John Holmes

1. John Holmes first comes to light in the 1796 Jamaica Almanac where he is listed as an Ensign in the Vere regiment of the militia. His career in the militia and in public service can be traced through the Almanacs: Lieutenant (1802), Lieutenant Colonel (1808), Colonel (from 1817), Assistant Judge or Magistrate (1824), Church Warden (1824), Treasurer of Vere Free School (1824). From 1820 he was a Member of Assembly for Vere.

2. From at least 1809 he was owner of a property with between 18 and 24 enslaved people, referred to in the birth record of his son in 1813 as Twickenham, in the 1832 Jamaica Almanac as Kimble and in the slave compensation records and his will as Twickenham estate. Given the gradual fluctuations in the number of enslaved people and stock he registered in the givings-in from 1809 to 1832, this is assumed to be the same property.

3. John Holmes worked as an attorney on several large estates as well as taking responsibility for properties as an executor of the previous owner. In the 1817 Slave Registers he registered 264 enslaved people on Salt Savanna estate in Vere with Thomas Addison as attorney to the absentee James Beckford Wildman. In the 1820 Slave Registers he registered 266 enslaved people on Salt Savanna, again with Thomas Addison as attorney for James Beckford Wildman. In 1820 he also registered 132 enslaved people on Springfield estate in Vere as attorney to Robert Murchison and registered 88 enslaved people in 3 different registrations as attorney to the heirs of Robert White and Robert Glasgow. The Jamaica Almanacs of 1826 and 1827 list him as in lawful possession of enslaved people and stock on Grimatt estate in Vere as an executor (with William Smith) of Thomas Samson. The 1828 Almanac lists him as proprietor of Grimatt but by 1831 this had been sold to Alexander Murchison. The 1828 Almanac also lists him with the heirs of John Pusey Edwardes against Pusey Hall estate with 272 enslaved people and 100 stock. In the 1831 Almanac is is listed against Smithfield estate (presumably also as attorney). In the 1832 Slave Registers he registered enslaved people on Dry River estate as attorney to the absentee John Rodon. In 1834 he claimed compensation for enslaved people on Stretton Hall estate with Henry Lord Garrigues as executors of Edward White.

4. John Holmes had at least 7 children, all born and baptised in Jamaica. Elizabeth, 'A Quadroon' was born 05/01/1800 and died at Salt Savanna and was buried the following day in the churchyard; she was named as the daughter of John Holmes in her burial record. Thomas Holmes, 'A mustee' was baptised 07/09/1806. John Holmes, 'A Quadroon infant', was buried at Salt Savanna 02/12/1807. George Wood Holmes, 'a mustee infant son of John Holmes' at Salt Savanna estate was privately baptised 12/08/1810. Samuel Benjamin Holmes, 'mustee infant son of John Holmes' was born 15/03/1813 and baptised at his Cottage called Twickenham 09/07/1813. Francis Edward Holmes, 'Mustee son of John Holmes' was baptised 23/11/1817 and is assumed to have predeceased his father as he is not mentioned in this father's will. Susan Frances Holmes, 'a free Mustee 6 months old, daughter of John Holmes Esq.' was baptised 31/12/1820.

5. In his will John Holmes left £100 sterling each to his sons Thomas Addison Holmes, George Wood Holmes and Samuel Benjamin Holmes and left his personal effects and Twickenham estate to his reputed daughter Susan Frances Holmes.

6. John Holmes, Gentleman of Twickenham, age 73 years, was buried 10/04/1836.

7. His three surviving sons emigrated to London where they can be found in the census and death records. Thomas Addison was living in Sydney Place, Bethnal Green, in 1841, age 36, Clerk, with his wife Eliza and seven children (all born in London). By 1861 he was at 21 Cambridge Road, Bethnal Green and by 1871 at 32 Groombridge Road, Hackney, where he died 28/02/1874 leaving personalty under £300. Samuel Benjamin Holmes married Maria Eagle 12/08/1832 in Shoreditch and can be found age 57 in the census of 1861, a tailor, in Portsea, Hampshire and in 1881 at 3 Sardinia Street, St Clements Danes, London. His death was registered Q1, 1890 in Strand, London. George Wood Holmes married Ann Abbs at St Dunstan's, Stepney, 26/08/1834; he appears age 41, an undertaker, living at 2 Great James Street, Marylebone with his wife and son Henry George in the census of 1851. George Wood Holmes died at 2 Great James Street, 02/02/1855.

1. Jamaica Almanacs (1811, 1817, 1818, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1824, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1832).

2. Jamaica Almanacs (1811, 1817, 1818, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1824, 1826, 1827, 1828, 1832). Slave Registers: T71/51 p. 166; T71/52 p. 49; T71/53 p. 70; T71/54 p. 89; T71/55 [no page number]; T71/56 p. 61.

3. Jamaica Almanacs (1826, 1827, 1828, 1831, 1832). Slave Registers: T71/51 pp. 3-8; T71/52 pp. 70-71, 73-75 and 266; T71/56 p. 60. T71/858 Vere 165 (Stretton Hall).

4. Familysearch.org, Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880 [database online]. Copies of images supplied by Liz Watson.

5. Copy of the will of John Holmes supplied by Liz Watson.

6. Copy of the burial entry supplied by Liz Watson.

7. 1841, 1851, 1861 and 1881 censuses online. National Probate Calendar 1874. FreeUKGen, England and Wales Free BMD Database, Deaths, 1837-1983 [database online]. Ancestry.com, London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 [database online]. Death certificate and will of George Wood Holmes.

We are grateful to Liz Watson and Fred Holmes for their assistance in compiling this entry.