Caroline Harvey? Holmes
I wish I knew just as much about Caroline Holmes as I do about her husband, George Washington Holmes. But the reality is, women who lived in the 1800s created fewer records than men. Equal opportunity story telling from this time period is just not possible.
Caroline Holmes appears by name in 4 records (that I can find) in her lifetime: the 1850 census, the 1880 census, a land sale deed in 1882, and on son Jacob Leroy's death certificate.
The second source is the 1880 census, where it is noted for the first time that she is George's wife. In this census, taken in the suburbs of Bremond township, Robertson County, Texas she is 61 years old.
In 1882 George and Caroline sell their land in Robertson County, and Caroline's name is on the deed of sale. This is the third record that I have citing Caroline Holmes.
The last mention of Caroline is on son Jacob Leroy's Death Certificate on 24 March 1916. Jacob Leroy’s wife of 50 years was the informant on her husband's death certificate. She listed his father as GW Holmes and his mother as Carolina Harvay, both born in Tennessee. This is the only document that points to a maiden name for Caroline.
There may not be a marriage record for George and Caroline - both Perry and Wayne county courthouses lost marriage records from this time period to fire damage.
I'm still looking for a possible father for Caroline. I have a candidate, Thomas G Harvey, who was counted in Wayne County Tennessee in 1820, 1830 and 1840. He did have a female in his home in 1830 that matches Caroline's age. George Washington Holmes was in Wayne County Tennessee on the 1840 census. But I don't have any further information linking Thomas to Caroline. Of course, I'll post if I find him!
Caroline Holmes appears by name in 4 records (that I can find) in her lifetime: the 1850 census, the 1880 census, a land sale deed in 1882, and on son Jacob Leroy's death certificate.
What we do know about Caroline, for sure, because her name is on the document
The first record is the 1850 census, in Campbell Township, Searcy County, Arkansas. She is 30 years old, born in Tennessee. That puts her birth year around 1820. (Maybe 1819, see 1880 census.)The second source is the 1880 census, where it is noted for the first time that she is George's wife. In this census, taken in the suburbs of Bremond township, Robertson County, Texas she is 61 years old.
In 1882 George and Caroline sell their land in Robertson County, and Caroline's name is on the deed of sale. This is the third record that I have citing Caroline Holmes.
The last mention of Caroline is on son Jacob Leroy's Death Certificate on 24 March 1916. Jacob Leroy’s wife of 50 years was the informant on her husband's death certificate. She listed his father as GW Holmes and his mother as Carolina Harvay, both born in Tennessee. This is the only document that points to a maiden name for Caroline.
That's not her marriage record
Most Holmes researchers assign a marriage record to George Washington and Caroline. It's a marriage of G Holmes to CM Harvey on January 2nd, 1843 in Carroll County, TN. It's so tempting, really. Holmes, Harvey, Tennessee - so much fits. But so much doesn't fit, too, like the dates. Cousin and fellow Holmes researcher Michael (mikethebaptist) Holmes has researched this Carroll County marriage record to discover that this it was between a Gardner Holmes and Charlotte Harvey, not George and Caroline. There were many Holmes in Carroll County that are not related to our Holmes family.There may not be a marriage record for George and Caroline - both Perry and Wayne county courthouses lost marriage records from this time period to fire damage.
Caroline Harvey?
Likely because of the incorrect marriage record, most Holmes researchers have Caroline Holmes in their trees with the maiden name Harvey. As mentioned, I only have one record, Jake's death certificate, that supports Harvey (Harvay) as her maiden name.I'm still looking for a possible father for Caroline. I have a candidate, Thomas G Harvey, who was counted in Wayne County Tennessee in 1820, 1830 and 1840. He did have a female in his home in 1830 that matches Caroline's age. George Washington Holmes was in Wayne County Tennessee on the 1840 census. But I don't have any further information linking Thomas to Caroline. Of course, I'll post if I find him!
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