THE HOLME FAMILY OF ORTON IN THE 17TH CENTURY
The main sources of information for this period, and the only ones consulted so far, are the parish registers of All Saints Church, Orton, the parish records and Holme wills, (though it might be useful to discover the wills of fathers or mothers - in - law). The registers are not complete; there are gaps in baptisms from April 1602 - July 1605, in marriages from 1627 - Aug 1634 and during the commonwealth period, Feb 1647 - May 1654. Also one suspects that entries were missed out or never copied up. The first register is too frail to be handled, though it is available in rough transcript by Ms E. Adams 1994. Bishop's Transcripts commence in 1662. Everything except the wills are kept at the Archives Office in Kendal, the wills are at Carlisle Record Office, although an index is kept at Kendal.
In the 17th Century there were several branches of the Holme family. The one in Langdale, (Longdale today, a hamlet which is nearer Ravenstonedale than Orton,) appears to be the most senior and there was usually a Member from this branch of the family represented as one of the 24 feoffees of the parish. Another branch was actually "of Orton", and there were two who were mainly centred around the neighbouring village of Tebay, those of Borrowdale and Hausehouse.
The two main difficulties in trying to obtain an unbroken family line is that only the father's name is given in baptisms, and a very limited number of Christian names were used, the most common being Thomas, John and Robert. Fortunately in most cases the name of the hamlet or farm is given and there was a tendency to name the eldest son after his grandfather. A will establishes relationships with great exactitude and is thus extremely valuable; not everyone made a will however and some have not survived.
A family tree which goes back to the 17th Century therefore is likely to be based on strong probability, rather than certainty. I believe I can track backwards from my grandmother Kate Isabel Holme born 1868, to her father Thomas Holme born 1817 (Orton,) to his father George Holme born 1789 (Gaisgill Rawend,) to his father John Holme born 1745 (Gaisgill Rawend,) to his father Thomas Holme born 1695 (Orton Rounthwaite,) to his father John Holme born 1669 (Orton Langdale,) to his father Richard who married Margaret Wharton in 1666. It is at this point that difficulties arise. Richard's baptism is not recorded, the only clue concerning his father is that Richard was living at Hausehouse when his eldest son was born and his eldest son was called Thomas, probably after his grandfather. Richard's eldest daughter was Hellin, who was probably named after her grandmother. The last Holme entry in the first Orton register of baptisms was "Baptised 11th Jan 1645 Anthonius filius Thome Holme de Hawcehouse." Thomas Holme of Hausehouse was buried 2nd April 1687 and Hollin his wife was buried there on the 28th January 1698. Richard Holme died at Hausehouse in 1706, his daughter Ann died there in 1703, and his wife Ann died there in 1708. There is therefore a strong probability that Richard's father was Thomas of Hausehouse, that Richard spent the first year or two of married life living at home. He then became a tenant farmer at Langdale, where other members of the Holme family lived, and from where his wife Margaret probably originated. Richard then became a tenant farmer at Crookdale where his son Willyam was born in 1674. Soon after this he may have returned to Longdale. The evidence for this is that a previously unrecorded child, Hellen, died at Longdale on the11th December 1675. At some stage he moved to Stayles. Three children were born here; Richard, who was born in 1679, Mary, who was born in 1681 and Ann who was born in1685.Finally there was Ellinour who was born in 1688. Upon his father's death Richard probably inherited the tenancy of Hausehouse and lived there until his own death in 1706. Hausehouse, (various spellings, Haushouse, Haucehouse etc.,) may have the same meaning as Hawes; that is a place just outside the primary settlement. Mrs. Eileen Perry, whose ancestors lived at Ellergill, a farm which is also in Orton, set out to find Hausehouse. She had been told that there was a Hause Farm near Orton, which she found; this has the initials E P A above the door, the owners said that the P stood for Powley. I have not been able to find any connections with the Powley family, so this did not seem to be the right place. The Holme connection with Hause House appears to start in the Registers in 1645 with the baptism of Anthonius the son of Thome Holme of Hawcehouse and ends with the burial of Thomas Holme of Hausehouse in 1713 although it is mentioned in the will of John Holme of Greenholme who also died in 1713/14. Mrs Perry contacted Ted Relph, a local historian who confirmed that Hause Farm would have been Hause House. However Eileen Perry came across a Wharton family tree which had been copied from the Ross Wharton M.S.S. in the Bodleian Library. This stated that Lancelot Wharton bought land at Cotegill from Robert Holme of that place. A generation later his son Thomas Wharton, who was involved in the Kaber Rigg plot against the Roman Catholics, sold his estate to Robert Holme of Hause House near Barrow Bridge. This seems to me rather more conclusive. Eileen adds that two houses in the vicinity of Grayrigg House are called Low Borrowbridge. On my Ordnance Survey Map Hause Bridge is just a little further South. Roundthwaite, Low Carling Gill and Dyke, which are farms that all have associations with the Holme family are close by, also Bretherdale Hall which was occupied by another Holme family during this period.
This is the approach to Haushouse, now called Low Borrowbridge today. It is overshadowed by the M6, the viaduct of which can be seen in the foreground. In the grassy patch to the left is the remains of a Roman Fort. The old road, which follows the River Lune south, peters out northwards at Low Borrowbridge. It continues south, however, passing High Carlingill Farm and Low Carlingill Farm further on.
Above can be seen the present farmhouse at Low Borrowbridge which looks fairly modern, or at least modernised.
Below is another building, at the back of, and parallel to the modern farmhouse. It looks older.
Across the road, and at right angles to the farmhouse is a large barn which appears to be even older.
Another view of the barn which shows the stairway leading to the upper story..
There are difficulties in reconstructing this family however; Thomas, baptised 1667, and John, baptized 1669, were certainly brothers, the sons of Richard's marriage to Margaret Wharton who died in 1773, but there were two more, who were unrecorded in the baptismal registers, Anthony of Floakebridge and Robert of Goatgill. Thomas made a will in 1705 leaving money to his brothers John, Richard and Robert and his dead brother Anthony's children. Anthony and Robert are not in the baptismal register but their existence is also confirmed by Anthony's will in which he left money to his brothers John, of Low Carlingill, Robert, of Goatgill and Thomas of Dyke.
Low Carlingill Farm as it is today. It is situated further South, on the same road shown in the first photograph
In their wills both Thomas and Anthony describe themselves as yeomen, but John does not. Brother Richard is more of a mystery, although a Richard Holme was born in 1679 he was buried in 1680 according to the registers. However though no other Richard appears in the Orton registers during this century, in St Oswald's register, Ravenstonedale, which is a neighbouring parish, on Feb 16th 1685 Richard Holme son of Richard Holme was baptised. The other difficulty is that Richard senior married Margaret Wharton in 1666, but the widow who survived him was called Ann. This is explained by the death of Margaret, who was buried on the 1st November 1673. The marriage to Ann is unrecorded in the Orton Registers and may possibly have taken place in another parish.
In Anthony Holme's will of 1703 he left money to his two sons Thomas and Robert, his goods and chattels to his wife Agnes, and daughters Ellin, Christable and Agnes. His heir Thomas died at Floakbridge in 1721, apparently unmarried and without issue. His second son Robert died in 1727, also unmarried. Ellin, or Hollin was baptized on the 16th September 1694. She married Robert Wilson on the 20th June 1719. Christabell was baptised on the 17th March 1799, she married Robert Sharpe on 23rd May 1724. Agnes was baptised on the 26th January 1702, she married Christopher Parker on the 21st November 1721.
Anthony's widow Agnes was buried on the 6th June 1759, she was 90 years old so presumably she must have been born about 1669. So far I have not discovered her maiden name, it is likely that she herself inherited property. Her will is detailed and fascinating. According to All Saints Parish Records she and her son in law Christopher Parker set up a charity in 1740 to educate two poor scholars at Orton.
THE HOLME FAMILY IN THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH CENTURIES.
The Parish Records for All Saints Church Orton are generally clear and readable. As has been previously mentioned the main difficulty with working out the various branches of the Holme family is the preponderance of men with the Christian names Thomas, John and Robert . Fortunately from 1654 onwards, and sometimes earlier their abode is almost always given.
As this account is mainly concerned with 18th and 19th century Holmes, it might be helpful to show a simplified chart of their ancestors in the 17th century
Richard Holme m.1.Margaret Wharton Robert Holme
Househouse Langdale
Died 1706 Died 1673
2. Ann Died 1702
I I
I I
John Holme m. Mary Thomas Holme m.Elizabeth
Rounthwaite Rawend
1669 - 1711 1662 - 1752 1668 - 1728
I I
I I
Thomas Holme 1695 - 1749 m. 1. Elizabeth Holme 1702 - 1744
Rawend
m. 2. Jane Potter
I
I
John Holme Thomas Holme
1745 1748
Gaisgill Rowend - as it is called today.
Gaisgill Rawend is situated on the old road which leads from Tebay to the hamlet of Gaisgill and thence East to Ravenstonedale, roughly following the River Lune.
THE HOLME FAMILY OF GAISGILL RAWEND
The Holme family of HauseHouse became the Holme family of Gaisgill Rawend during the course of the 18th Century, A clear unbroken line developed. It started with Thomas Holme, born 1695, the son of John and Mary Holme of Rounthwaite (John was to die in 1711 at Low Carlingill). John's marriage to Mary did not appear in the Orton Registers but she was extremely long lived, she was buried from Raw End on 26th December 1752, aged 90. This puts her date of birth around 1662. The only surviving Mary for that period in the Orton baptismal register was Mary the daughter of Edward Bowness of Dalehead. However she could have come from another parish, it is possible that Edward left a will. Mary appears in her husband’s will of 1711 as "Mary Holm my dearly beloved Wife". She, together with Thomas, was his residual legatee, daughter Ellin receiving eighty pounds.
Ellin married Robert Singleton in 1716. John Holme was well documented because he appeared in his brothers' wills, Anthony Holme of Flakebridge and Thomas Holme of Dyke.
It would appear from the will of John Holme of Greenholm, who was born in 1673 and died in 1713 that he had acquired the freehold of Hausehouse and the tenancy of Dyke farm. This must have taken place after the death of Richard Holme of Hausehouse who died in 1706. John was the sole surviving son of Robert Holme of Langdale Townsend. He left "two closes or enclosures commonly called and known by the name of Great Sawler or Saller and the parock adjoyning to the head of Great Saller being part of my freehold estate at Hausehouse, in consideration of her widdowright or dower out of my tennantright estate at Dyke...." to his wife Elizabeth to dispose of as she pleased. The rents of Hausehouse were to be used to maintain his two daughters until they were 21. His son and heir was Hugh Holme who disappeared from the Orton Registers. Perhaps it was after this time that Hausehouse gradually became known as Low Borrowbridge.
ELIZABETH HOLME DAUGHTER OF THOMAS HOLME OF LANGDALE
In 1726 John Holme’s son Thomas married Eliz. Holme, daughter of another Thomas Holme who was the son of one of two Robert Holme's of Langdale and baptised on the 2nd December 1668. Young Thomas and Elizabeth may have been distant cousins but they were not likely to have been closely related. There is no record of Thomas senior's marriage in the Orton registers, his family seem to have been well spaced out. His wife, also named Elizabeth, predeceased him, she was buried on the 26th April 1726.
Elizabeth was their eldest daughter, baptised on the 10th June 1702. There are 2 "Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Holme" entries shown in the parish register of baptisms at about this time, but the other one, "Betty", is a legatee in the will of Thomas Holme of Langdale (born 1666) who died at Langdale, in 1744. This helps us to know that at this time Thomas senior was "of Goatgill". His next child was Margarett who was baptised 4th April 1705, she died in 1727. Robert, his eldest son was born on the 20th June 1708. This time Thomas is shown as "of Orton". There were no less than three "Robert Holme son of Thomas Holme" entries shown in the baptismal registers for this period, but fortunately for our purposes, the other two Roberts "of Langdale" died young. Robert was nearly twenty when his father died. His legacy in Thomas's will reads, "I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Robert the sum of forty pounds of lawful money of great Britain in full of his child's portion to be payed twelve monthes after my decease, ordering hereby that what expenses he shall expend for this present year for board books clo.s. or other necessarys shall be allowed in or deducted from his sd. portion". Board and books suggest that Robert may have been a scholar and subsequently left the parish to become a schoolmaster or a cleric. Or he may have returned to Goatgill and died there unmarried in 1730. Thomas's next child, Anthony, was baptised on the 21st June 1711. From now on Thomas is shown as "of Rawend". Hollm, or as he calls her Elianor, was baptised on the 20th March 1713,and his youngest son, Thomas was baptised on the 10th February 1718. Both the boys received eighty pounds, Elianor was given forty pounds.
Thomas must have had great faith in his son-in-law, Thomas, as he made him his executor, gave him the tuition of his three younger children until they reached the age of 21 and left him all his personal effects, "for his wife's portion".
In 1748 Thomas's son Anthony of Highgate near Tebay, yeoman, also showed his faith in Thomas, who was his brother in law. He made him one of four trustees in his will,
In his will Thomas the elder described himself as a widower, but not a yeoman, so he was probably a tenant farmer. At some stage his son in law Thomas took over the tenancy of Rawend which is in the hamlet of Gaisgill not very far from Langdale, where Thomas the elder originated. Langdale was part of the Wharton Family Estate. It is probable that Gaisgill was as well, but the records, which are now part of the Lowther Family records, are vast, and so far have not been indexed. They presently fill a room at Carlisle Record Office. It would be interesting to find out more about the farms themselves. Certain farms like Goatgill, Floakebridge, Hausehouse, Dyke etc.seem to have been always occupied by members of this Holme family, but not in an unbroken line of father to son.
THOMAS HOLME AND JANE POTTER OF GAISGILL RAWEND. (Great great great great grandparents.)
Thomas and Elizabeth's union produced no children and in 1744 she died aged 42. This is the first year that ages are given in the register of burials, and it is very useful in confirming family connections. She was buried on the 7th of July and Thomas married Jane Potter on December 29th of the same year. Jane was aged 23, the daughter of Christopher Potter of Tebay. The Potters were an old established family of yeomen farmers in Orton. There is a Thomas Potter in the first list of the Sworn Men of Orton, dated 1596. There was a branch of the family at Tebay, to the West of the parish, and another at Gaisgill, where presumably Thomas and Jane met. It is tempting to speculate about this hasty marriage and wonder if it caused scandal. Jane was probably pregnant at the time of the marriage as their first son John was baptised on the 17th July 1745. Christopher was baptised on the 3rd of March 1746 and their third son Thomas on the 4th October 1748. Thomas was making his will by the end of that month and was dead in July of the following year. He was buried on the 22nd of July in 1749 aged 54. His mother Mary who lived with them, outlived him, by three years, she was buried on the 26th December 1752 aged 90.
THOMAS HOLME'S WILL.
Thomas took a great deal of care over his will, in which he described himself as a yeoman. He mentioned the payments of the two fines, which had to be paid to the Lord of the manor upon his death, and when his son came of age. He was clearly very concerned that his young wife should be protected, ordering his eldest son John to repay the money which his mother had to pay in fines, threatening the forfeit of his real estate if he did not. He appointed powerful overseers to sort out any doubts or differences that may have arisen from his will. One of them, the Vicar of Orton, Richard Burn was Chancellor of the diocese and the author of a book on law. The other overseers were his father-in-law Christopher Potter, his brother-in-law George Potter and Robert Wilson.
As well as the care shown to his wife he also remembered his mother and directed his Executrix to pay her the sum of four pounds a year, "as hath been paid by me heretofor during the term of her natural life".
Touchingly he also remembered his Godchildren, Isabel Branthwaite, Thomas Holme, Robert Wilson and James Mathews. He left them 5 shillings each to be paid at their confirmation. Perhaps during his childless first marriage he had enjoyed the company of his Godchildren.
His two younger sons Christopher and Thomas were left one hundred pounds apiece, with instructions that if either died before the age of 21 the other should get his portion. Sadly Christopher died when he was only 12. He was buried on the 25th March 1759. Thus Thomas the youngest inherited £200 which must have served to start his business as a mercer in Orton.
Jane finally remarried Joseph Atkinson, who was aged 38, by license, on the 16th May 1764. This was well timed as her eldest son John was nearly 21. She and Joseph had a son whom they called Edmond in December of the same year.
JOHN HOLME AND ELIZABETH GARNETT Great great great grandparents
John Holme duly inherited Rawend and on the 26th February 1770 he married Elizabeth Garnett by license. She was aged 20. Special licences were expensive, normally they cost about £200, it could be less but it could also be considerably more. Elizabeth Garnett belonged to a family that originated at Wickerslack in Crosby Ravensworth. Her ancestry can be traced back in an unbroken line of alternate William's and Anthony's to William Garnett, who died at Crosby Ravensworth in 1614. Her grandfather, also named William Garnett, moved to Petty Hall or Old Hall, Orton, which is a most attractive Elizabethan farmhouse, built in 1604. It has the date and the initials G.B. and M.B. over the door.
WILLIAM GARNETT, GRANDFATHER TO ELIZABETH GARNETT
William was a substantial yeoman farmer, he had four sons and a daughter. One son, James predeceased him. In his will, dated 1737, he left his freehold estate at Wickerslack to his eldest son Anthony. Old Hall and the freehold estate attached to it to his second son William. His freehold estate at Maulds Meaburn, which is in the parish of Crosby Ravensworth, together with Rowan Croft and Cotterbank Rigg was to go to his youngest son Thomas. Elizabeth Garnett his daughter was to receive £140 or the deeds to a further estate at Dufton. His eldest son Anthony died, unmarried, a year after him, aged 25. Thomas took over Wickerslack, but of his three children only Bella grew to maturity. She married John Stephenson Preston of Penrith. Thomas died in 1803, the entry in the burial register reads "Mr. Thomas Garnett of Penrith, late of Wickerslack, aged 82."
As far as is known Elizabeth's father, also named William, did not leave a will, he married Mary Wilson of Orton and they had 8 children. William, b.1743. Isabel b.1744. Anthony b.1747. Elizabeth b. 1749. Mary and Margaret (twins) b.1754.and Thomas b. 1759.
JOHN AND ELIZABETH HOLME'S FAMILY
John and Elizabeth Holme lived at Gaisgill Rawend and brought up their children there. Their eldest son was called Thomas, he was baptised in 1771. Jane who was baptised in1772, was their only daughter and died the following year. William was baptised in 1776.There was then a ten year gap before Christopher, who was baptised in 1786. Finally, last but not least, was George, baptised in 1789. I have wondered for whom George was named. All the others had very predictable family names, but this is the first time, as far as I know, there was a George in this particular line. Christopher was not to be a lucky name, like his uncle he died young, aged 29, unmarried.
John Holme and Emma Sisson
John and Elizabeth Holme were both longlived. She outlived her husband and was buried on April 29th 1836. Her nephew Rev. James Holme of Harrogate was the officiating minister, she was 87 and buried from Orton. John Holme was buried on September 6th 1828, aged 83. There is a mystery however, in the burial register he is described as "John Holme of Derry Hall Nr. Sedburgh". For some time I was unable to Locate Derry Hall but as a result of an article in the Sedbergh and District History Society Newsletter no. 7 1983 by C.G.Hollett I now know something about its history, which goes back to the late 17th Century. Mr Hollett wrote, " By 1822 the tenant was John Holme, yeoman, and in August of that year, Palmer sold the property to two yeomen from Orton, John Wilson of Cocklake, and William Atkinson of Rounthwaite - as executors of John Holme; by this agreement Holme had the use of the house for his life after which it was to go to his son John, or if the latter died without leaving any children to his daughters Jane and Mary. These children, however were his "natural offspring" by one Emma Sisson, single woman, who was to receive the rents of the house after John the elder's death "Provided she continues unmarried and does not cohabit with or bear any child or children to any man or otherwise misconduct herself".
This was the stuff of scandal and I was eager to know more.
The present owner of No. 2, The Derry, Milthrop, Sedbergh was welcoming and informative. He lives in what was, together with no 1, the original Derry Hall. No. 3 and No 4 were built by John’s son, John, and the whole split into four cottages. He had some impressive old documents connected to the property, a will dated 1688, leases, mortgages, bonds. But it was not until August 13/14 1822 that John Holme’s name appeared in a Lease and Release
Lease and Release dated 13th/14th August 1822
William Palmer of Thorns Hall, Sedbergh, Gent.
John Holme of Derry, Sedbergh, yeoman
John Wilson of Cocklane in Orton, and William Atkinson of Rounthwaite yeoman
Consideration: £150
Premises: dwelling house called Derry at Derry Lane End with garden and paddock, now in the tenure of John Holme.
Conditions: In trust for John Holme during his lifetime and after his death all rents to be paid to Emma Sisson of Derry, single woman “provided she continues unmarried and does not cohabit with or bear any child or children to any man or otherwise misconduct herself” and after her death for John Holme above mentioned “born on the body of the said Emma Sisson, an infant of the age of fourteen;”
If he dies before the age of twenty one without leaving lawful issue the premises to go to Jane and Mary Holme the natural daughters of the said John Holme, born to Emma Sisson, as tenants in common.
Signed: John Holme, Thomas Palmer.
Witnesses: William Preston. Roger Jackson.
Less than a year after this document was signed Emma Sisson had left John Holme and married John Spedding, widower on July 8th 1823. (No M117 Sedbergh Register of Marriages.) No further information concerning this family appears in the Sedbergh Registers apart from the burial of John Sisson aged 71 on November 15th 1852, who might be connected to Emma. I have checked the Orton baptismal registers for Emma Sisson between 1770 and 1796 with no result.
I have a rough note from a transcript of the Orton Registers by J.T. Relph.
24/02/1807 Mary d Sisson b in Scotland m Emma Sisson
25/11/1807 John s J(?) Holme Highcocklake occ m. Emma Sisson.
This note might indicate that Emma Sisson came from Scotland, as Mary was born there. On the other hand there were families of Sissons living in Orton, in fact John Holme’s niece Jane had married an Orton Farmer, William Sisson.
There is a short record in the Westmorland Quarter Session Records WQ/SR 607
39. Recognizance 9th April 1806 Edward Sisson of Orton, carrier, and John Sisson of same, farmer and carrier, for Edward Sisson to appear and keep the peace towards John Holme of Orton. John Holme would have been over 60 years old in 1806. There is nothing further in the Quarter Sessions Records, perhaps a local newspaper carried a report.
John Holme, John’s son inherited the property at Milthrop and extended it. There are three sets of Lease and Release Documents dated 1835, 1836 and 1837. In the first John is described as a yeoman, in the last, as a labourer in Liverpool.
I was given copies of these documents.
There is obviously scope for more research into this side of the family.
THOMAS HOLME
THOMAS HOLME John and Elizabeth’s eldest son, named, as was usual, after his grandfather, married Isabel Scaife. They had 8 children altogether. He had to wait for his inheritance. He is described in the Orton Register of Births as a husbandman, first at Barough, (1801) then Gaisgill Outgang (1803) then Gelstone (1806-1811). It was not until 1819 when his twin daughters, Hannah and Isabella were born that he is described as a yeoman of High Cocklake. This may have been a property belonging to his father who, at the baptism of his son John in 1807, was described as “of Highcocklake.”
I do not know very much more about the members of this family. Two of their sons, John and William died in infancy. One of the twins, Isabella died, aged three, in 1822. Thomas's son, also Thomas, married Mary and followed in the family farming tradition, his eldest son, also a Thomas, was born at High Cocklake in 1837. I think Isabel died at Blackpot, in 1835, aged 54, but I have found no record of Thomas's burial.
WILLIAM HOLME
WILLIAM HOLME, the second son, made the most advantageous marriage. He married his first cousin Mary Garnett. Her father was his mother's elder brother, William.
William Garnett had inherited Old Hall, which he called Petty Hall, and married Mary Powley. They had two daughters, Mary who married William Holme, and Agnes.who married The Revd. Thomas Moss who was Master at Orton Grammar School from 1810 - 1834 and then became Vicar of Ravenstonedale.
After his marriage to Mary in 1801, William Holme remained at home at Rawend for the first year or two, as was common practice in Westmorland. He was described as a husbandman when his first son John Garnett Holme was born in 1802. However by 1805 when Elizabeth was born he was living at Raisgill Hall and described as a yeoman. He was still there when his second son William was born in 1808, but by the time Mary was born in 1811 he was described as "of Orton, yeoman". His youngest daughter Agnes was born in 1814 at Orton. It is probable that by now he was running the farm attached to Old Hall. William Garnett would have been over 70. One senses that William was well liked and played an active role in parish life. Robert Milner, the vicar of Orton, named his son after him, William Holme Milner. However,like his grandfather Thomas, William was destined to die young. He died in 1821, aged 45.
WILLIAM HOLME'S WILL
In his will he appointed as Trustees, Executors and Guardians of his children, William Sisson, who was married to his first cousin Jane, and John Wilson of Cocklake who was also his father John’s executor. He may also have been connected to Robert Wilson, who was appointed overseer in his grandfather, Thomas Holme's will. He arranged for his Trustees to administer his freehold estate at Coatflat, using the rents for the maintenance and education of his children. When all the children reached the age of 21 the estate was to be sold and divided between his children. John Garnett Holme was to receive £100, his four daughters Elizabeth, Mary, Agnes and Isabella to share the residue. His wife Mary was only left the household furniture. William probably realised that her father William Garnett would provide for her. Isabella died in 1822, William's second son William had died in 1818 aged 10.
William also left instructions concerning his brother George's inheritance. It seems likely that their father, John, did not make a will but settled his affairs after his separation from Elizabeth. William's will reads thus:-"And whereas my father John Holme lately conveyed to me a customary tenement called Dotes, situate in the Township of Tebay for certain purposes, one of which was to raise for my brother George Holme the sum of two hundred pounds; ninety pounds whereof hath already been paid to him; now I do order and direct my said Trustees to pay the remaining sum of one hundred and ten pounds to my brother George Holme in case that sum shall not have been discharged at the time of my decease and in case the money arising from the sale of Dotes shall be then received by me, or shall afterwards come into the hands of my said Trustees." Later in the will he adds, "And I do order and direct that they my said Trustees shall not pay to my brother George Holme the remainder of the two hundred pounds before mentioned until after the decease of my father and that they deduct from the same the interest of that part of the principal which he has already received or may hereafter become due hereon, as my brother was not intended to receive the said two hundred pounds or have any benefit from it until after the death of my father."
In comparison with William's eldest son, John Garnett, George seems to have been treated generously, although he would have to wait another seven years before he was to receive the other part of his legacy.
All three of William Holme's surviving daughters married. Elizabeth the elder married twice, first to someone called Cowley, who died, then on the 28th February 1839 to Thomas Willan yeoman.
Mary Holme married Robert Taylor husbandman of Orton on the 23rd December 1841.
Agnes Holme married William Ruddick, yeoman of Turnband in the Parish of Crosby Ravensworth.
John Garnett Holme married Catherine Holme of Crosby Ravensworth on the 16th February 1837.Catherine was baptised on the 31st July 1808, so she was nearly 30 when they married. She was not a cousin, her family had long been important in Crosby Ravensworth. Her parents were Thomas and Catherine Holme of Barnskew. A census was taken on December 24th 1787, in Westmorland, it shows that Thomas's father, Mr. Henry Holme was then High Constable. Henry Holme and his wife Annas had had quite a large family but only two of them were shown on the census, Thomas (farmer) and his sister Sarah. Two servants were also shown, one was Catherine Wilkinson, who Thomas was to marry in 1793.
John Garnett Holme and Catherine lived with his mother Mary at Petty Hall Orton, he ran the farm. They had 6 children.
Mary bap. 25 Dec 1837
William bap. 5 Jul 1840
Thomas bap. 22 Jan 1843
Agnes bap. 20 Jun 1847
Catherine bap. 15 Jul 1849
Henry bap. 29 Aug 1852
The entry in the 1851 census showed Mary Holme still in control aged 75, "landed proprietor". John Garnett Holme farmer of 60 acres, and 5 children. (Henry is yet to be born). Mary Holme actually died in 1861, aged 85. At some point John Garnett Holme moved to Crosby Ravensworth. When his son William married Maria Ann Cowper in June 1867, he is shown as living at The Hall, Crosby Ravensworth. He died at Newby, Crosby Ravensworth in 1868. His wife Catherine died at Newby in 1882, William Garnett Holme died young in 1884 at Maulds Meaburn.He had 2 children called William Garnett Holme and Catherine Holme, William is shown as living at Bellfoot and working as a labourer. John Garnett's will might make interesting reading.
WILLIAM GARNETT'S WILL 1823.
Little more than a month after William Holme's death William Garnett was making his will, although he was not to die until the following year, 1822. As well as being Mary Holme's father he was also William Holme's uncle. William's death was not the only tragedy that he had suffered. His younger daughter Agnes Moss had also died, leaving a young daughter, Elizabeth. He was also concerned for his spinster sister Isabel Garnett, who was dependent upon him. So he put together a long, complicated will. Like William Holme he appointed Trustees to administer his estate, which was considerable. One of the Trustees was one of William Holme's cousins, the Revd. Thomas Holme, who was then Curate of Lowther. At that time he would have been about 28 years old. The other Trustee was William Burra, a yeoman, like William. One of his chief concerns was that Mary Holme would remarry and that her new husband might squander her fortune. To foil this everything was left to the Trustees and they were instructed "to pay and apply the remainder of such Rents Issues and Profits of the said premises into the Proper Hands of my said daughter Mary Holme for her own sole and separate use and benefit whether sole or covert exclusively of any husband she may hereafter marry and so as the same may not be subject or liable to the Power Control Debts or Engagements of any such husband and her receipt alone to be a sufficient discharge of the same." After Mary's death all her share was to go to her eldest son John Garnett Holme, there is no mention of her three daughters.
William's property consisted of Petty Hall, its various outbuildings, several closes and enclosures, the pond and green, also Charles Garth and Shaw Garth, Hall Croft, Cock Croft, Crook Garth, Crook Garth Nook, Cock Intacks with an allotment taken off the common adjoining, also an enclosure of ground in Kringlemire together with Martin Hill and Blind Beck mear'd mosses and also the Herbage and Eatage of a parcel of Peat Moss at the High End of Hare Mire.In addition there was more property earmarked for his grand daughter Elizabeth Moss, when she came of age. A Messuage and tenement consisting of a dwelling house shops peat house garden orchard and a piece or parcel of land in front of the said dwelling house upon which a blacksmith's shop formerly stood situate and being in Orton, several closes, enclosures, High and Low Mazingill, Church Mires, Lenkabanksfoot, Bracken Close, and all the enclosed and uninclosed allotments on Cattlehow and also the Turbary of a parcel of peat moss at the high end of Hare Mire. At first he wanted his grand daughter to wait until she was 25 to inherit, but in a codicil he changed it to 21.
GEORGE HOLME AND AGNES WARD. Great great grandparents
George was variously described as a joiner, carpenter, builder and husbandman. As the youngest son he was probably apprenticed by his father into joinery, and when his family had grown up it was to joinery that he returned
He married Agnes Ward in 1817. Perhaps it was then, or shortly afterwards, that he received the first £90 from his father's estate.
Agnes Ward's family moved to Townhead farm Orton shortly before she was born on February 19th 1796. She had two brothers, Anthony and James. Anthony became a clergyman. He was vicar of Eastrington, Yorkshire, and reputed by his family to have been The Earl of Mexborough’s chaplin. James was a painter’ He may even have painted Thomas Holme's family. Thomas left the family portraits in his will to Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme, who in turn left them to his grandson Robert Holme Allen, but sadly, they have been sold.For information concerning the Ward family see separate article.
Agnes' family originated in Crosby Ravensworth. They were farming at Oddendale when their son James was born on June 20th 1784. As farmers there their family probably went back until parish records began, and further. It is possible to trace them back through four clear generations of Thomas (b.1759), James (b.1727), Thomas (b.1685), James (d.1728). There were inaccuracies in the registers when James was likely to have been born around 1660, it might be worth checking with Bishop' Transcripts. But there were three sons born to John Ward in the 17th Century, William, (b.1619), Nicholas (b.1639), and Anthony (b.1641). It might be possible to unravel them, particularly if there were any wills. Agnes's mother was Elizabeth Furness, also of Oddendale, and with the aid of wills it has been possible to trace that family back to the early 17th Century.
George and Agnes had ten children.
Thomas bap.24th August 1817
William bap.27th March 1819
Elizabeth bap.5th November 1820
James bap..30th June 1822
Anthony bap.20th July 1823
George Ward bap.11th August 1825
Christopher bap. 15th May 1828
Mary bap.19th March 1829
Edward bap.7th April 1832
Agnes bap.17th September 1835.
James died at three weeks. There is no further record of Anthony. Agnes died in January 1837 aged 16 months. Edward died, aged 11, in October 1843.
The entries in the parish register of baptisms also tell us how George made a living during this period. From 1817 until 1825 he was either described as a carpenter or joiner. At some point between 1823 and 1825 he moved from Orton to Tebay. In 1828, when Christopher was born he is described as a husbandman of Tebay. His father John died in 1828, so he would have received the further £110 that his father, through his brother William, had arranged for him. He was eventually described as "of Dyke."(Dyke Farm is described elsewhere in "Holme Farms"). As he was described as a husbandman, rather than a yeoman, he probably rented it, but he would have had to buy stock and implements.
Dyke Farm - Tebay
Perhaps Agnes was worn out with child bearing, on May 12th 1838 she died, aged 42. It must have been a very difficult time for George. His eldest son Thomas was not yet twenty and Mary, the youngest, only eight. I notice that from this time another family appeared at Dyke farm for a time, that of William Fallowfield Joel, husbandman. Perhaps George returned to his old trade of joinery, and brought someone else in to run the farm. There are two buildings at Dyke Farm today, the farmhouse and the shepherd's cottage, William Fallowfield Joel may have lived there for a time. However in the 1841 Census the 42nd entry for Tebay, (still part of the parish of Orton) shows George Holme, aged 50, farmer of Dyke and six children including Edward who died two years later. Another baby came to take his place, however, his eldest daughter Elizabeth had an illegitimate son, who she called Edward, he was baptised on March 30th 1845.
Unfortunately there are no surviving letters or diaries to give us any idea of George's character or personality. He must have had great respect for education, and possibly he was influenced by his brother in law, the Revd Anthony Ward, and his first cousins, Thomas and James Holme, the clergymen sons of his uncle Thomas. George’s eldest son Thomas , who is my great grandfather, attended Orton Grammar School, it was only a small place, but it taught classics, Thomas was then reputed to have taught at Ravenstonedale Grammar School and then became Headmaster of Alston Grammar School from 1847-48. From there he went to Durham to study for the priesthood. His younger brother George Ward followed a similar route. The academically gifted Christopher attended Sedbergh School from 1845-47 before gaining a first class degree in classics. All this must have cost money, in an age when there were no grants, as they are known today.
The 1851 census showed a surprising development. George Holme, master carpenter, was living on his own in Ravenstonedale. (No.69 Town). He was described as a widower, aged 61. His second son William, aged 31, was farming at Little Asby. So far he had not married, but with him was Elizabeth, aged 29, described as housekeeper, her little son Edward aged 6, and younger sister Mary aged 21. Perhaps George decided to retire from family life having ensured a decent future for all his children. He actually died at Orton. He was buried on 15th February 1862, aged 73. This was virtually the end of this family's long connection with Orton. As far as I am aware there is no one with the surname of Holme living there today. So far as I can discover George left no will, but he may have ordered his affairs a year or two before his death. In 1860 his eldest son, the Revd. Thomas Holme moved to Saddleworth where his lifestyle appeared to improve dramatically.
WILLIAM HOLME
William Holme married Mary Holme at Crosby Ravensworth in October 1854. Mary was also the daughter of a William Holme, farmer. So her name stayed the same. I do not think that they were related. They continued to live at Asby. Their first child was Isabella, who was baptised at Crosby Ravensworth in March 1855. They called their first son George Ward Holme, after his uncle, he was born on 1st November 1857 but he died in 1859. Their second son James Ward Holme was baptised at Crosby Garrett on June 23rd 1861. At some point they moved back to Crosby Ravensworth where their two younger children were born, Christopher, baptised July 1862 and William Thomas April 1866. William Thomas died 16 days later, sadly, so did his mother Mary, she was aged only 39. I know very little more about this branch of the family. James Ward Holme gravitated to Lancashire, where he worked as a cotton operative. He died in 1943 at his son-in-law's home, the Vicarage, Preesall, Knott End - on - Sea, Lancs.
I have not yet checked the 1861, 1871 or 1881 censuses which might give information concerning Mary and Elizabeth Holme. They are not in the Crosby Ravensworth Register of Marriages.
GEORGE WARD HOLME
George Ward Holme's education and clerical career are described in detail under "Holme Clergymen". Like his brothers he married fairly late, in 1860 at Gateshead, to Jane Ann Eltringham. Two sons also became clergymen, Arthur Eltringham Holme and Walter Ernest Holme. He also had a daughter Laura Annie. He died in 1903,aged 78, but he wrote his will in 1898. He owned the living of Corsenside in Northumberland and left it to his younger son, Walter Ernest. Most of what he had to leave was in railway shares or the building society, but his personal possessions included cattle, horses, carts, harness as well as books and sermons, giving an impression of a farmer priest, true to his roots in Orton Westmorland.
The careers of Arthur Eltringham Holme and Walter Ernest Holme are entered under "Holme Clergymen". I know very little more about them except that Arthur was a widower when he appeared in the 1991 census staying with his uncle Christopher at Catthorpe. They probably both left wills and there is likely to have been an obituary in the local papers. Also monumental inscriptions if they were buried at their last parish.
CHRISTOPHER HOLME
Christopher Holme was the most brilliant member of the family. He too was slow to marry." Holme Clergymen" gives details of his career. He was Rector of Catthorpe for nearly 20 years, it is a small place, so his duties would not have been too onerous. Today Catthorpe is to be found just before the A14 joins the M1 and M6 motorways, I have not yet visited it. The 1891 census gives a lot of information about Christopher's family. It shows that his wife, Constance was 20 years younger and could only have been 18 or 19 years old when they married. She was born at Market Drayton in Shropshire.
Their children were;-
Agnes Mary - dau - S -23 - living at home born Greywell Hants
Frances Ellen dau -S - 20 - living at home born Greywell Hants
George Edward son S - 18 - living at home born Greywell Hants
Edith Annie dau S - 16 - living at home born Greywell Hants
Hugh Basil son S - 13 - living at home born Catthorpe Leic
Arthur Eltringham Holme Neph. Widower 29 Curate of Alton Staffs.
Paul Suchsinger S. 21 Pupil Born Rio Grande Brazil.
In addition there were three servants, a general domestic cook, a housemaid and a manservant, so they must have lived in some style.It seems possible that the Rev. Christopher was teaching his children at home.
He died on December 5th 1895 aged 67 at Ashley Cottage Mortlake in Surrey.
His son Hugh Basil Holme had a very distinguished career. He was born on February 18th in 1878, educated at Rugby School. He matriculated at Durham College of Science Newcastle in 1897, BA 1900. Entered I.C.S. 1902. Served in Burma as Assistant Commissioner, Assistant Secretary to Government 1905. Secretary to Financial Commissioner 1909. In Department of Revenue and Agriculture Government of India 1910 - 1913, Deputy Commissioner 1916 - 17, Served in the Great War 1914 - 19 (2nd Lieut Indian Army, attached 1st Battalian, 10th Gurkha Rifles, 1917; Captain and Adjt 2/70th Burma Rifles 1918. ) Director of Industries, Burma December 1920. Officiating Commissioner May - November 1924, and May 1925 - 7. Retired January 1928. Of the Red Cottage, Penn Bucks 1n 1936. (Rugby School Registers, I.C.S. Lists, Who's Who in Bucks.) Source Venn's Cambridge Alumni.
George Edward Holme, Christopher's elder son also went to Cambridge, his entry in Venn's Alumni reads;- Adm. Pens. at Selwyn H., Oct 1, 1891. B. Sept. 21, 1872. Matric Michs. 1891; B.A. 1894; M.A. 1900. Of Mount Pleasant School Southbourne, Hants. Died Jan. 31, 1943 at Penn Bucks. (The Times Feb 2nd 1943.) So far I have not yet looked up his obituary in The Times.
The Revd. Christopher Holme's will is short and simple. His wife Constance and son George Edward Holme were the Trustees. After leaving £500 to his wife, the rest was to be shared between his children, George Edward, Agnes Mary, Francis Ellen and Edith Annie. There is no mention of his youngest son Hugh Basil, which is strange, as he had yet to complete his education. His nephew George Frederick Holme, son of Thomas, was one of the witnesses.
THOMAS HOLME Great grandfather.
Thomas Holme gained his licentiate in Theology from Durham
University in 1849. He was made Deacon on the 16th December 1849 and Priest on the 21st September 1850. Both by the Bishop of Durham.
He married Martha Metcalfe on January 25th 1847 at St. Oswald's Church Ravenstonedale, she was under 21, the daughter of Edward Metcalfe who farmed at Ashfield in Ravenstonedale. The story of the Metcalfe family is told elsewhere but nothing is yet known about them until Anthony Metcalfe’s birth in Ravenstonedale in 1733 and his marriage to Mary Fothergill. His eldest son Fothergill died, aged 25. His second son James went mysteriously to Liverpool. His third son Anthony remained in Ravenstonedale, grew prosperous and his descendants are still there. Edward was the son of James. He became a bookseller in Liverpool, eloped with Martha Kaye Gorst and settled in Walton, which is a district of Liverpool. There his elder children were born, including Martha. At some point he and his wife Martha decided to return to his roots in Ravenstonedale.
Thomas and Martha began their married life in a farmhouse at Alston, Cumberland, called Mark Close, here they had their eldest daughter Agnes Ward, she was baptised on the 21st March 1848. The Vicar of Alston, Hugh Salvin probably influenced Thomas in his decision to become a priest and helped him to prepare for it.He may also have engineered Thomas's appointment as Assistant Curate of Nenthead, which is a neighbouring parish to Alston, which he held from 1849 until 1858. Unfortunately Hugh Salvin died a few years after Thomas Holme went to Nenthead. Thomas was made Perpetual Curate of Nenthead from 18th June 1858 until 1860. He was only the second incumbent, the church of Saint John the Evangelist had been built by the London Lead Company to minister to the needs of the lead miners who formed the bulk of the community. Thomas and Martha lived in the vicarage just below the church, which is set on nearly the highest point of this cold, windy place. Thomas ran a little school from home, he probably did not have too many pupils as the London Lead Company, a socially conscious Quaker organization had already built a school for the village children. He probably needed the money however, his stipend could have been as low as £80 a year. Thomas and Martha had three more children whilst they were living at Nenthead. James Edward who was born in 1852, Hugh Salvin, born 1854 and George Frederick born 1860.
There is a gap in Thomas Holme's ministry from 1860 until 1870 Roy Huddleston's Card Index of Clergy and Others, states that he was Perpetual Curate of Saddleworth from 1864 - 66. but the Registrar for the Manchester Diocese has written to say that there is no record of him in the Dioscesan Directories until 1869 when he appears as Curate of Moorside, Oldham. He did do some locum work for the Vicar of St Chad's in 1864. It could be worth looking at the registers for neighbouring churches to see if he appears.
During his time at Saddleworth, which was then in Yorkshire and is now in Lancashire, he bought his "Estate" which is detailed in his will. He certainly lived for part of his time in Saddleworth at Clough House, 69, Clough Lane Grasscroft, Greenfield, although he did not own it. The Saddleworth Historical Society Bulletin gives a detailed description of Clough House, together with its owners. An 1876 Indenture mentions, "Clough House, late in the occupation of Rev. Thomas Holme"
Clough House.
The 1861 census gives more information as to where the family lived when they first came to Saddleworth. Thomas and Martha are shown living at Dobcross with their five elder children and a servant, Ann Walton, aged 18, who gave her place of birth as Cumberland. Thomas described himself as a “Clergyman without care of souls.” I thought that Thomas may have become disillusioned with life as a struggling parish priest with little status and decided to return to being a schoolmaster.It is possible that he was given money by his father, George, prior to his death in 1862. He was also the executor and beneficiary of his uncle, James Ward the painter. (More is written about James Ward in the Ward Area of this website.) The idea that he returned to school teaching is confirmed in St Chad’s baptismal register which records the baptism of my grandmother Kate Isabel Holme on December 8th 1867 when Thomas described himself again as a clergyman without care of souls and, as a schoolmaster. No baptism for Kate's sister, Thomasina Edith Holme, is recorded at St Chad’s although Thomas officiated on several occasions during 1864, the year when she was born.
A small booklet called “A History of Schools in Saddleworth” by Morgan Brierley located at Saddleworth Museum, provided disquieting information.
It appears that at some time towards the beginning of the 19th Century a Saddleworth cloth merchant called Ralph Hawkyard left money in his will for a school to be built for the benefit of the children of the poor of Saddleworth. The school was built within half a mile of Tamewater, which is in Dobcross. A dwelling house for the schoolmaster was also provided with about 3 acres of land, rentfree. In 1828 the Charity Commissioners reported that no trustees had ever been appointed and that the Founders grandson, James Harrop had gone bankrupt in 1826. The school then had a precarious existence until 1855 when it was resuscitated and rebuilt by William Whitehead and others.
Morgan Brierley then wrote, “Mr. Derwent was appointed the first master and was succeeded by Mr Howson, both good men, but the latter let the Rev. Mr. Holme into partnership, and he did with him, as he has done with others – took the money and let the others pay.
I think that there is no question that this refers to Rev Thomas Holme, and the remark was made with hindsight and some bitterness. Thomas Holme could not have been at the school for very long as we are told that a poet called Mr. Bissel was the next appointment, but he left in 1863.
Clearly more research will have to be done. I believe that a school was opened in 1863 for 49 pupils by Church Road, near the hamlet of Saddleworth Fold. The building is still there. I also understand that a school preceded the building of St Thomas’ School in Moorside, Oldham.
The 1881 Census
The 1881 census records that two of Thomas Holme’s children Robert, aged 14 and Kate aged 13 were born at Greenfield, but Edith, though similarly listed as from Yorkshire, is from Firlane, which I thought was a road, also spelt Fur Lane. Also in the Record of St Thomas' Church 1872 - 1972 (O.L.S.L.) on Page 55 it states "After Mr. Starkey left there was no one in charge of the District, but the Reverend Thomas Holme came over from Greenfield on Sundays to take duty."
There is also a very brief mention of Thomas Holme, (no Rev,) in Worrall's Directory of Saddleworth and Mossley for the year 1871," Thomas Holme, Grasscroft Greenfield". Grasscroft is in the Parish of Christchurch, Friezland. Canon Airne, a local historian, made inquiries at Friezland but found no reference to Thomas Holme. It might be worthwhile consulting the Parish registers none the less.
VICAR OF MOORSIDE FROM 29TH NOVEMBER 1870 UNTIL 13TH APRIL 1890
In the Record of Saint Thomas' Church it goes on "On 29th November 1870 under the Peel Act the new parish of Saint Thomas Moorside was constituted by an order of council and Mr. Holme became, at the age of 57, the first vicar of Moorside. It then goes on to say that" there are no records of his appointments before he came to Moorside when the parish population was 2,149. Thomas Holme was vicar for 17 years." On the 1871 census he was described as 50 years old, though actually he must have been 53. He was certainly vicar for 20 years. The record is sketchy in comparison with his successor, who must have been a popular priest as there is a memorial to him in the church, put up by his parishioners. There is no plaque in the church recording the name and date of each incumbent. The church was built by a local mill owning family, the Mellowdews, and the church is full of memorials to them.
Thomas Holme's Crockford entry is brief, that for 1890 only mentions his Durham Licentiate and Moorside.
Reverend Thomas Holme
Martha Holme nee Metcalfe
From 1871 the family lived at The Vicarage, Northgate Lane, which is the one after no. 11.
THE OLDHAM CHRONICLE probably contains several references to him and would repay study, we did come across one account where he took some ladies to the school and distributed a pound of sweets to the children
1881 CENSUS Oldham above town.
Enumeration District 35 showed that the Enumerator was Thomas Holme.
The Revd. Thomas Holme and his son George were both subscribers to a small green book, published in 1877 by the Rev. W. Nicholls entitled"The History and Traditions of Ravenstonedale," this book has provided some useful information particularly about the Metcalfe families. There is an anecdote on Page 88 told by the Rev. Thomas Holme, concerning the reaction of one of the Ravenstone residents, Robert Noddle, when he saw a train for the first time.
DEATH
In the Record of Saint Thomas it says that at the end of his life he was allowed a curate. the Rev. Harry Higson, on grounds of his failing health. During his last year Mr Holme had been too ill to preach. He died at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning 13th April 1890 and was buried at Saint Chad's churchyard, Saddleworth.
Many of the Church of England Registers are held on microfilm at the Oldham Local Studies Library. Those for Saint Thomas show Baptisms 1861 - 1970. Marriages 1872 - 1915, Burials 1873 - 1948.
Entries by Thomas Holme become infrequent after 1887, though there is one for March 17th 1889 and a final entry on 9th May 1889.
His son George F. Holme conducted a marriage for him on April
23rd 1889.
THE OLDHAM CHRONICLE of Saturday April 19th 1890 Page 6
FUNERAL OF THE LATE VICAR OF MOORSIDE.-
The funeral of the late aged and much respected Vicar of Moorside took place on Thursday last. The first half of the office for the dead was said in the church in which the deceased had ministered for over 20 years. A numerous and sympathetic congregation crowded the church to pay their last tribute of respect to their departed vicar, amongst whom the children from the day school, in whom the late vicar took a kindly interest, formed not the least interesting feature. The mourners consisted of Mrs. Holme (accompanied by the Rev. G.F. Holme), The Misses Holme, The Rev R.W.M. Holme, the Rev. C. Holme (Rector of Catthorpe near Rugby), Mr. Ward Holme, Dr. Howard (Medical attendant of the deceased), the officers of the church ( Messrs. T. Mellodew, W. Mellowdew, H. Lees, W.T. Mitton, J.T. Wild), and others. Carriages were sent by Messrs J. & T. Mellodew. The coffin was carried into the chancel by Messrs. B. Hollroyde, J.S. Mallalieu, R. Buckley, E. Robinson, J. Smith and J. Swithenbank. The church was suitably draped in mourning by members of the congregation. A profusion of floral offerings from personal friends testified to the respect in which the deceased was held. Amongst others a large wreath was sent by the teachers and monitors of the Sunday School and one from the children of the infant day school. The service in the church, which was of a most impressive character, was conducted by the Rev. H. Higson (curate of the parish) assisted by the Rev. C.B. Pimblett (curate of St James' Oldham), the psalms and hymns being appropriately rendered by the choir, under the direction of Mr. W.T. Mitton. Mr. W. Mellodew presided at the organ, and played "The Dead March in Saul" as the mourners left the church. The internment took place at St. Chad's Saddleworth. The funeral arrangements
were satisfactorarily performed by Mr. Barlow of Oldham.
The family gravestone, which is in the form of a cross, is to be found in Saddleworth New Cemetery, by St Chad's Church. It is extremely difficult to find and is overgrown with weeds and brambles. It is close to the left hand wall, by the corner entrance steps, about 11 rows in. One of the faces of the plinth records the death, in India, of his eldest son, James Edward Holme.
Martha Holme survived her husband, she died on the 23rd May, 1897 at Grasscroft Clough. The cause of death was given as Umbilical Hernia Obstructed Shock, her daughter Kate Dunkerley was present at her death.
My husband and I had been told that there was a family tomb in Saddleworth new cemetery where several members of the family were buried, including a son, who was killed in India at Dum Duma. Our informant was my second cousin Mrs Maureen Walsh, nee Dunkerley, who had been taken to see it by her aunt Rebecca Dunkerley in about 1988. Unfortunately the churchyard is in a very overgrown state and though we searched for nearly three hours we failed to find it. Nor did we find the grave of my Grandfather Daniel Dunkerley, his wife Kate Isabel Holme and a child of Daniel who died on the 3rd December 1892. However in July 1995 Maureen and her daughter Audra visited the cemetery and found both graves. She describes it as being "very dark under a tree, near a wall". She did a rough sketch of the site which appears to be close to the far wall near an old tree stump opposite the steps which lead into the graveyard at the bottom end. The two graves are side by side, the one for my grandparents Kate Isabel and Daniel Dunkerley also includes their first child, Agnes Maud who died in infancy. The grave of my great grandparents is rather more elaborate, a plinth surmounted by a cuboid. As well as Thomas Holme and Martha there is a memorial to James Edward, their eldest son who died at Broach India April 21 1888 and was interred in the English Cemetery there aged 36. This is an interesting lead to this rather shadowy elder son. On the opposite side of the plinth there is a memorial to Thomas Edward Holme, grandson of Thomas Holme born 28th February 1890. "Went home January 7th 1893." Thomas Edward was born in Salford, where George Frederick was curate, so he is likely to be his son.
So far we have not discovered the link between Saddleworth and the Holme and Dunkerley families.
THOMAS HOLME'S WILL. This is interesting but poses several questions. In essence, apart from minor bequests to members of the family he leaves everything to his wife, Martha Holme, during her lifetime, it is then to be shared between his eldest daughter Agnes Fletcher and his three youngest unmarried daughters and his youngest son, Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme, (named after his uncle Robert Weston Metcalfe.) He specifically excludes his three eldest sons, having left fifty pounds to his eldest son James Edward, and nineteen guineas each to Hugh Salvin and George Frederick. Perhaps he had already made provision for them during his lifetime. According to the newspaper report only the Rev.George attended his funeral, James Edward Holme had already died in India, but Hugh Salvin was missing, unless the papers got it wrong. The bulk of his estate comprised;- "The whole of my landed estate at Grasscroft Clough in Greenfield, Saddleworth whether freehold or otherwise with the farm house farm buildings and all necessary out buildings and conveniences belonging to the said estate, together with the cottages erected upon the estate the field which I bought of the trustees at Grasscroft acting for the Late Revd. Mr. Taylor comprising three acres more or less being considered as part of my landed Estate named above....." So far I have been unable to find out the exact position of his Estate. It may well have been fairly heavily mortgaged as the gross value of his estate is placed at £3482.14.11 but the net value of his entire estate as only £1155.10.4.The only other significant item was the bequest to his son Robert "The family portraits which I purchased from my nephew Edward Holme to be kept by him as heirlooms after the decease of my wife Martha Holme..." I dont yet know who Edward was. Thomas Holme had nine brothers and sisters, one possibility is Edward Holme who was Elizabeth Holme's illegitimate son, born in 1845. The family portraits are featured in the will of Robert Weston Metcalfe dated 15th July 1932 (Probate was granted on the 1st April 1941.) "I give and bequeath after the decease of my wife Bessie Monks Holme to my daughter Norah Clare Allen in trust for my grandson Robert Holme Allen the ancestral oil paintings to be kept as heirlooms if the said grandson Robert Holme Allen has no desire to retain the ancestral oil paintings I direct that they be passed on to my nephew Robert Evelyn Holme Doctor of Medicine Brigg Lincolnshire or his heirs I also give and bequeath after the decease of my wife Bessie Monks Holme to my said daughter Norah Clare Allen the water colours"
.I had a difficult job tracing Robert Holme Allen. Eventually I wrote to the present Vicar of Weeton in the hope that there might be a parishioner who had maintained links with the family. After some time I heard from a lady who knew Gladys Parker, who, she said, was his grand daughter. I discovered that Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme had had two daughters, Gladys Bramall Ward Holme and Norah Clare Allen. For more information concerning this family see under Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme.
THOMAS HOLME'S FAMILY
Agnes Ward bap.21st March 1848 Alston in Cumberland
James Edward bap.11th June 1852. Born at Nenthead in Cumberland.
Hugh Salvin bap.19th April 1854 Born at Nenthead in Cumberland.
George Frederick bap. 8th April 1860. Born at Nenthead in Cumberland
Martha Thomasina Edith bap.1864. Born at Furlane Saddleworth Yorkshire.
Robert Weston Metcalfe bap.1867 Born at Greenfield Yorkshire
Kate Isabel bap.1868. Born at Greenfield, Yorkshire.
Helen Jane bap. 1872 Born in Oldham Lancashire
SAINT THOMAS, MOORSIDE, BURIAL REGISTER 1879.
N 79.
Agnes Evelyn Holme Vicarage March 18th 4 weeks Ceremony performed by Thos Holme Vicar. She was the daughter of Hugh Salvin Holme and his wife Louisa. Baptised at Moorside on March 9th 1879 by Thomas Holme. Hugh Salvin's occupation was given as Second Master, High School, Carlisle.
AGNES WARD HOLME
According to the marriage register of St Thomas Moorside Agnes married Lazarus Fletcher of 37, Bark Place, Bayswater on the 1st September 1880. She was 32. They were married by licence and it would be interesting to see if there was an account of it in one of the local papers. Three priests officiated, her father, Thomas Holme, her uncle Christopher Holme, Rector of Catthorpe, near Rugby and Henry Heppinstall, Vicar of Denshaw. The witnesses were Rodney Fletcher and Martha Thomasina Edith Holme. Lazarus Fletcher had a very distinguished career, he was later to become Sir Lazarus Fletcher, Director of the Natural History section of the British Museum from 1909 - 1919. Details of his career can be found in Who Was Who Vol 11.
They had one child Elizabeth Gregory Fletcher [Bessie] who did not marry. At some stage Sir Lazarus bought the White House at Ravenstonedale. Agnes died in 1815 and Sir Lazarus married her sister, usually known as Edith, who had been witness to his wedding. He died in 1921, he was born in Salford on the 3rd March 1854.We have a very good photograph of him which appears to be a photograph of a painting.
Sir Lazarus Fletcher
JAMES EDWARD HOLME
So far I know very little about James Edward, he did not go to university like his brothers. He was not included in the 1871 census, which suggests that he did not accompany his family to the vicarage, Moorside. The initials J.E.H. are scratched on a stone wall at Clough House, which could have been his. He was left £50 in his father's will, dated October 1887. He was buried at the English Cemetary in Broach, India on April 22nd 1888. His burial entry gives the cause of death as apoplexy, his occupation as Carding and Spinning Master Mofussil Cotton Manufacturing Co.
HUGH SALVIN HOLME
Born at Nenthead, Cumberland. Christened 19.4.54.
Matriculated Brasenose College, Oxford, 13th October 1873, aged 19. scholar 1873 - 77, B.A. M.A. 1880; F.G.S. Assistant Master and Acting Head Master of Carlisle Grammar School 1879 -83; Headmaster Carmarthen G.S. 1883 - 90; Principal of New College Leytonstone, 1890 -93, Senior Science Lecturer Essex County Council, Instructor to Kent and Oxfordshire County Councils 1893 - 1900. Called in OHMS for Boer War, Royal Laboratory 1900 - 07. Master at New College Herne Bay.
Source Card index of clergy and others etc. Durham. He was married to Louisa Jackson.
Hugh Salvin Holme.
GEORGE FREDERICK HOLME
George's clerical career is outlined in "Holme Clergymen". He married Mary Evelyn Hyndson in 1887 at Birkenhead. Their son Thomas Edward was born at Salford on February 28th 1890 but he died in 1893. They had two more sons Robert Evelyn, a Doctor of Medicine and Hugh Jameson a Priest. There was one daughter Helen Marjorie. George seems to have been the linchpin of the family. He was the one who supported his mother at Thomas Holme's funeral. He witnessed the wedding of Kate Isabel Holme to Daniel Dunkerley. He witnessed his Uncle Christopher's will and he was there at the marriage of his niece, Clare Bramall Holme to the Revd. Arthur Allen. In his will, value £7829.17s.9d dated 1941 he left everything to his wife during her lifetime, to be divided equally between his three children upon her death. The only items which he specifically mentions in his will are his pictures and large presentation clock which he leaves to Robert Evelyn. He also mentioned that his son Hugh Jameson received his share of household effects when they left Waltham. So far I have done no further research on this family but there are doubtless living relatives if I can find them. The career of Hugh Jameson is outlined in "Holme Clergymen"
Reverend George Frederick Holme
Evelyn Hyndson his wife
Helen Marjorie Holme their daughter
MARTHA THOMASINA EDITH HOLME
Born 1864 at Furlane Yorkshire, according to the 1881 census when she was 17 and shown as a scholar.
The 1891 census (Fiche 3552 2 P. 16. Between pages 86 and 87) shows her living at
104 Grasscroft Clough - Martha T. Holme Head. Spinster. aged 27. Born Saddleworth.
Martha Banks Servant S. 35.Lancs - Manchester.
It is a disappointing entry because it does not give a complete address. It seems to indicate that Edith, as she was generally known, may have been living on her own in one of the cottages on her Father's estate. I took this idea a little further and looked more closely at a detailed OS map which Canon Airne had given me and returned to the census. The schedule for this area comprises Wright Mill, Grove Cottage, Hollin Hall, Royal George,(mill) Charlotte, (mill) High Grove, Grasscroft, Grasscroft Clough, Nettle Hole, Critchley Cottage, Shaw Hall, Friezland Parsonage, Burn Bank, West Lodge, Armit Cottages, Oaklands, Westfield, Wharmton Tower, lodge and railway cottages. I thought that if I could relate Edith's house to its neighbours I might be able to pinpoint it more exactly. And so it proved. number 104 on the schedule is next door but one to Clough House, which has been split into two, furthermore, the property in between was occupied by a farmer, Robert Smith and his son. Was this Thomas Holme's estate? Right next door to Clough House which he is known to have rented. The Saddleworth Historical Society have produced a trail, number 5, Grasscroft, Which we have walked, Clough House is still there. One other thing dawned on me, whilst looking at the census, Grasscroft Cough is very small, no more than 16 houses, I had been thinking of a village, whereas the whole of Grasscroft is just a very small hamlet, which is really part of Greenfield. More research is needed.
I was surprised to find Edith on her own, I thought she would have been living with her mother and two unmarried sisters. In fact her mother and her sister Kate were living in London with Agnes and Lazarus Fletcher. Martha Holme died on the 23rd of May 1897 at Grasscroft Clough. Kate Holme gave it as her address when she was married in 1891. Did Edith have enough money from her inheritance to live on her own means, or was she forced to work?. There is no more known until 1916 when she married Sir Lazarus Fletcher. This raises more questions. Was it a longstanding romance or a comfortable convenience between old friends? Aunt Edith remained close to my father's family, the Dunkerleys, there are letters during the first world war, she visited my father in hospital after he had been wounded, she was then living in London. Sir Lazarus wrote quite a warm testimonial for my father when he applied to join the Royal Flying Corps. He died on the 6th January 1921 at Grange over Sands. In his will of 1919 Sir Lazarus left £5633. 5s. He left his household effects to his daughter, Elizabeth Gregory Fletcher, the rest, after £300 to his brother, to be shared between Bessie, as she was known, and Edith, I believe they lived together until the mid 1940's when they both died at about the same time. There is an old photograph of them sitting in a garden, they look about the same age, though Edith must have been considerably older. In his will Sir Lazarus directed that he should be buried in the plot at Ravenstonedale and they are all there, I have seen their gravestone. In her will I know that Edith left money to my father and probably Walter and Selwyn as well, though as yet I have not got a copy of the will.
ROBERT WESTON METCALFE HOLME.
His clerical career is outlined in" Holme Clergymen." During the First World War I am told that he served in the Lancashire Fusiliers as a chaplin. He married Bessie Monks Bramall of Temple Lodge, Swinton, Lancs. on 27th September 1890, at St. Peter's Church, Swinton, Lancs. She had been brought up with financial expectations which were not fully realised. According to my cousin Sandra She was extravagant, with a taste for fine clothes and antique furniture. They used to take expensive holidays in the Lake District.He was Vicar of Weeton for over 40 years, they had a rambling vicarage, full of antique furniture and a large garden. The Revd. Thomas used to sell some of the produce of the garden, taking it round in a horse and cart. An anecdote from "Yesteryear in Westby and Great Plumpton" by Margaret M. Yates reinforces the impression of meanness. "Alf (Alfred Carr) was also the gardener at Weeton Church and Vicarage. The Rev. Mr. Holmes, the vicar, had pressed him into this job and Alf got poorly paid for it. When he cleaned the brass candlesticks in the church and the vicar came in, he pretended he was hungry and started to eat the candles. Mr. Holmes thought he was mad and sacked him. Alf was well pleased to loose his job as he got so little for it." Alfred Carr lived in Gagger's Hall Cottage.
Thomas and Bessie had 2 daughters, Gladys Bramall Ward Holme was the eldest. According to her daughter Gladys Parker, and Sandra Allen she was a very pleasant intelligent person who had worked in a bank. However she fell in love with her father's gardener, Bill Parker, and became pregnant. Although they married there was a great deal of ill will and she was cut out of her father's will. After five years Bill Parker, who had been in bad health, died. She lived with her daughter in Marton, Blackpool until she was 91 years old, she died in 1983. Now her daughter, also named Gladys, lives there alone. I have not yet met her but we have corresponded and talked on the telephone. She gave me the address of Robert Holme Allen.
The younger daughter, Norah Clare Holme married the Revd. Arthur Robert Allen in 1924 when she was 28. Both his father and grandfather were clergymen. They had one child Robert Holme Allen born 15th September 1927 who grew up to be a surveyor and worked for the Clifton Family Estates. He was a very talented amateur photographer. When Arthur Allen died his wife Norah moved to Lytham - St. - Anne, near Blackpool. Robert Allen was 42 when he married Sandra Mary Massey on the 19th September 1969 at Blackpool Registry Office. Their only daughter Kathryn Nicola Allen was born on the 2nd October 1975. They lived all together until Robert's mother died on the 5th August 1983. Robert died on the 7th December 1991. Sandra and I have met and become friends, she has prepared a series of folders with details and photographs of her family and that of Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme.
Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme died on the 4th March 1941. His estate was valued at £289. 1s. 1p. His bequest to his Grandson of the family portraits has been described earlier. There are photographs of him in the family album which can be identified positively because they are the same as those supplied by Sandra Allen..
Reverend Robert Weston Metcalfe Holme
His wife Bessie Monks Bramall
Their eldest daughter Gladys Bramall Ward Holme
Their younger daughter Norah Clare Holme
ISABEL KATE HOLME. Born 1868 at Greenfield Yorkshire. There are some photographs of her, a Birthday Book, inscribed " Kate Holme from E.M.Day Sept 14th 1888." The Grandfather clock, inscribed "C. Pennington Kendal" almost certainly came into the family through her, there is also the head and antlers of a deer, facetiously known as Christopher, which hung above the fireplace in her home at Manser Road, Rainham, Essex as a repository for keys. There are also a couple of sketches which she did in the1880s.
She was 22 when her father died and the family would have been forced to vacate the vicarage to make way for the next incumbent. The 1901 census shows that she and her mother Martha Holme were living with Agnes and Lazarus Fletcher in London and she was shown to be working as a governess, possibly to the Fletchers young daughter Bessie. She married Daniel Dunkerley on August 27th 1891, her address was given as Grasscroft Clough, Greenfield, and her occupation was governess.I wish that I had asked my father about his family, I dont think he ever spoke about them, what little I know is from my mother and I dont think she liked her mother - in - law much. It is possible that she and Daniel lived in one of the estate cottages for a few years. In the burial register of St Chad's Saddleworth there is an entry ;-
202 3rd December 1892 Dunkerley child of Daniel Grandchild of Revd Thomas Holme. Grasscroft Clough.
I am also fairly sure that Grasscroft Clough Greenfield is given as my father's place of birth on his birth certificate which I cannot now find. Kate Dunkerley is described as the informant on her mother's death certificate, she was then living at Watersheddings, Oldham.
More information about Kate is held in the Dunkerley file
Kate Isabel Holme
Daniel Dunkerley
CHRIST CHURCH FRIEZLAND WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS DANIEL AND KATE WERE MARRIED
HELEN JANE HOLME
I know very little about Helen, the youngest surviving child. She was the only one to be born at Moorside Oldham, in 1872. It is probable that she remained in Greenfield She married the oddly named Blanksby Hewkin at Saddleworth in 1898. According to Diane Thetford he was a carpenter. I think she was the mother of Johnnie, who, I believe, was a young cousin of my father and wrote to him during the war, but I have not yet discovered his date of birth. I have a feeling that Doris, Walter Dunkerley's wife mentioned him being at their wedding. There is a photograph in the album of a young lad riding a donkey, led by Walter. Helen and her husband attended my grandmother, Kate Isabel's, funeral.
FARMS OCCUPIED BY THE HOLME FAMILY IN THE 17TH CENTURY
The Holme family lived for generations in that part of South Cumbria that used to be called Westmorland, in the large parish of Orton. This area is covered by the OS Pathfinder Map 607. The nearest village was Tebay. Today the area is dominated by the M6 motorway, but the narrow farm roads still survive, as do the farms themselves, although the actual buildings are more modern. After marriage young male members of the Holme family moved around fairly regularly, I would suppose occupying family farms as tenants. Eventually they settled down on one particular 'estate'. They called themselves 'statesmen' or 'estatesmen', and judging by their wills they made a comfortable living.
DYKE FARM was occupied by at least two members of the Holme family during different periods, it is to be found off a very narrow road signposted Roundthwaite which turns left from the A685.just before it crosses the M6. Dyke Farm is 2/3 miles beyond Roundthwaite. It is approached down a pine lined track; the farmhouse itself is small, painted cream, overlooking the bosomy hills called The Howgills. Jenny its present owner bought it some years ago. Her builder thought that it was about 150 years old, so it is probably not the original building. There are two outbuildings however which might be older. One is called the Shepherds Cottage; this is a two story building with a chimney and very small windows, which might have been a habitation. The other is a barn. Jenny describes herself as a hill farmer, specialising in rare breeds of sheep. Dyke, she says, means hedge, or boundary in Cumbria. Its first appearance is in the Will of Thomas Holme "of Dyke" yeoman. He was the son of Richard Holme of Haushouse, and baptised on 25th Aug 1667. He married Elizabeth Wharton on 10th June 1696; they do not appear to have had any children. Thomas was buried on 12th March 1707, but his will is dated 16th March 1705. He left all his estate to his wife Elizabeth, except for legacies to his three brothers Richard, Robert and John and the children of his fourth brother Anthony. This is an important will because it establishes the relationship with the other four brothers. Robert, John and Thomas are also mentioned as "beloved friends and brethren" in Anthony Holme's will of 1703.
In the 19th century Dyke farm was occupied by my great great grandfather George Holme and his family. George was a joiner rather than a farmer, but it was not uncommon in those days to combine both occupations and he had a large family, both to feed and to educate. For more about George Holme see the article about 19th Century Holmes
HAUSEHOUSE is no longer known by this name, for many years it has been called Low Borrowbridge. In the mid 17th century it was farmed by Thomas Holme, followed by his presumed son Richard Holme. For a detailed description of this family see the article in The 17th Century Holme Family.
Once the farm must have been most beautifully situated in the valley of the River Lune, today it is dominated by the viaduct of the M6. It is also extremely difficult to find. The neat front of the farmhouse looks as if it probably dates from the last century although the stonework of the rear of the dwelling looks older. The large barn across the road looks much older. On the ground floor there are three separate doorways, interspersed with four sash windows. There is a wide stairway leading up to an upper floor where there are lancet windows and above them small square openings. Beside the stairway the building juts out to form an L shape. Unfortunately I know nothing about Cumbrian vernacular architecture and although I made enquiries at Kendal Record Office they were unable to help as no recent surveys appear to have been done. There are the remains of a Roman Fort close by.
FLOAKBRIDGE is still there today, spelt Flakebridge, it is off the A685, between Orton and Ravenstonedale, beyond Kelleth and between Cotegill and Bowderdale. In the late 17th century it was occupied by Anthony Holme and his family. Anthony was buried on 3rd April 1703. He left a will which proved that he was one of the five Holme brothers, Anthony, Thomas, Richard, Robert and John. I have not seen this farm.
GOATGILL Robert of Goatgill was the other brother mentioned in Thomas ' (1708) and Anthony Holme’s (1703) will. Today it appears to be spelt Cotegill. On the modern Ordinance Survey map there are 3 dwellings and this is how it may have been in the 17th Century. A Robert Holme had two sons there, Robert 1677 and John 1681, (died in infancy.) John Holme had a son Edmund, baptised 1691. Thomas Holme of Goatgill had two daughters there Elizabeth (1701) and Margarett (1705). But Robert Holme who was the presumed son of Richard Holme, is likely to be the one who married Isabel Branthwaite on 23rd June 1705, thus making him more of a contempory with Thomas and Anthony, and the father of Robert (1706) Michael (1708) and Elizabeth (1713).
LOW CARLINGILL was the home of the fourth brother John. When he made his will in 1711, he did not describe himself as a yeoman. He had previously lived in the small hamlet of ROUNDTHWAITE where his son Thomas was born in 1695. Low Carlingill is in the southernmost extremity of the parish of Orton near a bridge over the River Lune. It can be reached by the farm road which passes Low Borrowbridge. Low Carlingill is set on the border between Westmorland and Yorkshire. The farm road follows the river Lune. On the OS Pathfinder map 617 it shows that this is a Roman Road
which joins the A684 near Sedbergh. The last time we visited Low Carlingill some years ago it was inhabited but looked in a rather dilapidated state. It has a massive barn, which looks very old.
GAISGILL RAWEND OR ROWEND.
Today this farm is spelt Rowend. It is situated on the side road which runs parallel to the main road joining Tebay and Ravenstonedale. When we visited some years ago the farmhouse was being renovated. It was first occupied by Thomas Holme 1668 - 1728. He was originallly born at Langdale, but in his early years of marriage he followed the family pattern and variously lived at Goatgill and Orton before settling at Gaisgill Rawend in 1711. Although he had sons it was my great great great grandfather Thomas Holme, who was his son in law, who succeeded him at Rawend. Thomas was followed by his eldest son John Holme who lived there respectably until his affair with Emma Sisson. For more details see 18th century Holmes.
THE HOLMES OF ORTON - A CLERICAL FAMILY
PART ONE
Most places have some claim to fame; Orton in Westmorland is famous for its clergymen. George Whitehead, one of the Quaker founders was born there. Dr. Richard Burn, Chancellor of the Diocese and historian of Westmorland was vicar there from 1742 - 1785. Stephen Brunskill the Methodist preacher also had his origins in Orton.
Orton is a large parish territorially, consisting of scattered farms and small hamlets. There have been up to five schools serving this scattered community. Sometimes the schoolmaster has had to cope single-handedly with up to 120 pupils. Towards the end of the 18th Century and the beginning of the 19th century at Orton School there were two particularly gifted teachers, John Robinson and the Revd. Thomas Moss. They taught classics and must have possessed the ability to inspire their pupils to such an extent that Orton gained a reputation for producing Church of England clergymen.
When I started my research I knew that my great grandfather THOMAS HOLME had been a parson. He was born in Orton in 1817, the eldest son of Agnes and George Holme. George a joiner and carpenter, turned farmer and builder, was a younger son of yeoman stock, he was my great great grandfather.
Thomas Holme started his career as a schoolmaster; he was Master of Ravenstonedale Grammar School then Headmaster of Alston Grammar School where, under the influence of the vicar Hugh Salvin, he began his preparations for the ministry. By now he was over 30 and married to Martha Metcalfe of Ravenstonedale. There were no grants in those days so he must have combined teaching with study, took the exams necessary to gain his licentiate, and was ordained deacon and priest,by Bishop Maltby of Durham.
His first appointment was as Curate of Nenthead, "The Highest Church in England", it is called, not because of the Anglo - Catholic leanings of its clergy, but because of its lofty position. The Rev. Thomas Holme ministered to the lead miners who made up the bulk of the community. A hard first posting I should have thought, isolated, cold, lacking that enviable status which could sometimes elevate a country parson into the realms of the gentry. His mentor Hugh Salvin died soon after he was appointed and he eked out his stipend by starting a little school in the vicarage. There he stayed for ten years, the last two years he was promoted to perpetual curate.
In 1860 he left Nenthead and moved his family to Grasscroft Clough in Saddleworth, Yorkshire. His reasons for doing this remain unknown. Thomas abandoned the ministry for ten mysterious years. At some point he bought a farm, which he called "his estate", as Westmorland farmers did. Twice between 1861 and 1870 he described himself as 'minister without care of souls and a schoolmaster' Had he come into money? It is possible that his father, George Holme arranged his affairs before his death, without leaving a will. He certainly benefited from the wills of his mother's brothers James Ward the painter and Rev Anthony Ward, neither of whom had children of their own.
Three of Thomas's four sons went to Oxford, two in their turn became clergymen.
GEORGE FREDERICK HOLME was rector of Penshaw in Durham for thirty years
between 1899 and 1929. His last parish was at Waltham,Lincs. He retired, aged eighty,
and lived on at Brigg Lincs until his death in 1946 aged eighty six. One of his sons also
became a priest, Hugh Jameson Holme. He was Rector of Saleby with Thoresthorpe and
Beesby in the Diocese of Lincoln in 1966
ROBERT WESTON METCALFE HOLME was Thomas Holme’s youngest son. He was
named after his uncle who was vicar of Ravenstonedale, Westmorland. Robert Holme
was ordained by the Bishop of Manchester and was Vicar of Weeton for nearly fifty
years, from 1894 until 1941.
GEORGE WARD HOLME who was Rev. Thomas Holme’s brother was born in 1825. He followed a similar route to the priesthood. His last appointment was as Rector of Corsenside near West Woodburn north of Hexham in Northumberland from 1878 - 1892. He could well have been described as a farmer priest. In his will he left not only his books and sermons and normal personal effects but also his cattle, horses, carts and harness.
Both of George Ward Holme's sons became priests. The younger, WALTER ERNEST HOLME, studied for his B.A. at Durham, like his father. But he broke the family mould. After spending ten years as Vicar of Corsenside, which living his father left to him, he moved down South, where he remained. He became Rector of Holford with Dodington in the Diocese of Bath and Wells, from 1913 - 1943. The last I know of him is that he was living in retirement in Taunton.
George Ward's elder son, the Revd ARTHUR ELTRINGHAM HOLME, held a long string of curacies. It is very tempting to attribute reasons for his inability to stay in one place for long. He had lost his wife after only a few years of marriage. Perhaps he was unable to settle anywhere because of this. He started at Hetton le Hole, North of Durham in 1886. After a couple of years there he spent four years in Alton, Staffordshire, then two years at Rowley Regis near West Bromich. He then moved further South to Brightstone on the Isle of Wight and managed to stay there just one year. Then he spent two years in Hertford, another year at Holbeach in Lincolnshire. From there he moved down to St Faith's in Wandsworth, but not for long. After a year there he moved to Eakring which is South of Ollerton in Nottinghamshire where he managed to stay for four years. By this time it was 1903 and he moved to Wath on Dearne with Adwick on Dearne in South Yorkshire until 1908. Then it was off to Hull for a couple of years until 1910. After that he had a complete change of scene and moved to Holy Trinity, Maidstone for three years. His last curacy was at St. Saviour's in Croydon which lasted eight years from 1913 until 1921. He was really "The Perpetual Curate" having had 12 curacies in over thirty years. However there was to be a happy ending, he finished his days as Vicar of the beautiful parish of Muker. I should like to know more about him, I am sure he was a Character.
Thomas and George Ward Holme had a younger brother who was, perhaps, more gifted than they. CHRISTOPHER HOLME was born in 1828. He was a Van Mildert Scholar and gained first class BA and MA in classics. He was a Fellow of Durham University from 1852-1876 and although ordained priest in 1855 he did not take a curacy until 1866, when he became curate of Greywell in Hants. He managed to combine this duty with his fellowship in Durham. In 1876 he became Rector of Catthorpe near Rugby. He was also an Assistant Master in Kensington Grammar School, Classical Master at St. Peter's Eaton Square and Classical Examiner to the Schoolmaster's Institute, all of which allowed him to live in some style. In 1891 the census return showed that there were three servants looking after the family, a cook, a housemaid and a manservant.
So three country brothers followed the same route but finished up in three widely different situations. Thomas in his industrial parish of 2,149 people, who mostly worked in the cotton mills of Oldham, net income £150 per annum. George up in the wilds of Northumberland, a scattered population of 681 souls and a net income of £215 per annum. Christopher in a rural parish with a tiny population of 137 souls and a net income of £234 per annum, plus the lucrative earnings from his fashionable teaching posts.
Sadly George’s wife Agnes did not live long enough to see any of this happen. George, who died in 1862, saw the start of it. They would both have been very proud to have known that three of their sons, four of their grandsons and one great grandson became clergymen.
PART TWO.
Incredibly another branch of this same family produced even more priests. George Holme's Uncle, Thomas Holme, was a mercer in Orton; he too was a younger son. In 1785 Thomas married Ellen Redman, whose father James was the schoolmaster at Orton, and parish clerk. Two of her brothers were priests, John Redman was curate of Orton at the time of her marriage and soon became parish priest there. Their brother Thomas Redman was Vicar of Kirkharle in Northumberland, he died there aged 94.
Three of Thomas and Ellen's five children survived into adulthood. Jane, their daughter married a farmer, William Sisson. Four of their sons became clergymen.
MICHAEL SISSON the eldest spent his entire ministry in Lincolnshire, he was, for many years Vicar of Weston Hills near Spalding. His son MICHAEL JOSEPH SISSON followed in his footsteps and was ordained in 1875. He, however, made a career as a prison chaplin, first in Spalding, later in Cambridge, then Ipswich, and finally Birmingham. He retired in 1900 but continued to live in Brighton for over 30 years more.
Another son JOHN SEPTIMUS SISSON, who was born in Orton in 1822, and ordained in 1848, became Vicar of Orton in 1849. It was his first appointment. He won a closely run poll for the candidature which was held by the landowners of Orton, who have held the advowson since the late 16th century.
A third son WILLIAM SISSON was Vicar of Slaley near Hexham for over 50 years. He was author of a devotional book called "A Farewell Sermon", written, not at the end of his career, but at the beginning, in 1841.
The youngest son REDMAN SISSON became Rector of Corsenside, Northumberland, where he was to be followed by his second cousin, George Ward Holme.
Thomas Holme's elder son was also called Thomas. Here we come to one of the problems in researching this particular family; the eldest son was nearly always called Thomas. In this instance it was Thomas of Orton, mercer. THOMAS HOLME was born in 1793 and ordained in 1817. He was headmaster of Kirkby Ravensworth grammar school for twenty years and became Vicar of East Cowton near Northallerton until his death in 1872.
JAMES HOLME was Thomas the mercer's younger son. A Cambridge graduate, he was ordained in 1826 and served first at St. Mary's Harrogate, then at Kirk Leatham in Yorkshire. He was the author of several books of devotional poetry, and, with his brother Thomas, wrote "Hymns and Sacred Poetry", which was published in 1861. His second wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Jeremiah Rhodes the author of "Psalms and Hymns", amongst other works.
Both Thomas and James had sons who entered the Ministry. THOMAS REDMAYNE HOLME gained his B.A. and M.A. at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He was, before his ordination in 1853, an instructor in the navy. He continued as chaplain on H.M.S. President, 1852-6, H.M.S. Victory, 1856-61, H.M.S. Narcissus, 1861-65, H.M.S. Wellesley, 1865, and H.M.S. Grange, 1865-66. After his retirement he became Vicar of St James Church, Whitehaven, until 1871. He returned to the family roots at the end of his life and was Rector of Asby, near Orton, Westmorland, where he died in 1877. His widow, Mary, died whilst staying with her brother - in - law Edward Holme at Orton Vicarage in 1884. The Holme family bought the brass lectern, which is still in the church, in her memory.
ROBERT HOLME, Thomas's brother, also went to Cambridge and gained his B.A. as 12th wrangler, that is, he gained a first class degree in the mathematical tripos. He was ordained by the Bishop of London, in 1853, the same year as his brother, but they were to follow widely different careers. Robert was Headmaster and Chaplain of Greenwich Hospital School from 1863-70. He also ran a boarding school in Lewisham. Eventually he became Vicar of Crewkerne in Somerset.
Their younger brother EDWARD HOLME seemed, by comparison, to have had a simpler life style. He did not go to Cambridge like his brothers, but trained at St. Bees. After a number of curacies he became the third member of his family to become Vicar of Orton. His letter of application is still amongst the parish papers. It was a very diffident affair in comparison with his rivals, but having already been curate, the parishioners presumably knew his worth.
Only one member of the third generation of Thomas's family became a clergyman. This was MAURICE INGRAM HOLME. He was, for a short time, from 1903-5, Curate of St. Mark's Church, Peterborough. He was rural Dean of Amesbury from 1935-40 and Rector of Zeals in Wiltshire until his death in 1944.
Finally there was James Holme's son, HENRY REDMAYNE HOLME the second member of this generation to bear the middle name Redmayne, which I assume to be a titivated version of Redman. After Cambridge he was ordained priest in 1868 and served as a curate in three Yorkshire parishes. In 1882 he became Rector and in March 1891 the first Bishop of British Honduras. Alas he was bishop for only four months, for on July 6th of the same year he was shipwrecked and subsequently died.
A REMARKABLE FAMILY. Thomas and Ellen Holme had two sons who were priests, eight grandsons and one great grandson. The entire number of the descendants of Thomas and Jane Holme, the parents of Thomas and James, and grandparents of George, who became clergymen, was nineteen.
One wonders why so many of them entered the priesthood. Was it because they came from a family with strong traditions of piety? Was it, at least with the earlier members, an escape from their rural heritage, with a chance to elevate themselves socially? Was it a case of filial duty fulfilling parental hopes and desires? Or could it be, as one old Orton lady claimed to the Rev. J. Whiteside, "It wad be because there was t'maist pay for t'least wark".
I should be most interested to hear from anyone else who has parsons in their family originating from Orton. There are already a small group of us who are able to help one another with information gleaned from church registers; wills etc. and we would certainly welcome more.
I should also be very grateful to know anything further about the clergy who are mentioned in this article. I should be delighted to know if there are any monumental inscriptions, parish magazines or church histories which mention them. In case there are any clergymen who read this I entirely disassociate myself from the remarks made by the old woman of Orton. Vicars today, with their multiple parishes, work extremely hard, for not too much pay.
MAIN SOURCES USED
All Saints Parish Registers and Monumental Inscriptions Orton.
Available from Cumbria Record Office, County Offices, Kendal.LA9 4RQ.
Saint Thomas Parish Registers, Moorside, Oldham.
Available on film from Oldham Local History Library, 84,
Union Street, Oldham, OL1 1DN.
Crockford's Clerical Directory.
Venn's Alumni of Cambridge Graduates.
Foster's Alumni of Oxford Graduates.
Available from the Church of England Record Centre, 15,
Galleywall Road, SouthBermondsey, London, SE16 3PB.
Card Index of Clergy and Others by Roy Huddleston F.S.A.
The Dean and Chapter Library, The College, Durham. DH1 3EH.
England's Highest Parish Church Nenthead, by Dr. Frank Rogers.
The Church and some Documents in the Chest. An article on Orton Church written for the C.W.A.A.S. by Rev. J. Whiteside.
Photostat copies available from The Cumbria Record Office, The Castle, Carlisle, CA3 8UR.
Wills of Rev. Thomas Holme, Rev. George Ward Holme, Rev. Christopher Holme, etc. Post 1858 wills available from Somerset House, The Strand, London.
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