James Holmes
(All information on this page is from John Holmes Jr.)
James Holmes came to Trescott, Washington County, Maine, from Nova Scotia in 1833. He applied for citizenship in 1838, and was granted citizenship in 1844. (See transcript of naturalization papers below.) He was married to Sarah Simpson, who died giving birth to William Henry Holmes on 11 Jul 1849. She is listed in the 1850 mortality schedule, p.27, line 8.
At the time of the 1850 US census James Holmes was living in Salmon Brook, Aroostook County (p.162a), where he is listed as a farmer, born in Nova Scotia, 49 years of age.
In his naturalization statement, he said he was born in Amherst, New Brunswick (actually in Nova Scotia) in 1800.
He was likely descended from the Loyalists Holmes who went from Westchester, New York to Nova Scotia in the Spring of 1783.
If you have any information on James Holmes or this family, please contact John Holmes Jr. e-mail:
Text of naturalization papers of James Holmes:
Transcription of Naturalization papers of JAMES HOLMES:
Be it remembered that on the third day of this
term personally appears before me James Holmes of Trescott
in the county of Washington and by his petition prays
to be admitted a citizen of the United States and
he exhibits here in court the following certificates
as required by law viz James Holmes
"State of Maine Washington Js: At the court of Common
Pleas begun and holden at Machias within and for
the county of Washington on the third Tuesday of
September being the eighteenth day of said month
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thirty eight.Be it remembered that on the
third day of this term Personally appears James
Holmes of Trescott in said County and by his
Declaration in writing represents thet he was born
at Amherst in the Province of New Brunswick in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
under allegiance to the King of Great Britain that
he came from Economy in said Province on the first
day of June A.D. 1833 and on the tenth day of June
A.D. 1833 arrived at Trescott in said county of Wash=
-ington where he has ever since continued to reside
with the intention of making the same his settled place of
residence, and he here in open Court on oath declares
that it was bona fide his intention to become a citi
=zen of the United States and to renounce forever
all allegiance and fidelity to any and every foreign
Prince Potentate state or Sovereignty whatever and
particularly all allegiance and fidelity to the
Queen of Great Britain and Ireland whose natural
born subject he is and he thereupon prays that
this his declaration of Intention maybe received
and recorded and a certificate thereof granted
so that in due time he may be admitted a
Citizen of the United States according to the laws
of the same.James Holmes subscribed
and sworn to in open Court and certificate ordered.
Attest A.L. Raymond Clerk Washington Js
(seal) Clerks office Machias September 18, 1844.
In testimony that the forgoing is a true copy of Record
I make this certificate and hereunto set my name
and affix the official Seal of the Court aforesaid
this eighteenth day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four
Albert Pilsbury Clerk of all the Judicial Courts in the County
aforsaid."We John Balch and William Chal=
oner of Trescott in the County of Washington do
on oath declare that we have known James Holmes
of Trescott for more than seven years now last
past during which time he has resided in said
Trescott and that he has behaved as a man of
good moral character attached to the Constitu=
-tion of the United Statesand well disposed
to the good order and happiness of the same.
(signatures) John Balch
William Chaloner
Sworn to in open Court before me Albert
Pilsbury Clerk.I James Holmes do
swear that I will support the Constitution
of the Untied States and that I do absolutely
and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance
and fidelity to and every foreign Prince and Pot=
entate. State and Sovereignty whatsoever and
particularly all alligiance and fidelity to the
Queen of Great Britain and Ireland whose
natural born subject I am. So help me God
James Holmes Sworn to in open Court
the second day of the term. Attest
Albert Pilsbury Clerk.All which being
seen and understood and the Court here
being satisfied that the said James Holmes has resided
in the United States more than five years and within
the State one year at least before this eighteenth day of
September A.D. 1844 and also that during that
time he has behaved as a man of good moral character
attached to the Constitution and well disposed to the
good order and happiness of the same the prayer of
the said James Holmes is granted and he is here in open
Court on oath declares that he will support the Constitution
of the United States that he doth absolutely and
entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and
fidelity to any and every foreign Prince Potentate State
and Sovereignty whatsoever and particularly all
allegiance and fidelity to the Queen of Great Britain
and Ireland whose natural born subject he is. Where-
=upon the Court order that the said James Holmes
be and he is hereby admitted and declared a Citizen
of the United states according the Constitution
and laws of the same.
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Last revised 25 May 2006