Frances Ann Holmes and James W Ballantyne

If you go to our "About Us" page, you will see listed there the twelve children of Daniel and Charlotte Holmes. Frances Ann is their first child. This is an overview of her life that I have gleaned from several sources.

Riverglade, New Brunswick

Frances Ann Holmes was born to Daniel and Charlotte Hoyt Holmes on February 22, 1837. She was christened, according to the Sussex Anglican church records, on the 25th of March, 1837. Her father was Baptist, her mother, Anglican.

Somehow, she met Mr. James W. Ballantyne of Smith Falls, Ontario. James was born in Scotland on July 9, 1832 or 33, to Adam and Janet Wilson Ballantyne, and they married in Westmorland County, New Brunswick (probably in Riverglade or Petitcodiac) in 1860.

Smith Falls, Ontario

In an anonymous article (probably written by a sibling) about James' cousin, Robert Ballantyne, I read these statements. (Brackets mine)

"In an unpretentious country home in Smith Falls, Ontario . . . "
"She (Sarah Louise Holmes) made a long visit to her sister, who was married to his cousin and lived in the house, enlarged and remodeled, in which he was born . . ."
"Attracted by the prospects of success to be won in the new Western States, he (Robert) joined some friends going to Iowa at the close of the Civil War in 1865."
"At this time our sister (Frances) and her husband (James) had gone to Iowa."

(That last statement is what makes me think the article was written by a child of Daniel and Charlotte.)

James' uncle William, also from Smith Falls, emigrated to Iowa in 1860, about the time that James and Fanny married.

Bear Creek and Brooklyn, Iowa

In 1870, James and Fanny are living in Brooklyn, Iowa. James is a brick mason. They have two daughters, twins Ann/Anna/Annie and Jessie, age 7.  In 1880 they are in Bear Creek, Iowa, and he is a farmer. Their two daughters, Annie and Jessie, are listed as 16 years old, and they have been joined by Charlotte/Lottie and Margaret D/Maggie.  Charlotte is 8, and Maggie, 5. In 1885, they are still in Bear Creek. Annie is no longer in the household, Jessie is 21, Lottie is 13 and Maggie is 10.

Anna  married Mr. Charles H Goodenough in Brooklyn on September 10, 1884. She was 21, he was 25. Charles was the son of Sylvanus and Polly Ann Palmer Goodenough.  He was born in Wisconsin in 1859.

In 1900, James and Frances are in Brooklyn, and he is a mason. His daughters, Jessie and Lottie, are still at home. Jessie is a dressmaker and Lottie is a housekeeper. Maggie is no longer on the census. She is buried in Brooklyn, but there is no record of the date. As of now, until proven otherwise, I will assume she died between 1885 and 1900. Also listed on the census is a daughter is Mabel, born February 1886.

Lottie/Charlotte was christened May 26, 1872, in the Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, Iowa. I do not know if she married and when or where she died.

(Paula Holmes and I have studied Mabel and we believe that she is actually the daughter of Jessie.)

According to Iowa Death Records, James W Ballantyne died on December 23, 1906 in Brooklyn, Iowa. He was buried on the 24th in the IOOF, now the Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery, in Brooklyn, Iowa. Beside him is his wife, Frances A, who died October 26, 1902. An infant son died and was buried in the same cemetery on February 10, 1871, and Maggie, possibly their daughter, no date, is there as well.

I do not have a photograph of James W and Frances Ann Holmes Ballantyne. I would love to have one, if anyone can share.

Sources:
On line: an article entitled "William Ballantyne," censuses, Scotland Births and Baptisms, Iowa Deaths and Burials, Marriages,  Find a Grave, PANB

Sussex Anglican Parish Records

Credit is due to Sandi for her input and editing.  Karen, on ancestry,  supplied information, and Paula did some research on this family.