GEORGE YOUNG HOLMES. George Young Holmes, Sr., the oldest living representative of the family, was born at Saltcoats, Scotland, May 13, 1820. His grandfather, William Holmes, in his youth became a sailor, and so faithful was he in the discharge of his duties on shipboard, that he was rapidly promoted, rising from apprentice to the position of captain on a large vessel plying between Norway and Scotland. While superintending the lading of his vessel in a Norway port, he was accidentally killed, and his body was buried in that country about 1781 or 1782. His clothing and other effects were sent home to his grief-stricken family, in an old sea-chest which half a century later was brought to America, and is still (1893) in existence. Some years prior to his death, Capt. Holmes married Elizabeth Brown, and resided at Saltcoats, a seaport then of considerable importance, producing large quantities of salt. Ship-building was also in a very flourishing condition then and for many years afterward. The family consisted of four children: Robert, William, Martha and Elizabeth. Mrs. Holmes, a woman of rare ability, possessing to a remarkable degree the energy characteristic of the Scotch people, began immediately the training and education of her little family, and she lived to see all of them respected members of society, reflecting honor upon her loving care. The maternal grandfather, William Brown, then a master weaver, took Robert and William as apprentices at hand-loom weaving, a trade of great importance prior to the invention of the power-loom. They continued at this trade for some time, but Robert's taste inclined toward the study of medicine. With William's assistance, he was graduated from the University of Glasgow, attended the medical lectures at Dublin, and began the practice of medicine at Saltcoats, but within a year he died of typhus fever contracted from one of his patients. For some years William continued at his trade, and in his spare moments, by diligently applying himself to study, he became an excellent English scholar and a fine penman. For some time he held the position of clerk in the Irwin Bank, and after his marriage engaged in the grocery business. He was then appointed postmaster and agent for the sale of Government stamped paper, which positions he retained until he emigrated to America. Although holding office under the Crown for many years with loyalty above reproach, he was an ardent Republican, and believed firmly in government by the people. In 1803 he married Elizabeth, fourth daughter of John McNilledge, of Glasgow. They had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. Margaret, the eldest, married and remained in Scotland, dying in 1836. The other children, namely: Robert, Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, George Young and Agnes Jane, with their parents, emigrated to America in 1830.
The deplorable condition of trade which had existed in Great Britain from the fall of Napoleon in 1815, until this time, induced him to sever the ties which bound him to his native land and seek a home and a grave in the Western World. On April 22, 1830, he, with his family, set sail on the "Rodger Stewart," an American-built vessel which had been captured by the British in the war of 1812. During the long voyage of six weeks and four days, he kept a journal accurately recording the incidents of each day, the condition of the weather, etc., and from this journal, still in existence, we take the following:
"Friday, May 7, 1830. It blew hard all last night and the ship rolled very much. George Young (George Y. Holmes Sr. ) was sent for a little water. Standing beside Robert, the ship gave a heavy roll. He ran to the lee side and struck violently against the bulwarks, then fell and gave a cry. Robert ran to his assistance and found that his thigh bone, right leg, was fractured. After a good deal of trouble and delay, we got it set and him put to bed in a small berth in the poop of the ship. He was rather uneasy, restless and pained, but behaved very well."
Early in the morning of May 13, the passengers were aroused from their sleep by the cry of "Fire!" Mr. Holmes, in his journal, says: "When the word was given, 'The ship is on fire,' one general cry of agony and despair arose from the women and children such as I never heard before and I hope shall never hear again." The fire had its origin in the cabin, and had gained considerable headway before being discovered, but by the combined efforts of crew and passengers the flames were finally extinguished. The journal continues: "And now that the danger is over, ought we not to praise God for His goodness and His works of wonder." The remainder of the voyage was uneventful, and at length the "Rodger Stewart" entered the harbor of New York. On the day he landed Mr. Holmes wrote: "God's mercies are indeed new unto us every morning, and great reason have we to bless His name who has so far guided us in our way."
After securing comfortable rooms for his family in New York he presented letters of introduction to Mr. Buchanan, British consul. This gentleman received him cordially, and gave him a letter to the governor of Upper Canada. Accompanied by his son Robert, he set out on his memorable prospecting tour from New York to Albany, thence to Buffalo, thence to Toronto. Here he met the Governor and also a large land-holder, a Scotchman, named Stevens, who made him a tender of 200 acres of unbroken timber land, but not being entirely satisfied with Canada, they retraced their stops, re-entering the United States at Niagara Falls. Thence they journeyed southward until they reached Claysville, Washington Co., Penn., and being well pleased with this section they decided to locate upon the farm now owned by Mr. D. M. Campsey, one mile northwest of Claysville. Mr. Holmes then returned to New York and brought his family by water to Baltimore, Md., thence by road-wagon to the home which he had provided for them, and where he expected to spend the remaining years of his life. Two years later he purchased for $1,000 the farm of 120 acres, now owned by George Y. Holmes, Sr. Here he resided until his death in 1847. In his younger days he united with the Baptist Church in his native land, and for more than twenty years was pastor of the church in Saltcoats. After coming to America he continued to preach to his friends and neighbors who would gather in the farm house on Sabbath days. He had been well acquainted with Sir Walter Scott, and through the reading of his works and his conversation with the novelist himself, he became imbued with the spirit of the antiquarian; he gained possession of many rare coins, of an old family Bible published in 1576, and of a clock which is still keeping good time at the age of one hundred and fifty years. His wife died in 1869 at the advanced age of ninety-one years.
At the death of his father, George Y. Holmes, Sr., purchased the homestead upon which he has lived continuously for sixty-one years. Of the Holmes family who emigrated to America in 1830, he and his youngest sister, Mrs. Agnes J. Laird, are the only living representatives. In 1846 he married Elizabeth, second daughter of John Snodgrass, and they had four sons and four daughters, all of whom are still living. Mr. Holmes is the only survivor of the fifteen Abolitionists of Donegal township, who voted the Free-Soil ticket until the formation of the Republican party. His life has been quiet and uneventful. Following in the footsteps of his father, he has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church for many years. Although not an ordained minister, he preached for the churches of this denomination located at North Wheeling, Buffalo, and Washington, Penn., and occasionally he occupies the pulpit of his pastor, Rev. S. L. Parcell, of the First Baptist Church of Claysville, Penn. Since the death of his wife, which event occurred June 20, 1884, Mr. Holmes has continued to reside upon his farm, which he still superintends, although seventy-three years of age and past active labor. Having inherited a love for good literature, he is an indefatigable reader of history, poetry and the better class of fiction. Thus he is spending the declining days of his life in peaceful enjoyment of comfortable circumstances, the result of many years of care and labor.
Text taken from page 369 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed June 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]