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HOLMES, William
1887 - 1953 (65 years) Has 24 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.
1857 - 1915 (58 years)-
Name HOLMES, William Birth 24 Jul 1887 Corby, Lincolnshire 
Gender Male Death 3 Feb 1953 Colchester, Essex, England Person ID I4231 Edgoose Last Modified 30 Jan 2026
Father HOLMES, James Headgoose, b. 19 Mar 1861, Kirton In Holland, Lincolnshire d. 1 Oct 1934, Brentham, Ealing, Middlesex, England (Age 73 years) Mother BREWSTER, Elizabeth Ann, b. 1857, Sutterton, Lincolnshire, England d. 13 Mar 1915, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England (Age 58 years) Marriage 14 Oct 1880 Sutterton, Lincolnshire, England Family ID F1881 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family BLOOMFIELD, Ethel Grace, b. 1892, St. Saviour Southwark Registration District, London d. Yes, date unknown Marriage 11 Nov 1915 Hammersmith, Greater London, England (from 01.04.1889) Family ID F1888 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
WILLIAM HOLMES 1887-1953
William, son of James HOLMES and Eliza née BREWSTER, was born at Corby, Lincolnshire, on 24 July 1887. The informant was his father James HOLMES, a railway signalman.
(GRO September Q 1887 Bourne [which includes Corby] 7a 368)
The 1891 census of Station Road, West Ardsley, Yorkshire:
James HOLMES, head, aged 30, signalman, born at Kirton, Lincolnshire;
Elza Ann HOLMES, wife, aged 33, born at Sutterton, Lincolnshire;
Mary Elizabeth HOLMES, daughter, aged 10, scholar, born at Fosdyke, Lincolnshire;
John Thomas HOLMES, son, aged 9, scholar, born at Spalding, Lincolnshire;
Charles HOLMES, son, aged 6, scholar, born at Thornton, Yorkshire;
*William HOLMES, son, aged 3, born at Corby, Lincolnshire.
(RG12/3754/56/1)
The 1901 census of 31 Jarratt Street, Doncaster, Yorkshire:
Eliza HOLMES, wife, aged 43, born at Sutterton, Lincolnshire;
Charles HOLMES, son, aged 16, railway telegraph messenger, born at Thonton, Yorkshire;
*William HOLMES, son, aged 13, born at Corby, Lincolnshire;
Harry HOLMES, son, aged 9, born at Retford, Nottinghamshire.
(RG13/4412/45/3)
The 1911 census of 15 Station Road, Killamarsh, Derbyshire:
Henry HOWSON, head, aged 41, railway signalman, born at Goxhill, Lincolnshire;
Mary Ann HOWSON, wife, aged 43, born at Scotton, Lincolnshire;
Florence HOWSON, daughter, aged 20, born at Goxhill, Lincolnshire;
William Kates HOWSON, son, aged 18, grocer's assistant, born at Frodingham, Lincolnshire;
*William HOLMES, boarder, aged 23, railway clerk, born at Corby, Lincolnshire.
(RG14PN21157/RG78PN1259/RD438/SD4/ED27/SN12)
William HOLMES, a 28 year old bachelor and insurance clerk of 64 The Grove, Hammersmith, married Ethel Grace BLOOMFIELD, a 24 year old spinster and waitress of 25 Mall Road, Hammersmith, at Hammersmith Register Office on 11 November 1915. William HOLMES was the son of James HOLMES, a trade union organiser. Ethel BLOOMFIELD was the daughter of James Eustace BLOOMFIELD, deceased, a licensed victualler's assistant. Witnesses were A. BLOOMFIELD, James HOLMES, and Elsie M. DERHAM.
(GRO December Q 1915 Hammersmith 1a 1125)
They separated by mutual consent in July 1919.
(Source: Will. See below)
James HOLMES and Elsie Mary HOLMES lived at 16 Brunner Road, Ealing, Middlesex, from at least 1917 until 1927.
From 1928 until 1934 the house was also occupied by William HOLMES, presumably their son who was aged about 47 in 1934.
In 1935 and 1936, following the death of James HOLMES, the house was occupied by Elsie Mary and William HOLMES.
(London Electoral Rolls)
His father James Headgoose HOLMES died aged 73 on 1 October 1934 at 16 Brunner Road, Brentham, Ealing, Middlesex. His occupation was an Organiser for the National Union of Railwaymen (retired). The informant was his (second) wife Elsie Mary HOLMES.
(GRO December 1934 Brentford 3a 230)
Probate of the will was granted on 22 November 1934 to his widow Elsie Mary HOLMES of 16 Brunner Road, Ealing, Middlesex; to his son John Thomas HOLMES a commercial clerk of 23 Selby Road, Ealing; and to his son William HOLMES a commercial clerk also of 16 Brunner Road, Ealing. His effects totalled £6,476.3s.2d. He left £100 to his daughter Mary Elizabeth HUTCHINGS; £50 each to John Thomas HOLMES, William HOLMES and to his granddaughter HILDA HOLMES, the daughter of his deceased son Charles; and £25 to May HOLMES, the widow of Charles.
William HOLMES [known as Uncle Bill to his family] did not remarry after he and his wife Ethel Grace separated by mutual consent in July 1919. He retired to live in a private hotel in Torquay, Devon, until about 1950 when his health deteriorated. He went to live in Colchester, Essex, with his sister Mary Elizabeth [known as Aunt Polly] and her husband Priestwood HUTCHINGS [known as Uncle Press]. He died at Colchester on 3 February 1953 at the age of 65.
(source: e-mail from Veronica and Mike Powell 02.01.2013)
(GRO March Q 1953 Colchester 4a 732)
From the 1939 Register of The Ship Hotel, High Street, Swanage U.D., Dorset:
*William HOLMES, born on 24 July 1887, clerk, single.
(RG101/6935I/009/4)
The Will of William HOLMES [surnames capitalised]:
"I WILLIAM HOLMES of 190 St. Andrews Avenue Colchester in the County of Essex Retired Clerk formerly in the employ of the National Union of Railwaymen HEREBY REVOKE all former Wills and dispositions made by me and declare this to be my last Will
I APPOINT my brother John Thomas HOLMES of 191 Fore Street Barton Torquay in the County of Devon and my sister Mary Elizabeth HUTCHINGS of 190 St. Andrews Avenue Colchester aforesaid to be the executors of this my Will
I BEQUEATH to my wife Ethel Grace HOLMES from whom I have been separated by mutual consent since July One thousand nine hundred and nineteen and without any pecuniary obligation on my part and whose whereabouts I have since had no knowledge whatever the sum of One Pound
Subject as aforesaid I BEQUEATH the whole of my estate in equal shares to my sister Mary Elizabeth HUTCHINGS and my brother John Thomas HOLMES
In witness wherof I have hereunto set my hand to this my Will the First day of October One thousand nine hundred and fifty-two
SIGNED by the said WILLIAM HOLMES as and for his last Will in the presence of us both being present at the same time who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses:-
T. E. Bertram PALFREY) Clerks to Messrs TURNER & TURNER,
E. M. GITCHAR ) Solicitors, Torquay."
"HOLMES William of 190 St. Andrew-avenue Colchester died 3 February 1953 Probate Ipswich 19 March to John Thomas HOLMES retired trade union clerk and Mary Elizabeth HUTCHINGS (wife of Priestwood HUTCHINGS).
Effects £3584 15s. 2d."
(National Probate Calendar 1953)
(revised 11.06.2017)