Charles George Holmes à Court

Charles George Holmes à Court (William Henry Ashe 9 à Court, William 8, William Peirce 7 Ashe à Court, William 6 à Court, Peirce 5, John 4, John 3, William 2, William 1) was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 8/12/1843.

Charles died 10/01/1924 in Keeper's Corner, Horley, Surrey, UK at 80 years of age. His body was interred January 1924 in Heytesbury, Wiltshire.

He married four times.

He married firstly Mary Anderson in St. John's Church, Brisbane, 8/04/1874. Mary was born c1852. Mary was the daughter of John Henry Anderson. Mary died 22/02/1875 in child birth in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, at 22 years of age.

He married secondly Mary West Howe in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Qld, 12/04/1877. Mary was born in Glenlee, Cumberland, NSW, Australia 1/03/1857. Mary was the daughter of William Howe. Mary died 29/10/1889 in Toowoomba, Queensland, at 32 years of age.

He married thirdly Martha Clowes 01/01/1895. Martha was born c1855. Martha died 22 June 1899 at 43 years of age.

He married fourthly Mary Rae Johnstone Jenkins 26/06/1901. Mary was born 20/10/1859. She married firstly Henry Ralfe a barrister from Tasmania and bore 3 children. Gwladys, Raymond and Henry Ralfe. Mary died 28/12/1944 in Manor House, Yetminster, at 85 years of age. Her funeral was held in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 3/01/1945.

He was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 7/01/1844. Religion: religion unknown.

He was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 30/03/1851. He was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1861.

He was listed on a passenger list in Light of the Age - Brisbane, 27/01/1864.

Barrister at Law, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

Charles George Holmes à Court and Mary Anderson had the following child:

Alexander Charles Holmes à Court was born in Heytesbury, Wiltshire 22/02/1875. Alexander died 14/11/1875 in Toowong, Brisbane, Qld, at less than one year of age. He was baptized in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 17/03/1875. Also have 24/11/1875 as death date.

Charles George Holmes à Court and Mary West Howe had the following 3 children:

1. Harold Charles Holmes à Court was born in Toowong, Brisbane, Qld 1/01/1878. Harold died 3/03/1882 in Toowong, Brisbane, Qld, at 4 years of age.

2. Captain Reginald Ashe Holmes à Court was born 7/12/1879.

3. Alan Worsley Holmes à Court was born 19/06/1887.

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Charles George Holmes à Court, parliamentary official and barrister in the Supreme Court, was born 8 December 1843 at the Isle of Wight.

He arrived in Brisbane 1864 and farmed for twelve years.?

He was an aide-de-camp to Governor Cairns, clerk assistant in the Legislative Council (1877-1896) and a clerk assistant in the Legislative Assembly (1896-1908).

Charles died 10/01/1924 in Keeper's Corner, Horley, Surrey (Information taken from: A biographical register 1788-1939, compiled and edited by H. J. Gibney and Ann G. Smith, Vol.1, 1987)

Bookmarkhttp://trove.nla.gov.au/work/36930455

Death Notice - The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939) Sat 26 Jan 1924 p15

HON. C.G. HOLMES A'COURT DEAD. LONDON, January 15.

The death is announced of the Hon. Charles George Holmes a Court, formerly Clerk of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, at the age of 81 years. Like his predecessor in office, the Hon. Charles G. Holmes a'Court lived most of his life in the atmosphere of Parliament. There have only been three Clerks of the Legislative Assembly in Queensland—the late Mr. L. A. Bernays, C.M.G.,

The late Hon. C. G. Holmes a'Court, and Mr C. A. Bernays. Mr L. A. Bernays was the flrst Clerk, and held that office until his death in 1908, a period of nearly 30 years, while Mr Holmes a'Court's actual association with the Queensland Parliament dated from the year 1877.

When the Hon. Charles Holmes a'Court arrived in Queensland be was a tall, ambitious young man, 21 years of age, with splendid educational equipment. He was a native of the Isle of Wight and had been educated in one of England's great universities.

He came to Queensland with the intention of becoming a pastoralist, but anybody who has read much about the pastoral industry in this State in its early years will know-how: heart-breaking were the difficulties. Mr Holmes a'Court, however, was associated with the pastoral industry for about 12 years, but finally abandoned that occupation to become aide-de-camp to Governor Cairns.

In the year 1877, he was appointed Clerk Assistant to the Legislative Council and held that post till the year 1896 when he was transferred to a similar office in .the Legislative Assembly, under the direction of Mr L. A. Bernays. Mr. Bernays and Mr Holmes a'Court had much in common, and it is doubtful if ever one man of distinct and impressive personality handed down a mantle of office to a.successor on whom it fitted so splendidly.

It has been frequently said is the House that one merely had to close one's eyes when Mr Holmes a'Court was reading the resolutions of the Committee or other documents, and one could imagine oneself having been thrown back into the days when Mr I.A. Bernays was Clerk.

The voice, the intonation, and the method were identical, besides which Mr Holmes a'Court had exactly the same splendid reverence for the dignity of the House. Mr Holmes a'Court succeeded to the office of Clerk of the Assembly in November 1908, after. the death of Mr Bernays, while Mr C A, Bexnays, then a member of the "Hansard" gallery, subsequently became Assistant Clerk, and on the resignation of Mr Holmes a'Court succeeded him as Clerk of Parliament.

In private life, Mr.Holmes a'Court was a gentleman, Approachable at all times by any member of Parliament, or-any Pressman in the gallery. He was a very fine conversationalist, in the quietness of his own office, and dearly loved a chat about literature or art or kindred subjects.- His knowledge- of parliamentary procedure was unsurpassed. The late Hon. C. G. Holmes a'Court was the fourth son of the third Baron Hevtesbury, whose family name was Holmes a'Court.