Nathaniel Holmes ca 1643-1727 and Mercy Faunce of Plymouth, Mass.

Nathaniel Holmes was born about 1643 in Plymouth, Mass., probably the son of John and Sarah Holmes. Sarah’s maiden name is unknown. Nathaniel is my 9^th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis’ side of the family.

On 29 December 1667 Nathaniel married Mercy Faunce at Plymouth. Her name is sometimes seen as Mersy, Mersey and Mercye. Mercy was just 16 years of age. She was born Plymouth on 10 April 1651, the daughter of John and Patience (Morton) Faunce. I wrote about her parents here. Her sister Patience married Nathaniel’s brother John. Her brother Thomas was Town Clerk and Elder of the Plymouth Church. He lived to almost 100 years of age and was the person responsible for the story of the landing at Plymouth Rock.

The births of Nathaniel and Mercy's seven children are recorded in Plymouth Vital Records:

Elisha born 19 April 1670

Mercy born 10 September 1673 (spelled Mersy)

Nathaniel born 10 November 1676

Sarah born 2 October 1680

John born 17 April 1682

Elizabeth born 25 April 1686

Eleazer born 16 October 1688 (spelled Eliazur). In a later hand it is added “deceased August 21 1754."

I descend from Mercy who married Ebenezer Cobb.

On 15 June 1671 Thomas Whitney of Plymouth sold to Nathaniell Holmes, seaman of Plymouth, 1.5 to 2 acres of land at Hobs Hole/Wellingsley, Plymouth, an area called Alcarmus field. (PCLR 4:148)

Hobs Hole/Wellingsley is also called Jabez Corner. It's about one mile south of Plymouth Center and the oldest separate neighborhood in town.

On 15 October 1692, Hugh Cole of Swansea sold 50 acres of land at Plymouth to Nathaniel Holmes, Sr. of Plymouth. The land was in what is now the Manomet area. (PCLR 1:234)

Nathaniel and Mercy are listed as members of the First Church of Plymouth.

Nathaniel died at Plymouth on 25 July 1727 in his 84^th year (NGSQ 74:87, citing gravestone). Nathaniel is buried at Burial Hill, Plymouth.

Here lyes ye Body of Mr. NATHANIEL HOLMES, who decd/July ye 25th 1727 in ye 84th year of his age.

Nathaniel Holmes' stone at Burial Hill

 Mercy died 11 February 1731 and is also buried at Burial Hill.
Here lyes ye body of MARCY HOLMES wife to Mr NATHll HOLMES who decd Febry ye 11th
1731-2 in ye 81st year of her age.

Mercy's stone at Burial Hill

 Source Not Listed Above:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, 1995.