That Depends on Fiona

 

Uncle Peg’s Chronicles

September 22, 2022

“That Depends on Fiona”

Number of pages in Outline Descendant Report: 120 (up from 119 last chronicle)

Number of pages in basic Descendant Report: 177 (up from 174 last chronicle)

 

Francis Holmes is # 1. I am now # 285. # 281, where I was last week, is now Ellen Middleton Leaman.

Matthew Williams, Jane William’s grandson, is last at # 398, up from # 393, and his son is # ii.

This should change weekly, if I’m doing my job.

 

 

 Busy, busy, busy . . . I have joined the choir. We practice Thursday evening and sing on Sunday morning, and as I do believe that you should challenge yourself in retirement, I certainly have challenged myself. Most of the people in the choir know most of the songs, so I’m at a disadvantage. I am grateful for Youtube, which I play in the background as I do my work on the computer.

Cousin Doug Holmes – my actual first cousin – has worked on creating an index for CCC. Actually, he has worked on the how to – I will be doing the actual creating with the instructions and the offer of assistance any time I need it. I have not begun it yet but I will soon. I hope to have an index shortly for those of you who have made a paper copy of “Yorkshire.” And, once I know how to do it, I may work on the index for “Fairfield” as I go. I’ll see if it’s easier to do it at the time, or when I’m done.

My brother and sister, Paul and Pat, arrive on Friday for a few days. I look forward to that visit in which we will conclude some business and enjoy the company. We will be going to Nova Scotia – Pat for a few days and Paul and I on Saturday, where we will see our first cousins, Cindy and Jennifer. (Later in the week: that depends on Fiona.)

~

I am frustrated. I have found an abstract for the inventory and disposal of Mercy Bell Holmes Hait/Hoyt Ferris Barnum, dated 1747, but I can’t find the original. Oh well. If I decide it is worth it for CCC, I’ll have to send for it.

~

This week, I have continued on with John’s story. If you didn’t read the start of it in last week’s chronicle, you should read that first. I hope to conclude it next week so I can get it proofread and sent off to Jeff. I’ll also copy and paste it into CCC. One thing is for certain: it is too long.

y^e = the

y^t = that

s^d = said                                       

Without further ado:

John Holmes was born, according to Ancestry trees but with no sources, c. 1675. The time seems about right. As his father, Stephen Holmes Sr., lived and died in Stamford, Connecticut, it is probable that John was also born and lived his entire short life in Stamford. His wife, Marcy Bell, also known as Mercy, was born in Stamford on November 5, 1675 to Jonathan Bell and Susanna Pierson, as recorded in the Stamford Town Records. His son, Jonathan, who was renamed John after his father’s demise, was also born in Stamford.

Mariage, John Homes & Marcy Bell was maryed y^e 15^th of Jenuary 1701/2. John, John, son to John & Marcy Homes, borne y^e 21^st of May 1703, because of his fathers deth named John. Deth John Homes dyed y^e 6^th of July 1703.[1]

https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/352317/?offset=0#page=45&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=%22Holmes%22    Page 45

Given that the article is too long, I will probably delete this. But, the actual transcription of the records says “John, John . . .” The author of this book, Rev. E B Huntington, had access to the original records, I do believe.

~

Legal Documents Relating to the Estate of John Holmes

I have tried to transcribe the documents accurately. When I leave a line, I do not know the word. When I use [square brackets], I think it is right but I am not sure. I may have made errors. Note that they often wrote “Stanford” rather than “Stamford.”

Document 1

Stanford Jan^r: 7: 27: 1703

John Holmes late of Stanford being dec’d dieing Intestate and as yet no person is in care  on s^d Estate and ye difficulties of ____ ____ being so great y^t at present y^e Widow Relict of y^e s^d Holmes namely Marcy Holmes cannot make personal application to y^e Prerogative Court for  power of [adm^et] and therefore In Stanford being so for my Selfe & Capt. Jonathan Selick y^e s^d Widow doth ask acknowledge her selfe bound to y^e s^d Court  in y^e Recognizance of one ____ first & fully to Administer on y^e estate of her deceased Husband according to whatever y^e s^d Court Shall give her and to make or Cause to be made a True and perfect Inventory of y^e s^d Holmes his Estate and Exhibiting same to y^e s^d Court as soon as Conveniently She may.

                                                                                                                Nathan Gold Judge of ye S^d Court[2]

This document was probably written in 1704. Up until 1751, the British used the old Julian calendar, in which the new year began on March 25^th. It changed to the new Gregorian calendar on January 1, 1752, ‘the day after 31 December 1751.”[3] It could not have been written in 1703, because John did not die until July of 1703. It is the first statement that I find in regards to the intestate situation, by Nathan Gold, Judge of the Prerogative Court, and a request for an inventory to be made. It brings to my mind several thoughts. First of all, it confirms that John died intestate. It acknowledges that the Widow Holmes suffered after this tragedy. Marcy Holmes recognizes her obligation to administer on the estate, and she is willing to accept whatever the Court is pleased ask of her or to give her, and is willing to provide an inventory of the belongings of her late husband.

Document 2

Widow Holms Power of Administration upon the Estate of her Husband John Holmes.

Recorded ____ ____

John Holmes of Stanford being deceased and dieing Intestate and Marcy Holmes widow Relict of s^d Holmes having given bond in order to adm^et on y^e Estate of her deceased Husband Wherefor y^e Prerogative Court held In Fairfield Feb^e: y^e 7 1703/4 do grant unto y^e s^d Marcy Holmes Widow Power of Admin She to make or Cause to be made a True and perfect Inventory of y^e Estate of her s^d deceased Husband and Exhibiting Same to y^e Court as soon as She with Conveniently may according to bond given.[4]

This document states that Marcy Holmes has given bond in order to administer the estate of her deceased husband. The Prerogative Court granted her the power of Administration, also requesting again that she make an inventory to exhibit to the court as soon as is conveniently possible.

Document 3

The Inventory of John Holms deceased his Estate taken Feb^y 18^th 1703/4

Rather than write it out, I have organized the items by category. The father of John, Stephen Holmes, Sr, and the father of Marcy, Jonathan Bell, took the inventory. In wills from the 1700s that I have studied, the townsmen took the inventories.

To view the actual inventory, go to either or both:

 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892K-TR82?cat=359148

https://www.ancestry.ca/imageviewer/collections/9049/images/007628167_00843?pId=1252049

Moveable Estate

·         Animals: 2 oxen, 1 horse, 2 cows, 3 heifers, 3 yearlings, 4 sheep, 8 swine. Unfortunately, it appears that a yearling, 3 swine, and 1 sheep were “lost by Causality.”

·         Barn: 1 plow chain, a chain, 1 saddle, 1 share [plowshare], 1 whipple tree chain.

·         Food and Crops: 30 bushels corn, 20 bushels oats, 8 bushels barley, and flax.

·         Furniture: 1 looking glass, 1 lamp, 1 candlestick, 7 chairs and 6 cushions, 2 [spinning] wheels, 1 bed, 1 bedstead, 1 table, 3 chests, 1 box, 1 loom and gears. [Why was there no cradle for an infant?]

·         Hearth: 3 brass kettles, 1 iron kettle, 2 iron pots, 1 frying pan, 1 pair tongs, 1 tramill.

·         Kitchen: 21 pounds pewter, 6 porringers, earthenware, 2 casks, 3 pails, woodenware, glass bottles.

·         Linens: Bedding, curtains 8 pair sheets, 5 pair pillowbeers [pillowcases], 6 tablecloths, 3 dozen napkins. [Why so many tablecloths and napkins? Notice, there is no cutlery.]

·         Miscellaneous: 1 Bible, 1 carpit, 8 ½ yards tow cloth [cheap linen] wearing clothes, silver buckles.

·         Tools: 1 narrow ax, 1 hoo [hoe?].

·         Weapons: 1 gun, 1 sword, belt, and ammunition.

Real Estate

1 house, 1 barn, and homestead; 4 acres land at Shiphand; 3 acres meadow; 1 piece of land in woods; 11 acres of land at Flat Ridge; the 6^th part of Capt. Bell’s out land.

Document 4

 (A work in progress)

From Familysearch:

John Holmes of Stanford deceased he dieing Intestate an Inventory of his Estate being Exhibited to the Prerogative Court held in Fairfield March the 15^th: 1704/5 in order to A Settlement ­­­­____ Inventory being proved is by the Court approved and ordered to be recorded And the Court do appoint and empower Samuel Hait who married the Widow Relict of the deceased Holms to administer on the Said Estate to pay & recieve all Just debts due from and to the Estate and to preserve the Estate and an amount [or account] of debt Credit and  ____ of y^e Estate in Stock with what the Court allows the said Relict for bringing up the Child of s^d Holms being exhibited to the Court by which amount [or account] it appears to the Court there is Cleare estate amounting to the Sum of: 197^lb:  8^s: 2^d: of which the court being moved for distribution do order as followeth that the said Relict of y^e s^d deceased Holms Shall have her dowry in the housings and Land according to law during natural life and one third part of the Moveable Estate as her own proper Estate forever and the rest of y^e Estate to be the Son of the s^d Holms namely John and the s^d Relict to have the use of the whole Estate till the Child arrives at 7 years of age to Inable her to the bringing up of it with what is allowed over and above to the same and which is 42^lb and it is to be understood that if y^e s^d Child Shall ____ before it arives at the age afores^d that there Shall be A proportionable abatement for the time remaining according to the rate of 6^lbs p^r annum for the 7 years also the use of y^e Estate to Cease.

And the s^d Sam^ll Hait acknowledgeth himself bound to the Court in the recognisance of fifty pounds for A faithfull discharge of his Administrations according to the above order or when Called for by the Court.

                                                                                                                Nathan Gold Clerk[5]

 This is the decision of the court after John Holmes died intestate. A person takes a chance, not making a will, for they know not what will happen to their estate upon their death. As I understand it, the court will decide how to distribute the estate and who will raise the child or children. That is an issue that varies by place and likely, by time; much too complicated for me to delve into. I know it is complex.

 In John’s specific case, first comes a bit of a surprise, especially if you haven’t done the genealogy. There was no mention of Samuel Hait, also known as Samuel Hoit, prior to February 7, but on March 15^th, Marcy married Samuel and he played an important part in the court’s decision. Marcy received one third of the moveable estate, which was typical. She was permitted to “have the use of the whole Estate till the child arrives at 7 yeas of age,” I was confused about the age of 7. I went back and looked at it several times to ensure I had read it correctly. I can read the document in both Ancestry and Familysearch, and it looks like 7 to me. Samuel Hait has obligations as well, and must be prepared to carry out faithful Administrations of his duties. The Court can call upon him at any time to ensure he is faithful to his duty.

~

On September 21, 1921, a century ago, Floyd and Minnie (Colpitts) Holmes gave birth to their second child, a daughter, Mary Margaret Holmes. She had three siblings: Bryce, Jim, and Nancy. Margaret grew up and married Donald Malcolm Moore in 1949, and had three children: Peggy, Paul, and Pat. Dad passed away on my birthday in 2005. Margaret died at the age of 99, in February of 2022. I took the header photo in December. She was listening and singing along to Christmas carols at the manor.

Stay tuned for the rest of John’s story. Depending on how busy I am with Paul and Pat, there may not be a Chronicle next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Familysearch. Stamford Town Records. Image 234, page155.

[2] Ancestry. Probate of John Holmes. # 844.

[3] Old Style and New Style Dates. Wikipedia.

[4] Ancestry. Probate of John Holmes. # 845 and 846.

 

[5] Familysearch. Town of Fairfield, Connecticut, Register of Probate Records, Vol 5. Image 706, page 190. Accessed September 13, 2022.