Uncle Peg’s Chronicles
February 6, 2025
“Lost Together at Sea”
“These were their settlements. And they kept good family records.”[i]
Don’t forget to look for the title which is embedded in the
chronicle.
GRATITUDE
Karl Holmes, Roger Holmes, Julia
Nolte, Cindy Steeves.
FAMILY ALBUM
What did we do at the South China Library? The two librarians on the left
said “Shhh . . . we won’t tell. The two sisters in the middle stood guard,
while the brother and his special someone – we won’t tell, but they were not
reading. The library was near the James and Augusta Holmes house, and across
the street, as I recall. Pic #1: Cindy Steeves and Brenda Batchelor. Pic #2:
Kristin Holmes and Trish Yee. Pic #3, Mitzi Lundberg (at the time) and Glenn
Holmes
1924 to 1928
Those are the years that our Holmes ancestors spent renewing
relationships that had somehow fallen by the wayside but with organization,
letter writing, and challenging travel – by hook or by crook – they managed to
come together again. They reacquainted and rediscovered their family ties. And
then, one by one, they died, and many of those ties died with them.
2024 to
2028
OUR
LOYALIST – ACADIAN CONNECTION
Lost Together at Sea
The John Holmes family seems to have lost their
Acadian roots by the time John J Costain was born in 1950. I don’t find many
French names or Acadian history after John’s great-great grandfather, James
Holmes, son of John and Scholastique, married the English Elizabeth Bennett,
although it survived in other lines. Right now, in the evenings, I’m working on
the descendants of James and Elizabeth (Bennett) Holmes, not stopping to look
for family history. But then, this came up at Find a Grave: “Lost Together at
Sea.” I don’t find it often in my research, especially two at once, but it
happens often enough on the coasts of any country; still, when the sea calls,
sailors still answer. The story is tragic; if you can’t handle tragedy, just
accept that our distant cousins, Ira Costain and his son, John J, died together
at sea, off the coast of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia.
John J Costain (1950 – 1972) –
Ira Costain and Lottie Hicks – Nathaniel Hicks and Georgie Robinson – Nathaniel
Hicks and Ella May Holmes – James Holmes and Elizabeth Bennett – John Holmes
and Scholastique ‘Collet’ Melanson – Samuel Holmes Sr and Elizabeth Fountain.
Save the Date
Denis Savard and I will be
doing a joint presentation about breaking down our brick wall. Kim will be in
attendance and you can say a few words if you like, Kim. You are all welcome to
join us in person or on Zoom at 2 PM, New Brunswick time, on March 15. I will
give you instructions to the zoom link.
ASK A GOOD QUESTION
I’ve been
thinking about Roger Holmes lately, so I was pleased when he showed up in my
inbox this week. He asked me a question about the genealogy that I sent him.
“One thing
that jumped out at me was the number of ancestors that were born in Canada and
buried in the States. Was there an economic or weather - related reason for so
many ending up in the States that you are aware of? Just curious.”
This is an
easy question to answer, but of course I will complicate it a bit. It’s in my
nature to do so. The main reason was economic – there were job opportunities.
The Revolution was behind them; maybe even forgotten or unknown to them. They
had families to feed. There was no work or living restrictions at the time,
although people were stopped at the border. There are index cards stating where
they came from and where they were going.
I know they
were stopped because of what happened to Uncle Howard Fenwick Holmes. Do you
remember?
“Left hand
amputated and alcoholism. Deferred 5 days for further examination.”
He eventually
made it across.
OBITUARY OF ELSA BALLANTYNE
“Elsa
Ballantyne lived a rich, full life. Maybe not too many of you know that she is
the mother of Cynthia and John Ballantyne, and Cynthia has been a member of our
group for several years. Elsa married into the Ballantyne line. If you read her
obituary, you will get to know her better.
Elsa Noemí Quiroga
Loayza Ballantyne, our beautiful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother
joined our Savior and her wonderful family in heaven. Elsa celebrated her 96th
birthday just four days before her passing. She was born on January 17, 1929,
in Lapaz Bolivia. She passed away on January 21, 2025, in her home in Roy,
Sunridge at Roy. She always called Sunridge her 5-star hotel!
She lived all her early
life in Oruro, Bolivia, then moved to Lapaz to be closer to family. She was
always promoting education to everyone. She became a nurse in Bolivia and took
advantage of opportunities to work in the United States. One particular
opportunity took her to Los Angeles, CA, where she eventually immigrated and
called home. She lived in California as a single mom for several years. She
made many friends who helped her raise her twins and juggle the challenges of
starting over in a new country and a new language.
Elsa was a woman of many
passions and talents. She was a registered nurse who loved her work and made
lifelong friendships with many coworkers at Health Central Hospital in Ocoee,
Florida. She retired from nursing in 2000. Her dedication to her patients was
unwavering, and she often spoke of her work with a twinkle in her eye. Elsa
embodied the spirit of the quote, "Nursing is an art: and if it is to be
made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion." Her devotion was
unquestionable, and her impact was immeasurable.
In 1981, Elsa joined the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her family soon followed her
lead. Elsa was always a great missionary. She was never shy about loving others
and sharing with them the joy that Jesus Christ and His gospel brought into her
life. After retiring, Elsa served multiple missions back to Bolivia at the
Cochabamba Temple.
She was a beloved wife
to the late Daniel Robert Ballantyne, with whom she shared her life for 29
years. Their marriage began on December 10, 1966.
Elsa was preceded in
death by her brothers, Julio Loayza and Victor Quiroga. Elsa's love and legacy
continue through her son, John, and his wife, Michele; her daughter Cindy, and
her husband, Joe; and grandchildren, Melissa Beach Cochran, Melanie Beach
Whitaker, Michael (Rebecca) Beach, Matthew Beach-Opal, Marshal (Molly) Beach,
Johnny Ballantyne, Jessica Ballantyne, Makala (John) Russo, Joey Brignone,
Juliana Ballantyne, Ryan Ballantyne and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also
survived by her siblings Raul (Hortensia) Loayza, Carmela (Juan) Loayza
Camacho, Amalia (Carlos) Giwencer Loayza, Lidia (Freddy) Loayza Lopez, Connie
Quiroga, Marilyn Dalton, and countless beloved nieces and nephews.
Elsa was a beacon of
strength, showing us all the power of resilience, the charm of charisma, and
the importance of a spirited life.”
I considered Elsa the
matriarch of our family, following my mother, Margaret Moore, and for a few
weeks, my aunt, Phyllis Holmes, both of the Charles R line. All three are gone
from us now. I am searching by date for new patriarchs and matriarchs. It has
come down to two of each, as the two men and the two women were born close to
each other in age, and I cannot choose. There are others who are older, but
these four are people we hear about occasionally – and I think it is important
and fun. Stay tuned.
FAMILY HISTORY LESSON
Excerpts from the Probate of
the Will of Samuel Holmes Sr, dated 26 September, 1796
Continued from the chronicles
of January 9 and 23, 2025.
I am not transcribing this
entire list of items for now. It’s quite legible at the link, but I will share
a couple of details. Considering later petitions, it is interesting to know
that Samuel Holmes Sr. had 500 acres of land with improvements, and 500
without. He had a good number of animals. He, or perhaps his wife, used a great
“wheal” and a little “wheal,” a Real, and a pair of cards. She made her own
yarn from scratch from their ten sheep. He also had a weaving loom, for making
fabric.
His set of blacksmith tools,
which are listed, was left in his will to his son, Samuel Jr. They were valued
at £25.
And, he had all the makings for
a cup of tea and a sweet. Imagine joining them at their table by the hearth.
That’s what I do, anyway. Perhaps you’d rather visit the forge, the barn, or
the toolshed. What is your pleasure?
The subscribers were Jeremiah
Rushton, Jonathan Worden, and Samuel Rushton. Note that his eldest son,
Stephen, married Mary ‘Polly’ Rushton.
He had a Real, a clevis, and a
riddle. What are they? I don’t know what a Real is or was, but it’s in there
with the items uses for preparing the wool.
Clevis fastener
From Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia
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A clevis used to
attach a bar and chain.A clevis and clevis pin, held in place by a split pin
A clevis fastener is
a two-piece fastener system consisting of a clevis and a clevis
pin head.
More info at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clevis_fastener#:~:text=The%20clevis%20is%20a%20U,hole%20for%20a%20split%20pin.
Riddle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A riddle is a large sieve used to separate soil or compost particles, or for separating soil from vegetables.
More info at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddle
If you are curious about
anything in this inventory list, send me an email or message. Here is the link:
you must be a member of FamilySearch to read it. There is no charge to join.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99ZR-25FC?wc=SN1R-DPD%3A1411412402%2C1412595601%26cc%3D2134302&i=107
This ends week six
of our centennial virtual celebration of 1925 - 2025.
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