The End of That Man is Peace

 

Uncle Peg’s Chronicles

February 23, 2023

“The End of That Man is Peace”

 

Number of pages in Outline Descendant Report: 160 (up from 159 last chronicle)

Number of pages in the basic Descendant Report: 242 (up from 241 last chronicle)

 

Francis Holmes is # 1. I am now # 336. # 333, where I was last week, is now Anne Marie Holmes Gautreau.

Jonathan Marquez (Frances Anne Holmes Ballantyne line) is last at # 498.

# 495, where he was last week, is now Kenneth D Williams.

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

 

Something new in stats, just for fun:

 

I put the names of all descendants of Francis Holmes who are either in our Facebook group or on my mailing list for chronicles, in a bag. Spouses and friends are not included as they do not get numbered in the program’s default. Those who have no descendants are also not numbered, but I’ll include them with their parent’s number. I pull out three names, and include them for two weeks. Next week, I’ll draw three more. This is for fun, but if the three names I drew were not in my tree that I am using now, I insert them. Win-win exercise.

 

The three I drew last week are:

 

·         Phyllis Bearse Digennaro is still # 322. 

·         Andrea McGinnis Drollinger is now # 443.

·         Grace Holmes March is still # 269.  

 

New this week are: Marie Holmes Dockter, Melanie Holmes Bowes, and Cindy Lutes Steeves

 

Marie Holmes Dockter is # 288. Marie, of the William Holmes line, is a sister of Kristin, Glenn, and Patricia Holmes who you met at the reunion of 2016. Marie had hoped to come but couldn’t. She is the daughter of Jerome and Alma Vincent Holmes, and is married to Michael Dockter and has two grown children, Megan and Justin. Marie works with Kristin on her mother’s genealogy.

 

Melanie Holmes Bowes is # 458. She is in the Charles R Holmes line, and is the daughter of Bob and Lesley (Knight) Holmes. She is married to Jonathan Bowes, and has a teenage son, Liam, and a pre-teen, Emma. (How did they get there so fast?) I was privileged to attend their wedding in Nova Scotia with Mum and Julie. I remember they played Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” when they entered the reception hall, and pumped up the volume when Mel and Jon entered the room and poor Mum nearly jumped out of her chair. Funny the things we remember, eh. They are a lovely couple and I’m so glad I got to know them.

 

Cindy Lutes Steeves is # 344. Cindy, of the Charles R Holmes line, is one of my partners in shenanigans. She’s my first cousin, and we share lots of fond childhood memories. She is the daughter of Ralph and Nancy (Holmes) Lutes, is married to Greg Steeves, has two grown children, Sarah and Tim, and three grandchildren, Sebastien, Simon, and Maddox. As I said, shenanigans; we can be serious if it’s absolutely necessary.

 

FYI, this takes a lot of time, but it’s kind of fun. I do it on Tuesdays rather than Thursdays. Watch for your name.

 

~

 

My genealogy goals for this week were:

 

·         Finish the Carrie Holmes line for the Lincoln project.

·         Chronicle several times, and publish on Thursday morning.

·         Add a few more people to the tree so the stats move.

·         Start researching and writing about Jonathan Maltbie for the “Where There’s a Will” article.

·         Continue working on my April presentation for the genealogical society. It now has a title: “Hook, Lines, and Sinker.”

·         Revise Richard Holmes for Generations.

·         Print the 34 pages of the probate of Daniel Holmes.

 

I finished my Carrie line, and sent the rough draft off to Elizabeth. I need to send William off for her perusal, and then combine everybody into one document.

I chronicled but I was reviewing, so the stats didn’t move.

I am deep into the life of Richard Holmes again. Done rough draft, and man, is it rough.

I printed Daniel’s probate. It took lots of ink. I am itching to start transcribing it. I did transcribe the actual will, which you will find in this chronicle.

Lots of focus on Daniel Holmes for this chronicle, so here’s his photo as a reminder.

~

I emailed the provincial archives of New Brunswick, asking if they could send me the probate and will of Daniel Holmes. I want to use this will for my seventh in the series, “Where There’s a Will.” I mentioned that the copy I had was very faint. Roger, from the archives, sent me the probate and the will. I expected two, maybe three pages. I received 34. Mind you, some of them only have a few words on the page. Although Roger enhanced the pages, some are still quite faint and I might not be able to transcribe the whole thing.

As I need to complete my project for Elizabeth and the Lincoln Historical Society and finish my will series, I really can’t work on this very much, but it was very tantalizing so I have a few pages done. I am very itchy to get started. A partial copy of the will follows. If I didn’t know the names of his children, I couldn’t transcribe it.

If anyone wishes a copy of the will and probate, let me know. I will forward the email. Or, you can wait until I do my best to transcribe it and send both. It will go into A Colossal Collection of Cousins. Click on the photo to enlarge.

This is the last will of Daniel Holmes

of Salisbury in the County of Westmorland, Farmer.

It is my will that my funeral expenses

and the expenses of this will be all paid.

I give unto my son Charles R Holmes

the sum of fifty dollars.

I give unto my daughter Harriett

Olivia now married to Abner Jones my

organ and what household furniture

I may have at the time of my decease.

I give unto my daughter Frances

A. now married to James K Ballentine

and I also give unto my daughter Mar-

garet E. now married to William Snider

And I also give go my daughter Sarah

Louisa now married to Robert Ballen-

tine and I also give to my daughter

Harriett Olevia now married to Abner

Jones I also give to my daughter Caroline

M. now married to Alfred Steeves and

                                                                ^{and my sons}

I also give to my son James H. Holmes

William N. Holmes, Peter K. Holmes,

Howard Fenwick Holmes all the rest

of my property of every description to be

divided among my five daughters and

four sons last named share and

share alike.

 

I hereby appoint my son Charles

R. Holmes and my son in law Abner

Jones, to execute this my last will.

Dated this eighth day of February in the

dear of our Lord one thousand eight hundred

and eighty three.

 

Signed sealed and pronounced

and declared by Daniel Holmes

as his last will in presence of us

who in his presence and the presence

of each other have hereunto sub-

scribed our names as witnesses.

 

(Signature) David Horsman                                         (Signature) Daniel Holmes

(Signature) Jordan C Crandall

 

After I transcribed the will, I looked at Fen’s copy. He helped me, and I straightened him out on a few words. Fen did his genealogy before having the benefit of the internet. I had the advantage of having the copy enhanced. I can enlarge it on the computer. Also, I went right to the census records and determined the scrawl of the witnesses. Fen transcribed witness David Horsman as David Haraman. David Horsman lived close to Daniel Holmes in 1871, and Jordan C Crandall lived even closer. Crandall was #66, Holmes was #67, and Horsman was #71. In 1881, Crandall #287, and Holmes, #286, were still next to each other on the census, and Horsman may have moved as his number was # 326 – but not necessarily. So, that verified the signatures of the witnesses to the will.

 

~

I was doing a quick Facebook scroll and I saw a Bible verse that someone had posted and a few words stopped me in my tracks. Words from Scripture often appeared in old wills. The verse was Psalm 37:37.

 

I have posted this before, but that’s okay. This is Daniel’s obituary that was posted in the Christian Visitor, a newspaper published by the Baptist church or convention back in Daniel’s day.

 

Obituary of Daniel Holmes.

“Holmes - At the residence of Abner Jones, Esq., Petitcodiac, on the 23rd of March, Daniel Holmes, in the 69th year of his age. Our brother was long and deservedly known as a good citizen and a humble christian. And during his severe and protracted illness, manifested patience and resignation to the Lord's will. His end was peace. George Seely.”

     Printed in the Christian Visitor, Saint John, NB. July 25, 1883. Located at PANB.

 

Psalm 37:37

King James Version ^37 “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.”

 

Whilst I was looking at the census records, I also looked for George Seely who, I would say, wrote the obituary. I found him in the 1861 census, not too far from Daniel Holmes. His occupation was clergyman; his religion was Baptist. But, he did not appear in the Salisbury parish in 1871 and 1881. I found him in St. Stephen, NB, in 1871, and Woodstock, NB, in 1881. I’m not sure how often the newspaper was printed, but Daniel’s obit appeared four months after his death. Daniel must have been well acquainted with Elder Seely (so called in my History of Salisbury book), but I figure it took some time for the news to get to Elder Seely and for him to get the news to the publishers. He included the last portion of that verse in Daniel’s obituary.

 

Just saying, I doubt our Old Dan was perfect. I looked at some newer versions, and most of them use the word “blameless.” Not saying he was blameless, either, but he must have been well-respected.

 

~

Wishing you better weather than I am expecting this week. And, I hope you meet a goal or two. It feels good to tick them off the list.

 

Raspberry Dumplings

 

Uncle Peg’s Chronicles

February 16, 2023

“Raspberry Dumplings”

 

Number of pages in Outline Descendant Report: 160 (up from 159 last chronicle)

Number of pages in the basic Descendant Report: 242 (up from 241 last chronicle)

 

Francis Holmes is # 1. I am now # 336. # 333, where I was last week, is now Anne Marie Holmes Gautreau.

Jonathan Marquez (Frances Anne Holmes Ballantyne line) is last at # 498.

# 495, where he was last week, is now Kenneth D Williams.

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

 

Something new in stats, just for fun:

 

I put the names of all descendants of Francis Holmes who are either in our Facebook group or on my mailing list for chronicles, in a bag. Spouses and friends are not included as they do not get numbered in the program’s default. Those who have no descendants are also not numbered, but I’ll include them with their parent’s number. I pull out three names, and include them for two weeks. Next week, I’ll draw three more. This is for fun, but if the three names I drew were not in my tree that I am using now, I insert them. Win-win exercise.

 

The three I drew last week are:

 

·         Mike Holmes, son of Bob, is now # 457. # 454, where Mike was last week, is now Adam Duncan.

·         Betty MacKillop Sylvestre is now # 327. # 324 where Betty was last week, is now James D. McKillop.

·         Jane Barber Williams is now # 352. Last week, she was # 349, who is now Elaine Remington Danielson.

 

New this week are:

 

Phyllis Bearse Digennaro is #322. I met Phyllis and Conrad many moons ago, when Brett Nolte encouraged them to come back to the land of their roots – I’ll say 2012. I remember they came to our house and Conrad cozied right up to Mum and went home with a bottle of her home-made strawberry jam. Phyllis is in the Charles R Holmes line, and they are the parents of one son, Matthew, and two grandchildren, Bella and Joey. Bella was rather shy, but not so Joey, who won our hearts at the piano in 2016. I miss seeing you two on Facebook, Phyllis.

 

Andrea McGinnis Drollinger is # 443. Andrea is also in the Charles R Holmes line, through her Mum, Beverly McKillop McGinnis. She is one of seven siblings. I haven’t met Andrea, but I do see her frequently on her lovely, positive Facebook. Andrea is married to Dustin Drollinger but I’m not sure on her children so I won’t guess.

 

Grace Holmes March is # 269. She is in the James Hoyt Holmes line. Fen Holmes referred her to me many moons ago, telling me he thought I would like her. I do like her and her hubby, Brook March, very much. She has helped me in the past with Uncle James and Aunt Gusty, and hopefully will again. She is a great encouragement to me, often sending me a little email after the weekly chronicle. She lives in Maine and winters in Florida. She and Brook are fixing up their Florida home this winter, after it was severely damaged by Hurricane Fiona. She has a daughter, Nichelle, and a son, Stephen. If you went to the 2016 reunion, you met Grace and Brook, Nichelle, and Nichelle’s daughter, Sophie.

 

FYI, this takes a lot of time, but it’s kind of fun. I do it on Tuesdays rather than Thursdays. Watch for your name.

 

~

 

My genealogy goals for this week were:

 

·         Send story about Phoebe McMonagle Holmes and her recipe for Raspberry Dumplings to Jeff. Outline: bread and milk for Christmas; a summer drink for the grandkids; sharing the dumpling recipe.

·         Finish the Carrie Holmes line for the Lincoln project.

·         Chronicle several times, and publish on Thursday morning.

·         Add a few more people to the tree so the stats move.

·         Start researching and writing about Jonathan Maltbie for the “Where There’s a Will” article.

·         Write a draft for the “About” section in our group.

·         Continue working on my April presentation for the genealogical society.

·         Revise Richard Holmes for Generations.

·         Advertise the Saturday genealogy society meeting and get ready to chair it, as president is away.

 

I am working my way down the Carrie line, and I’m at Walter’s son, Jerome.

I chronicled and moved the stats a bit.

I can’t seem to change the Facebook About section, so I need to think about that.

I am deep into the life of Richard Holmes again. Done rough draft, and man, is it rough.

I advertised the meeting; just need to print off my introduction to the speaker and I’m good to go to meeting.

I sent my story about Phoebe McMonagle Holmes to Jeff. You get to read it first. (I had to cut, so I left out the summer drink story.)

Phoebe’s Raspberry Dumplings

Phoebe adhered to the rule that people should not share their recipes. We are lucky to have salvaged one of them. Truth be told, according to Mum, her grandmother was not a good cook.             Evening fare in the little house, across the driveway from the big house where my mother was born, was bread and milk. Almost every evening, the hard-working Holmes farmers and farm hands received a dainty portion. I’ve had bread and milk, generally a day before Dad’s pay day. It’s not bad, if there’s nothing else in the larder. Tear the bread into pieces, sprinkle with sugar, and add fresh milk from the cow (or in my case, the milkman) and serve.                                                                                             Mum loved to tell us about the day that her grandfather went into the little house after morning chores and found Phoebe tearing up the bread. Sick and tired of the usual fare, he exploded. “I will not have bread and milk on Christmas day!” Phoebe was making stuffing for the turkey. Oops.                                                                                                                                                                   You might be thinking, why would I want her recipe? It’s the only recipe salvaged from her collection, according to my Mum, and I love it.

Raspberry Dumplings

1⅓ cups flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

1½ tablespoon oil (Mum’s substitute)

¾ cup cold water.

 

Mix the dry ingredients. Add oil to water and add to dry ingredients. Cook in a dutch oven, placing each spoonful on a rack over boiling water. Cook 15 minutes. Do not raise the lid while cooking. Split each dumpling. Butter and sprinkle with sugar. Cover with raspberries which have been cooked in a syrup of 1 cup water and ½ cup sugar.                                                                                                   You could substitute blueberries or blackberries. Phoebe probably used butter or lard. Although I use the oil, you could probably use a tablespoon of shortening.  That might need some experimenting.                                                                                                                                                         In my opinion, it tastes best when you pick the berries in the brambles, and cook it on the old woodstove.          

Phoebe Jane McMonagle was born in Hillgrove, Westmorland, New Brunswick, to Edwin and Elizabeth (MNU) McMonagle in 1856. Rev. James Herrett, minister of the Baptist Church in Havelock, performed the marriage of Phoebe to Charles Robert Holmes in 1875. They lived their married lives in Hillgrove. She died at home in 1933.                                                                                                                      I spent many happy days in Hillgrove, and one of my fondest memories is eating there with my siblings and cousins. We children ate in the front room while watching Bugs Bunny cartoons, dining on baked beans and brown bread or macaroni, hamburger and tomatoes with white bread, all cooked on the woodstove. As adults, we sat at the big old table by the stove and shared stories. Sometimes we ate raspberry dumplings for dessert.                                                                                                                           The McMonagles are the first brick wall in my family tree. Like most of her recipes, Phoebe Jane McMonagle Holmes took her lineage to her grave.

~

My helper, Simon Says. He is trying to help me transcribe the inventory of Sarah Grant Holmes for my next article for Generations.

 

~

The next section is Moore genealogy. You can read it or skip it – your choice. It’s a slow WIP.

I am working on the Glendenning -  White connection, using the FAN Club method. So. Many. Whites. Two James Glendennings. PLACE seems to be a connecting factor. So, I’m doing a sort of spreadsheet of my own making, of census records. Some things I know. I have lists of children and in some cases, grandchildren. Some are comparable. Some are iffy. It is a work in progress.

I am even looking at Ancestry Family Trees, some without sources, some with. Just looking. Considering. It is not a recommended step in genealogy. However, sometimes you can tell if people actually knew the individuals personally, and I figure a quick peek doesn’t hurt, as long as you don’t depend on it.

I am focusing in on a place. It’s not a place they stayed, but it’s a common denominator. Hampstead, Queens, New Brunswick. Land grant to James Glendenning jointly with Henry Boyd. Also, place of birth of some Whites. Didn’t note that but I recall it.

Tip: Use PANB and NBGS for New Brunswick folks. Ancestry doesn’t know everything.

Why Henry Boyd? James Glendenning married Jane Boyd. Could Henry be Jane’s father? I see him in unsourced trees as such, so I need to study him further. I see in a tree that Henry Boyd married Sarah Ogden.

There is another James Glendenning, from Galloway, Kent Co, but he did not have children, according to one of those NB sources aforementioned. Ruled him out.

NBGS: First Families. John Glendenning, born Mouswald, Scotland, married Janet Davidson. He (or they) came to Canada in 1816 and settled in Queensbury. Son James, b. 1797 in Mouswald, died 26 Jan 1846, had two daughters with unknown wife: Sarah and Margaret. Yes! I am pretty sure that Sarah and Margaret married the White brothers, William and John.

Map: https://www.google.com/maps/@45.6803015,-65.7229825,11.5z

I am not familiar with this part of New Brunswick, but I see that Hampstead is just down the road from Wickham, where the Whites were. It’s across the road from Kingston. I would take the road from Roachville, outside of Sussex where I stayed last summer for Aunt Phyl’s memorial. A nice summer drive, which is a rarity these days with the price of gas. I wonder if we could kayak across the St. John River, but I’m not going to suggest it.

~

 

My book arrived and I have started reading it and putting some transcribing tips into practice. It’s rather textbooky, and the Latin section is a bit of a challenge. I did take Latin basics in high school, but that was a few years back. Loved my teacher, Mr. Murphy, who taught Latin to a few of us during his lunch hour. He was a history teacher, and I wonder if I would have appreciated history more if I had had him for History.

"Opinion varies on the extent of experience necessary for the reading of documents, but it is undoubtedly very demoralizing to flail about hopelessly in the deep end when gentle progress from experience in the shallow end can gradually bring confidence." Page 5. Author, Hilary Marshall.

I flailed about, but did figure out a few things. Now, it is starting to make sense.

The first thing I put into practice from this book is to make a copy of what I want to transcribe. (I also enlarge and enhanced it.) Then, I number each line. Below it, I transcribe by numbers, and stop the line when the scribe did. Doing it this way saves trying to figure out where I was. I picked up a few confusing words this way. I should also include a commentary, but haven’t come to the how-to in the book yet.

This is what my transcriptions will look like going forward: (I will remove the numbers when I put them into an article.)

1  John Bouton of Norwalke one of the Adm^es: to y^e Estate of Richard Holms

2  dec^d:  is also deceased and therefore the Prerogative Court held in fairfield Jan^y 27

3  1706 [7] do Appoint John Bostwick of Norwalke to Joine with M^e. Sam:^ll : Hayes in the

4  worke of the Adm^e: on y^e Estate of y^e s^d Holmes and the Executing what Remains to be

5  don according the will of y^e s^d Richard Holmes and also to Finish the worke of

6  Administration and distribution of the Estate of the deceased Sarah Holmes according

7  y^e order of Court decemb^e: 23: 1706

 

~

Wishing you a good week, folks. I hope you are learning something new and gaining confidence at it, moving gradually from the shallow end to the diving board.