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Name: HOLMES, Francis Carlton 'Frank'

Birth Date: 15.12.1881 Barnsley

Death Date: 5.6.1952 Limuru

Nationality: Canadian

First Date: 1904 August

Last Date: 1952

Profession: Traded between coast and Nairobi; later became general merchant and hotelier

Area: 1903 Bona Vista Limuru, Nairobi

Married: In Nairobi 26 Sep 1908 Emily Frances Adamson b. 11 Jan 1877 Burton upon Trent, d. 10 Feb 1937 Limuru

Children: Marjorie Carlton (Limuru 16.9.1909-1998); Francis Carlton (13 Nov 1910 Burton on Trent-1986 Torbay); Elspeth 'Betty' Carlton (Irwin) (17.4.1914 Nairobi-23.3.1985 Cheltenham); John Carlton (9.8.1916 Nairobi-26 Mar 1959 Limuru)

Book Reference: Gillett, SE, EAHB 1905, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, North, Playne, Pioneers, Drumkey, Thurston, Red 22, Land, Advertiser, EAHB 1906, Gazette, EAHB 1907, SKP, Barnes, Leader14, R.H. Wheeler, Red Book 1912

General Information:

SE - F.C. Holmes - Limoru - July 1907
North - Land Grant application 1/11/1903 Kikuyu
Playne - The career of F.C. Holmes furnishes an example of what can be done by industry and enterprise, for he started with no capital having arrived in BEA with £50 from S. Africa. Previous to that he had experience in Canada. He occupied Bona Vista Farm in 1903, and built the wood and iron dwelling-house on the present site in 1907. Bona Vista is situated about a mile from Limoru Station, and extends to 640 acres. There is sufficient spring water for home use, good timber, and grazing enough for a limited number of cattle. Wattle trees have been planted for ornamental purposes only. There is a flour mill in the station yard at Limoru, 35 ft. by 14 ft., with horse-gear power worked by oxen, but later on an engine will be erected. ....... He has done a lot of fuel contracting for the railway, and is agent for the Uplands of EA Syndicate, Ltd., for buying pigs etc.
Thurston - CO 533, 447/2 - 1934 - F.C. Holmes: petition regarding loss of property
Land - 1909 - F.C. Holmes - Agricultural, 400 acres, Limuru, 9-1-04, Registered 28-1-09
Advertiser - 21/8/1908 - Engagement - Miss E.F. Adamson of Nairobi to Mr F.C. Holmes of Limoru - marriage in September
Advertiser - 17/9/1909 - Birth - F.C. Holmes of Limoru - a daughter
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Dagoretti - F.C. Holmes
North - Trading between coast and Nairobi c. 1903; Land Grant application, Kikuyu 1-11-1903, Limuru 9-1-1904
SKP - 1938 - Society of Kenya Pioneers - over 30 years in Colony - arrived June 1904 - Limuru
Barnes - Limuru Cemetery - Francis Carlton Holmes, 15 Dec 1881 - 5 June 1952 AND John Carlton Holmes, 9 Aug 1916 - 26 Mar 1959 
Leader14 - Business Register - F.C. Holmes & Co., Storekeepers, Butchers, and Agents, Limoru
Richard Wheeler - F.C. Holmes died of an accidental overdose of an antimalarial drug (quinine?), the tablet strength had been increased by 4 times but he did not know. It took a week for him to die of major organ failure (liver & kidneys). The family did not tell him why he was dying. It would have upset him enormously to realise that it was his own fault. Old FC Holmes worked transporting oil; and petrol from Mombasa to Uganda for the Vacuum Oil Company (Stanvac). He sued them over some business matter and lost, having to sell the farm and move to Nairobi where he and Emily Frances Holmes ran a hotel/boarding house.
Red Book 1912 - F.C. Holmes - Nairobi
Gazette - 29/10/1919 - Register of Voters - Kikuyu - Francis Carlton Holmes, Settler and Merchant, Limoru and Emily Frances Holmes, Married, Limoru
Richard Wheeler - European Constable 21/8/1928 He sued Stanvac over some business matter and lost having to sell the farm Will dated 2/9/1931 - "My eldest son Frank gets nothing" Plot 26/1 Forest Inn, Kiambu Road Liquor Licence Holder - Edward Albert Holmes Sold Station Stores Limuru - 1946 - to Vera Stewart, Margery Belling and Colin Campbell Sold Hotel business at premises on Plot No. LR 26/1 under the name or style of Claremont Road House, Kiambu 1/9/1949 to David McArthur Robertson
EAHB 1905 - Hill Croft, Nairobi.
KAD 1922 - Importers & Exporters, Bacon Factory and Residential Hotel, Wholesale & Retail Stores.
Red 25 - Holmes Residential Farm, Limuru
Gazette - 28/1/1914 - Application for General Retail Liquor Licence - F.C. Holmes, Station Stores, Limoru
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Kiambu Voters Roll

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