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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
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, teacher
Children: Marjorie Carlton (Harrison) (16.9.1909 Limuru-1998 Hampshire); Francis Carlton (13 Nov 1910 Burton on Trent-6 Sep 1986 Torbay); Elspeth 'Betty' Carlton (Irwin) (17.4.1914 Nairobi-23.3.1985 Cheltenham); John Carlton (9.8.1916 Nairobi-26 Mar 1959 Naivasha/Nairobi road); son (b. and d. 1 Jan 1918 Nairobi, premature)
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
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.
North - Trading between coast and Nairobi c. 1903; Land Grant application, Kikuyu 1-11-1903, Limuru 9-1-1904
All Saints Church 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.
Transporting all and petrol from Mombasa to Uganda for the Standard Vacuum Oiî Company (Stanvac)
Land Grant application, Kikuyu 1-11-1903, Limuru S-1-1904
F.C Holmes and Co dissolved partnership by mutual consent with John Hodson 7/10/1907
F.C Holmes and Co dissolved partnership by mutual consent with John Hodson 7/10/1907
Advertiser -21/8/1908 - Engagement -Mìss E F. Adamson of Nairobì to Mr F.C. HoImes of Limuru marriage in September
Land - 1909 - F.C. Holmes - Agricultural, 400 acres, Limuru, 9-1-04. Registered 26-1-09
Land - 1909 - F.C. Holmes - Agricultural, 400 acres, Limuru, 9-1-04. Registered 26-1-09
Advertiser - 17/9/1909 - Birth - F.C. Holmes of Limuru - a daughter
Kenya Gazette - Bird Licence Holder Limoru 20/1/1913
Kenya Gazette - European in charge of Police post 1/2/1913, Ukamba Province
Kenya Gazette - Francis Carlton Holmes vs A G A Leakey Civil Case No 43/14, 23/7/1914
Kenya Gazette - Bird Licence Holder Limoru 20/1/1913
Kenya Gazette - European in charge of Police post 1/2/1913, Ukamba Province
Kenya Gazette - Francis Carlton Holmes vs A G A Leakey Civil Case No 43/14, 23/7/1914
Kenya Gazette - F C Holmes & Co vs R. Goodson Civil Case No 10/14. 15/4/1914
Kenya Gazette - Station Stores, Limuru 28/1/1914 General Retail Liquor Licence holder
Kenya Gazette - Station Stores, Limuru 28/1/1914 General Retail Liquor Licence holder
SKP - 1938 - Society of Kenya Pioneers - over 30 years in Colony - arrived June 1904
Kenya Gazette - 7/4/1515 - Liable for Jury service, Dagoretti - F C Holmes
Kenya Gazette - Near Railway Station, Limuru 29/12/1917 General Retail Liquor Licence Holder
Kenya Gazette - Near Railway Station, Limuru 29/12/1917 General Retail Liquor Licence Holder
Kenya Regiment - 293
Electora! Roll - Settler and Merchant. Limuru, 1922
Kenya Gazette - Farm LO 173/1 F C Holmes, Foot and Mouth notice revoked 15/1/1924
Electora! Roll - Settler and Merchant. Limuru, 1922
Kenya Gazette - Farm LO 173/1 F C Holmes, Foot and Mouth notice revoked 15/1/1924
European Juror 1925-1926
F C Holmes and Co Ltd trading 1927
F C Holmes and Co Ltd trading 1927
European Constable 21/8/1928
He sued Stanvac over some business matter and lost having to sell the farm.
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"
Frank had an. operation in 1932 in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Thurston - CO 533, 447/2 - 1934 - F.C. Holmes: petition regarding loss of property
Kenya Land Commission 1934 F C Holmes Part of LO 173, 428 acres, between Tigoni and Ruaraka Rivers
Frank had an. operation in 1932 in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Thurston - CO 533, 447/2 - 1934 - F.C. Holmes: petition regarding loss of property
Kenya Land Commission 1934 F C Holmes Part of LO 173, 428 acres, between Tigoni and Ruaraka Rivers
Application to discharge bankruptcy 14/6/1936
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 l-louse. Kiambu 1/9/49 tc David McArthur Robertson.
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 l-louse. Kiambu 1/9/49 tc David McArthur Robertson.
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