George and Sarah Holmes

Geordie Holmes and Sarah Holmes nee Morton –

the early years in Scotland

At the Cross, Kilbarchan, circa1900s.
A group of children are gathered at the Cross in this scene
from the 1900s. All of the boys are smartly dressed with
their Eton collars and are wearing caps. The girls are also
dressed in their best  clothes. It is possible that this group
were awaiting transport  to take them on an outing. The
woman with the long apron on the right of the picture is
standing at the entrance of the Masonic Arms which is now
an  antique shop. During the late nineteenth and early
twentieth century the  two upper floors of the Mason Arms
were used for meetings of the Masonic Lodge. On the left are
the premises of Mr. John Meikle, who was the local plumber.
Source: MacKenzie, 1902.

George Holmes hailed from Kilbarchan, Scotland, a small village about 11 miles west of Glasgow.  He was one of eleven children to his parents James and Maggie Holmes.


George – the Baker
By the 1891 census, Geordie was 17 years old and his occupation is listed as Baker’s Apprentice, indicating that he probably learnt his trade in Kilbarchan.  It is not known to whom he was apprenticed, however, it may have been to Mr. Robert Finnie who is listed in the 1897/98 Kilbarchan Directory as Baker, The Cross, Kilbarchan.  (Photo: The Cross, Kilbarchan)

Office-Bearers of Kilbarchan U.F. Church, 1907.
Circled on left: Robert Holmes  Circled on right: Andrew Holmes
Circled in front row, seated: Reverend Robert Russell
Source: MacKenzie, 1902.

Geordie and Sarah
George (known as Geordie) was 22 years old when he married Sarah Morton in 1896. (Ref: 1) They were married at the Good Templars Hall, Kilbarchan according to the rites of the United Presbyterian Church.  

The minister was Rev. Robert Russell.  (Photo: Kilbarchan Church Committee of 1907 with Rev. Robert Russell)  Witnesses at the wedding were Jane Morton (Sarah’s older sister) and James Buchanan Houston.

1891 Census showing Holmes' family at 9 Easwald Bank

For a short time after their marriage, Geordie and Sarah lived at 9 Easwald Bank, Kilbarchan where Geordie’s parents and siblings had lived since at least 1891. (Photo 1891 Census) (Photos Easwald Bank)

Easwald Bank, Kilbarchan, circa 1900.
This view dates from about 1900, which was before the extension of the tramway service to the village.  One of the Kilbarchan poets lived at 12 Easwald Bank.  He wrote “Bonnie Barrhill” and “Lillias’ Day”. The latter poem was written in 1896 to welcome the revival of the Lilias’ Day Festival which lapsed only two years later in 1898 and was not celebrated again until 31 years later.  he words of Alexander Cameron’s poem demonstrate his enthusiasm for the revival of this festival:  Welcome, a thousand welcomes rise and greet thee, With open arms we bid thee come, and stay; A thousand hearts are eager to embrace thee, Our long lost darling, lovely Lillias’ day.  James Scott who also lived in Easwald Bank, was the chairman of the Kilbarchan Fete Committee in 1929 and had responsibility for publicising the event.  In 1724 Easwald was written as ‘Oswald’, the meaning of which is thought to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon for ‘east wood’.
Source: MacKenzie, 1902.

Looking at the photo of Easwald Bank from 1900, you are seeing what Geordie and Sarah would have seen in 1896.  Just imagine how they felt, newly wed, aged in their early 20’s and the possibilities of their future ahead.  Would they have thought that after sixteen years of married life, they would be taking their family to the other side of the world to start a new chapter in their lives?

White house in centre is 9 Easwald Bank in 2000.
Photo: John McInnes, 8 July 2000.

9 Easwald Bank, Kilbarchan in July 2000.
This is the house where James and Margaret
Holmes nee Meikle lived with their farmily
(including young Geordie) circa 1880s-1900s.
Photo: John McInnes, 8 July 2000.

First house in Easwald Bank.
These houses are (at least) about 150 years old.
Photo: John McInnes, 8 July 2000.

The photos of Kilbarchan in the year 2000 were taken by John McInnes and he writes:

"Kilbarchan is a lovely little town – a bit ‘prettified’ – as are most of Scotland’s old towns and villages – but pleasant, with many old village features still standing.  As I stood in the road at Low Barholm and Easwald Bank (nearly got run over by a bus twice!) taking my photos, I could see the like of what the village must have looked over 100 years ago.  I spoke to a couple of elderly villagers (it was early Saturday morning) who were happy to chat about the village and its past.  One woman proudly told me she was a “Habbie” having been born and bred in Kilbarchan.  Friendly, down-to-earth people.  It was a pleasure to talk to them." John McInnes, Glasgow, July 2000.



Geordie and Sarah moved to Glasgow shortly after they were married, and lived in tenement buildings similar to these two photos.  

The long vista of Maryhill Road, Glasgow, circa 1960.
Developments like this are typical of the great age of tenement-building in the 1870s.
JM: These are very similar to the tenements in Rosebery Street.
Photo source: unknown, plate 35.

Their first child, Jean, was born on 4 April 1897 at 52 Rosebery Street, Hutchensontown, Glasgow. (Ref: 3) Their second daughter, Peg, was born in 1898. (Ref: 4)

Crown Street looking north from Ballater Street, Glasgow, circa 1900.
The exceptional spaciousness of the streets of the new Gorbals is obvious from this view of the main thoroughfaire of Hutchesontown. It can bee seen that this was not yet a poverty-stricken area and the inhabitants were largely middle-class. JM: Crown Street lay between Morrison Street and Rosebery Street.
Photo source: unknown, plate 26.

By 1902, they were living at 36 Rosebery Street and this was where their third child and eldest son, James Young Holmes, was born on 10 June 1902. (Ref: 5)  This map shows that Rosebery Street is not far from the River Clyde.  The next photo shows one of the main bridges over the River Clyde.

Map showing Rosebery Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow.  North ⇧
JM: Morrison Street about 1 mile west of Rosebery Street. River Clyde marked.

One of the main bridges over the River Clyde.
JM notations: 1) W&R Holmes had an office here. 
2) Steeple of St. Enoch's Church  3) St. Enoch Hotel  4) Dunlop Street 200 yards ⇒

Initially, Geordie may have worked at the S.C.W.S. bakery dept. (U.C.B.S.) in McNeil Street, about ¼ mile from Rosebery Street.  (see Photo 12)

By 1905, Geordie worked at two bakeries in Glasgow – one at 19 Morrison Street and the other at 149 Gloucester Street.  On the home front, Geordie had moved his growing family into 15 Morrison Street, just down the street from one of their bakeries.  (see Photo 15) 

In the year 2000, the site of Geordie’s bakery at 19 Morrison Street in the Tradeston district of Glasgow is a Saab Car Showroom.  (see Photo 10, 11 & 12)

On 2 April 1912 the staff of the bakery presented George with a gold fob watch and their best wishes as he and his family embarked on the next chapter in their lives.

Presented to George Holmes by a few friends. 2.4.1912

Geordie Holmes and Sarah Holmes nee Morton –

Travelled to Australia in 1912

In 1912, George (37) and Sarah (36) traveled to Australia aboard the S.S. Paparoa.  They arrived in Brisbane on 25 May 1912 with their five children, Jane (14), Maggie (13), James (9), George (5) and Agnes (3).   (Jane was known as Jean, Maggie as Peg and Agnes as Nancy.)

On their immigration entry to Queensland, George’s profession is recorded as Vanman.  (see Photo 16)

Six months after their arrival in Brisbane, their youngest daughter, Lillian was born.  Geordie and Sarah moved their family to 169 Kelvin Grove Road about 1914.

1918 saw the arrival of Geordie and Sarah’s youngest of their seven children, William Robert Lind Holmes who was known as Bob Holmes.  A photo of the whole family was taken in 1920.  (Photo 17)

NEXT SECTION: Holmes and Sons Bakers [in Brisbane]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: 
Thank you to John McInnes, Glasgow, who kindly provided photos and information back in 2004 when a previous version of this story was produced.

PHOTO SOURCES:
MacKenzie, Robert Dunbar (1902) Kilbarchan: a parish history.

REFERENCES:
Ref: 1 - Marriage Certificate Information.  Scotland, County of Renfrew, Parish of Kilbarchan (Parish number 568/1, Entry number 8, page 4.) Married on 19 June 1896
George HOLMES – Father: James Holmes Mother: Maggie Meikle
Sarah MORTON – Father: Alexander Morton    Mother: Jane Lawson
Transcript supplied by Members Research Officer from Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society, Glasgow.

Ref: 2 - 1891 Census – 9 Easwald Bank, Kilbarchan  -  HOLMES family

Ref: 3 - Birth registration information for Jane Lawson Holmes (Jean), 4 April 1897, at 52 Rosebery Street, Hutchensontown, Glasgow.

Ref: 4 - Birth registration information for Margaret Meikle Holmes (Peg), 10 October 1898 at 52 Rosebery Street, Hutchensontown, Glasgow.

Ref: 5 - Birth registration information for James Young Holmes, 10 June 1902, at 36 Rosebery Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow.