John S. Holmes papers

Three-quarters of the papers are those of John S. Holmes (1762-1821), of Middletown Township, Monmouth County, N.J. He was for many years concerned in a general store at Holmdel (then Baptisttown), located in that part of Middletown which now forms part of Holmdel Township. At one time the firm was Holmes & Schenck (ca. 1795-96), and in the following years, until after 1800, he was apparently the sole proprietor. After associating with his son Daniel, 1812-18, as John S. Holmes & Son (or John S. Holmes & Co.), he engaged in farming for several years prior to his death in 1821. A blacksmithing business had been conducted (presumably with hired labor) in connection with the store, and there is evidence also of secondary business associations (e.g., with John Beers, dealing in grain). He was a member of the state General Assembly, 1810-11 and 1813-14. The present papers include various personal bills, letters, legal documents, and many business records of John S. Holmes, but there is nothing relating to his political activities. His father-in-law was Col. Daniel Hendrickson (1736-1797), of Shrewsbury Township, surveyor, who commanded the 3rd Regiment of Monmouth militia during the Revolution, served in the New Jersey Provincial Congress, 1775, and was a member of the state General Assembly 1782-85 (speaker in 1784), sheriff 1788-(1789?). Several items of Daniel Hendrickson in the John S. Holmes papers include four inventories deriving from his function as sheriff.

Daniel Holmes (1792-1851), son of John S., was born at Holmdel and engaged with his father in the general store, 1812-18, as seen above. He then removed to Middletown Point (now Matawan), joining with Holmes Van Mater in the firm of Van Mater & Holmes (1818-21). Primarily a general store business, the firm was concerned also in the running of three sloops, with freight and passongers, between Middletown Point and New York: the "Franklin", the "Gold Finder"; and the "Sea Gull". Upon the death of his father in the fall of 1821, Daniel Holmes took over the farm, which he maintained in the following years, also being involved to some extent in a general store at Holmdel. He served as sheriff, 1828-(1830?), and was a member of the 1844 state constitutional convention. His papers preserved here relate chiefly to his business activities through 1821 (many accounts were not settled until later , however), together with a number of personal items such as bills, notes, and the like. There is nothing about the 1844 convention or indeed related to any political activity, except a very few notations and fragments associated with his duties as sheriff. Virtually nothing concerning his business operations following the Van Mater & Holmes partnership is found. In the 1830's and 1840's, he served as guardian of Ann D. Herbert and was administrator of Hendrick H. Smock's estate.

Joseph H. Holmes (1824-1892), son of Daniel, succeeded his father on the farm. His own son Daniel assisted him for a time.

The John S. Holmes papers consist of 28 bound volumes and 803 loose items. They were purchased May 29, 1935, from Miss Edna M. Netter (dealer), who presumably obtained then from descendants of the family still living in Monmouth County. It is not known whether the original accession included more than the present Holmes papers. Soon after their arrival, the bound volumes were removed and placed with the library's account book collection as numbers 10-11, 13, 16-18, 32, 48-65, 211-12. The loose material was kept together as the Holmes Fanily Papers. Detailed arrangement and analysis of the present reassembled group was completed July 19, 1951, after approximately a full week's work.

The papers have been arranged in five main divisions, generally paralleling their descent through successive generations: (1) John S. Holmes papers; (2) Daniel Holmes papers; (3) Joseph H. Holmes papers; (4) Daniel Hendrickson papers; (5) Miscellany. Within each series, the arrangement is chronological.