[mass55th]

"I wonder if that's true or just the overactive imagination of someone who knows that her maiden name was Booth."

Booth's mother's name was Mary Ann Holmes. She was born in England and ran away with a then-very married Junius Brutus Booth. My great-grandfather's surname was Holmes. He was born in Canada and is buried there. I've often wondered if there was any connection between the Holmes on my mother's side of the family and Booth's mother's family. So far I haven't found anything, but that doesn't mean they weren't related.

There is a family line that claims they are descended from an illegitimate child fathered by J.W. Booth. At the moment though, I can't remember the name of the woman he was supposed to have impregnated. I met one of them years ago at an assassination symposium in Maryland.

[theelephantway]

J.W. Booth's childhood home is approx 3 miles from my house in Bel Air, Maryland. They have a massive amount of history on his childhood and workings as an actor. The Harford County Government has just bought this property to preserve its history.

I just read last week in our local paper (Harford County,MD) that the historical society here has uncovered court documents of a time he was arrested for assault in the 1850's.

[Mila]

"Booth's mother's name was Mary Ann Holmes. She was born in England and ran away with a then-very married Junius Brutus Booth. My great-grandfather's surname was Holmes. He was born in Canada and is buried there. I've often wondered if there was any connection between the Holmes on my mother's side of the family and Booth's mother's family. So far I haven't found anything, but that doesn't mean they weren't related."

That is really interesting! Keep up the research, and you may discover the elusive link to your great-grandfather. I wish you much success. Although I have no familial connection, the Booth family, what little I know of it, has always held a fascination for me.