Rev. Holmes was on one of the 5 Scotch-Irish ships arriving Boston, 1718. Does anyone have any information on his homeplace in Ulster or where he settled in New England? thanks, Charles

Dear Charles: Do you know the first name of your Rev. Holmes? Charles Bolton's "Scotch Irish Pioneers" has a whole chapter on a Rev. William Homes from Strabane, Co. Tyrone. In 1714 he brought his wife and 9 children to settle in Massachusetts and took over the church in Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard. A number of his relatives and in-laws in Ulster were also clergy. One of William's sons, Robert, was a sea captain who shuttled back and forth to Ulster bringing news about opportunities in New England. Both father and son were friends and correspondents of Cotton Mather. During the winter of 1717/18, Mather was working on a plan to attract hardy settlers for the Indian-beset Massachusetts frontier, and Robert Homes became his primary agent and promoter. Robert left for Ulster in the spring of 1718, spent the summer drumming up potential emigrants, and returned to Boston in October 1718 on the "Mary & Elizabeth" as first mate under Alexander Miller, master. He undoubtedly brought Homes relatives with him. In 1719 Robert Homes made another trip, this time as master of the "Elizabeth". Rev. William Homes kept a diary, which was reprinted in the NEHGS Register in 1894. It includes some of his own family records along with Chilmark church records. It is available online at www.newenglandancestors.org if you are a member of NEHGS: Register, Volume 48, pp 446-453. Incidentally, you can read the "Boston News-Letter" issues which include the 5-ships arrivals online. No passenger names are listed, but it is fascinating background reading. It's available from the NewsBank "Early American Newspapers" collection. You can access it through the NEHGS website, the Godfrey Library and from many university libraries. If this is not your line, Bolton also lists "Holmes" settlers, some of whom were Ruling Elders, but do not appear to be clergy: Thomas Holmes from Coleraine settled in Dracut John Holmes, his brother, settled in Boston William Holmes went to Casco Bay, Maine and then fled to Boston after Indian attacks Hugh "Hollmes" - a signer of the petition to Governor Shute Abraham Holmes from Aghadowey to Nutfield. Hope this helps. Joyce Hamilton -----Original Message----- From: charles [mailto:jitsu93@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 5:33 AM To: Scotch-Irish-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Rev. Holmes to Boston, 1718 Rev. Holmes was on one of the 5 Scotch-Irish ships arriving Boston, 1718. Does anyone have any information on his homeplace in Ulster or where he settled in New England? thanks, Charles