13/8) and whose widow appears on the 1665 Hearth Tax roll.

Gabriel Holmes 2 hearths,
Widow Holms 1 hearth
William Holms 1 hearth

The Gabriel who appears here is likely the younger Gabriel of the 1631 muster roll. He continues to be fairly well to do as is shown by having a home with 2 hearths. Quite the luxury. William is likely his son.

Gabriel Homes and his wife Agnes both died in 1669. They left a noncupative (verbal) will. (PRONI T681/1 page 387 and T808 page 7919)

“A Declaration of the nuncupative Will of GABRIELL HOMES and AGNES HOMES his wife being then both sicke of body but of sound and perfect memory delivered the 6th day of June 1669″.

“They Recommend yr soules to Almightie God and their bodys to be buried in Comely sort, And as to theirs worldly estate they declared joyntly first they ordered that AGNES her cloathes be devided between her two daughters GEILES the wife of PATRICKE FFLEMMINGE and MARGARET the wife of JOHN MOORE in manner followinge viz her eldest daughter GEILES to gett her plaids and all other her woollen cloathes except only her best Gowne and petticoat to goe to her daughter MARGARET and for her Lynnen belonginge to her bodye to be equally divided betweene her said Twoe daughters Secondly they declared that their sonne WILLIAM HOMES should have and enjoy their two freehold tenements situate in Strabane……alsoe they devised unto him Two peeces of new Lynnen Conteyneinge twenty six ells Two Red Ruggs three pair of small linen sheets halfe a dozen Table napkins one-third of all the pewter vessels in the house……… All residue to be equally divided between their said daughters………

“Thirdly they declared that there was about sixtie pounds of outstandinge debts and ordered that what charges was expended in recoveringe and gettinge the same should be taken of ye Totall sum and what remained to be equally divided betweene The brother and Two sisters”……….

Fourthly the said WILLIAM HOMES having charge of his father’s Keys and knowing there was Concealled money he hath declared since his ffathers death that only he left to his Two daughters ffifty shillings Le peece which money the said WILLIAM HOMES doth yet delaye and refuses to make payment thereof”…….

The will was proved 12 Jul 1669, though as can be seen above their seems to be some struggle among the daughters to get their fair share from their brother William.