I am researching the Irish history of my husband's  Great Great Great grand
father Matthew (Stewart, I think) Holmes.

He was born  in September 1817  and  arrived in Australia aged 22, on the
Bounty ship William Metcalfe.

The shipping record list his "native place" as Ballycolman

His history from Australia onwards in well-known but my husband's family do
not know  for sure who his parents were

and also who  and how many siblings he had.

We know Matthew married Ann McLean of Melbourne in May 1842.We also know
that Ann's brother Malcolm McLean married  a Jane Holmes in Melbourne in
1843.

We believe, but do not have proof that Jane  and a James Holmes who arrived
in Australia on the ship England in July 1841 were brother and sister to
Matthew. Both came from County Tyrone.

James Holmes married Eliza Brown in Victoria Australia 1844. (her mother was
Margaret Holmes!!)

Jane Holmes and her husband Malcolm McLean took their children to Edinburgh
to be educated and she  died in Edinburgh in 1872. Her  death registration
states that her father was Matthew Stewart Holmes and her mother Elizabeth
Watson. To add to confusion James Holmes death registration in 1884
(Australia) states  that his father was James Holmes and his mother
Elizabeth Watson.

I am hoping that Malcolm McLean accidently named his brother in law instead
of his father in law on his wife's death certificate.

I am very keen to have communicate with any Holmes connections who might be
able to add to our story.

I have read all I can find on your website and feel sure that some of the
Holmes names I have read must be connections.

Regards

Di Martin

Di,

Matthew Holmes died September 27 1901 and a lengthy obituary was published in the Evening Star, Dunedin, New Zealand of that date https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers It states that he was a native of Strabane, Co Tyrone. The Ballycolman recorded in the 1841 Melbourne immigration record lies across the Mourne River from Strabane: Ballycolman is a townland within Urney parish (Strabane town is located within Leckpatrick, Camus and Urney parishes).

The obit states that Matthew was the son of a brewer (unnamed). A New Zealand death certificate of 1901 should state the names of both the deceased’s parents?

I am heartened to learn that you have found some useful information in my files submitted to CTI https://www.cotyroneireland.com/ - I appreciate feedback to my files that prove useful to researchers. Shall look through my notes for any further data relating to this family – there were other Holmes families in the town which is confusing. Hope this is useful?

Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia

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From: CoTyroneList <cotyronelist-bounces(a)cotyroneireland.com> on behalf of Di & James Martin via CoTyroneList <cotyronelist(a)cotyroneireland.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2019 9:43:21 AM
To: cotyronelist(a)cotyroneireland.com
Cc: Di & James Martin
Subject: [CoTyroneMailingList] Holmes family

I am researching the Irish history of my husband’s  Great Great Great grand father Matthew (Stewart, I think) Holmes.
He was born  in September 1817  and  arrived in Australia aged 22, on the Bounty ship William Metcalfe.
The shipping record list his “native place” as Ballycolman
His history from Australia onwards in well-known but my husband’s family do not know  for sure who his parents were
and also who  and how many siblings he had.
We know Matthew married Ann McLean of Melbourne in May 1842.We also know that Ann’s brother Malcolm McLean married  a Jane Holmes in Melbourne in 1843.
We believe, but do not have proof that Jane  and a James Holmes who arrived in Australia on the ship England in July 1841 were brother and sister to Matthew. Both came from County Tyrone.
James Holmes married Eliza Brown in Victoria Australia 1844. (her mother was Margaret Holmes!!)
Jane Holmes and her husband Malcolm McLean took their children to Edinburgh to be educated and she  died in Edinburgh in 1872. Her  death registration states that her father was Matthew Stewart Holmes and her mother Elizabeth Watson. To add to confusion James Holmes death registration in 1884 (Australia) states  that his father was James Holmes and his mother Elizabeth Watson.
I am hoping that Malcolm McLean accidently named his brother in law instead of his father in law on his wife’s death certificate.
I am very keen to have communicate with any Holmes connections who might be able to add to our story.

I have read all I can find on your website and feel sure that some of the Holmes names I have read must be connections.
Regards
Di Martin

Hi Di! I hope you’re still out there, I’ve been meaning to message you for a while.

I’m a great great great grandaughter of Mathew Holmes and I’m also researching his background, amongst other things. I also visited Strabane a few years ago to continue the continued digging by our various family members!

Members of this site and all its recordings were and are super helpful!

I’d love to connect with you, what is the easiest way to move from here to the real world? :-) We can perhaps report back here when we have pooled out findings!?

Best

Sarah Holmes