My family has tantalizing rumors about a connection to Gideon Holmes; all unproven. My ancestor is James Shadrach Holmes, b. ~1788, prob. NC and d. 1866 in Rankin Co. MS. Have found no record of him prior to 1799 when the Augusta (GA) Chronicle listed "Shadrack Holmes" as having had a letter at the postoffice in Columbia GA. Am presuming this may be my Shadrack as he married Keziah Cox of Augusta GA and Edgefield SC ~1810 and that would place him in the area. Her family and two earlier generations (Cox, Wood and Wallicon) were on both sides of the Savannah River from 1764-early 1800s. An elderly relative (now deceased) told me that when she was researching in the early 1970s she was told that our James connected to a Gabriel Holmes. Certainly there are mentions of a Shadrach in Hambersham and Elbert counties. James Shadrach Holmes and wife were in Conecuh Co. AL by 1820, reaching Rankin County MS by mid 1840's. Children were named: Sarah A., Jane, Martha, George Washington, Ellen, William Decatur, Keziah, Josiah, Amanda Frances, Abigail Mary, James Shadrach Jr., Edward Hillary, Blanton Wilcox, and by his second wife, Ada Frances Holmes. The only child's name that definitively traces to his wife's family is Keziah Holmes; none of the other children are named for known relatives in her line (well, also a Martha). Have tons to share downward on this line, but would love to place him with siblings and parents. Thanks!