William Holmes was born in Worcester on 11^th Oct 1820 to John Holmes, a brushmaker and Susannah, née Probert, and christened on 15^th November 1820 at St Peter's Worcester. Picture of St Peter's here. He was re-christened on 11^th Oct 1830 at St Phillip’s, Birmingham, after the family relocation there, which was by 1827.

He married Caroline Whateley on 25^th Apr 1842 at Edgbaston Parish Church. Caroline was the daughter of Richard Whateley and Elizabeth Woodward.

At least in 1861 and 1871, he was a brushmaker in Birmingham, and in 1876 was a brushmaker probably in Worcester

He died in April qtr 1880 in Worcester.  Caroline died between 1863 and 1871.

There are a couple of possibilities

A Caroline Holmes died  in March quarter 1867 in Warwick district. However this may  relate to a burial on 6th March 1867 in Leamington, and censuses suggest there were two other Carolines living in that area.

Another possibility has come to light, another burial was on Birmingham district in July quarter 1864. This apparently relates to a burial on the 10^th July 1864 at Packwood - it could be that Caroline was buried in her mother's home town.

They had the following children: -

George Whateley Holmes was born 2.4.1843 in Birmingham, and baptised at St Phillips on 1^st May 1843, and died on 29^th Aug 1893 Tamworth, NSW, Australia. He married Mary Jane Doak on 11^th Feb 1872 at Armidale, NSW, Australia

William Holmes was born 31.8.1844 in Birmingham, was baptised on 27^th September 1843 at St Phillips, and died on 22^nd June1907 in Cardiff District, Wales. He married Maria Whyley in September quarter 1866 in Aston.

Alice Homes was born 25.4.1846 in Birmingham and baptised on 5^th June 1846 at St Phillips, and died Apr qtr 1848 Birmingham

Frederick Walter Holmes born 28.4.1848 in Birmingham, and was baptised on 29^th May 1848. He died 5.10.1935 in Nassau County, New York, USA. He married Elizabeth A Kerr, a Scots woman on 14^th Jul 1869 in Brooklyn.

Edwin Holmes born 29.10.1849 in Birmingham, was baptised at St Phillips on 26^th November 1849, and died on 9th March 1909 at Cole Hill, Worcester. He married Sarah Ann Cam in December quarter 1884 in Martley district. Sarah died on 25^th March 1925 also at Cole Hill Worcester. They had three children.

Alice Elizabeth Holmes was born in October qtr 1851 in Aston district, was baptised on 2^nd November 1851 at St John's Deritend and Bordesley. She emigrated to USA, death unknown. She married Cornelius/John Dagwell on 13^th June 1877 in Kings County.

Richard Whateley Holmes was born in April quarter 1853 in Aston district, and was baptised on 3^rd July 1853 at St John's Deritend and Bordesley. He died July quarter 1853 in Birmingham district

Susannah Holmes was born July quarter 1854 in Birmingham, and baptised on 14^th August 1854 at St Thomas's. She died on 4^th Jan 1925 in Worcester. She married Joseph Davis in June quarter 1877 in Droitwich district.

Joseph Holmes was born in October quarter 1856 in Birmingham, and baptised on 3^rd November 1856 at St Martin's. He had moved to Blackburn and  married Catherine Alice Allen, an Irish girl, probably in 1876 in Cork district Ireland. He died in September quarter 1909, and she died on 24^th November 1918.

Caroline Emma Holmes was born 10^th April 1858 in Birmingham,  and was baptised on at St Martin's. She 17th May 1858.She died 4^th September 1937 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She married George William Edwards on 6^th July 1876 in St John the Baptist, Claines. George did not emigrate with Caroline.

Samuel Henry Holmes was born in July quarter in Birmingham and christenened 21.8.1859 at St Thomas's Birmingham. He emigrated to USA, died 4^th December 1945 in Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA. He married three times and had four children.

Lucy Ann Holmes was born on 8.11.1860 in Birmingham, and was baptised on 29^th September 1861 at St Thomas's, she died on 7.11.1906 at Wick, Worcestershire. She married William Henry Pullen on 13^th May 1883 at St Clement’s Worcester.

Richard Whateley Holmes was born on 21.6.1863 in Birmingham and was baptised on 28^th May 1865 at St Thomas's. He died in 1943 in Burwood, NSW, Australia. He married Margaret Anne Jennings in 1887 in Armidale NSW Australia

Holmes Page            Home Page            Family Histories            Ships and voyages of the Holmes

St Phillip's, Birmingham	St Martin in the Bullring	St Thomas's Birmingham, hit by a bomb in 1940 This is all that survives
	St John's, Deritend and Bordesley