Henry Holmes Land Holdings

A 1891 survey of Madison Parish, Louisiana shows two parcels of land belonging to H. D. Holmes. Almost certainly, these parcels were owned by Henry Bry Holmes and constituted the Wayside Plantation property. The two parcels are:
• the North one-half of the northeast one-quarter of Section 36 in Township 17 North of Range 12 East; on the north, this property borders Canal Bayou; and
• the Southwest one-quarter of Section 45 in Township 17 North in Range 13 East, less a small tract in the southeast of the southwest one-quarter of Section 45, plus a small tract in the northwest of the southeast one-quarter of Section 45; on the south this property borders Walnut Bayou (present-day Brushy Bayou).

In 1881, Henry Bry Holmes paid tax on land at Delta in Madison Parish, Louisiana, where he served as a clerk of the court (117). Before 1885, Henry Holmes acquired an additional 533 acres of land in Madison Parish, Louisiana (117). In 1885, he paid tax on 320 acres of land known as Beulah Plantation in Township 18 North in Range 12 East. This 320 acre parcel was valued at $290. In 1885 he also paid tax on 213 acres of land known as Eureka Plantation and located in parts of Township 16 North of Range 12 East, Township 17 North in Range 12 East, and Township 17 North in Range 13 East (117).

In 1879 and 1881, the Estate of Thomas Warren Briscoe, Sr. was taxed for 800 acres of land known as Eureka Plantation (117). In 1879 the property was valued at $9,000, and in 1881, at $8,500. In 1881, tax assessments specified the 800 acres of Eureka Plantation as located in Township 16 North in Range 13 East and in Township 17 North in Range 12 East.

In 1885 and 1890, Florence Claiborne Briscoe and Elizabeth Moore Briscoe were assessed for tax on 363 acres of land known as Eureka Plantation, located within Township 16 North in Range 13 East and Township 17 North in Range 12 East. Florence and Elizabeth Briscoe were daughters, and the only children, of Thomas Warren Briscoe, Sr. and Margaret (Scott) Briscoe.

Apparently, Florence and Elizabeth Briscoe retained 363 acres of the Eureka Plantation after selling 213 acres to Henry Bry Holmes, leaving 224 acres of the 800 acres held in 1879 and 1881 by the Estate of Thomas W. Briscoe unaccounted for.

Apparently, Henry Bry Holmes acquired land that became Wayside Plantation after 1881, when the Estate of Thomas Warren Briscoe, Sr. was assessed for tax on the property, and 1885, when tax on a 213 acre parcel was assessed to Henry Holmes.

The 1891 survey of Madison Parish does not identify Henry Bry Holmes with land in Township 16 North of Range 12 East. Presumably, he sold the parcel in Township 16 North in Range 12 East before 18991.

Sources

117. Tax Rolls, Madison Parish, Louisiana. Richard P. Sevier, “Madison Parish, Louisiana Historical and Genealogical Data,” 1999. (URL: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lamadiso/index.htm)

488. Dawson, F. M., and W. M. Washburn. “A Map Showing the Location, Acreage and Name of Owner Together with the General Topographical Features of all the Land Situated in Madison Parish, Louisiana.” Aug. Gast Bank Note & Litho. Co., St. Louis, Missouri, 1891. U.S. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
(URL: https://lccn.loc.gov/2012592323)

1860 U.S. Federal Census
H. B. Holmes
Monroe, Ouchita Parish, Louisiana
15 Oct 1860
H. B. Holmes, a: 22, b: Louisiana (Gentleman)

1870 U.S. Federal Census
H. B. Holmes Household
Ouachita, Louisiana, USA
Post Office: Monroe
Ward 3
29 Jul 1870
H. B. Holmes, a: 32, b: Louisiana (Farmer)
+Katy Holmes, a: 25, b: Louisiana
$1,000 personal worth

1880 U.S. Federal Census
Henry B. Holmes Household
Delta, Madison Parish, Louisiana
15 Jun 1880
Henry B. Holmes, a: 41, b: Louisiana (Clerk of the Court)
Father b: North Carolina, Mother b: Louisiana
+S. K. Holmes, a: 32, b: Mississippi
Father b: Virginia, Mother b: Mississippi
Willie S. Holmes, a: 7, b: Louisiana
A. J. Holmes, a: 3, b: Louisiana

1900 U.S. Federal Census
Henry B. Holmes Household
Madison Parish, Louisiana
Police Jury Ward 4
17 Jun 1900
Henry B. Holmes, a: 62, b: Louisiana (Farmer)
Father b: North Carolina, Mother b: Louisiana
+Kate S. Holmes, a: 58, b: Mississippi
Father b: Virginia, Mother b: Mississippi
William S. Holmes, a: 27, b: Louisiana
Amey J. Holmes, a: 22, b: Louisiana
Ward 4, Township 17N, Range 12E

1910 U.S. Federal Census
H. B. Holmes Household
Tallulah, Madison Parish, Louisiana
Police Jury Ward 4
Beach Street
18 May 1910
H. B. Holmes, a: 73, b: Louisiana (Planter)
Father b: Louisiana, Mother b: Louisiana
Will S. Holmes, a: 37, b: Louisiana (Attorney)
Father b: Louisiana, Mother b: Mississippi
Amie Holmes, a: 30, b: Louisiana
Father b: Louisiana, Mother b: Mississippi

Henry Holmes may have died 25 Nov 1922 in Geneva County, Alabama. (Source: Alabama Deaths, 1908-1959; State of Alabama. Index of Vital Records for Alabama: Deaths, 1908-1959. Montgomery, AL, USA: State of Alabama Center for Health Statistics, Record Services Division; Ancestry.com; Certificate 324; Roll 1; Volume 10.)