Thomas Holme
Encyclopedia
Thomas Holme was the first Surveyor General of Pennsylvania
to actually serve, in which capacity he laid out the original plan for the city of Philadelphia.
, England
on November 3, 1624, to a yeoman
named George and his wife Alice. He married Sarah Croft in 1649, and soon enlisted in the army under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell
, where he attained the rank of captain. It may have been in the army that he gained some experience in surveying. After retiring he was granted more than 4,000 acres (16 km²) in County Wexford
, Ireland
, which was under the control and colonization of the English at the time.
At some point he joined the Quaker movement in Ireland. There he met William Penn
, the founder and namesake of Pennsylvania, who was also a Quaker. In 1682, Penn wrote to Holme from America asking him to come be his surveyor, since his original surveyor, Captain William Crispin
, had recently become ill and died on the voyage to America. Shortly after, Holme sailed to America.
Holme designed the plan of the city of Philadelphia and produced the first detailed map
of Pennsylvania, entitled "A Mapp of Ye Improved Part of Pensilvania in America, Divided Into Countyes, Townships and Lotts...." (published circa 1687). On Penn's arrival in the colony, he appointed Holme as one of his councillors.
He held the office of Surveyor-General until his death at the age of 71 in the spring of 1695, in Dublin Township
, Philadelphia County (now the Holmesburg
section of the city of Philadelphia). In 1863, a memorial was erected at his burial site, in the form of a six-foot-tall marble
obelisk
, near where his home is believed to have been located, now part of Pennypack Park
.
, Holme Avenue, Holme Circle, and Thomas Holme Public School were all named in his honor.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to actually serve, in which capacity he laid out the original plan for the city of Philadelphia.
Life
Holme was born in LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on November 3, 1624, to a yeoman
Yeoman
Yeoman refers chiefly to a free man owning his own farm, especially from the Elizabethan era to the 17th century. Work requiring a great deal of effort or labor, such as would be done by a yeoman farmer, came to be described as "yeoman's work"...
named George and his wife Alice. He married Sarah Croft in 1649, and soon enlisted in the army under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, where he attained the rank of captain. It may have been in the army that he gained some experience in surveying. After retiring he was granted more than 4,000 acres (16 km²) in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, which was under the control and colonization of the English at the time.
At some point he joined the Quaker movement in Ireland. There he met William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
, the founder and namesake of Pennsylvania, who was also a Quaker. In 1682, Penn wrote to Holme from America asking him to come be his surveyor, since his original surveyor, Captain William Crispin
William Crispin
Captain William Crispin was one of five Commissioners appointed by William Penn for settling his colony of Pennsylvania, September 30, 1681. He had served in the army under Cromwell. Crispin was also appointed Surveyor General...
, had recently become ill and died on the voyage to America. Shortly after, Holme sailed to America.
Holme designed the plan of the city of Philadelphia and produced the first detailed map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
of Pennsylvania, entitled "A Mapp of Ye Improved Part of Pensilvania in America, Divided Into Countyes, Townships and Lotts...." (published circa 1687). On Penn's arrival in the colony, he appointed Holme as one of his councillors.
He held the office of Surveyor-General until his death at the age of 71 in the spring of 1695, in Dublin Township
Delaware Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Delaware Township is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The borough ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854.-History:...
, Philadelphia County (now the Holmesburg
Holmesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Holmesburg is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Holmesburg was named for the descendants of John Holme who immigrated to Philadelphia in the 1680s and had no known relation to Surveyor General Thomas Holme. John Holme's descendants acquired land in Lower...
section of the city of Philadelphia). In 1863, a memorial was erected at his burial site, in the form of a six-foot-tall marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, near where his home is believed to have been located, now part of Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park
Pennypack Park is a municipal park, part of Philadelphia's Fairmount Park system, in Northeast Philadelphia in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Established in 1905 by ordinance of the City of Philadelphia, it includes about of woodlands, meadows and wetlands. The Pennypack Creek runs through the...
.
Legacy
The Holmesburg neighborhoodHolmesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Holmesburg is a neighborhood in the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Holmesburg was named for the descendants of John Holme who immigrated to Philadelphia in the 1680s and had no known relation to Surveyor General Thomas Holme. John Holme's descendants acquired land in Lower...
, Holme Avenue, Holme Circle, and Thomas Holme Public School were all named in his honor.
External links
- Biographical essay in Professional Surveyor magazine:
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Image of one of Holme's maps from the Lower Merion Historical Society
- "Portraiture of the City of Philadelphia" (1683), by Thomas Holme
- Brief biography at virtualology.com