The Holmes Family of Smethport, Pennsylvania

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The surname Holmes is of ancient English origin and most of the American families of the name are descended from three brothers, emigrants, who came to New England before 1650.

(I) Francis Holmes

Francis Holmes, immigrant ancestor of the line following, was an inhabitant of Stamford, Connecticut, as early as 1648. His will dated September 6, 1671, is recorded in Fairfield, Connecticut. In it he mentions wife Ann and four children.

Children of Francis and Ann Holmes

  1. Four children. Their names are not given.

(II) John Holmes

John, second child of Francis Holmes, was born in England. He married, 1659, Rachel Waterbury, of Stamford; ten children.

Children of John and Rachel (Waterbury) Holmes

  1. Ten children. Their names are not given.

(III) Stephen Holmes

Stephen, son of John Holmes, was born January 14, 1665, died in Greenwich, 1710. He married, November 18, 1688, at Stamford, Mary Hobby; nine children.

Children of Stephen and Mary (Hobby) Holmes

  1. Nine children. Their names are not given.

(IV) Benjamin Holmes

Benjamin, son of Stephen Holmes, was living in Greenwich, May 18, 1721. He served in Captain Clark’s company, Eleventh Regiment Connecticut Militia, and died soon after his second marriage. The name of his first wife is unknown; his second was Susanna Reynolds. By his first wife he had sons:

Children of Benjamin Holmes and his first wife

  1. Israel Holmes.
  2. Reuben Holmes.

(V) Reuben Holmes

Reuben, son of Benjamin Holmes and his first wife, was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, about 1732. He chose as his guardian, February 4, 1746, Nathaniel Mead, and in the proceedings at that time was called fourteen years of age and the minor son of Benjamin Holmes, of Greenwich, deceased. He married (second) (first wife unknown) in 1762, Ruth, daughter of John Wood, of Long Island; eight children.

Children of Reuben Holmes

  1. Eight children. Their names are not given.

(VI) Abel Holmes

Abel, son of Reuben Holmes, was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, 1760, died in Unadilla Center, Otsego county, New York, a farmer. He married (first) Esther —–, (second) Mary Canfield. All were members of the Universalist church.

There were eight children by his first wife, names not given, and ten by his second wife, six of whom are given.

Children of Abel and Esther Holmes

  1. Eight children. Their names are not given.

Children of Abel and Mary (Canfield) Holmes

  1. John Holmes. Of whom further.
  2. Seeley Holmes. Died in the west; married and left children:
    1. Joseph Holmes.
    2. Betsey Holmes.
  3. Rizpah Holmes.
  4. Amos Holmes. Died in Unadilla, New York, a farmer; married and had issue:
    1. Esther Holmes. Deceased.
    2. Fanny Holmes. Married William Ballister, his second wife.
    3. Mary Holmes. Married William Ballister, his first wife.
    4. John Holmes.
  5. Charlotte Holmes. Married Abel Palmer; both died in Unadilla. Children:
    1. Esther Palmer. Deceased.
    2. Mary Palmer. Deceased.
    3. Abel Palmer. Deceased.
  6. Ira Holmes. Married twice, one of his wives being Phebe Richmond; he had three children by his first wife and two by his second, namely:

    Children by his first wife:

    1. Three children. Their names are not given.

    Children by his second wife:

    1. Phebe Holmes.
    2. Kneeland Holmes.
  7. Four other children. Their names are not given.

(VII) John (2) Holmes

John (2), son of Abel Holmes, was born in Welling, Tolland county, Connecticut, October 12, 1790, died August 2, 1865, at Smethport, which had been his residence since 1832. When nine years of age he was taken to Chenango county, New York, by his father, and there owing to the death of his mother was adopted by General Robert Morris, of Gilbertsville. When he took the lad General Morris promised him a public school education and that when he became of age would present him with a yoke of two year old oxen. These promises were faithfully kept. Shortly after becoming of legal age the second war with England broke out and the young man was drafted for military service. He was at Sackett’s Harbor, and when the British and Indians burned Buffalo was stationed at Fort Erie. After the war he became a tanner and currier, owning a tannery at Marvin’s Creek. He was also a boot and shoe manufacturer. He prospered in business and became a man of prominence. He had as partner his brother Ira, and they erected a tannery at Latham’s Corners in 1827. In 1846 he was appointed judge in McKean county to fill the place of Judge Nelson Richmond. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Universalist church.

He married Nancy Richmond, born in Chenango county, New York, at Guilford Center, September 27, 1802, died in Coryville, October 14, 1887, cousin of the wife of Ira Holmes. She was a Methodist in early life, later an Episcopalian. Her father, Thomas Richmond, was born in Rhode Island, March 12, 1778, died in Smethport, July 2, 1864, a carpenter and farmer. He married Lucy Durand, born in Rhode Island, 1778, died at Latham’s Bridge, May 12, 1854.

Children of Thomas and Lucy (Durand) Richmond

  1. Nancy Richmond. Of previous mention, wife of John Holmes.
  2. Seth D. Richmond. Born at Latham’s Bridge on the Unadilla road, died at Latham’s Corners; married Maria Cornwell. Children:
    1. Catherine Richmond. Married Nelson Green.
    2. Orson Richmond.
    3. Henry Richmond. Married Sarah Coon and had:
      1. Marion Richmond.
      2. Leroy Richmond.
      3. Minnie Richmond.
      4. Olin Richmond.
      5. Another daughter.
  3. Nelson Richmond. Born at Latham’s Bridge; married Melvina Chapin; was a business partner of John Holmes and died in Smethport. Children:
    1. William Henry Richmond. Married Nellie Milliken, of Smethport. Child:
      1. Thomas Richmond.
    2. Edwin Richmond. Married Julia Bennett. Children:
      1. Harry Richmond.
      2. Rena Richmond.
    3. Frank Richmond. Married Emerett Curtis.
    4. George Richmond. Died young.
    5. Mary Richmond. Died young.
    6. Emma Richmond. Married Dr. Myron A. Sprague, deceased. Children:
      1. Carlton Sprague.
      2. Rose Sprague.

Children of John and Nancy (Richmond) Holmes

  1. Lucy Holmes. Born at Latham’s Corners, New York, 1822, died at Coryville, Pennsylvania, 1889; married Captain A. C. Cory, an officer of Company I, Fifty-eighth Regiment of Pennsylvania; he was a printer and published the first newspaper printed in Smethport; later a farmer; died in Coryville, 1892. Children:
    1. Orson Cory. Born June 13, 1840, married Lucina Tuttle. Child:
      1. John Cory. Born January, 1862.
    2. Nancy Cory. Died in infancy.
    3. Ella Cory. Born April 1, 1858, married Frank Holmes, a farmer of near Rochester, New York. Children:
      1. John Holmes.
      2. Orra Holmes.
      3. Lucy Holmes.
      4. Leonard Holmes.
      5. Homer Holmes. Deceased at age of twelve years.
  2. Harriet Holmes. Born January 7, 1825, at Latham’s Corners; married Byron D. Hamlin, a prominent citizen of Smethport.
  3. Ormond A. Holmes. Born July, 1827, at Latham’s Corners, a merchant; married Mary A. Scull, both deceased; no issue.
  4. Thomas Holmes. Born 1828, died 1851, unmarried.
  5. Maria Holmes. Of whom further.

(VIII) Maria Holmes

Maria, youngest daughter of John (2) and Nancy (Richmond) Holmes, was born at Smethport, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1842. She was educated in the public schools, finishing at Smethport Academy, under Professor Forest A. Allen. She married (first) January 26, 1859, A. J. Nourse.

Children of A. J. Nourse and Maria Holmes

  1. Fred H. Nourse. Born in Smethport, February 5, 1861, now a farmer and contractor of East Smethport; married Cora, daughter of James H. Stull. Children:
    1. Forest Nourse.
    2. Lavida Nourse.
    3. Louis Nourse.
  2. Ormond Grant Nourse. Born in Smethport, April 15, 1863, a saw mill builder now residing in Tomola, Mississippi; married (first) Mattie Simmons, of Smethport. Child:
    1. Aleene Nourse. Born February 6, 1892.

    He married (second) Hannah Conrad, of Grompion Hills, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. Child:

    1. Orrene Nourse. Born 1903.
  3. Orson Delano Nourse. Born in Smethport, November 15, 1871, a farmer near Smethport; married Phoebe Hyde. Children:
    1. Gladys Marie Nourse. Born May 30, 1901.
    2. Paul Nourse. Born September 9, 1910.

Maria Holmes married (second) Egbert P. Carter, born in Victor, Ontario county, New York, April 21, 1826, died in Smethport, April 18, 1904. He was the leading jeweler of Arcade, New York, for thirty-five years, moved to Smethport, October 16, 1882, continuing there in the same business until his death. He was a Democrat in politics and while living in Arcade was prominent in civic affairs. He married (first) Eliza Ann Brooks.

Child of Egbert P. Carter and Eliza Ann Brooks

  1. Albert H. Carter. Deceased, leaving a son:
    1. Roy Carter. Now serving in the United States navy.

Mrs. Maria (Holmes) Carter is very prominent in fraternal circles. She is past worthy matron of Phoenix Chapter, No. 15, Order of the Eastern Star; past noble grand of Ideal Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah; lecturer in the Patrons of Husbandry, belonging to the McKean county, Pennsylvania, State and National Grange of that order, and is an honorary member of the Protected Home Circle. She is a writer and speaker of pleasing attainment and a local historian of note. Her history of “Early Days in McKean County,” published in the Bradford Independent in 1911, was valuable historically and most entertaining. She was baptized in the Episcopal church.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content

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