Person:William Homes (3)

Name	Rev. William Homes
Alt Name	William Holmes
Gender	Male
Birth`^?`	1663	Ireland
Marriage	26 Sep 1693	Derry, Northern Irelandto Katherine Craighead
Death`^?`	20 Jun 1746	Chilmark, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States
Burial`^?`		Chilmark, Dukes, Massachusetts, United StatesAbels Hill Cemetery

1 Introduction
2 First Visit to America
3 Ministry in Ireland
4 Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard
5 Diary
6 Written Works
7 External Links

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Introduction

William Homes was born probably in County Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1663.

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First Visit to America

He first came to America in the year 1686, when he was 22 years old. He settled on Martha's Vineyard where he was a teacher at Chilmark, Dukes County, which was then and continued until 1692 to be part of New York. At this time there were on the Island about 3,000 Indians, of whom nearly one half were Christians, converted under the labors of the Mayhews. He bought a tract of land on the Vineyard from Mathew Mayhew on 1 Sep 1690, the consideration being "one good eu lamb not under six weeks yearly and everie year for ever." - a tract he subsequently sold 7 May 1691 to Mathew Mayhew.

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Ministry in Ireland

By July 1691 he had returned to Ireland when he was reported to be on trials for the ministry. He was ordained a clergyman 21 Dec 1692. The minutes of the Laggan Presbytery relate the following:

29 July 1691 at St Johnston "Mr Will Holmes haveing come from New England to this place, and appearing this day before this meeting. The meeting having receaved from him satisfieing testimonials, after welcomeing of him to the meeting they do appoint the said Mr Holmes to preach upon Heb: 10, 38 - the Just shall live by faith, and upon tuesday next before the ministers, and there to undergo what farther tryals the meeting shall think fit to try him with, and Mr Rob Creaghead, Neil Gray, Jo: Ruet, Rob Campbell, James Alexander and Andrew Ferguson are to be present."

29 March 1692 - Urney, Donogheady and Strabane also wish William Holmes as their minister.

15 May 1692 - Strabane offer Wm Holmes £30 p a.

27 July 1692 at St Johnston "this day appeared from Iniskillin Archibald Elliot with supplication to the meeting and desyring a visit and prosecuting a call to Mr Will: Holmes ...."

25 Oct 1692 "This day Mr Will Holmes delivered his exegesis, de universali redemptione, and sustained his disputes, his Thesis being: Christus pro omnibus et solis electis mortuees est; he was approven ...This meeting appoints Mr Holmes to expone the 23 Hebrew psalme, and the greek new testament ad aperturam Libri with the catecheticall questions, at their next meeting." "Presbetry at Strabane 21 Dec 1692. This day Mr Rob Craghead preached (upon 1 Tim: 4, 16) according to appointment, at Strabane, and after sermon haveing proposed the ordinary questions to Mr Will: Holmes that are usewall before ordination, he with the rest of the ministers then present did ordain the said Mr Will: Holmes by Imposition of handsand solemne and serious prayer to God; they solemnly sett him apart for the work of the ministrie in the congregation of Strabane. [he is also appointed to visit Inniskilling and Clougher before the next meeting].

8 Feb 1692 - meeting at St Johnston: Wm Holmes preaches [is appointed to, or has preached?] at Omagh, Culdaff and Glendermot.

17 July 1693 at Convoy "appears from Donagh More Tho. Gillespie, Will Crag and John Eliot........"Mr Will Homes is appointed to repair to Hillsburgh, as Commissioner for this presbytrie to assist Donagh More in prosecuting their call to Mr Joshua ffisher before yr presbytrie of Down, and Donagh More is advised to send a Commissioner along with him."

2 Aug 1693 at St Johnston - William Holmes confirms he has visited Hillsborough with successful outcome......"This Meeting approves of Mr Will Homes his diligence in this affaire."

29 Nov 1693 at L'derry - Mr Will Homes to preach at Sligo.

25 June 1695 at St Johnston - Mr Will Homes is to take a service at Dunnigall two Lords days before the next meeting.

28 Aug 1695 at St Johnston - Mr Robert Campbell and Mr Will: Homes [who is clerke to the Meeting] are appointed to attend the Committee which is to sit at Belfast on 27 Aug ...with the following overtures:

1. That Mr Alexander Hutcheson and Mr William Adair be sent Commissioners to attend the parleament of Ireland summoned to meet 27 Aug 1695.
2. That the Committe consider what meanes may be most proper in order to the bringing in a Bill before the parleament for our Legall Liberty.
3. That they consider in case no such Bill can be brought in what may be most expedient to get our grivances consideredby said parleament...

10 Sept 1695 at St Johnston - Mr Campbell and Mr Holmes confirmed they attended the Belfast Committee 27 Aug 1695 and that Mr Will Adaire and Mr John M'Bride are appointed Commissioners "to attend the parleament."

19 Nov 1695 William Holmes apptd to take services at Urney and Dunigall before next meeting.

From The Minutes of the Laggan Meeting 30 Dec 1690 - 11 Sept 1700 [at Union Theol. Coll.]: [In a foreward to this vol.] At a meeting at Strabane 20 Sept 1699 Mr Hallyday, Mr ffisher, Mr Homes senr and Mr Wensly were appointed "to take care in overseeing the recording of the Presbytery Minuts from their first meeting after the late revolution unto this time, by a Clark in a fair hand, in a convenient book .."

22 Dec 1696 his day Mr Will. Homes of Strabane having lectured upon John 21 from the 15th verse to ye 18th and Mr James Alexander having preached ...Mr Homes (of Urney) was solemnly ordained .to the work of the Monistry in the congregation of Urney.

From the Minutes of the General Synod of Ulster we have the following:

21 Dec 1692, "This day Mr. Rot. Craghead preached upon 1st Tim. 4. & 16. according to appointment at Strabane and after sermon having proposed the ordinary questions to Mr. Will. Homes that are useuall before ordination, he with the rest of the ministers then present, and that are written in the sederunt did ordain the sd. Mr. Will. Holmes by imposition of hands and solemne and serious prayer to God they solemnly sett him apart to the ministrie in the congregation of Strabane."

In September 1693, "Robert Carson, ruling elder from Strabane, "gives account that their meeting-house will be finished within 14 days, that they have not built a dwelling-house for Mr. Homes because he is yet uncertain where he would have it built, but promises to take care that it be built as soon as may be convenient; and in the meantime that they will provide him in suitable accommodation."

On the 25th of June, 1700, Mr. John Love, an elder from Strabane, reported to the Presbytery that "they had taken pains about the augmenting of their minister's maintainence, & that they intend hereafter to pay Mr. Homes L35 yearly while the present subscribers live, but when any dies, they fear this quota be diminished, yet hope even then to discharge what was formerly furnished. With this account the meeting is well satisfied, & the Session & Town of Strabane are contended for their diligence, but it is recomended to the country part of that congregation to give yearly some corn."

According to Latimer's History of the Irish Prebyterians, William received "her Majestie's Royal Bounty" for the xmass quarter, 1712.

William served the Presbyterian Church in Strabane until 1714. He was often chosen Moderator of the Provincial Synod. He married Katherine, daughter of Rev. Robert Craighead, in Londonderry on September 26, 1693 at her father's home.

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Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard

In 1714 he came again to America and revisited Martha's Vineyard, at the age of 50. The people of Chilmark remembered the young man who had previously taught among them, with satisfaction, and invited him to become their pastor. He was installed on September 15, 1715 and served as pastor for 31 years, having a high repute for his piety, and as a man of worth and learning. Bank's History of Martha's Vineyard states "It is said that he used to fast twice a week. His salary was 60 pounds a year. He took some care of a farm, but lived mostly on his salary. He was the author of five printed volumes, three of them published during his life, and the two after his death were on "Family Prayer," and "Family Government." He preferred, and recommended, a moderate Presbyterianism to the evils which he thought he saw in the Congregationalism by which he was surrounded. His name does not often appear on the records of New England Ecclesiastical History for this reason, and also on account of his not being a graduate of Yale or Harvard and his duties being discharged on a secluded Island."

He preached until he was so feeble with old age that he used to be helped on to his horse on a Sabbath Mornin, and helped off again at the Meeting house door, which was, it may be, 3/4 of a mile from his own house. And when once told, by a friend, that as he had once or more fainted away in his Pulpit, he feared he would die there, He, it seems, Cheerfully answered his concerned friend, that he did not know he could die in a better place. He died in the year 1746, at the age of 83. He was preaching in his pulpit and fell down suddenly in a fit and gradually declined to his death. A marble stone in the graveyard at Chilmark, marks his burial place.

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Diary

The Diary of William Homes can be found in the Maine Historical Society. It is 96 pages of the size known as quarto and is bound in contemporary leather. It is closely written from cover to cover. It chronicles the happenings in Chilmark over a 25 year period from 1717 to 1742, including things good and bad. Some extracts:

February the 18th 1716/17. A violent storm snow and sleet is described lasting several days during which many sheep were buried under the snow.
March 22 1716/17. Python sheep that had been buried under snow that fell February 21, one of which was still alive. She was taken out the 23rd of March live and continue deliver several days; she had continued under the snow without any food about 31 days.
August 15, 1718. This day about two o'clock in the afternoon, several children, particularly Benjamin Ward and Thomas Allen having at a shotgun and some powder were diverting themselves near John Allen spawn, where considerable quantity of English grain and hey, some in the barn, and some near it and stacks. Benjamin Ward having a brand of fire in his hand, seem his uncle Captain Mayhew riding by to discernment, through the brand out of his hands, his uncle might not see it. It chanced to fall near some English grain, which presently took fire, and consume the barn and all English grain ashes in a very short time. All or most of the men in town, presently came with an intent to extinguish the flames, but they did not affect anything.
October 19, 1718. Among the last, the house of Mr. Zephaniah Mayhew was burned to the ground by an accidental fire, and much of his household stuff in wearing clothes were consumed in the flames. On Thursday, James McClellan came here to look after his sons effects and went last week to Nantucket on that design.
December 16, 1718. This evening, about eight o'clock, Captain Zaccheus Matthews barn caught fire. How is not certainly known, and burn down to the ground, together with all his hey, except one load.
January 10 1719/20. The week past has been very cold, specially Thursday last. Mr. Bryce Blair by a fall yesterday in the evening, broke his left arm above the elbow.
September 4, 1720. Our house was raised on Tuesday of this week, been the sixth day.
December 25, 1720. Our people here. Some of them brought a drift whale ashore at Squibnocket on Friday and cut her up on Saturday.
July 12 1724. On Friday, last we raised our new meetinghouse. Gershon Cathcart, a young man belonging to Newtown fell from the third story, and was very much bruised. His recovery is uncertain. His reason seems not to be impaired by his fall. Lord make the Providence a wakening to others.
August 23, 1724. I took occasion to reprove some young folk publicly for their irreverent and profane deportment in the time of God's public worship.
October 19, 1724. About three and the afternoon the chimney in the room where I commonly stay caught fire and been very all burned fiercely, which put the whole house in no small danger. It continued to burn throughout the night. It was daytime and the wind was very high, yet to the mercy of God, we receive no great damage, only the mantle tree caught fire and is partly damnified. Several of our neighbors came to our assistance seasonably, I desire to bless God for our preservation.
January 10 1724/25. Last Monday son Allen carried two men prisoners to Boston viz: Captain Lane and Mr. McGowan.
December 5, 1725. Last week, a sloop came ashore on the south side of the island. The men and cargo were saved. The master having been long sick, died Friday night last and was buried this day. His name was Cash. The sloop belonged to Rhode Island.
March 13 1725/26. The snow, which is continued for most part, since sometime in November is now almost gone.
August 27, 1727. We had an account last week, the King George died June 11 last past in Germany, on his journey to Hannover, and that his son, the Prince of Wales was proclaimed king under title of George II.
November 5, 1727. Last Lord's day, in the afternoon, about 11 o'clock. We had a shock of an earthquake, the continued above a minute. It was considerably great, but seemed to be greater in some places than others, whether it had been felt in all the country over or not. I have not yet heard.
November 12, 1727. I understand that the earthquake was much more severe easterly than in these parts.
December 31, 1727. We had a passed on Wednesday last on account of the earthquake.
July 7, 1728. We appointed Wednesday last to be up served as a public fast, but we had a plentiful rain on Tuesday which occasioned our changing the fast into a Thanksgiving.
June 8, 1729. I baptized a Negro of Captain Mayhew called Caesar this day.
July 9, 1737. Last night we had excessive rains, which raised the rivers upon this island to such degree that the dams of the water mills were carried away by them. And the mowing ground near the rivers was very much damnified, to the great loss of several of the inhabitants.
August 11, 1737. The sky towards the north and northwest compared with an unusual redness, which continued for some time extending itself more and more easterly. About 11, the red was mixed with white streaks that were very luminous, being broad below and gradually growing narrower until they ended in a point. About midnight there appeared a bow, reaching from east to west in the form rainbow, only there was no diversity of colors, the whole bow was luminous, so the air was lighter than it is it full moon, though it was two or three days before the change of the moon. It did rather to one daylight before the sun rises than moonlight.
December 7, 1737. About 10 at night. It was felt by several persons on the island, the shock of an earthquake.
November 21, 1738. There came a ship ashore on the south side of the island, belonging to New York. She came last from Jamaica: the lading and men's lives were saved, but it is supposed to ship cannot be got off again.
September 17, 1740. We observed through the island as a day of fasting and prayer to beg mercy of God, that the distemper that has prevailed among us for some time might be removed and health restored. The child of Zechariah Hatch died of throat distemper this night.
September 6, 1741. We had this summer drought that hurt both the grass and the Indian corn very much. This was accompanied with an unusual number of grasshoppers that devoured both grass and corn.
November 12, 1741. We had General Thanksgiving appointed by our governor, William Shirley Esq..

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Written Works

Williams Homes was the author of several wriiten works on the subject of church government including:

A discourse concerning the publick reading of the Holy Scriptures by the Lords people, in their religious assemblies, Boston, Printed by B. Green., 1720
A brief and plain discourse,wherein the doctrine of the Sabbath is explained, Boston, N.E., Printed by Gamaliel Rogers in Long Lane, for Samuel Gerrish at the lower end of Cornhill., 1727.
The good government of Christian families recommended, Boston, Printed for D. Henchman in Cornhil., 1747.
Proposals of some things to be done in church government, Boston, Printed for B. Gray, at his shop, no. 2. at the head of the Town-Dock., 1732.