William D. Holmes ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

   Cause of his death was Cancer of the Stomach.⁶

  General Notes:

The 1850 US Census record from Salisbury, Merrimack County, New Hampshire shows a 64 year old Elijah Holmes living at the home of a William Holmes, age 34 and a female who is probably his wife, Jane Holmes, age 28. While the age given on the census of 64 for Elijah closely matches the expected age of about 62, there are a few problems with the information about the younger William who presumably is the son of Elijah who is living with a wife and two young children.

For example, a marriage record issued just over one year later in Dec 1851 for William D. Holmes and Eliza Blood indicate that it was to be the first marriage for each of them. Therefore since they were not yet married, the William in the 1850 US Census with a wife could not have been the correct William.

Additionally the age of William D. Holmes from his marriage record would seem to indicate a birth year of about 1825 but the William listed on the 1850 US Census would seem to have a birth year of about 1816.

If the older Elijah was not living with his son, then this would tend to indicate that the 1850 US Census record was not for the correct Elijah and William Holmes. However, a close examination of the marriage record for William in Dec 1851 mentions that his father currently resides in Salisbury, NH which is exactly where the 1850 US Census record was enumerated.

Therefore this does sound as if it was the correct Elijah Holmes but perhaps the wrong William and Jane Holmes. I have no idea who the William and Jane Holmes could have been especially considering the real William D. Holmes was to be married for his first time in just over one years time.
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  Death Notes:

Name: William D. Holmes
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 16 Apr 1893
Event Place: Groton, Massachusetts
Gender: Male
Age: 68 years
Marital Status: Widowed
Occupation: Farmer
Birth Year (Estimated): 1825
Birthplace: Hopkinton, N. H.
Burial Place: Groton
Father's Name: Elijah
Father's Birthplace: Hopkinton, N. H.
Mother's Name: Phylis Bryant
Mother's Birthplace: Hopkinton or Warren, N. H.
Source Reference: Holmes, William D., 1893
Digital Folder Number: 004225005
Record Number: 923
Reference ID: v 437 p 203

Citing this Record
"Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWH1-DJZ : 6 April 2020), Phylis Bryant in entry for William D. Holmes, 16 Apr 1893; citing Groton, Massachusetts, v 437 p 203, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 961,510.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of 1821 and a birth location of New Hampshire.

This birth year was referenced by his age of 39 on the 1860 US Census.
. ²

• He appeared on the 1860 US Census in Lawrence, MA on 28 June 1860. ²

1860 US Census
Page 205, Family 1550, Roll 498, 3rd Ward
Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
William D. Holmes..39..New Hampshire..Shoe Maker

(Living with wife and daughter.)

NOTE - If his birth date was in 1825, then his age should have been 34 or 35 instead of 39.

.

• 1865 Massachusetts State Census: 13 May 1865, in Lawrence, MA. ³ 1865 Massachusetts State Census
Family 576, Ward 01
Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Wm. D. Holmes..39..New Hampshire..Laborer

(Living with wife and daughter.)
.

• He appeared on the 1870 US Census in Lawrence, MA on 2 July 1870. ⁴

1870 US Census
Page 97, Family 821, Ward 1
Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
William D. Holmes..44..New Hampshire..Teamster

(Living with wife and daughter.)
.

• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Dunstable, MA on 7 June 1880. ⁵

1880 US Census
Page 234C, District 364, Family 88, Roll 538
Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
William D. Holmes..Self..54..New Hampshire..Farm Laborer

(Living with wife.)
.

• Death Image: 16 April 1893, in Groton, MA. ⁶

• He was buried after 16 April 1893 in the Groton Cemetery in Groton, MA.

Find a Grave Memorial 183037471
. ⁷

William married Eliza Ann Blood, daughter of Timothy J. Blood and Elizabeth P. Saunderson, on 8 December 1851 in Pepperell, MA.^{1 2 3 4 5} (Eliza Ann Blood was born on 29 December 1830 in Groton, MA,^{1 2 8 9} died on 31 May 1889 in Groton, MA ^{8 9} and was buried after 31 May 1889 in Groton, MA ⁹.). The cause of her death was Cancer of Uterus.⁶

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 8 December 1851, in Pepperell, MA. ¹

• They appeared on the 1860 US Census in Lawrence, MA on 28 June 1860. ²

1860 US Census
Page 205, Family 1550, Roll 498, 3rd Ward
Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
William D. Holmes..39..New Hampshire..Shoe Maker
Eliza A. Holmes..29..Massachusetts..House Keeper
Emma J. Holmes..6..Massachusetts
.

• 1865 Massachusetts State Census: 13 May 1865, in Lawrence, MA. ³ 1865 Massachusetts State Census
Family 576, Ward 01
Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Wm. D. Holmes..39..New Hampshire..Laborer
Eliza A. Holmes..33..Massachusetts
Emma Holmes..11..Massachusetts
.

• They appeared on the 1870 US Census in Lawrence, MA on 2 July 1870. ⁴

1870 US Census
Page 97, Family 821, Ward 1
Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
William D. Holmes..44..New Hampshire..Teamster
Eliza A. Holmes..37..Massachusetts..Keeping House
Emma J. Holmes..16..Massachusetts..At School
Hannah Somerville..26..Ireland..Works in Cotton Mill
.

• They appeared on the 1880 US Census in Dunstable, MA on 7 June 1880. ⁵

1880 US Census
Page 234C, District 364, Family 88, Roll 538
Dunstable, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
William D. Holmes..Self..54..New Hampshire..Farm Laborer
Eliza A. Holmes..Wife..48..Massachusetts..Keeping House
.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: William D. Holmes
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 8 Dec 1851
Event Place: Pepperell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
Event Place (Original): Pepperell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
Gender: Male
Father's Name: Elijah Holmes
Mother's Name: Mrs. Phila Holmes
Spouse's Name: Eliza Ann Blood
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Father's Name: Timothy J. Blood
Spouse's Mother's Name: Blood

Citing this Record
"Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC6C-S1K : 24 January 2020), Eliza Ann Blood in entry for William D. Holmes, 1851.

"An Intention of Marriage between Mr. William D. Holmes of Groton, Mass, aged twenty-six years, born in Hopkinton, N.H., name of Parents was Elijah & Phila Holmes who now reside in Salisbury, N.H., first marriage.
and
Miss Eliza Ann Blood of Groton, Mass, aged twenty years, born in S. Groton. Parents were Timothy Jr and Eliza Blood, who reside in said Groton. First marriage, was entered with me this eighth day of Dec. 1851.
Samuel Farrar, Town Clerk, Pepperell"
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