The Back-to-School Smell

 

Uncle Peg’s Chronicles

September 17, 2026

“The Back-to-School Smell”

“These were their settlements. And they kept good family records.”^[1] 

Don’t forget to look for the title which is embedded in the chronicle. 

 

FAMILY ALBUM

 Holmes Family Reunion 2014 in Cornhill, New Brunswick

 Back row: Bob Holmes, Lesley Holmes, Roger Sylvestre, Michelle Holmes, Mayor Jerry Gogan, Lesley Gogan, Pat Booth, Erin Vasseur, Julia Nolte, Paula Holmes, Kennon Wilson, Eleanor Holmes Wilson, Neil Duncan, Roxanne Duncan, Brett Nolte, Ami Slater, Andy Slater, Maggie Slater, Conrad Digennaro, Phyllis Digennaro, Sandra Thorne, Richard Thorne

 Centre row: Hoshi Anklesario, Celia Anklesario, Betty Sylvestre, Stoney Worster, Grace March, Brook March, Chandler Hall, Graham Hall

 Front row: Peg Vasseur, Janet Nolte, Marg Moore, Nathan Slater, Angela Ramirez, Logan Slater, Rafael Ramirez, Marilyn Powell, Clem Powell, Karl Holmes, Pauline Sarrazin, Emily Nolte

 Very front row: Julie Vasseur

 Missing from the photo: Greg Hall, Stephen Ramirez, Phyllis Holmes, Mike Holmes. Any more?

 Those who are no longer with us are in italics.

 The photographer was Brian Alcorn, a friend of mine.

 Mayor Jerry Gogan and his wife, Lesley, attended our reunion and Gerry spoke at our banquet. Richard and Sandra Thorne were genealogists and family historians, and helped me with my research. Marilyn Powell was Phyllis Holmes’ sister.

And I Quote: 

Interesting read. – Cindy 

Thanks, Peg. – Grace

 Even with special company, you put out a special chronicle, many photos, and did some tricky research.  I'm glad I found that little black book and that it was full of good hints.  - Jeanni

 A fascinating read. I don’t know how you keep from ripping your hair out. Ruth

The past is past and all issues are resolved, for good, bad, or otherwise. I go back there to relax, away from politics and the insanity of the world. I do get a shock from time to time. Peg

That’s a wonderful way to look at it. It sounds like a peaceful escape, even with the occasional shock. Ruth

(Conversation thread between Ruth and Peg.)

 Another interesting Chronicle - articles and pictures! I hope that you feel rested after your vacation. Mom and Brett are on the road. It will be strange not having her home for her birthday, but delighted that she will be celebrating with him in New Hampshire. – Julia (Mom is our matriarch, Janet Nolte. I snatched a selfie photo from Brett without his permission.)

 

1926 to 1928

 1924 to 1928 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.

2026 to 2028

 September to me means back to routine. I need new notebooks and fresh pencils. I need to smell the back-to-school smell. I must get to the store. I suppose they pulled the cheap but handy Hilroy notebooks from the shelves, due to their embarrassing faux pas. (I checked yesterday – they did.) They forgot to put Cape Breton and Newfoundland on their map. There’s lots of map talk lately in the Facebook News feed, but for this mistake, the Hilroy Company had red faces and apologies galore.

 I remember a little lie I told. We were visiting my cousins in Ontario, and Karl and I might have been ten or so. Karl told me he was a cartographer, and asked me if I knew what that meant, and I said yes. I didn’t. I had no clue, couldn’t even guess. Funny, the things that stick with you.

 I have relied on Google Maps for many years. That’s for current maps – for family history purposes - it’s to know how far one place is from another in our ancestors’ lives. I did it just this week – checking out Portage Vale to Kingston in Kings County, New Brunswick. It is about an hour’s drive, nowadays, it tells me.

 I also use old, archived maps, from historical sites. The lines changed over the centuries, after conquests, but when I study an ancestor, I want to know where my ancestor lived at that time. Pretty sure our New Brunswick map collection will remain intact at our provincial archives, as well as the rest of Canadian map collections. Did you know that New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were one colony until 1784? (Wikipedia).  Maps do change from time to time – from small changes like cities and provinces and states – to big changes like continents. Genealogists need to look at them carefully.

 The following maps are from Map Quest rather than Google Maps. Its default isn’t as good. Yet. Both Portage Vale and Kingston are small but real places, but even changing the sizes doesn’t put them on the map. It only gives Portage Road and Fundy Road. It does give directions that would get you there. I will have to get used to it, both for driving from Point A to Point B and for my family history.

 Request email to see the maps.

Where in the World? 

Brian and Jolynda Holmes are visiting Boston and other areas of New England. Looks like they are having a good time at Fenway Park and an elephant art exhibit.

 

 

News from Holmes

Eleanor Holmes Wilson

Kennon Wilson shared with me, on behalf of Eleanor, who wanted me to know that his wife, Eleanor Holmes Wilson, passed away peacefully on September 4, under hospice care at home in Brunswick, Maine, at the age of sixty-eight. She did not want an obituary or memorial service, so I told him that I’d write a memorial for her in our chronicle.

 Eleanor introduced herself to me in December, 2012.

Hi Peggy,

 My name is Eleanor Holmes Wilson, and my father is Julian C Holmes.  Two weeks ago today, he died from a massive stroke he suffered on December 11th, and since then I have been going through pictures and papers, and today, got to a pile of notes on family members, ancestors, family trees.  I have been working on reconciling the various accounts of who is who in our family this afternoon.  The letter I just opened was written to my dad from you in May 2012.  

 I would be happy to share any information I have on our common ancestors.  

Since last April, I have been living in the house that Cecil T Holmes (Daniel and Charlotte's grandson if I have it right) built in 1932, in Brunswick, Maine.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Your cousin (3th cousin?)

Eleanor

 The details about Cecil being Daniel and Charlotte’s grandson, and us being third cousins, is correct.

 I knew that Eleanor had cancer in 2021, but I thought that it was in remission. Rather, her metastatic breast cancer was controlled by chemotherapy drugs followed by medical attention to lengthen her life.  She was private about this, and didn’t want me to tell people back in 2021. I respected her wish.

 She and I shared information about the Peter line for many years, and renewed that sharing back in the spring, when she began the IRCC application process for the immigration by descent offer by the Canadian government. I don’t think she was interested in leaving their beloved Holmes homestead in Brunswick for any length of time, but maybe for some short term. She met up with a snag, with the incorrect name given on her grandfather’s birth certificate. When Cecil T Holmes was born, he had a brother, Harry, seventeen years his senior, who was asked by the record taker what his brother’s name was. He replied, “William McKinley.” That is what was recorded on his birth record, but Cecil aka William always went by Cecil Thomas Holmes. He was the son of Peter Ketchum Holmes and Hannah Isabel Burpee. That problem cropped up during his life time, and again, in 2026. I know Eleanor was working on rectifying the problem.

 Eleanor and I share common ancestors on both sides – Holmes and Burpee, although mine go further back, in my Moore line.

 Eleanor Sultzer Holmes – Julian C Holmes and Mary Robb Sultzer, and second, his partner, Audrey Marra – Cecil T Holmes and Marion C Dunnells – Peter K Holmes and Hannah I Burpee – Daniel Holmes and Charlotte Hoyt – Samuel Holmes Jr and Phoebe Holstead – Samuel Holmes Sr and Elizabeth Fountain.

 To Kennon, Eleanor’s husband, I offer my heartfelt sympathy. Theirs was a beautiful love story, and his loss is heartbreaking. He called her “the love of my life” when he notified me of her death. My sympathy also to her sister, Janet (Holmes) Griffith, wife of Gerard Griffith, and nieces, Victoria Lise and Kristy Eleanor Griffith, who she was close to. She has one remaining aunt on her Holmes side, Janet (Holmes) Carper.

 From their Facebook posts, I know she enjoyed sailing along the Chesapeake. She loved to visit her sister, Janet, and her family. She also enjoyed going to New Mexico to visit Kennon’s family.

 

 

Baby Eleanor in the same Holmes homestead where she pass 

L to R: Marion Dunnells Holmes, Peter Karl Holmes, Eleanor, Mary Robb Holmes, Cecil T Holmes, Janet Holmes Carper, Julian Holmes, and Nancy (MNU) Holmes, wife of Peter K Holmes.

 I pulled out my photo album of 2014 reunion photos. I enjoyed meeting them, and I think they enjoyed meeting us. Here are a couple of snapshots.

In the first one, we had a little gathering at Mum’s apartment in the social room to welcome and feed the weary travellers on the first evening of the reunion. There was lots of chatter, even though we didn’t all know each other.

L to R: Andy and Amy Slater, Stoney Worster, Kennon and Eleanor Wilson, Karl Holmes; in front, Rafael Ramirez.

Eleanor and Kennon are in the second photo, taken from the Von Waldow Farm in Cornhill. Jeorg and Jane Von Waldow gave us a tour of their farm.

 

Abigail MacKillop

Welcome to the world, Abigail Shalom, and congratulations to your family. Abigail was born September 11^th in Rochester, Indiana, to Mark and Kaylyn (Herrold) MacKillop. She is a baby sister for Mary and Daniel. Abigail is in the Charles R Holmes line.

Abigail – Mark MacKillop and Kaylyn Herrold – Raymond MacKillop and Brenda Miller – Raymond MacKillop and Lillian Shipley – James McKillop and Arletta Holmes – Charles R Holmes and Phoebe McMonagle – Daniel Holmes and Charlotte Hoyt – Samuel Holmes Jr and Phoebe Holstead – Samuel Holmes Sr and Elizabeth Fountain.

Request email to see photograph.

FAMILY HISTORY LESSON

The New Brunswick Probate Records (not completely transcribed yet) are now available to members at the New Brunswick Genealogy Society website.

The Probate of James Hoyt III, 1784 – 1847, A2484, transcribed as written, hopefully without errors.

 

James Hoyt was the husband of Frances Ketchum and the father of Charlotte Hoyt who married Daniel Holmes.

 “In the name of God Amen, I James Hoyt of Parish of Sussex Kings County and Province of New Brunswick Farmer, being in perfect sound mind and memory, blessed be God, Calling to mind the Mortality of man and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and declare this my last will and Testament                                                                                                                                                                                                                         And first of all I commend my Soul into the hand of God, and my body to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God.                                                                                                                                                         And as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it both pleased God to Bless me in this life, I give and bequeath in manner and form following, that is to say -                                                                                                  

I give and bequeath to my dear Son Azor Hoyt My farm together with all tools and farming Utensals of every description two Horses two Cows and Six Sheep                                                                                

I give and bequeath to my two daughters Frances Hoyt and Sarah Hoyt ten pounds each and to be provided for while Single out of my Estate

                I give and bequeath to my dear Daughter Charlotte Holmes five Pounds                                                                   

All the residue and remainder of my Stock to be divided equally among my three Children Azor Hoyt, Frances Hoyt, and Sarah Hoyt, after my Just debts are paid                                                                                                 

And I do further make constitute and apoint My beloved Son and my friend John C. Vail to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament.      

                                                                                                                                          

And I do hereby revoke, disannul and disallow all former Wills, Legacies, Bequests and Executors whatsoever, declaring this and no other to by my last Will and Testament,                                                                         

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this twenty ninth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty

 

Signed, Sealed, published

pronounced and declared

by the said James Hoyt                                                                  James Hoyt

as his last Will and Testa

ment, in our presence and

in the presence of each

other have Subscribed

our names                                                                                           Edwin A. Vail

                                                                                                                Robert B. Vail”                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

This ends week thirty-eight of our centennial virtual celebration of 1926 – 2026.

 

No Value . . . Immense Value

 

Uncle Peg’s Chronicles

September 3, 2026

“No Value . . . Immense Value”

 

“These were their settlements. And they kept good family records.”^[1]

 

Don’t forget to look for the title which is embedded in the chronicle.

 

 

 

FAMILY ALBUM

Conrad and Phyllis (Bearse) Digennaro and their grandchildren, Bella and Joey, vacationing in New Hampshire with their son and grandchildren. They are in the Charles R Holmes line, and some of you met them at the 2016 reunion.

 

For photo, request an email. 

 

 

And I Quote:

 

Excerpts from my letters to the editor. Thank you.

 

 

Thanks Peg . . . and have a great vacation!  - Kevin Hoeg

 

I hope you have a great vacation! – Paul Worster

 

Have a great vacation! – Marvin Davis

 

1926 to 1928

 

1924 to 1928 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.

2026 to 2028

 

Between the wedding that I helped plan (no relation) and the arrival of my daughter and granddaughter, I spent some research time looking for records for another Holmes IRCC application. (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada – Citizenship by descent). That makes three lines that I have worked on – Peter, Charles, and now William.

Each line had a different issue – and William’s is by far the toughest case. Peter’s son had a name change, Charles’ daughter has an unknown to us sperm provider, and William’s is a lack of documented proof. In Peter and Charles’ case, not all of their descendants will have this issue, only the descendants of Cecil and Ella. In William’s case, you will all have an issue, and should you desire to apply for citizenship by descent, you will have to be creative and write a really succinct cover letter. No application is guaranteed; all must follow instructions to the letter and then, cross your fingers.

I do realize that some, probably many of you who have the opportunity to apply, are not interested. I do have to say – it is a great opportunity to learn more about your ancestors, to learn how to properly research and cite sources, and to follow the Genealogical Proof Standard. It is probably not unlike applying for DAR, SAR, or UE status.

We looked at what records we could find for William’s parents, Daniel Holmes and Charlotte Hoyt. We determined that, although records are elusive for both of them, the Hoyt family would probably be the better choice. Neither Daniel nor Charlotte have birth or baptism records. What we based our decision on was the land record of Charlotte’s father, James Hoyt III, son of a Loyalist, born c. 1784 either in New York or New Brunswick. He will not be the G0 (Generation 0), but James III and Frances (Ketchum) Hoyt’s information can be part of the cover letter – the proof that they lived in Canada and that Charlotte was a citizen by birth and their daughter. James’ probate, which is, as of August, at the NBGS website, states that James left £5 to his beloved daughter, Charlotte. We have death notices for James and Frances, and a newspaper marriage record for Daniel and Charlotte.

William is another story altogether – all we have for him is two census records, one which is barely legible. Of the twelve children of Daniel and Charlotte, all have baptismal records except for Margaret, who left no descendants, and William. Why they were not baptized or recorded, I do not know.

This leads me to believe, once again, that what we do in our lifetimes (good, bad, or otherwise; recorded or hidden) can profoundly affect not only our children, but descendants down the line who we will never know.

 

News from Holmes

Congratulations to Rylee Patterson, of the Charles R Holmes line, who married Tatam Beshears in August, in Arizona. Rylee is the daughter of Clay and Marika (McGinnis) Patterson.

Photos of Phoebe

I posted Phoebe’s birth announcement in the last chronicle, but I didn’t have a photo. Here’s a couple from Paul’s Facebook. The first is Paul and Leah with Phoebe, and the second is Phoebe with her two sisters, Ayla and Emmy.

 

Violetta Prossinger and her children, visiting Conrad and Phyllis.

 

For photos, request an email. 

FAMILY HISTORY LESSON

The Ballantyne History is courtesy of Jeanni Worster.

 

This is the only “record” that I have stating Charlotte (Hoyt) Holmes’ date of birth. It is not an official record and will be of no value to the IRCC. It has immense value to our family. The compiler of this little record book is not stated, but I attribute it to Kingsley A Ballantyne, the Holmes historian of the 1920s, who refers to Grandfather Ballantyne on one page, and Grandfather Holmes on another. Kingsley had one child, a daughter, Ruth, who did not marry or leave descendants. It continues on with Grandfather Hall and grandfather Merrill’s information – his wife’s parents.

Not all information is correct, and when I borrowed the booklet, I researched Kingsley’s facts. I do not have any issue with Kingsley’s information – every generation finds new records and information and needs to update it. Fenwick W Holmes updated it, I do it, and some of you do it. I appreciate those of you who share information with me.

One error with Daniel Holmes – he was not born in Parrsboro, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. There was another Daniel Holmes born in Parrsboro, with a wife Charlotte. Totally different family, and as far as I can determine, no relation to us. Our Daniel was born in the Amherst area, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. There are other small discrepancies, but one big error. Both Margaret and William Snider (Uncle Billy and Aunt Maggie) died in January, 1916.

One other thing - it states that Charles married Phoebe Corey. Charles actually married Phoebe McMonagle, daughter of Edwin and Elizabeth (UNK – unknown maiden name) McMonagle. Sandra Thorne speculated, after much research with few results, that Phoebe was a Blakeney. Perhaps she was. I don’t have Blakeney DNA connections. My Corey connections (and some of yours) are plentiful. Edwin McMonagle was said to be born in Intervale, NB (no record), which is not far from Havelock, NB, an area where many Coreys lived. I never paid any attention to this until today, August 18, 2026.

I must look into this again. Hypothesis: Elizabeth (MNU) McMonagle could have been a Corey. It could be that a Corey married a Blakeney. That would be a challenge to prove, but I had a quick peek and although I know I have Corey genes, I don’t know how I (and we) got them.

 

 

This ends week thirty-six of our centennial virtual celebration of 1926 – 2026.