Descendants of Bryant Holmes

Submitted by: Jerry L Segars

Generation No. 1

1.BRYANT¹HOLMES was born Abt. 1803 in North Carolina. He married MARY E (NEE?) HOLMES. She was born Abt. 1803 in North Carolina¹.

Notes for BRYANT HOLMES:

"BLM land patent records show that William Holmes, Jr. bought land in Henry County, Alabama on August 15, 1837, the same day as William Holmes, Sr., Bryant Holmes, and Owen Holmes. In fact, the two William's and Bryant's certificate numbers are consecutive . . . . William Holmes also bought land in Barbour County the same day, but the land patent certificates do not specify whether it was William Sr. or William Jr. William Holmes and Bryant Holmes bought land in Henry County on May 21, 1837. Wiley Holmes and Bryant Holmes bought land in Barbour County and Henry County respectively on September 20, 1839. Some of the land patent records are in the names of Homes. Bryant's name is spelled Bryan, Brian, and Briant."

William Holmes (Jr), Bryant Holmes, and Dallas Holmes were also active in the County Line Primitive Baptist Church (north of Abbeville, Alabama on US 431). Early church records are lost, but they were members in 1866, along with many Holmes women. "Source: Alton Blevins, descendant and researcher.

On September 21, 1850, Bryant Holmes age 47, wife Mary age 47, and children; Lewis H. 20, Edny (sic) 18, William R. 16, Cary Ann 14, Alvin 12, Sarah 8, and John 5 lived at Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama when the census was taken.Two years later, Lewis H. Holmes, son of Bryant, married Mahala M. Richards in Barbour County, Alabama on April 28, 1852.

There were two other Holmes families, one headed by Owen and the other by Wyley Holmes living in very close proximity to Bryant in 1850. They were all the same generation and all born in North Carolina leading one to believe they were brothers.

The 1850 slave schedule indicated that Bryant Holmes of Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama owed six slaves - three males and three females ranging in ages from 17 to 25.In 1855, he owned 13 slaves. By 1860, he owned 18 slaves, eight of whom were young children ten or less years old.

The 1855 Henry County, Alabama showed nine persons in his home; two males under 21, three over 21 and two females under and two over 21. Since Lewis married in 1852, there must be another child born after the census in 1850 that died before the 1860 census.

On August 20, 1860, Bryant Holmes 54 born in North Carolina, wife Mary E. 54 born in North Carolina, and children; William R. 27, Sarah Ann 24, Alvin 21, Sarah 18, and John J. 13 lived at Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama when the census was taken. Cary Ann from the 1850 census was clearly identified as Sarah Ann in 1860. In addition, there is another Sarah in the family - no explanation why a family named two daughters Sarah. Wyle Holmes and his family still lived nearby.

Children of BRYANT HOLMES and MARY HOLMES are:

2.i.LEWIS H.² HOLMES, b. Abt. 1829, North Carolina; d. Bef. Jun 1900.
ii.EDNY HOLMES, b. Abt. 1832.
iii.WILLIAM R. HOLMES, b. Abt. 1834.
iv.SARAH ANN HOLMES, b. Abt. 1836.
v.ALVIN HOLMES, b. Abt. 1838, Alabama; m. MARY F. BODIFORD, 10 Aug 1865, Henry County, AL².

Notes for ALVIN HOLMES:

Enlisted at Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama July 3, 1861 as a Private in Company H, 15th Alabama Infantry Regiment, CSA.
He was absent sick: Winchester, Va. May 25, 62. Present at: Cross Keys, Va. June 8, 62-Shepardstown, Va. Sep. 20,62.Wounded at: Fredricksburg, Va. Dec. 13, 62. Present at: Suffolk, Va.-Big Battle Mountain, Va. July 24, 63. Absent on Detail: Chicaumauga, Sept.19, 63 & Sept. 20, 63. Present at: Raccons Mountain, Sept. 27 63- Knoxville, E.T. Nov. 25, 63.
Absent Sick: Knoxville E.T. Nov. 28, 63. Present at: Dandridge E.T. Jan. 16, 64 to date of record.
Wounded at Spottsylvania. Pensioner: Alvin Holmes. Witnesses: A. B. Skipper, J. D. Henley. Rank: Private.Alabama pension record #13607, Henry County, Alabama

More About ALVIN HOLMES and MARY BODIFORD:

Marriage: 10 Aug 1865, Henry County, AL²

vi.SARAH HOLMES, b. Abt. 1842.
vii.JOHN J. HOLMES, b. Abt. 1845

Generation No. 2

2.LEWIS H.²HOLMES (BRYANT¹) was born Abt. 1829 in North Carolina, and died Bef. Jun 1900. He married MAHALA MALINDA RICHARDS 28 Apr 1852 in Barbour County, AL ³, daughter of WILLIAM RICHARDS and MATILDA MCVAY. She was born Abt. 1829 in Alabama, and died Bef. Jun 1900.

Notes for LEWIS H. HOLMES:

Lewis H. Holmes, age 20 lived in the home of his parents on September 21, 1850 at Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama when the census was taken.
When the census was taken on August 20, 1860, L.H. Holmes 31, wife Mahala M. 31, and children; Larah (sic) V. 6, William B. 5, Lewis H. 2, and Mary M. 2 (twins), In addition, William Spurlock, age 66 relationship unknown, lived with Lewis Holmes. This Holmes family was placed in the database because William Spurlock, father of Sarah Ann Spurlock who married Benjamin Clark Parmer was living with the Holmes in 1860.
Lewis 41, wife Malinda 41, and children; Laura 16, William 14, Lewis 12, Mary 12, Malinda 9, Marcella 7, and Robert 2 lived at Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama on July 2, 1870 when the census was taken.
In June 1880 when the census was taken, Louis (sic) H. Holmes 49, Milinda (sic) 49, William B. 25, Mary M. 22, Henry L. 22, Ella M. 20, Marcella 16, Robert W. 12, Douglas D. 9, and Lizzie O. 4 lived in Barbour County, Alabama.
Robert W. Holmes, head of household, born June 1868, wife Anna born March 1875, Marcella, Robert's sister born March 1873, Lizzie, Robert's sister, born July 1875, and Douglas, Robert's brother born September 1870 lived in Dothan, (then Henry County) Alabama on June 4, 1900. Others in the houshold were: Willie Holmes, a male nephew, born March 1897 and Lizzie D. a niece born March 1899.
Apparently Lewis Holmes and his wife Mahala were deceased by June 1900.

More About LEWIS HOLMES and MAHALA RICHARDS:

Marriage: 28 Apr 1852, Barbour County, AL³

Children of LEWIS HOLMES and MAHALA RICHARDS are:

i.LAURA V.³ HOLMES, b. Abt. 1854, Henry County, AL.
ii.WILLIAM B. HOLMES, b. Abt. 1855, Henry County, AL.

Notes for WILLIAM B. HOLMES:

William Holmes, a single man, age 46, born in Alabama in September 1853 (sic), lived in Richards Precinct, Barbour County, Alabama on June 25, 1900 when the census was taken. Both of William's parents were born in North Carolina, according to the census. This is assumed to be William B. Holmes, son of Lewis and Mahala.
William lived with his brother Henry Lewis Holmes at Malvern, Geneva County, Alabama on April 21, 1910 when the census was taken.
Based on the 1900 and 1910 censuses, it is probably safe to assume that William never married, since he was listed as "single" as opposed to "divorced" or "widowed."

iii.HENRY LEWIS (TWIN) HOLMES, b. Apr 1859, Henry County, AL.
iv.MARY M. (TWIN)HOLMES, b. Abt. 1858, Henry County, AL.
v.ELLA MALINDA HOLMES, b. Abt. 1861, Henry County, AL.
vi.MARCELLA HOLMES, b. Mar 1863, Henry County, AL.
vii.ROBERT W. HOLMES, b. Jun 1868, Henry County, AL; m. ANNA DUNCAN, 04 Mar 1900, Henry County, AL⁴; b. Mar 1875, Alabama.

Notes for ROBERT W. HOLMES:

R.W. Holmes married Anna Duncan on March 4, 1900 in Henry County, Alabama.
Robert W. Holmes born June 1868, and wife Anna born March 1875, lived in Dothan, Houston (then Henry) County, Alabama on Saint Andrews Street on June 4, 1900 when the census was taken. Robert's two sisters, Marcella and Lizzie and brother Douglas lived with him. Anna's sister Addie and two children lived there as well.

More About ROBERT HOLMES and ANNA DUNCAN:

Marriage: 04 Mar 1900, Henry County, AL⁴

viii.DOUGLAS D. HOLMES, b. Sep 1870, Alabama.

Notes for DOUGLAS D. HOLMES:

Douglass (sic) age 29 lived with his brother, Robert W. Holmes, in Dothan, Houston (then Henry) County, Alabama on Saint Andrews Street on June 4, 1900 when the census was taken.

ix.LIZZIE O. HOLMES, b. Abt. 1876, Alabama.

Generation No. 3

3.HENRY LEWIS (TWIN)³ HOLMES(LEWIS H.²,BRYANT¹) was born Apr 1859 in Henry County, AL. He married ELIZA VICKERS 24 Dec 1885 in Henry County, AL ^5,6, daughter of HATCHER VICKERS and LACY VICKERS. She was born Apr 1860 in Alabama.

Notes for HENRY LEWIS (TWIN) HOLMES:

On June 12, 1900, Henry Holmes age 41 born in Alabama in April 1859 and wife Lizza (sic) 40 born in April 1860 in Alabama and the seven children; William, Ida, Drew, Edward, Harvey, Marion, and Thatcher lived in Geneva County, Alabama when the census was taken. According to the census, they had been married fifteen years and Lizza had given birth to nine children, seven of whom were living at census time. Henry is assumed to be Henry Lewis Holmes, son of Lewis and Mahala Holmes of Henry County, Alabama.
Henry L. Holmes 51, wife Liza (sic) 52, and children; Willie J. (sic) 22, Lessie A.M. 19, Drew R. 19, Charley A. (sic) 17, Henry H. 16, Marion J. 13, and Walter H. (sic) 10 lived at Malvern, Geneva County, Alabama on April 21, 1910 when the census was taken. In addition, William B. Holmes, Henry's single, 54 year old brother, lived with the family. According to the census, the couple had been married twenty-five years and Liza (sic) had given birth to 9 children with seven living. It is certain that this is the same couple found in 1900. Comparing the two censuses, gives one a better feel for the full names of the children. A close neighbor was Obediah D. Thomas and his father Columbus Jasper Thomas who came out of Barbour County, Alabama.

Notes for ELIZA VICKERS:

There were seven Vickers' families living in Lawrenceville, Henry County, Alabama in 1880 when the census was taken. This is the area where Lewis and Mahala Holmes lived.
One of the seven families was Hatcher V. Vickers born about 1821 in Georgia and his wife Lacy (nee?) age 61 also born in Georgia. There were two daughters in the household; Eliza 20 and Mary 17. Looking at the 1870 census revealed that Hatcher and Eliza had two other children; Drew 21 and Sarah E. 17. Drew was one of the other seven families living next to Hatcher in 1880 and is assumed to be Hatcher's son. Sarah Vickers married W.H. Ward in Henry County, Alabama on December 8, 1874. W.H. age 29 and Sarah Ward age 27 and children Chat 4 and Lacy 2 lived in Henry County, Alabama on June 4, 1880. Because of corresponding ages, martial location, and naming patterns, this is assumed to be Eliza Vickers' family.

More About HENRY HOLMES and ELIZA VICKERS:

Marriage: 24 Dec 1885, Henry County, AL^7,8

Children of HENRY HOLMES and ELIZA VICKERS are:

i.WILLIAM J. "WILLIE"⁴ HOLMES, b. Feb 1887, Alabama.
ii.LESSIE A. M. "IDA" HOLMES, b. Jun 1888, Alabama.
iii.DREW R. HOLMES, b. Sep 1890, Alabama.
iv.CHARLEY EDWARD HOLMES, b. Apr 1892, Alabama.
v.HENRY HARVEY HOLMES, b. Apr 1894, Alabama.
vi.MARION J. HOLMES, b. Jun 1896, Alabama.
vii.WALTER THATCHER HOLMES, b. Dec 1899, Alabama.

Endnotes

1.Tina Sanders, descendant and researcher..
2.Henry County, Alabama Marriage Records, Book 1821-1868, p.488, Albin (sic) Holmes married Mary F. Bodiford.
3.Barbour County, Alabama Marriage Records.
4.Henry County, Alabama Marriage Records.
5.1900 US Census, Geneva County, Alabama, 153, Census dated June 12, 1900 indicated Henry and Lizza had been married fifteen years.
6.Henry County, Alabama Marriage Records, 139, H.L. Holmes married Eliza Vickers in Henry County, Alabama on December 24, 1885. The license date was December 23, 1885.
7.1900 US Census, Geneva County, Alabama, 153, Census dated June 12, 1900 indicated Henry and Lizza had been married fifteen years.
8.Henry County, Alabama Marriage Records, 139, H.L. Holmes married Eliza Vickers in Henry County, Alabama on December 24, 1885. The license date was December 23, 1885.