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CHAPTER 1 THE VIRGINIA HOOMES’ GENEALOGY:
The direct line to AJHJr. is in BOLD print under each issue. Source
of information is in parentheses ( ). Generation1 begins with Major
John Thomas Hoomes, "The Emmigrant."
1. MAJOR JOHN THOMAS HOOMES1 (1621-1684)?
"The Immigrant". Major John Hoomes1 immigrated from England to
Virginia before 1661. Major Hoomes was one of the first settlers
along the Mattapony River Valley in what is now known as Caroline
County, Virginia. The Hoomes title to "The Bowling Green" dates
back to 1665. The 7000 acre Hoomes estate began with a 1665
land grant from King Charles II of England. Major John Thomas
Hoomes built what is now known as "Old Mansion" in 1669. The
estate was located on a swamp leading to the northwest bank of the
Mattapony. He was the second white settler in this area. This tract
was known first as "The Bowling Green" and later as the "Old
Mansion" and was to continue through the years as one of the best
known landmarks in the area that is now Caroline County. Also, old
land books show two large grants for the Hoomes family in 1661
that were located in what is now King and Queen County. >From
other grants and purchases it is evident that Hoomes added to "The
Bowling Green" tract piecemeal beginning in 1667. Major Hoomes
was granted a large tract of land by the British Crown in 1670. Only
a few descendants of the original settlers can claim that their
ancestors had Crown grants.
The "Old Mansion" has the distinction of being the oldest house in
Carolina County and it is described in the Historical American
Buildings Survey giving it a permanent place in the Archives of the
Library of Congress. (See "The Old Mansion" page 27)
Major Hoomes was a military man, as were all the original patentees
of the upper Mattapony Valley-- Major William Lewis, Col. Augustine
Warner and Captain Smith. The fact that all were military men
suggest that only military men were able to settle in such a remote
area at this time, since the settlers had to know how to cope with
the Indians. They had to build and command forts and they had to
develop the country by turning the wilderness into tillable acres
(Campbell, p. 12-14)
In 1676 the lands of Hoomes, Lewis, and Warner were still above
the frontier. It was these lands and settlers that Nathaniel Bacon, Jr.
was interested in defending when he defeated the Indians in this
section. Bacon's Rebellion did open the frontier for settlement to
some extent but Indians continued to harass the settlers in the
Mattapony Valley until the turn of the century.
It is believed that Major John Hoomes, the original grantee of the
estate, was the same person as Thomas Hoomes because of the
following land grant description-- Campbell states on page 2 that it is
a "fact that in 1667 John Hoomes patented 3000 acres of a swamp
leading to the northwest bank of the Mattapony a short distance
below the lands of Major William Lewis." Then on page 294 he lists
grants in excess of 1000 acres made by Sir William Berkeley to his
favorites. In 1667 Thomas Hoomes was granted 3000 acres in a
swamp leading into the north bank of the Mattapony below the Lewis
grant." (Campbell, p.2, 294) Also the authors of the book, The
Pendleton Family (1966) states that "We visited the Hoomes
Plantation in Bowling Green, known as Old Mansion, perhaps the
oldest house in Caroline, built by Major Thomas Hoomes who
secured a large crown grant in 1667. (The Pendleton Family, p. 24)
Therefore, this is our reason for referring to him as "Major John
Thomas Hoomes" in this writing.
ISSUE of Major JOHN THOMAS HOOMES HOOMES1
1. GEORGE HOOMES2
2. John Waller Hoomes2 ?
3. Lucy Mary Hoomes2 ?
4. (Other children unknown)
2. GEORGE HOOMES2 (1680?-1733)
George Hoomes2, son of Major John1 "The Immigrant", is believed
to be the Dr. George Hoomes2 that practiced at "The Bowling
Green" until his death in 1733. George2 patented land in 1674.
George Hoomes2 died testate in Caroline County. Virginia in 1733.
The executors of his will were two of his sons, George, Jr.3 and
Christopher Hoomes3. (Campbell, p. 349)
ISSUE of GEORGE HOOMES2
1. GEORGE HOOMES Jr.3 (1709 - 1753) m. Frances _____
2. Christopher Hoomes3 - 1753)
3. Joseph Hoomes3 (1708 - 1753) m. Sussannah aller
4. Benjamin Hoomes3 (1704 - ) m. Elizabeth Claiborne
5. Priscilla Hoomes3 (1702 - 1794) m. Joseph Pollard
6. John Hoomes3 ? (1700 - )
3. GEORGE HOOMES3 Jr. (1709 - 1753)
George Hoomes, Jr.3, son of George Hoomes2 was born 1709,
died 1753 as per "Virginia Vital Records."
"The Bible" begins in 1734 with "George Hoomes3 and Frances his
wife, of The Bowling Green, and this house is standing today,
stout-walled and aged... (Earle, p. 8)
George Hoomes3 married Frances ________, being the first entry in
the old John Hoomes of Virginia family Bible--referred to in this
writing as "The Bible."
George3 of "The Bowling Green" was one of the most powerful men
in Caroline County, Virginia, according to Campbell, p. 77. He was a
great landowner and planter, but also held many public offices during
his lifetime. He was sheriff of Caroline in 1744 and again in 1751-52.
The sheriff was the chief executive of the county-- he presided over
the court, enforced the laws and collected the taxes. The sheriff's
pay was the best a public official received in the county, even though
his deputies did most of the work. He was one of only five members
of the great landlord families to hold the job of Constable. The job
was not for the aristocrats and they only held the position in times of
stress. George Hoomes3 agreed to take the job in 1749 but held it
for only a short time. He was also the Coroner of Caroline in 1749.
George Hoomes3 was appointed as one of the king's magistrates by
Sir William Gooch in 1735 and he held this office until his death in
1753. (Campbell) Joseph Hoomes3, a brother of George3, also held
the office of magistrate, being appointed in 1751. The court at this
time remained safely in the hands of the county's larger landowners
and established families. The Taliaferros, Buckners, Thorntons,
Taylors, Hoomes', Baylors, Lomaxes and Woodfords controlled the
court.
Slave holdings in the early days (1732-1735) were not as large as
later on, and Mr. Campbell lists the following families as purchasing
and registering young slaves- "Of the gentry only the Taylors,
Taliaferros, Hoomes' and Woolforks, who were more prolific than
their Negros, had to purchase slaves to staff the homesteads of
younger sons," (Campbell, p. 330)
At the time of his death George Hoomes3 owned property in
Culpeper, Orange and Caroline Counties. Also, in 1727 he was
granted 3100 acres in Albemarle County, "on the far side of the
mountain called Chestnut." (Gwathmey, p. 311) Administrators of the
estate were Edmound Pendleton, John Baylor, and his son, Stephen
Ferneau Hoomes4. Baylor handled the portion of the estate in
Culpeper and Orange. Stephen Ferneau Hoomes4 the portion in
Caroline and Pendleton handled the legal angles. (Campbell, p. 474)
ISSUE OF GEORGE HOOMES3 Jr. and Frances
1. Stephen Ferneau Hoomes4 (1735 - )
2. Ann Hoomes4
3. Frances Hoomes4
4. JOHN HOOMES4 (Oct. 20, 1749 - Dec. 16, 1805)
JOSEPH HOOMES3, brother of GEORGE HOOMES. JR.3
Romance may have blossomed in colonial Caroline but some
marriages of record were in the Order Books were mercenary
affairs. One for instance-
Fleming-Hoomes: When Joseph Hoomes3 of the Bowling Green died
in 1753, his widow, Sussannah Waller Hoomes, married dashing
Francis Fleming, who was many years her junior, before she took
time to go to court and probate the will of her first husband. After
reading the document Fleming persuaded her to renounce her legacy
and claim her dower. When this was done he moved the court to
assign her title to a widow's share of the Negroes and other
personal property of the estate in fee, and after the court granted
this motion he prevailed on his wife to make a will leaving him
everything she owned. With this document drawn Fleming lived at
the Bowling Green in great style, carrying on the great Hoomes
tradition of horse-racing. His extravagance threatened to undermine
the whole Hoomes fortune until Joseph Hoomes' relatives became
alarmed and hired Edmound Pendleton to preserve what was left of
the property for the Hoomes family.
Pendleton did a thorough job and Fleming's entertaining was
curtailed. But his dissipation continued, and Sussannah's affection for
him cooled as she grew older. Before she died in 1772 she made
another will leaving all her property to her children. Fleming ignored
this will and tried to probate the first. When the magistrates found
out what he was up to they ordered him to produce the second will
at once, and when he refused fined him for contempt. After this
show of force Fleming produced the will and paid the fine but
brazenly retired to the Bowling Green and challenged the Hoomes
family to force him to leave. He did not enjoy this refuge long.
Pendleton brought a suit of ejection and the court ordered the sheriff
to put him out. He passed the rest of his life in poverty, a broken
down sport.
The property did remain in the hands of the Hoomes family, but
Flemings shenanigans curtailed the size of the estate. Col. John
Hoomes4, the son of George3 helped to rebuild and to expand the
family fortune during his lifetime. It was about this time (1774) that
Hoomes4 opened an ordinary (New Hope Tavern) at "The Bowling
Green", This move led to the building of the town that is now (1953)
Bowling Green, Virginia, Caroline's County seat. (Campbell, p.
421-422)
4. COL. JOHN HOOMES4 (1749-1805)
John Hoomes4, son of George and Frances Hoomes, was born
October 20, 1749, died December 16, 1805 at age 56. Col. John
Hoomes4 and Judith Churchill Allen, his wife, were married October
2, 1768. His wife Judith, was born July 1, 1749 and died August 11,
1822 at age 74. ("The Bible")
Col. John Hoomes4 of "The Bowling Green" was one of the most
astute young businessmen in Caroline County. He was a large
landowner and great planter, (Campbell, p. 280) "leaving an
enormous estate with an appraisement which by today's standards
would have the buying power of many millions of dollars. He owned
50,000 acres of Kentucky lands and one wonders of the origin of
Bowling Green, Kentucky and Churchill Downs in Kentucky, where
Hoomes proposed to race his horses. (Earle, p.10)
Records contained in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Appeals
at Frankfort, Kentucky shows many thousands of acres of land in the
name of John Hoomes4, and also land in the names of the Battailes,
the Woolforks, Wilson Allen and wife (Sophia Hoomes5, the only
daughter of Col. John Hoomes4), as owning many thousand acres
also, which apparently came to them from John Hoomes estate, and
other Caroline families.
"For information on the Kentucky Lands of the Hoomes family, this
compilation of Kentucky archives is contained in the book entitled
OLD KENTUCKY ENTRIES AND DEEDS, a Complete Index to all of
the Earliest Land Entries, Military Warrants, Deeds and Wills of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky, written by Willard Rouse Jillson, Sc.D.,
State Geologist of Kentucky and Chairman of the Kentucky State
Park Commission, and the records are contained in the office of the
Clerk of the Court of Appeals at Frankfort, Kentucky". (From
materials sent to me by Linda Lambert Zeiler10, given to her by W.
C. Austin10, grandson of Emma Hoomes Southwell8)
The celebrated John Hoomes4 of "The Bowling Green" held many
public offices-he was appointed magistrate in 1776 by Gov. Patrick
Henry, he was a Colonel in the Revolution, a vestryman in the Creek
Church, Treasurer of the Court of Caroline County, Grain Collector,
Representative in the House of Delegates, 1791-1795, and a State
Senator, 1796-1803. (Campbell and Wingfield)
Most church members in colonial times belonged to what was known
as the established church or the Church of England. The church was
supported by taxes from all the people, whether church members or
not. The Hoomes', Pendletons, Battailes and other families attended
the Creek Church located about a mile northeast of "The Bowling
Green." John Hoomes4 was a vestryman of the parish at the time of
the Declaration of Independence and renounced the king and swore
allegiance to the Commonwealth.
One of the many enterprises of John Hoomes4 was a tavern at "The
Bowling Green." In 1774 he applied for and received a license "to
run an ordinary in his new buildings at The Bowling Green". A new
day was dawning with the approaching Revolution-- many old line
aristocrats were no longer too proud to engage in trade." (Campbell,
p. 219, 473) Hoomes4 named his new enterprise "New Hope
Tavern." In colonial times, taverns were important community
centers. Not only did the passengers on the stage stop at them for
refreshment or to spend the night, but they were resorts for the
social element of the surrounding country. Especially on Saturday
afternoons the people assembled at the taverns to engage in
scientific, literary, or political discussion, or to indulge in
horse-racing, wrestling, target practice, shooting matches and other
amusements. (Gwathmey, p. 180)
" . . . Hoomes'4 father, George3, was included in the Caroline
commission of the peace from 1735 to his death in 1764 and
Hoomes4 himself sat in the Assembly as Delegate and Senator from
1791 to 1803; but he was better known as a horseman . . . Not the
least interesting development of that interest is that from 1784 to his
death Hoomes had the contract for operating that line of stage
coaches between Alexandria and Richmond which bulks so large in
the books of travel in Virginia at the end of the eighteenth century.
John Taylor III had a stake in the venture and the notes in his stud
book against the entries of nags which did not develop in training,
as, 'sent to the stage' show how that contract was used to prune the
extensive studs of the proprietors." (Page 177, "Racing in America -
1665-1865")
In 1776 John Hoomes4 was appointed Magistrate by Gov. Patrick
Henry to replace Edmund Pendleton, who resigned because of the
press of his duties as Speaker of the House of Delegates. Hoomes4
served as magistrate through the Revolution and afterwards. During
the time of the Revolution raising prices and the shortage of
foodstuffs had disastrous effects on the families of men out of the
county in the armed forces. If no able-bodied person remained in the
household to till the land and raise grain these families were
frequently in acute need. In August 1777 William Johnston, who had
served the county as jailer, appeared in court and declared that he
was "infirm and unable to support his family in the absence of two
sons in the service of the United States." The magistrates
considered his case and appropriated ten pounds sterling for the
maintenance of the family, to be spent as directed by James Taylor,
John Hoomes4, James Upshaw and John Minor.
When the county seat was moved from the original site, Colonel
Hoomes4 donated land to the county for the Courthouse and other
public buildings and also gave the name of his estate --
"Bowling Green" -- to be the name of the county seat. His place then
took the name "The Old Mansion." This name was changed in later
years to "Old Mansion." (Wingfield, p. 357) The City of Bowling
Green, Virginia remains the county seat of Caroline County
today--1981. Caroline County has been in the forefront in nurturing
men that wrought mightily in shaping the destiny of the
Commonwealth and the Nation. >From Caroline came Edmund
Pendleton, John Penn, General William Woodford, Col. George
Armistead, George Hoomes3, Col. John Hoomes4, Col. George
Baylor, General William Clark and others.
"In the Post Revolutionary Period (1781-1800) John Hoomes4 heads
the list of Distinguished Men of that period: 'Hoomes of the Bowling
Green, John Broaddus, Randolph of Roanoke . . . . John Taylor III .
. . Benjamin Ogle . . . The Bowies . . . Alexander Spotswood . . .
Cotesworth Pinckney . . . Wade Hampton . . . and others.
In the Early Nineteenth Century 'Hoomes4 of the Bowling Green'
heads the list of Distinguished Men."
John Hoomes4 left a number of plantations besides the home seat
and one such exists today in King William County, Virginia, and is
called Wyoming." (Earle, p. 10) In 1792 Col. John Hoomes4
purchased "Wyoming", a 1005 acre Plantation in King William
County. This property was described in newspapers at the time as
"a very valuable Plantation upon the Pamunkey. . .about two miles
from Hanover Town. . . George Hoomes5, a son of Col. John
Hoomes4, moved to "Wyoming" and resided there until his death in
1802 at age 22. George Hoomes5 had married Martha Waller,
daughter of Judge Benjamin Waller of Williamsburg. They had two
children, a son, John Waller Hoomes6, and one daughter, Caroline
Virginia Hoomes6, who died when only four months old.
(On October 17, 1996 we (Jake9 & Judy Holmes and Robert9 &
Dorothy Hoomes visited the grave of John Waller Hoomes’6
daughter, Martha W. Hoomes7, in Tappahannock, Essex County
Virginia in a small cemetery in the downtown Historical District. The
following description is inscribed on the tombstone-- "In memory of
Martha W. Hoomes7, who died Sept. 27, 1827 in the 5th year of
age".)
After the death of George Hoomes5 Judge Ben Waller wrote to Col.
John Hoomes4 and expressed an interest in the welfare of his
daughter and grandson, and suggested to Col. Hoomes4 that he
make certain provisions in his will for the grandson, John Waller
Hoomes6. (Harris, p. )
After the death of George Hoomes5, Martha, his wife, continued to
spend a part of her time at "Wyoming" and visited among the gentry
on both sides of the Pamunkey River. She soon lost her sadness
and was described as a charming young widow. On June 29, 1809,
Martha Hoomes married Leonard Muse of Essex County. The little
son, John Waller Hoomes6, was reared in the home of the Muses in
Essex County and "Wyoming" was operated as a quarter. (Harris, p.
)
Col. John Hoomes4 had one daughter, (the 14th and last birth)
Sophia5, who married her first cousin, Major Wilson Allen, also of a
distinguished Virginia background. Her father added a frame addition
to "The Mansion" for her. Later Col. Hoomes built his daughter a
very unique house of the Federal period a short distance below "The
Mansion" which was called "Oak Ridge." (Wingfield, p. 357 and
Earle, p. 10)
"We cannot take leave of Colonel Hoomes4 without relating the
strange legend that arose at the time of his death-- untimely, for he
was but fifty. (fifty six, AJHJr.) The race course at the Bowling
Green was owned and managed by him and lay in full view of his
dining room window. Like most of the old Virginia magnates, he had
a large family of children, of whom a number died young. Just
preceding each death, Hoomes declared that he heard a chatter of
hoofs upon the race tract, no matter what the hour of day or night.
The day before he died, tradition avers, he was seated at his dining
table when suddenly a rush of hoof-beats smote his ears. He sprang
to the window, his heart full of dread, and looked out upon the
course. It was silent and deserted. 'Another death!' he ejaculated
with a shudder. But this time it was his own--within the next
twenty-four hours he breathed his last." (Page 180, "Racing in
America - 1665-1865")
At the death of Col. John Hoomes4, in 1805, obituary notices were
in the newspapers; not the usual obituary notices, however. Because
of his prominence the newspapers went into details of his life,
something rarely done in those times. (Earle, p. 9 & 10)
ISSUE of COL. JOHN HOOMES4 and Judith Churchill Allen
born died
1. Allen5 Hoomes Sept. 2, 1769
2. George5 Hoomes June 16, 1771
3. John5 Hoomes Mar. 10, 1773
4. Edmund5 Hoomes July 31, 1774
5. William5 Hoomes Sep. 18, 1775
6. John Waller5 Hoomes Oct. 2, 1777 Mar. 23, 1824
7. George W. 5 Hoomes Nov. 22, 1779 1802
8. William Allen5 Hoomes Jan. 28, 1782 Feb. 26, 1816
9. Richard5 Hoomes Mar. 28, 1784 Dec. 27, 1823
10. *
11. ARMISTEAD5 HOOMES July 3, 1786 Feb. 6, 1827
12. *
13. *
14. Sophia5 Dec. 14, 1788 April 9, 1863
* not baptized
5. COL. ARMISTEAD HOOMES5 "of Virginia" (1786-1827)
Armistead Hoomes5 , of "Aspen Hill", a part of the great Hoomes
estate, was the son of Col. John Hoomes54 and his wife Judith
Churchill Allen Hoomes. Born July 3, 1786, died February 6, 1827.
("The Bible")
On November 12, 1806 Armistead Hoomes5 married Ann C. Willis,
the daughter of Major "Jack" Willis, who distinguished himself in the
Revolution and is buried at old St. John's Church in Richmond, Va.
Ann Willis was from another of the old and prominent families of
Virginia. She was related to Katherine Daingerfield Willis who
married Achille Murat, the nephew of Nepoleon and much involved in
the political intrigues of that regime. (Earle, p.9)
Soon after the birth of Armistead's5 second child his wife Ann died
on March 27, 1810. (Wingfield, p.81) living only a little more than
three years after their marriage. On September 20, 1813 he married
Lucy Mary Willis, the sister of the above mentioned Katherine
Daingerfield Willis, cousins to Armistead's first wife Ann. ("The Bible"
& Earle, p. 9)
After the birth of one child born July 1814, Armistead's5 second wife
Lucy Mary died on August 14, 1814, (Wingfield, p. 81) living only
about eleven months after they were married.
There were many militia in the various counties that saw no active
service during the War of 1812. This was not the case in Caroline
County, where militia units were often called out to repel the British
that traveled up the Rappahannock and entered into Caroline with
hostile intention, destroying private property and carrying off Negros.
"Armistead Hoomes5 of the 'Old Mansion' served as Captain in the
War of 1812. The Captain Armistead Hoomes5 Company, Virginia
Militia, was stationed at Camp Holley, Virginia. Richard Hoomes5
(Armistead's brother) was a 2nd Lt. in the Company. Muster Rolls
show that Armistead Hoomes5 served as Adjutant of the Field and
Staff of a Squadron of Dragoons during 1814-15." (The Virginia
Militia Pay Roll, page 172) Sometime after this, Armistead5 was
promoted to Major and later to Colonel. The obituary notice that
appeared in the Richmond "Enquirer" at the time of his death in 1827
refers to his as Colonel Armistead Hoomes5.
Col. Armistead Hoomes5 was a State Senator from 1816 to 1820,
from the district composed of Caroline and Hanover counties.
(Wingfield, p. 42)
ISSUE OF ARMISTEAD HOOMES5
By first wife, Ann- born died
*1. GEORGE CHURCHILL HOOMES6 Mar. 21, 1808
2. Henry Armistead Hoomes6 Feb. 22, 1810 Feb. 10, 1852
By second wife, Lucy Mary-
1. Lucy Mary Hoomes6 July 1814+
*George Churchill Hoomes6 migrated to South Alabama- 1820'S
Sources:
- Jake Holmes, Jake may be contacted at: holmes10@hotmail.com
- Jake Holmes Web Site Adress is: http://www.gulf1.com/families/holmesC1.htm
- Mike Blondell; Mike's contact link is: Mike Blondell
- Carol Gothberg; Carol's contact link is: Carol Gothberg