| Name | William Otis "Billy" Holmes |
| Birth | Oct 29, 1819, Davidson County, Nashville, Tenn |
| Death | Dec 22, 1910, Oregon County, Alton, Mo. |
| Father | William Holmes (1799-1851) |
| Mother | Mary Owen(s) ? (1800-1828) |
| 1 | Nancy Anne Johnson |
| Birth | Jan 26, 1827, North Carolina |
| Death | Jan 11, 1911, Oregon County Alton, Mo. |
| Father | Norvell Spencer Johnson |
| Mother | Lucy Lucinda Thurman |
| Marriage | Feb 11, 1844, Maury Country, Tenn |
| Children: | Mary Letitia (1846-1930) |
| James Willis (1849-) | |
| George Washington (1851-1924) | |
| William Benjamin (1851-1937) | |
| Norveal Polk (1856-1938) | |
| Thomas (Tommie) (1859-) | |
| Johnny A. (1861-1937) | |
| Viola Melinda (1863-1956) | |
| Martha (Matt) Frances (1867-1937) | |
| Sarah Anna "Anner" (1870-1901) |
We now have documented proof that William Sr. was William O's father (refer to documents attached below).
The following sentence is my note to keep my two Holmes families separated but while holding their inter-relationships.
1st cousin to Moses Carpenter who's dad was Robert Holmes
The following information and the picture are from Carl Holmes
Holmes2401@aol.com
It is believed that William O. is the son of William Holmes, and grandson of Moses Holmes. (See Will of Moses Holmes, Maury Co., TN. 1843
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Found William O. Married to Mary (Nancy A.) A. Johnson in a Maury Co., TN. Marriage Records 1838 -- 1852 by: Virginia Wood Alexander and Jill Knight Garrett at the Rosenburg Library, Galveston, TX 2-14-98.
Date Issued 8 Feb. 1844
Sol. 11 Feb. 1844 Ishmael Stevens, J.P.
Have heard two different versions of what his middle name, could have been. 1. I got off the Internet on a lineage of George Washington Holmes. They have him as William Otis Holmes. Another was from Karen Venable from Riverside Calif. she thought it was William Owens Holmes and that his parents were William Holmes and Mary Owens. (William and Mary didn't marry until Dec. 1819). His grandparents were Moses Holmes and Jenette Rodgers. In Moses Holmes' Will of 1843, there is mention of a grandson named William O.
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(Edith Holmes has his birth as October 29, 1814) Think this might be a typo, because of the Census Records and Cemetery Book of Oregon County, Missouri.
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Clayton Library, Houston, TX
1850 Census - Maury Co. TN-37-311 Taken by: G.C. Gordon on the 20th day of August
William O. Holmes age 29 b. T
Nancy age 22 b. V ( This would make her being born in 1827/28 )
Mary L. age 2
William J. age 1
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Clayton Library, Houston, TX
1860 Census, Roll 1264, Page 302 Line 6 Dist. No. 1, P.O. Santa Fe, Maury Co., TN
W.O. Holmes age 37 m Farmer Prop. Val. 3700 b: in TN
Nancy age 37 f b: TN
W.J. age 12 m
George age 9 m
W.B. age 8 m
Polk age 3 m
Thomas age 11/12 m
M.L. age 11 (Mary Letitia)
Maury County, Tennessee
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Clayton Library, Houston, TX
1870 Census Was living on farm next to William Benjamin and Sarah Frances.
Graves County, Kentucky, Farmington Precinct Page 59, Line 7
William Holmes age 48 born in TN works on farm
Nancy age 44 born in TN Keeping house
George age 19 born in TN at home
Polk age 13 born in TN at home
Thomas age 11 born in TN at home
John age 9 born in TN
Viola age 6 born in TN
Mattie age 4 born in TN
Sarah age 6/12 born in TN born in Jan
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Clayton Library, Houston, TX
1880 SOUNDEX Roll 46 Vol. 25 ED. 87 Sheet 12 line 38
Oregon County, Missouri Piney
William Holmes, age 59 born in Tenn.
Nancy wife age 57 birth place N.C.
John H. S age 18 birth place TN
Viola D age 16 birth place TN
Martha D age 12 birth place TN
Anna D age 10 birth place TN
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Clayton Library, Houston, TX
1900 SOUNDEX
Oregon County, Missouri
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Clayton Library, Houston, TX
1910 SOUNDEX Roll 111
Oregon County, Missouri
William Holmes, age 90 born in Tenn.
Nancy wife age 34 (?) birth place Virgina
Martha D age 43 birth place MO.
Guy GS age 5 birth place MO.
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7/6/95 Ruth Thompson letter:
"William had twin brothers, and during the Civil War, one fought for the North and one for the South. One of them never came back but Daddy, (Albert Edward), didn't know which one. Also our line has been traced back to President Truman. I can believe this because of his features, build and even his personality. There was brothers in Springfield that were doctors. One was a Gyn & OB and he delivered my last two children. He really didn't know any of his family history. My dad thought he could possible be some of Tommy's descendants. The last the family heard from Tommy and his family, they were in the Joplin area heading for Oklahoma. This Dr. said his grandfather grew up in southwest MO and the older ones died there and that is why he didn't have any family history. But this Dr. was short and stocky build like most of the Holmes. We also heard of a line of Holmes in Michigan and they had family names such as Albert, George and Frank, but we could never get them to respond with any information.
William had a leg amputated at the age of 83 and I have his walking stock he used after he was fitted with a wooden leg. Holmes are a hardy tough bunch of people. Ha! At least the older ones were. Also their love for strong drink."
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I have heard from Tobe Holmes of how his dad, Frank, told the story of how the accident happened:
"William was a freight hauler and was on one of his trips when sundown caught him, he didn't believe in working long hours. He had crawled under the wagon to sleep for the night. A bolt of lighting spooked the team and he had crawled out from under the wagon to quiet them, but the wagon rolled over his leg. He then had to get up on the wagon and make it back home. They got him liquored up, because there wasn't any pain killer available. Then they began cutting the leg off. He said he could hear him holler."
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William O. and Nancy are buried in the Andrews, Bates or Holmes Cemetery. Oregon County, MO.
In the Oregon County Cemetery Book, it has his birth as Oct. 29, 1813/or73 death, Dec, 22, 1910.
Death date is accurate, but the birth date, I believe is incorrect. If you look at the Census through the years, the birth date is closer to 1820. William and Mary Owens were married in December of 1819.
Carl Holmes
The following is provided by Tom Harris of Ventura, California. Note Exhibit B where William O. refers to his father.
Maury County, Tennessee Enrollment Book Vol. H, Page 260-264
Filed 1 December 1854
Nichols & Holmes )
vs ) O J. all [?] Bill
Walker & Holmes ) (Filed Decr. 1st 1854)
To the Honl. Saml. D. Frierson Chancellor &C
Complainants Henry G Nichol & Margaret Holmes Citizens of Hickman County Tenn show your Honor that William Holmes died intestate in the county & State aforesaid on the ____ [left blank in the original] day of April 1851 Seized and possessed of considerable real and personal estate situated and being in the County of Hickman & Maury aforesaid, said estate consists of land, slaves, money and choses in action. They file herewith as Exhibit A, a paper containing the number and names of the slaves and the lands of the deceased Exclusive of land and slaves his Estate is worth about $5000 including the widow’s share, there are ten shares in the Estate and a share is worth between 700 & 1000 $. Complainants show that they are administrator & administratrix of the deceased that the present estate is in their hands & subject to distribution and the land to partition and that steps have been taken to have partition of one [?] of the tracts of land & the negroes.
They further show that William O. Holmes is one of the heirs and distributees of said deceased but that in February 1852 he sold and conveyed by deed his interest to one Asberry W. Walker for the consideration of 850 $ which conveyance was proven & registered in the County of Maury. They further show that said William O. Holmes was indebted to the Estate of the deceased in the sum of about $400.00 with interest and that it was a part of the Terms of the sale of his interest that he was to receive his said indebtedness in part satisfaction of the Consideration money. A copy of said Deed is herewith presented as a part of this bill under Exhibit (B).
Complainants now show that said Walker is wholly insolvent that he owes the Estate of their Intestate the sum of $286.35 upon which they recovered two judgments one for $170.35 & the other for $116 and costs of suit before Elijah Blackburn then an acting Justice of the peace for Maury County. that said Judgments were recovered on the 19th day of November 1853 and are in the name of Complainant Henry G. Nichols as administrator of said deceased but are the joint property of Complainants as administrator & administratrix, besides which he owes the Estate about $80 a note in Judgment. They have caused Executions to issue on Said Judgments & had the same property returned nulla bona. They show that they know of no means of making these [their?] Judgments except out of the interest of said Walker in their intestate’s Estate. They show further that he has been endeavoring to dispose of his interest with a view to defeat the payment of his debts and they fear & believe he will do so unless restrained by the Injunction process of this Court. They further show that he is now attempting to reduce his interest in one of said Tracts of land & the negroes to cash & that in conjunction with the other heirs & distributees he has obtained an order for that purpose. They further show that he has not had his Deed registered in Hickman County where said land lies. Complainants charge that they have the legal title to the personalty and that it would be inequitable to divest it out of them until the liabilities of said Walker to the Estate as well as the liabilities of said William O. which he has engaged to pay are satisfied. They further charge that said interest in equity is liable to the payment of the debt of William O. Holmes as well as the debt of said Walker and they bring this Bill to subject it to the payment of the same.
Complainants have no disposition to disturb the application to sell the land & negroes but simply design to attach the interest of said Walker in the land and negroes and the proceeds of the sale & subject the same to the payment of said liabilities.
The Premises Considered: Complainants pray that said Walker and Holmes Citizens of Maury County Tenn be made defendants that Copy bill & Spa Issue for that purpose and that they appear and answer. That Injunction issue to restrain said Walker from selling his interest in said Estate and that if the land & negroes be sold for division that he be enjoined from reducing the proceeds to possession that an attachment issue to attach his interest in said Estate to hold it subject to the payment of his own debt to the Estate and the debt of his vendor William O. Holmes with which it stands charged that an amount be ordered if necessary and that said interest be subjected to the payment of the debts due from said Walker and said Holmes to the Estate and they pray for general relief & will ever pray &C.[?]
Payne & Gantt Solicitors [?]
Personally appeared before me John B. Hamilton Clerk &C [M?] Henry G. Nichols and made oath that the facts stated in the foregoing bill are true to the best of knowledge & belief.
Sworn to and subscribed H. G. Nichols
Before me N 1854
Jno. B. Hamilton C & M
[Deed transcribed as Exhibit B, below, is recorded at Book 2H, p. 74 of Maury County Deed Records.]
Exhibit B
Know all men by these presents that for and in consideration of the sum of eight hundred & fifty dollars to me in hand paid by A. W. Walker I hereby sell transfer and deliver unto the said A. W. Walker my right title and interest in my father’s Estate (Wm. Holmes decd). I hereby authorize him (said Walker) to settle with and recover from the administrators of said Estate all such sums of money or any other effects as may be due me from said Estate and receipt for the same in as full and ample a manner as I could do myself if present. Given under my hand and seal this 21st day of February 1852 (Seal)
I am to receive in payment from A. W. Walker my whole indebtedness to said Estate.
Attest: William O. Holmes (Seal)
S. H. Jones
L. Collins
Exhibit A [?]
Slaves Jacob & Lydia Two in Number
Lands – Home tract bought of Pattons Tract bought of Peter D_____[?] & others lying mostly in Maury County about 400 acres in all
Fiat
To the Clerk & Master of the Chancery Court at Columbia on the Complainant giving bond with approved security payable and conditioned as in Cases of attachment at law. Con [?] of attachment at law you will issue the writs of attachment & attachment as prayed for in the foregoing bill.
1st Decr 1854 Wm. P. Martin Judge &C [?]
Attachment Bond
Know all men by these presents that we Henry G. Nichol [sic] Margaret Holmes & George Gantt all of the County of Maury and State of Tennessee, are held and firmly bound unto Asberry W. Walker in the penal sum of Fifteen hundred & Thirty Seven Dollars for which payment will and truly be made, we bind ourselves our heirs, executors and administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents, Witness our hands and seals the 1st day of Decr. 1854.
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bond Henry G. Nichol [sic] & said Margaret Holmes Admr. of William Holmes, decd, has this day filed in the Chancery Court at Columbia a Bill of Attachment & Injunction and has obtained from the Honorable William P. Martin a Fiat for an Attachment & Injunction to issue to the Sheriffs of Maury & Hickman County to attach the interest of the said Walker in the land Slaves choses in action & monies mentioned in said Bill. ~ Now if the said Nichol [sic] & Mrs. Margt Holmes admr &C [?] shall satisfy all cost which shall be awarded to the said Walker and also all damages which shall be recovered against the said Nichol [sic] & Holmes in any Suit or Suits which may be brought against them for wrongfully swearing out said Attachment then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force.
H. G. Nichols (LS)
G. Gantt (LS)
Rules Copy Bill Spa & Injunction issd to Shff of Hickman
Copy Bill Spa & Injunction issd to Shff of Maury
Attachments & Injunction retd Executed Decr 7th 1854
Spa to ans returned Executed on Walker & Holmes 27th January 1855
Attachment returned by Shff of Hickman Executed Decr 6th 1854
Injunction returned by Shff of Hickman Executed 13th January 1855
Nichol [sic] & Holmes )
vs ) Interlocutory Decree
Walker & Holmes ) (31st March 1855)
This day this cause came on for hearing before Chancellor Frierson upon Bill issuance and service of process from which it appears that defendants Asberry W. Walker & William O. Holmes were regularly served with process more than five days before the present term of the court & that they have failed to appear within the first three days of the time and plead answer or demur to the Bill the same is taken for confessed and set for hearing Ex parte.
Nichol [sic] & Holmes admr & C [?] )
vs ) Decree
Walker & Holmes ) (31st March 1855)
This day this cause was heard by the Chancellor upon Bill Exhibits. ______[?] so order. It appears that William Holmes died intestate in the County of Hickman in the year 1851 seized & possed [possessed ?] of considerable real & personal Estate that complainants are his administrator & admrix that his Estate is worth between $700 & $1000 to the share that defendant William O. Holmes is one of the heirs & distributes of said deceased & that in February 1852 he sold and conveyed his interest in the Estate to Asberry W. Walker the defendant at the sum of $850.00 that said Holmes owed the deceased about $400, which by the contract with Holmes said Walker was to discharge and the sum paid for that purpose was to be taken in part satisfaction of the said sum of $850.00 that said Walker owes the Estate besides said sum of $400 the further sum of about $366.35 with proper interest upon all of which except $80 Judgment has been taken and Execution returned nulla bona. That said Walker is wholly insolvent & there is no means of making said debts except out of his interest in said Estate that a portion of the land & slaves of the Estate has been sold for division that the proceeds have been attached that the remaining slaves & land have been attached & that Injunctions have issued to restrain the said Walker & Holmes from taking any steps alien [?] or reduce said interest to possession & that so much of the Estate as is in the hands of the administrator & administratrix has also been attached. Upon these facts the Court is of opinion that the Complainants have acquired a specific lien upon the interest of said Walker & Holmes & a right to have the same or so much as may be necessary for that purpose applied in discharge of the debt due from said Holmes & Walker to the Estate of their intestate. ~ But in as much as the precise amount of the debt due Complainant from the defendants does not appear & as the exact value and _____[?] of the interest of said Walker & Holmes in said Estate do not appear an account is ordered to ascertain the amount of indebtedness the amount and value of said interest in what species [?] of property it exists and in whose hands the same is. The clerk will report to the special Term in June when all other orders and decrees will be made necessary to subject said interest to the payment of said debt.
Nichol [sic] & Holmes )
vs ) Decree
A. Walker & others ) (14th June 1855)
This day this cause was heard by Chancellor Ridley upon the proceedings heretofore had in the same, and the report of the Clerk & Master which being unexcepted to is in all things confirmed. From said report it appears that the liability of the defendant Walker to the Complainants or admrs amounts to $905.02 including interest to the 11th June 1855 and that said Walker’s interest in the Estate of Complainants’ intestate amounts to $ [left blank in the original] and of this amount Complainants have in their hands as admrs the sum of $648.09 which the Court orders adjudges & decrees to be applied in satisfaction of Complainants claim of $905.02 pro tanto which being done it appears there is still a balance due to Complainants of $256.93 and it also appears that a portion of said Walker’s interest in the Estate of Complainants intestate is in the hands of R. C. Huddleston Clerk of the Hickman Circuit Court arising from the sale of one of the tracts of land mentioned in the Bill & from the sale of the slaves mentioned in the Bill & that the same has been attached in this Cause for the satisfaction of the indebtedness of said Walker to Complainants & that there is enough in said Huddleston’s hands in favor of said Walker to pay the balance due Complainants & the costs of this suit. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed that so much of the fund in the hands of said Huddleston in favor of said Walker as may be necessary for that purpose be applied to the payment of said balance of $256.93 & that the said Huddleston pay the same to Complainants & that he also pay the costs of this suit out of the funds in his hands in favor of said Walker.
Nicks [sic] & Nichol [sic] & others )
Vs ) Decree
Asberry W. Walker & others ) (28th Septr 1855)
It appearing as directed by former order of this Court the Clerk & Master sold the interest of Asberry W. Walker in the slaves mentioned in the pleadings & of slave born of one of said slaves since said order & that Martin L. Stockard became the purchaser at the sum of twelve hundred dollars but the Court not being satisfied that said sale was for a full & fair price the Court will not confirm the same and it is ordered and decreed by the Court that the former order of this Court be revived & that the Clerk & Master will again proceed to sell the interest of said Walker in said slaves mentioned in the pleadings & of said slaves born of one of said slaves that he sell said interest in said slaves on a credit of six months with interest from date of sale, that he take good security from the purchaser & make report to the next Term of this Court.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES RE ABOVE TRANSCRIPTION:
** “Chose in action” means a personal right not yet reduced into possession, but recoverable by a suit at law; a right to receive or recover a contractual debt or damages for a tort.
** “Ex parte” is something done for, in behalf of, or on the application of, one party or side only.
** “Personalty” means personal property or goods (not land).
** “Nulla Bona” is Latin for “no goods.” This is the name of the return made by the Sheriff to a writ of execution when he has not found any goods of the defendant within his jurisdiction on which he could levy.
** “Pro Tanto” is a Latin term meaning “for as much as may be” or “as far as it goes.”
** “Spa,” as used in the above records, appears to be an abbreviation for “Subpoena.”
PHOTOCOPIES OF THE ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE CHANCERY COURT RECORDS TRANSCRIBED ABOVE WERE LOCATED IN AUGUST, 2002 BY KAREN VENABLE OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, ON A MICROFILM MAINTAINED BY THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (as their Catalog #1012493 entitled “Minute books, 1822-1909; enrollment books, 1818-1877; Enrollment books, v. 1 1854-1875 Enrollment books, v. H 1854-1859 - FHL US/CAN Film 1012493”) AND THEN JOINTLY TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN VENABLE AND ROBERT THOMAS HARRIS OF VENTURA, CALIFORNIA.
From Karen Venable
There may be enough evidence to support the idea of the two William O Holmes’s brother one being Owen Holmes William Ottis Holmes..which again came from Mary Yarbrough who stayed with Mary Letitia Holmes who married my great
great grand father James K Polk Yarbrough...part of the family fought for the North our Yarbrough side fought in the North...If I’m right the story is correct...most of the Holmes were on the side of the South..the Holmes and Yarbrough’s were spilt down the middle..we are the Walkers , Yarbrough,George,sloan,Hudson,Sims, , Holmes and we are kin to them both.. also we had salves in Arkansas..but our kin The George and Miller, Sloan, did not were for the North’s side... Family tradition says Owen Holmes left to fight with the North, Death: Abt. 1863 in TN (in Civil War) if he lived he would have stayed in Missouri or Arkansas, in Yell Couty a Northern settlement in the South..and would have been in touch with his Mary Letitia Yarbrough who’s husband was for the North..don’t you think...A Northern regiment was composed of men chiefly from Polk, Cedar, and Dallas Counties, and served mostly in Southwest Missouri, but was at different times in Arkansas. It was in no regular engagement as a whole unit, but at Springfield, a portion of he Regiment was engaged.
