Francis HOLMES

Abt 1610 - Bef 1676  (66 years)

• Name	Francis HOLMES  [2, 3]
  	"Connecticut Ancestry": Francis Holmes is another early resident of Stamford for whom English origins have not yet been identified. He died at Stamford in the winter of 1675/76. The name of his first wife and mother of his children is completely unknown. He married (2), sometime after 19 August 1658, Ann (?) Stevens, widow of Thomas Stevens who died on that date in Stamford. Her maiden name is also unknown. On 20 December 1686, the brothers Obadiah, Benjamin and Joseph Stevens agreed that their mother, "the widow Homs," would live with her son Benjamin Stevens, with some support being provided by the other two brothers in the form of certain specified gifts of animals. And, on 1 April 1689, Ann holmes, widow, signing with her X mark, gave "asartain ox" to her son Joseph stevens. Francis Holmes had died at Stamford before 14 February 1675/76 when his inventory was taken. He first appeared in the Stamford records in 1648 when he and a night watchman were both verbally abused by robert Pennoyer, who was "overcom wt. wine." Francis Holmes himself was accused for misconduct years later (1665) in another Stamford incident, and his son Richard was similarly charged in 1684. According to Paul Prindle, Francis Holmes was a blacksmith, and always signed with his mark, indicating that he could probably neither read nor write. His will was made at Stamford on 6 September 1671 and proved at Fairfield on 14 March 1675/76. His wife (unnamed) was to receive the house for life or until "Change of Condition by marriage;" his son John receive the shop with tools, iron, and steel; his son Stephen to receive the farm, horses, and farm implements; and both sons to share equally in the cattle and the remainder. His son Richard, daughter Ann Dean, and servant Cornelius were each to receive 5 shillings. He also referred to his son John's oldest son (not named) who was to receive "my short gunn." He signed with his "FH" mark, in the presence of witnesses Henry Smith, Ann Smith, and Matthew Bellamy. His inventory was presented on 14 March 1675/76, and verified by his widow on the same date. The small legacy to his son Richard suggest that he may have set Richard up in business as a blacksmith during his lifetime, possibly in Norwalk, and therefore considered that Richard had already received his portion. [1]
  Birth	Abt 1610	England   [3]
  Gender	Male
  Death	Bef 14 Feb 1675/6	Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA   [3]
  Fact	14 Feb 1675/6	Inventory of his estate was taken   [3]
  Person ID	I29375	Main Tree
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2021

  
  

  Family 1	? UNKNOWN   d. Bef 1658
  Children	1. John HOLMES,   b. Abt 1635, Beverley, Yorkshore, England d. Bef 13 Apr 1715, Bedford, Westchester, New York, USA (Age 80 years)  [Birth]   2. Richard HOLMES,   b. Abt 1637, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA d. Between 31 Oct 1704 and 2 Jan 1704/05, Norwalk, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA (Age 67 years)   3. Ann HOLMES,   b. Abt 1640, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA   4. Stephen HOLMES,   b. Abt 1633, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA d. 15 May 1710, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA (Age 77 years)  [Birth]
  Family ID	F09123	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2021

  
  

  Family 2	Ann ?   d. Aft 20 Dec 1686
  Marriage	Aft 19 Aug 1658	Stamford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut   [4]
  Family ID	F09122	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2021

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - Abt 1610 - England  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S4918] Connecticut Ancestry 2008 May Vol. 50 No. 4. [S02419] Donald Lines Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Vol. 1, (Name: Name: Clearfield Company, Inc.;;), 76-3279. [S12780] Connecticut Ancestry 2021 November Vol. 64 No. 2. [S12768] The American Genealogist 1951 Vol. 27.