Holmes Family Website

Richard Quinn - Gold Rush Miner?

2011-10-19T17:34:00.002+01:00

For a while now I was intrigued by an entry in the registration of the marriage of my great great grandparents Tom Reale and Mary Ann Quinn in Waterford in 1867.

In it Mary Ann's father Richard's occupation is given as 'gold digger'. Initially I thought it might be 'gold dipper' relating to some role in an electroplating factory. But I could find no reference to that type of factory in the Waterford area and a close inspection of the entry indicates that it more than likely reads 'digger'.

It then occurred to me that the California Gold Rush took place in the years between Mary Ann's birth in 1846 and her marriage in 1867. So I looked in US censuses for California in those years and found a number of references to a Richard Quinn a miner living in the Gold Rush town of Poker Flat in Sierra County, California. This Richard Quinn was Irish and married though not living with a family.

Further references have Richard Quinn buying the "Waterford Tunnel" claim in Poker Flat in 1867 and selling it again in 1884 with a store and half a cabin for $1,500 to Thomas Roach. In the period he was there he also was a Delivery Man delivering meat and other supplies to nearby mining camps and ran a General Merchandise Store in Poker Flat. He became a US citizen in 1867.

Co-incidence? Possibly..... but I think not. I think it entirely possible that either the aftermath of the famine or news of the Gold Rush prompted him to leave Waterford for California. Possibly his wife had died and he left his young family with relatives. Indeed the fact that Mary Ann was aware in 1867 that her father was a 'Gold Digger' would indicate that he remained in contact with Waterford maybe even sending money home.

Poker Flat is now one of many Gold Rush era Ghost Towns in Sierra County, California. The abandoned house in the picture is all that remains of the settlement.

These links here and here give some more info on the place.

I know that this Richard Quinn lived in Poker Flat from 1860 until at least 1886 though I don't know either when he arrived or when he died.

I hope some day to prove that he is my great3 grandfather but for the moment will have to settle for the balance of probabilities.

Vitus Zimber

2011-10-18T21:43:00.001+01:00

- "A True Original"

My Great-3-Grandfather Vitus Zimber, who was father of the Zimber Brothers who emigrated to Ireland, appears to have been something of a local character and appears in many folk tales and stories of the region of the Black Forest around Neukirch/Furtwangen. Some of these are detailed below.

The following is from "Löcher und Döbel um Dreistegen" (Furtwangen 1979) by Max Braun and was provided to me by Paul Dold :

"In the furthest Hexenloch house, about 1851, lived Zimber-Vitt. This man was an original. He delighted in playing pranks. One day when he was fishing, gendarme (policeman) came along. The Vitt moved away from the stream as though headed for the other side of the mountain, so the policeman followed. Some way further on, the Vitt stopped, and when the policem an caught up, pointed out to the disconcerted man his legal fishing licence.
Another time, he wanted to draw attention to the damage being done to the forest. He said: “I have been getting wood from this forest for thirty years, and after this law is passed I’ll have the right to do it”.

Also, because of poaching, once he pointed out that in his garden he had a snare against rabbits. Vitt said; “The rabbits always eat the cabbage in my garden. Now when one is in the noose, I hit it with a stick full on its hide, and then let him run away. He never comes back.

Thereby he observed the same thing when a deer was caught in his noose; he had a cord from the garden to the main room in the house (Stube) with a bell on it at the hous e end, to hinder the deer, which of course strung the deer up."

He also appears as a character "Der Königenhof" a play performed by Jostäler Freilichtspiele. (The pictures on this page are of actors playing the part of "Zimper-Vit" in the play.)

The pictures of the clocks above are of a clock that came up for sale recently that he made. The mechanism is signed by Vitus, apparently a mark of one of the better craftsmen. The clock is a 'moving-eye' clock ie the eyes of the man in the picture move from side to side and was for sale for over €2,000.

Joseph Zimber

2011-04-04T23:53:00.002+01:00

For some time now I knew that my great-grandmother Albertina Zimber had two younger brothers. The youngest Fred was killed in the first world war but I was never able to find out what happened to Joseph.

However a few months back a search of the Irish Times archive turned up a death notice telling that he was killed in an accident in Montreal on 1st Feb 1905.

Then last week I found not only his arrival in Canada from Liverpool on 4th August 1904 but that, 6 days after landing, he married Bridget Coady, who had accompanied him from New Ross, in St Patrick's Catholic church, Montreal. His death, 6 months later, tragically cut short their married life.

Bridget not surprisingly married again to Frank Moore and moved to Australia where their descendants still live.

Relatives in the 1901 Cenus

2010-12-31T19:04:00.002Z

Ashmores of Waterford

2010-12-01T17:36:00.001Z

My great-2-grandmother Elizabeth Ashmore married Aaron Zimber in 1880 in Waterford City and died in 1894.

Her father John Daniel Ashmore was a house painter and was born in Waterford City. His first wife Ellen Pope died in 1873.

In 1901 he lived in Knocknacrohy, Kilmeadan, Co. Waterford with his second wife Elizabeth and his 8 year old grand-daughter Ethel Lian Wilson. His son James (also a house painter), his wife Kate and daughters Mary and Johanna live nearby in Curraghmore, Portlaw, Co. Waterford at this time.

His second wife Elizabeth died in 1905 in Curraghmore and in 1911 he is living there with James and family. John died in 1913.

John's father was a James Ashmore who may be the son of Daniel Ashmore a painter who is listed in Pigotts 1824 directory in Peter Street, Waterford City.

Clock made by Vitus Zimber

2010-03-30T16:54:00.009+01:00

Corrina Zimber from Freiburg sent me a link to these photos. The first of the the two pictures is of a clock made by my great-3-grandfather Vitus Zimber. The clock has automated eye movement which was a popular type of clock made in the Black Forest area.

The second picture shows his name on the back of the clock. Apparently only the better clockmakers signed their clocks in this way. The clock was for sale for c€2,500 having been imported from the USA where it was originally sold.

Corrections on the Kirwan Side

2010-01-14T10:19:00.004Z

I've just discovered a few error's in what I had previously posted about my Dublin ancestors. I made an unsubstantiated leap which just didn't hold up to scrutiny.

Now thanks to Irish Genealogy (http://www.irishgenealogy.ie/) a free government site containing at the moment only Dublin and Kerry records I've been able to correct it and the corrected data is on the site.

Zimber Update

2009-06-08T08:50:00.003+01:00

Updated some of the facts on the Zimber page.

Holmes Family of Coolbanagher and Monasterevan

2009-05-20T08:30:00.013+01:00

Edited extracts from “Notes on the History of the Holmes Family of Coolbanagher and Monasterevan” - written by John Holmes of Monasterevan c1959/60

“According to surviving tradition our family seems to have been centred in or near Coolbanagher since settling in Ireland.”

“I have heard from several sources that the first Lord Portarlington brought our family to Ireland as settlers. This would dovetail with other fact and tradition if we regard the expression "the first Lord Portarlington" as meaning Henry Bennet, Baron Arlington. Sir Henry Bennet obtained a grant of all the O'Dempsey estates in April 1664. These included the districts known as Emo, Coolbanagher, Coolagh and Portarlington. In the same month Bennet was created Baron Arlington of Arlington in the County of Middlesex. In 1666 he further petitioned the Council of Ireland, stating his intention of introducing English settlers upon the lands, which had been granted to him in 1664. He obtained a Charter creating a new Borough within part of the lands called Cooletoodera. In accordance with an enactment of the Parliament of Lord Orrery and the Duke of Ormond to the effect that the Governor and Council should be able to give new English names instead of the Irish names of places in order to efface all ancient recollections in Ireland, the new Borough received the name Port Arlington, or Arlington's Port. Soon after this Lord Arlington sold all his interest in the O'Dempsey estates to Sir Patrick Trant, an adherent to the cause of James II. On the defeat of that monarch the estate was confiscated, and after having been bestowed upon Rouvingy, one of William III's mercenary officers who was then created Earl of Galway, it was resumed under the bet of Reassumption in 1700, and finally after resumption, sold to the hollow Sword Blade Company of London (a trading company which bought 253,709 acres of resumed lands in Ireland). Some time after this a portion of the lands (which totaled about 12,220 acres) came into the possession of the Dawson-Damer family, that is, the first Earl of Portarlington. I have been unable to trace any planting of English settlers by this Earl, and personally am inclined to the view that our ancestors were brought over by Lord Arlington in 1666. It is doubtful that conclusive evidence on this point will ever be found.”

It appears that many of the Coolbanagher Holmes were gamekeepers on the Emo Estate making a connection with Lord Portarlington that is interesting in light of the speculation above. - KH

“The present Coolbanagher Church registers date from 1802; the earlier records having perished in a fire at the previous church, the ruins of which still stand at Shaen churchyard, about a mile away. There is a tradition so strong as to be virtually fact that Shaen was the previous family burial ground, and that the now destroyed Shaen Records contained particulars of Holmes family baptisms, marriages and burials.”

“The earliest direct ancestor I have been able to trace is BENJAMIN HOLMES, my great-great-grandfather [My Great4-Grandfather - KH], who died on October 16th 1837, aged 75 years, assuming his age to have been given correctly, he would have been born on or about 1762. He was married twice, his first wife being MARY BARLEY. She died on January 16th 1808, aged about 36 years. By his first wife Benjamin Holmes had at least five children, Thomas, born about 1797, Benjamin born about 1800, John born about 1801, Mary Ann, born 1st May 1802, and Jane born 14th August 1807. The year of his second marriage is not known, but was probably 1809. His second wife's name was Jane, and by this marriage he had eight children, one of whom, William Holmes of Garrymore, was born 23-7-1815 at Coolbanagher. Joined R.I.C· and was stationed at Killeigh. Married. Wife's name was Margaret. Had a son named Henry. On retirement he rented or purchased a farm at Garrymore (about a mile from Killeigh). Died at Garrymore 26-9-1893 aged 79. Jane Holmes died 26-5-1826 aged 39. Benjamin Holmes died,16-10-1837 aged 75. He is interred at Coolbanagher Churchyard in the family plot.”

“My great-grandfather, JOHN HOLMES [My Great3-Grandfather - KH], born about 1801, married ANN ARTHURS, daughter of Richard and Anne Arthurs of Coolagh on September 22nd 1831.
Ann Arthurs was baptised on 25th January 1807. They had five children, Benjamin, born 29th July 1832, Richard born, January 5th 1834, Ann Matilda born 27th July 1835, John (My grandfather) born 1st July 1837, and Thomas born 14th April 1839.”

“A further point worth remembering is that at that period and for years (at least 80 years) before, it is known there were Holmes's in and around Ballysax, Cherryfield, Lackagh, Monasterevan, Vicarstown, Capokill, and Coolbanagher. So, one might say the Holmes's were to be found all over the locality bounded roughly by Mountmellick, Stradbally, Athy and Rathangan.”

“BENJAMIN HOLMES, son of John Holmes above, born 29-1-18~2. at Coolbanagher.
Never married, was a noted practical joker. He and his mother went to America to try and trace a large sum of money said to have been left by an ancestor, whose identity I have been unable to trace. For some years he managed Clonsast farm for Sam Lee, brother of his sister-in-law. Latterly he lived at Brook House, Monasterevin with my grandfather, John Holmes, and he died there and was buried in Coolbanagher on July 2Oth 1903. Was his mother's favorite son. Said to have been in Canada about 16 times in all.”

“His brother RICHARD HOLMES, born 5-1-1834 at Emo Park, Coolbanagher. At this time his parents lived at the place known as Holmes's Hill, where traces of the now demolished house can still be seen. Married to Elizabeth Prentiss, daughter of an English gentleman who owned tea plantations in India. Wedding was at St John's, Fishamble Street, Dublin, (and, curiously both bride and groom were described as being of 29 Winetavern Street) on 24-November 1855.They only stayed in Dublin for the wedding. Richard Holmes died 23rd July 1897.”

“His sister ANN MATILDA HOLMES, born at Emo Park, 27-7-1835. Married a Mr. Kinsella, and later, after his death, married a Mr. Devon, by whom she had two children, Emily and Matilda. married William Eager, who became Principal Keeper, Irish Lights, and who died in Nth. Ireland. They had a daughter, Eileen Eagar who married.”

“Their brother [my great2-grandfather – KH] JOHN HOLMES, born 1-7-1837 at Holmes's Hill, Emo Park.
Married at Clonbulloge Church to ANNA MARIA LEE on or about 1868/9. After his father's death in 1852 and his mother's second marriage to Thomas Lenox of Monasterevan on or about 1855/56, he lived at Cottage Brook, Monasterevan. On May 24th 1858 at the age of nearly 21 he was apprenticed for two years to Michael Noud of Athy, proprietor of a coach building business. The fee for instructing him in "the art and trade of carpentry" was 9 pounds sterling. This included provision of "meat, drink and lodgings" during the said term. He worked for about 3 years in Canada, but whether this was before or after his apprenticeship is not certain. Later he was Clerk of Works in Moore Abbey Demesne. He had a serious illness in 1903 from which be was not expected to recover. It is said that Dr. Rice, who attended him, never forgave him for living, as he (the Doctor) had told people in the town that he was already dead. So low was his state of health! On or about 1911 he retired from Moore Abbey. He died on Monday, September 5th 1927 at about 11 am, after having been taken ill at about 4 am. On the Saturday before he had worked in the garden, of which he was very fond, until about 9.30pm when darkness obliged him to stop. He was a tall well-built man, fair-haired with a beard and moustache. He first met his wife at an auction at Portarlington. He had bought two pictures, and his future wife was sent over to him by her parents who were there too, to see if he would be willing to sell the pictures to them. He refused to do so, and the pictures are still at Brook House, Monasterevan. He didn't drive a car or ride a bicycle, and is described being even tempered, and fond of a joke. During his time at Moore Abbey he had several tradesmen under him, including a couple of carpenters, a slater, a plasterer, and a stonemason. He is buried in the family plot at Coolbanagher.”

Rifleman Fred Zimber

2009-03-30T13:29:00.047+01:00

Richard Frederick (Fred) Zimber (my great grand-uncle) was born in New Ross, Co Wexford and enlisted as Rifleman (R/10201) in 4th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Probably due his German name he served under the name Frederick Richard Cairns. He died on 8th May 1915 at Frezenberg Ridge during the Second Battle of Ypres. His name is among those remembered on The Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper (formerly Ypres), Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the British & Victory Medals and the 1914/15 Star. His next-of-kin was given as Miss Kate Cairns of Co. Wexford who may have been his fiancé. He is listed among those who died on the Fiji War Memorial Hospital Board of Remembrance and in the Fiji Times Roll of Honour.

Fiji Platoon, King's Royal Rifle Corps

Fred joined up in the Rewa district of Fiji as part of the 1st Contingent of volunteers from the Fiji Defence Force. This group left Fiji for Britain on 1st January 1915 aboard the RMS Makura to Vancouver, from there by Canadian Pacific Railroad to Halifax and from there to Liverpool on the Scandanavia. The journey to Vancouver was calm, but the crossing of the Rockies was cold for the Fijians who were not equipped with suitable clothing and the Atlantic crossing was rough. The 11,177 mile trip they completed to enlist was the longest undertaken by any group coming to join the war from British colonies.
On arrival in Liverpool all but six of the Fijians enlisted in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and formed a platoon in B Company. Fred enlisted on 1st February.
They underwent training at Winchester and Sheerness in Kent and were sent to Flanders in April 1915.

4th Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps in WW1

The 4th Battalion of the KRRC had been stationed in India at the outbreak of the war but was ordered back to Britain arriving in Plymouth on November 18 and sailing to France before Christmas 1914. They were deployed to trenches in the Ypres area on January 6th 1915.
On 1st March 1915 the 4th Battalion were ordered to attack a section of German trenches an attack which "never had any chance of succeeding"*. Casulties ran to 113 out of the 300 who took part. (I don't know if the Fijians took part in this attack).
(* from: "The Annals of The King's Royal Rifle Corps, Volume V: The Great War" by Major-General Sir Steuart Hare)

The Second Battle of Ypres

The Second Battle of Ypres was fought between 8 Allied Divisions and Seven German Divisions and resulted in 70,000 dead wounded or missing on Allied side and another 35,000 on the German side.
The battle is normally divided into the separate battles of Gravenstafel Ridge (22 - 23 April), St Julien (24 April - 4 May), Frezenberg Ridge (8 - 13 May) & Bellewaarde Ridge (24 - 25 May)
"The Second Battle of Ypres commenced in April 1915 when the Germans released poison gas against the Allied lines north of the city, this being the first time that the deadly weapon had been used in the war. The fleeing battle-weary troops were replaced by the fresh 1st Canadian Division who steadfastly resisted a second gas attack and stood their ground. However the force of the first attack had seriously indented the Allied-held Ypres Salient and it was necessary for the British to shorten their lines of defence by withdrawing."
("The Battle and Memorials of the Ypres Salient" - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Information Sheet)
During the Second Battle of Ypres the 4th Battalion were forced to withdraw initially without casuaties on 3rd/4th May but their new positions came under heavy bombardment on 8th May and some positions were "almost annihalated"*. This was the day that Fred Zimber was killed and the fact that there is no grave suggests that it was as a result of shelling.
(* from: "The Annals of The King's Royal Rifle Corps, Volume V: The Great War" by Major-General Sir Steuart Hare)

Battle of Frezenberg Ridge (8th - 13th May)

"During this phase of the battle of Ypres the Germans tried to smash through the front held by the 27th and 28th divisions by using their superiority in guns and ammunition. The front line trenches were obliterated, but despite this and the release of a further gas cloud on the 10th May they made little headway. By the end of the six day battle the Germans had advanced about a thousand yards."
("Overview of the Second Battle of Ypres" - Chris Morton, 2000)
9 Fijians were killed and 31 wounded in this battle which marked the end of the Fiji Platton.

Extract From the War Diary 4th Battalion, The Kings Royal Rifle Corps for 8th May 1915 (the day of Fred Zimber's death)
"5.00 a.m. Heavy Howitzers opened up on the front trenches - These continued steadily until 7 a.m. when a furious continued bombardment of field guns and howitzers commenced. This heavy fire was maintained until almost 8 a.m. fuses were lengthened.
8.05 a.m. The bombardment slackened considerably. Communication by wire to the trenches had been out since 7.15 a.m. and almost immediately the brigade line also went. The line to R.B. in support held until about 7.45 a.m.
8.20 a.m. The bombardment increased - especially about the centre of BELLEWAARDE WOOD where part of C Coy. were in support and Battalion headquarters were situated.
8.30 a.m. Heavy rifle fire opened on the front and left - The front line which had suffered very heavily during the bombardment was reinforced by LTS. POOLE, ANTROBUS and HODGKINSON taking up the remainder of C Coy. - The whole battalion was now in the firing line - This party took up a supply of ammunition.
8.40 a.m. LT. POOLE returned with information that infantry attack did not seem to be on our front.
8.45 a.m. German artillery re-opened making BELLEWAARDE WOOD a perfect inferno. Shelling with every sort of shell. Three orderlies from R.B. arrived to ask if help required.
8.50 a.m. These returned with request for one company.
9.00 a.m. A lull in the artillery bombardment - A little rifle fire was opened but was heavier further north.
9.17 a.m. A message received stated that enemy appeared to be massing in front of right of 28th Div. i.e. left of 80th Bds.
9.45 a.m. Capt. Dalby came in and reported that the Salient at Hill 50 had been shelled until the men holding it had been annihilated and that the Germans had walked unto it. Whilst explaining the situation Captain DALBY was wounded. This hill was a weak spot in the line and was the junction of ourselves and P.P.C.L.I. (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry - KH)
10.15 a.m. A company of 4th R.B. arrived and moved up to the firing line to fill up the gaps.
10.20 a.m. The situation so far as known. A and B Coys. in front line right and centre respectively. D Coy. almost annihilated but a few still left in left of front line. Extreme left on Hill 50 held by enemy. A and B Coys. had also been extremely severely punished. One company of the R.B. was moving up to reinforce the front line and another company was in support in 'Cavalry' line just west of BELLEWAARDE WOOD.
11.00 a.m. All seemed quiet again.
12.15 p.m. Communication with the Brigade was re-established.
1.30 p.m. Shelling recommenced but not with its former vehemence.
2.45 p.m. Increased again and continued until 5.00 p.m. About dusk several small parties were assembled from different parts of the wood and returned to the firing line. So far as could be ascertained the battalion had suffered about three hundred casualties together with three officers killed and three wounded."

Zimber Bros.

2009-03-29T17:56:00.028+01:00

- From Schwarzwald to New Ross

Zimber Bros shop on the Quay in New Ross

This article is an attempt to put some shape on the movements of the Zimber family around the time of the families settled in Cornwall and South-East Ireland.

Vitus Zimber (of whom more elsewhere) was born in 1820 in the village of Siegelau in the then Grand-Duchy of Baden. His future wife Salome Hummel was born a few years earlier in 1817 (we presume in the village of Neukirch). Salome's father Joseph Hummel (who came from Rohrbach) was like Vitus a clockmaker. He was also a Tax-collector and sometime Mayor of Neukirch. He also held Bible hours at his house 'Zinkhausle' in Brennersloch and is given as the founder of the protestant parish in Neukirch-Furtwangen-Gütenbach in the predominantly Catholic Black Forest area. It is also recorded that in the upheaval around the 1848 revolution in Baden he was forced from his position as mayor presumably because of his religion.

Their first children Albertina (1845) and Lambert (1848) were born in Neukirch. Their marriage in Neukirch Catholic Church on 31st July 1848 post-dates the birth of both these children. This was not unusual in the area at that time as the cost of marriage was prohibitive. It is also interesting to speculate as to the impact the turmoil of the 1848 revolution which affected Baden had on the family. There is also the story of the Königenhof accident and an apparent part Vitus may have played in the events of the time (see elsewhere).

Zimberhausle in Hexenloch

In 1851 Vitus purchases the Zimberhausle in Hexenloch near Neukirch.

The other children Adolph (1849), Aaron (1851), Richard (1852), Rufina (1853), Karl Friedrich (1857), German (1860), Roman (1861) and Rebekka (1863) were all baptised Catholics. The church register of the time does have a derogatory note by the parish priest to the note that the entire family "apostatized" or converted to the protestant religion (apparently sometime after 1863). The family tradition is that the faith was "brought back from England by someone in the clock trade" - most probably Joseph Hummel (see above).

From 1868 we find records of Zimbers leaving Neukirch / Furtwangen and Siegelau (I've included Siegelau because of the family connection and the names that occur being the same though it is possible that some of these are cousins) for England or USA.

In 1868 an Adolf leaves Siegelau for England. In 1871 Aron and Richard also leave Siegelau for England.
In 1874 Richard marries Jane Binnions in Waterford.
In 1875 Adolf and Karl Friedrich leave Furtwangen for England. (It is possible that Adolf returned from his first trip to England). 1875 is also the year that their eldest brother Lambert takes over ownership of the Zimberhausle Clock Workshop. This may indicate the beginning of a Zimber Bros clock business trading clocks between Ireland, Britain and the Black Forest.
1875 is the year of the Franco-Prussian War, German Unification and the establishment of the German Empire. It is tempting to see these changes as part of the background to the Zimbers leaving Baden.
In 1876 we have Aron leaving Neukirch for England. [Note: all this coming and going to "England" may have in fact been to Ireland as Ireland was part of the UK at that time and the German record takers may not have differentiated between the two].
In 1877 Salome Zimber died.
In 1880 Aaron Zimber marries Elizabeth Ashmore In Waterford. The shop at Quay, New Ross has been established as this is given as his address. Also in 1880 the Zimber Bros. firm in New Ross subscribe 2s 6d to the Parnell Defence Fund.
In 1881 Albertina Zimber my great-grandmother is born in New Ross. Karl Friedrich (later known as Charles Frederick) is in Liskeard, Cornwall living and working with Francis Joseph & Bridget Kaupp clockmakers.
In 1883 Joseph Henry Zimber is born in New Ross.

Zimber Bros, New Ross, Co. Wexford

In 1887 Richard Frederick Zimber (of whom more here) is born in New Ross.

1891 sees Adolf Zimber working as a lumberman in Coalmine, Alberta, Canada.
In 1893 Vitus Zimber died in Gütenbach.
The following year 1894 Aaron's wife Elizabeth died in New Ross.. Her gravestone read:
"Zimber - Erected by Aron Zimber in memory of his beloved wife Elisabeth who fell asleep in Jesus Jan 8th 1894. Also above Aron died Jan 17th 1901. for if we beleive that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
In 1895 Aaron married to Isabella Crowley.
In 1900 Lambert sells Zimberhausle to the state.
In 1901 Aaron Zimber died in New Ross. His brother Richard , now living in Wexford St., New Ross was present at his death.
The 1901 census shows Lambert and Rufina Zimber living at the shop on The Quay. I'm not sure whether they had moved there on a permanent basis or simply in the aftermath of Aaron's funeral. Richard and Jane Zimber are living at 14 Wexford Street and Aaron's widow Isabella and his two sons Joseph and Fred living at 30 Cross Lane.
The 1901 census shows Charles Frederick and his family living in Fore St., Bodmin, Cornwall. His brother Roman is living there with them.
Aaron's second wife Isabella dies around 1904 in Waterford. Also in that year Joseph Zimber emigrates via Liverpool to Montreal, Canada where within a few weeks of arriving in August he marries Bridget Coady who had traveled with him from New Ross.
In February 1905 Joseph Zimber is killed in an accident in Montreal, Canada. In October of that year his sister Albertina marries John Holmes in Dun Laoghaire (or Kingstown as it was then called).
In 1908 Charles Frederick along with his son Rudolph visits New Ross and meets with Lambert, Rufina, Richard & Jane and Albertina Holmes. They are most likely on their way to the wedding of his son Charles Vitus who marries Margaret Molony in Bandon, Co Cork.
The 1911 Census has Albertina Holmes and family living at the shop which is now at 2 Charles Street and Richard Zimber whose wife died a few years previously lodging at a hotel at 1 Cross Lane.
Richard dies in Germany in 1911.
The outbreak of war in 1914 sees Aaron's son Richard Frederick (known as Fred) killed at the Second Battle of Ypres (see here).
In 1917 Adolf died in Montana, USA.
The 1926 register of electors shows Charles Vitus living in Killarney where he has a shop. The following year his son Douglas Thomas is born.
That same year 1927 Albertina Holmes died.
The Zimber Bros business in New Ross was still in existence up to 1938. The Bodmin shop was in family hands up until relatively recently.

I've updated the information above with main additions highlighted.

- Kevin Holmes (01/2011)

Fred Zimber Pictures

2009-01-11T14:18:00.008Z

These are pictures relating to my Great-Granduncle Fred Zimber who died in World War 1 at the Second Battle of Ypres.

The first is a group of Volunteers from Fiji who enlisted together and became the Fiji Platoon of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Fred is second from the right in the third row from the front (ie the first standing row).

The second is a postcard of the ship, the RMS Makura, they sailed on signed by all the members of the platoon. Fred signed as "F.R. Cairns" (he enlisted under an assumed name) at the top of the right hand column above the picture.

The final photo is a close up of Fred taken from the first photo hence the poor resolution.

O'Flahery Pictures

2009-01-11T14:02:00.004Z

I found this picture recently which I believe to be of William O'Flaherty and Margaret Reale my great grand-parents.

UPDATE: I now believe that this may not be William and Margaret and would appreciate any info that might lead to their identification.

Coolbanagher Gravestone

2008-12-03T13:02:00.003Z

This site has photographs of many gravestones in St. John's Church of Ireland Graveyard, Coolbanagher. It includes a number of Holmes. Most are recent but I believe "Holmes 1" to be someone in our line. I'll check this out and substantiate.

Laois or Queen's Co., Ireland Genealogy: St. John's Church of Ireland, Coolbanagher, Co. Laois, Ireland. Graveyard Photographs, ©Jane Lyons

Zimberhaüsle

2008-10-17T16:21:00.008+01:00

Hexenloch, Neukirch, Baden

View Larger Map

The house in the centre of this map (partly hidden by trees) is the Zimberhaüsle as shown in the picture below.

Zimberhaüsle in Hexenloch

Kate Cairns

2008-01-16T20:25:00.002Z

A query I posted on Ancestry
Kate Cairns - General - Family History & Genealogy Message Board - Ancestry.co.uk:
"Kate Cairns - KevinHolmes40 - Posted: 16 Jan 2008
I am looking to trace a Kate Cairns who was given as the next-of-kin of my great-grand uncle Richard Frederick (Fred) Zimber who died in 1915 at Ypres in WW1. He enlisted in Fiji but gave her as n.o.k. and address as Wexford, Ireland. I assume (but don't know) that she was his fiancé. As his surname was German in origin he served under her name of Cairns"

Wanted Men from Baden

2008-01-13T14:09:00.002Z

This might help explain one of the reasons why the Zimbers left Baden at the particular time they did.

From 1854 Wanted Men from Baden "The last revolution was quashed with the help of the Prussians, and the Prussians have remained very unpopular in Baden ever since.

Once Germany was united under Prussia, many from Baden didn't want their sons to go into the German/Prussian army and encouraged them to go abroad to escape conscription. These were the main causes of the two waves.

As far as I understand, before 1871, boys were registered at the age of 16 for possible military service. Potential recruits were drawn by lot. They had to report in December or January before their 21st birthday, for a medical. (In other words when they were 20 years old.)"

Fred Zimber and Fiji

2008-01-10T22:12:00.002Z

I've just made an extraordinary discovery that my great-granduncle Fred Zimber is listed as being part of a contingent from Fiji who volunteered and enlisted with the King's Royal Rifle Corps (4th Batt) all of which tallies. I'll have to follow up on this and see if I can find out how or why he ended up there.

From FIJI IN WORLD WAR 1: The soldiers from Fiji in the Great War "A force of 57 was formed, spent some time in training, and left for Britain on January 1, 1915. Most of these enlisted in Britain with the King’s Royal Rifles, an artillery (sic) regiment famous for its past exploits, particularly in the American Wars. After preliminary training in Britain, the Fiji platoon of the KRRC was sent into action in the battlefields of Flanders. During May 1915, of the 43 strong Fiji platoon of the KRRC, 9 lost their lives and 31 were wounded in the battles of the Somme region.'Of the forty-three men who have served at the Front as members of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, there are now ten left. Originally the Fiji men composed a whole platoon, now owing to their limited numbers, they form the main part of a section……'"

Nagle Correction

2008-01-04T13:17:00.002Z

New information makes it clear that it was not possible for Thomas Nagle to be John Nagle's father as I had assumed. This info is still in the database and the dynamic tree but I will remove it shortly.