William Ashe Holmes à Court, 2nd Baron Heytesbury

The à Court family were living in Somerset in the early 17th Century. William à Court was married to Susanna Horner, who died in 1654 in Frome. Susanna's grandfather was Sir John Horner, known as Jack, who is supposed to have been the object of the Nursery Rhyme.

"The popular story is that at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries (1536-1539), the Abbot of Glastonbury sent his steward, John Horner, to Henry VIII with the deeds of Mells Manor concealed in a pie. As Jack Horner traveled up to the town in the Abbot's wagon, he lifted the crust of the pie and stole the gift of the manor. When John returned he told the Abbot that the King had given him the gift. The plum in the rhyme was the deed of the Manor of Mells which is still possessed by his descendants. Records show, however, that Thomas Horner purchased the manor."

In 1705 Peirce à Court, a descendant of William à Court, married Elizabeth Ashe. Elizabeth was heir to the Heytesbury Estate, which had been bought by her grandfather, Edward Ashe,in 1641. The Ashe family had become extremely wealthy in the early 17th Century from making woollen cloth in Somerset and selling it in London and abroad, which enabled Edward to buy the 'Manor and Hundred' of Heytesbury from a Thomas Moore. The Manor of Heytesbury had earlier been in the possession of the Hungerford family since at least the 13th Century, but when Walter Hungerford (created First Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury in 1536) was executed at the Tower of London in 1540/1 it is believed that the Heytesbury Estates were confiscated by the crown. The Manor of Heytesbury (and apparently Tytherington) was granted to Henry Wheeler by the Crown in 1553, who later sold it to the Moore family.

Since Elizabeth Ashe had no male sibling she retained her maiden name on marrying Peirce, and hence the family surname became Ashe à Court. Peirce and Elizabeth had six children, one of whom was William Ashe à Court, born in 1708. William became an Army General and married Annabella Vernon in 1747. An ancestor of Annabella's, Henry Vernon, was in 1648 given a silk morning cap by Charles I as a gesture of thanks when the king stayed at his house in Farnham, Surrey, when on his way to his execution in London. The cap was passed down the generations and is now on display in a local museum.

William and Annabella had a son William Peirce, who was born in 1747. William was a Colonel in the Army, and was made baronet in 1795. William Pierce married Laetitia Wyndham. Their first child, also named Laetitia, died in childbirth with still born twins in 1810 at the age of 31. A memorial to her resides in the family pew in Heytesbury Church. Their second child was William, born in 1779, who was a diplomat and held a number of appointments, including Envoy to the Barbary States (1813), Envoy to Naples (1814), Envoy to Spain (1822), Ambassador to Portugal (1824), Ambassador to Russia (1828-1832), Viceroy of Ireland (1844-1846). He was created First Baron Heytesbury in 1828.

William married Maria Bouverie in 1808. Maria died in 1844 in Dublin while William was Viceroy of Ireland. Their eldest son was the William Ashe à Court who married Elizabeth Holmes.

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William Henry Ashe à Court 2nd Baron Heytesbury was born in Parish of Marylebone 11/07/1809. William died 21/04/1891 in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, at 81 years of age. His body was interred 1891 in Heytesbury, Wiltshire.

He married Elizabeth Worsley Holmes in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 3/10/1833.

Elizabeth was born in Calbourne, Isle of Wight 14/12/1814. Elizabeth was the daughter of Leonard Thomas Worsley Holmes 9th Baronet and Anne Redston Delgarno. Elizabeth died 30/06/1874 in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, at 59 years of age. Her body was interred 1874 in Heytesbury, Wiltshire. She was baptized 18/12/1814. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 1841. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 30/03/1851. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1861. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1871.

He was baptized in Manchester Street, Marylebone, 08/1809. Religion: religion unknown. Private Baptism at Manchester Street, Marylebone

He was christened in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 08/1809. He was listed as head of household in the 1841 census in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight. He was listed as head of household in the 1851 census in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight. He was listed as head of household in the 1861 census in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire. He was listed as head of household in the 1871 census in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire. He was listed as a brother-in-law in the census report in Ewhurst House, Ewhurst, Hampshire, 1881. He was listed as head of household in the 1891 census in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire. William's will was probated 4/06/1891. Privately baptised at Manchester Street, Marylebone and christened afterwards at Heytesbury. Assumed additional name of Holmes on 14 October 1833 after his marriage with Elizabeth. MP for Isle of Wight 1837-1847.

St John's College, Cambridge Entered: Michs. 1828 More Information: Adm. nobleman at ST JOHN'S, Apr. 25, 1828. School, Eton. Matric. Michs. 1828; M.A. 1831. Succeeded as 2nd Baron Heytesbury, May 31, 1860. Brother of Frederick A. (1837); father of the next and of Herbert H. (above). (G.E.C., ed. Gibbs.)

Obituary (Isle of Wight County Press 1891):

Death of a former member for the Island - The bearer of a name which has many associations with the Island passed away on Tuesday in the person of the Rt. Hon. William Henry Ashe A'Court Holmes, second Baron Heytesbury. The deceased peer, who was in his 82nd year, was in early life, as Mr. A'Court Holmes, closely identified with Isle of Wight politics.

In 1837, when 28, he stood for the Island in the Conservative interest, his Liberal opponent being the Hon. C.D. Pelham, whom he defeated by 68 votes (629 against 560). At the election in 1841 he was returned unopposed and he continued to represent the Island until 1847.

William Henry Ashe à Court, 2nd Baron Heytesbury and Elizabeth Worsley Holmes had the following children:

child + 45 i. William Leonard Holmes à Court was born 19/01/1835.

Frederick Holmes à Court

child 46 ii. Frederick Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 26/08/1839. Frederick died 1917 in Australia, at 82 years of age. He was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 22/09/1839. He was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 1841. He was listed as a pupil in the census report in Rickwoods, Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, 1851. He was listed on a passenger list in Golden City - Brisbane, 3/01/1865.

child 47 iii. Elizabeth Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 3/08/1840. Elizabeth died 24/08/1902 at 62 years of age. She married Edward Wilkes Waud 16/06/1859. Edward was born in Wentbridge, Yorkshire 30/09/1833. Edward was the son of Edward Waud and Mary Dorothy Sayle. Edward died 1904 in Montreal, at 71 years of age. He was listed as a resident in the census report in Park Row, Leeds, Yorkshire, 1841. Edward was a boarder 30/03/1851 in Eton, Buckinghamshire. He was listed as head of household in the 1861 census in Whitkirk, Yorkshire. Edward immigrated, 1871. Destination: destination unknown. Edward was Head of Household 1901 in St. Antoine, Montreal, Quebec. (See Edward Wilkes Waud for the continuation of this line.)

She was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 30/08/1840. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 1841. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 30/03/1851. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Whitkirk, Yorkshire, 1861. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1871. Elizabeth immigrated, 1873. Destination: destination unknown. She was listed as a resident in the census report in St. Antoine, Montreal, Quebec, 1901.

Henry Holmes à Court

child 48 iv. Henry Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 26/06/1841. Henry died 15/01/1885 in Mentone, at 43 years of age. He was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 8/08/1841. He was listed as a pupil in the census report in Rickwoods, Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, 30/03/1851. From The Times, May 15, 1878

We take the following from the Panama Star and Herald of the 21st ult.

"Her Britannic Majesty's steam sloop of war Osprey, Hon. Henry Holmes a'Court commanding, left this bay on the evening of the 18th inst. for a cruise on the Central American coast. The object of her visit is to look after British interests in the various ports and to extend the protection of the flag in cases where they, or those of subjects of friendly foreign Powers may be imperilled. The recent purchases of war steamers, arms &c., by various of the Central American Governments have alarmed the foreign merchants, who apprehend war, with the probabilities of the destruction of property won on both sides. Although protected by a neutral flag the presence of a vessel like the Osprey will be an additional security to the property and lives of foreigners in the various ports."

From The Times, January 8, 1885

Captain the Hon. Henry Holmes a'Court (sic), R.N., died on Sunday, at Mentone, at the early age of 43. The deceased was the third son of Lord Heytesbury, by his marriage with Elizabeth, eldest daughter and heiress of the late Sir Leonard Thomas Worsley-Holmes, of Westover, in the Isle of Wight, and was born in June 1841. He entered the Royal Navy in 1854, was employed in the China expedition of 1858-68, for which service he obtained the medal with clasp, and was promoted to a captaincy in 1881.

Emily Holmes à Court

child 49 v. Emily Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 14/09/1842. Emily died 3/01/1868 at 25 years of age. Her body was interred January 1868 in Calbourne, Isle of Wight. She married Edward Donough O'Brien 14th Baron Inchiquin in Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 21/08/1862. Edward was born in Dublin, Ireland 14/05/1839. Edward was the son of Lucius O'Brien 13th Baron Inchiquin and Mary FitzGerald. Edward died 8/01/1900 at 60 years of age. He was listed as a resident in the census report in Clarendon Place, Leamington Priors, Warwickshire, 1841. He was listed as head of household in the 1871 census in 9 Devonshire Terrace, Paddington, London. He was listed as head of household in the 1881 census in Hereford House, Westminster, London. (See Edward Donough O'Brien 14th Baron Inchiquin for the continuation of this line.)

She was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 9/10/1842. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 30/03/1851. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1861.

Charles George Holmes à Court

child + 50 vi. Charles George Holmes à Court was born 8/12/1843.

child + 51 vii. Edward Alexander Holmes à Court was born 23/10/1845.

child 52 viii. Gertrude Anne Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 8/04/1847. Gertrude died 1/09/1933 at 86 years of age. She married Hugh Hamersley 25/01/1882. Hugh was born in Pyrton Manor, Tetsworth, Oxford 1/08/1814. Hugh was the son of Hugh Hamersley and Margaret Bevan. Hugh died 2/11/1884 in Southsea, Hampshire, at 69 years of age. He was listed as head of household in the 1841 census in Bourne, Holdenhurst, Hampshire. He was listed as head of household in the 1851 census in Haseley House, Great Haseley, Oxfordshire. He was listed as head of household in the 1861 census in Church Manor House, Pyrton, Oxford. He was listed as head of household in the 1871 census in Church Manor House, Pyrton, Oxford. He was listed as head of household in the 1881 census in Hilfield, Bath Road, Christchurch, Hampshire.

She was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 9/05/1847. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Westover House, Westover, Isle of Wight, 30/03/1851. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1861. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1871. She was listed as a visitor and niece in the census report in Ewhurst House, Ewhurst, Hampshire, 1881.

Arthur Holmes à Court, c1863 at Heytesbury House, Wiltshire.

child + 53 ix. Arthur Wyndham Holmes à Court was born 7/05/1848.

child 54 x. Leonard Worsley Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 3/08/1849. Leonard died 23/11/1899 at 50 years of age. He was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 2/09/1849. 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 as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1871. He was listed as a resident in the census report in Beverley Manor Township, Augusta County, Virginia, 5/06/1880. Listed as farm labourer in 1880 US census. Worked on Herberts farm.

child 55 xi. Walter Ashe Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 14/07/1850. Walter died 1930 in Canada, at 79 years of age. He was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 8/09/1850. 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, 1871. He resided in Swift Current, Saskatchewan 1891. Walter was Head of Household in 1906 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Found immigration information for 1870, but he was in the uk 1871 census. Married to Annie b c 1865 in England (1906 Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Albert Census).

Herbert Holmes à Court, c1863 at Heytesbury House, Wiltshire.

child 56 xii. Herbert Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 23/10/1851. Herbert died 1921 at 69 years of age. He married Anna Frances Bray in Hinkley Spring Church, Augusta County, Virginia, 27/05/1879. Anna was born in Virginia c1854. Anna was the daughter of James Bray. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Richmond, Virginia, 1860. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Richmond, Virginia, 15/08/1870. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Beverley Manor Township, Augusta County, Virginia, 5/06/1880. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Homestead, Pennsylvania, 1900.

He was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 23/11/1851. Herbert immigrated, 1875. Destination: destination unknown. Herbert was listed as the head of a family on the 1880 Census in Beverley Manor Township, Augusta County, Virginia. Herbert was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census in Homestead, Pennsylvania. He was listed as a resident in the census report in 225 W. 10th Avenue, Homestead, Pennsylvania, 1910. Herbert was a patient in 1920 in St. Barnabus Free Home, Richland, Pennsylvania. Name: the Hon. Herbert Holmes a'Court College: TRINITY Entered: Michs. 1870 Born: Oct. 23, 1851 More Information: Adm. pens. at TRINITY, July 9, 1870. 9th s. of William Henry Ashe Baron Heytesbury, of Heytesbury, Wilts. B. Oct. 23, 1851, at Calbourne, Isle of Wight. School, Marlborough. Matric. Michs. 1870. Went to Virginia, U.S.A. Married there. Died s.p. 1921. (Burke, P. and B.)

Listed as Brother-in -law in 1910 census with:

Edwin B Dolen 44 Head b. VA Loris B Dolen 23 Daughter b. VA Ford H Dolen 20 Son b. VA Edwin T Dolen 17 Son b. VA Anna E Dolin 68 Mother b. VA Mabel M Dolen 34 Sister b. VA

child 57 xiii. Edith Maria Charlotte Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 15/07/1853. Edith died 18/04/1854 in Westover, Isle of Wight, at less than one year of age. Her body was interred April 1854 in Calbourne, Isle of Wight. She was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 14/08/1853.

Margaret Holmes à Court, c1863 at Heytesbury House, Wiltshire.

child 58 xiv. Margaret Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 25/01/1855. Margaret died 26/02/1933 at 78 years of age. Her body was interred 1933 in Heytesbury, Wiltshire. She was baptized in Calbourne, Isle of Wight, 25/02/1855. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1861. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1871. She was listed as head of household in the 1881 census in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire. She was listed as a resident in the census report in Heytesbury House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire, 1891.

child 59 xv. Alfred Holmes à Court was born in Westover, Isle of Wight 12/06/1856. Alfred died 26/06/1856 in Westover, Isle of Wight, at less than one year of age. His body was interred June 1856 in Calbourne, Isle of Wight. He was baptized in Westover, Isle of Wight, 12/06/1856. Privately by Reverend A. Hoare