A Holliman History by Walter O. Holliman, Part I

by Glenn N. Holliman

What follows are dozens of pages of critical Holliman family research prepared in 1995 and 1996 by the late Walter O. Holliman (1927-2003).  In the fall of 2011, his children shipped me his papers and since then I have been indexing and reading his marvelous research and conclusions.  In the left column of this post, one will find the Walter O. Holliman manuscripts and research folders of his voluminous work.  


With this posting, I begin publishing  his interpretation of our family's history. He prepared two documents.  The 1995 copy contains his understanding at the time of the first Holyman's in America and takes us into the 20th Century.  In his 1996 work, he omits the early Virginia Hollimans and begins with his 4th great grandfather, James Grantson Holliman, again traveling late into the last century.  For privacy sake, I cease the history with Walt's parents, uncles and aunts.  My introductory comments are in red.  Walt's pages are as he prepared them.  Click twice and the pages should enlarge.


I know I speak for his children and all who are interested in Holliman history when I say comments and critique are welcome.  As Walt himself notes, genealogy is never finished.  New information continues to come forth and alter earlier interpretations.


The Title Page - I have omitted his address. The documents are posted with permission of his children.  As far as I know he never published this tome.  This title page is from 1995.

Index - This really is Walt's table of contents.  He created manuscripts for all the families listed below, over fifty, and research on another fifty or so!  These manuscripts are available, but are not part of the series of posts that will be forthcoming immediately.

Abbreviations -Walt was meticulous as this listing of abbreviations indicates.  He belonged to Mensa International, an organization for persons with a high I.Q.  (Well, would we not except that from a Holliman!?)

The next page is missing, and it becomes impossible to separate the 1995 and 1996 editions.  However, the conversation, slightly truncated, continues below.  The pages are not always in order due to Walt's dual publications and evidently additional changes.  He provides some very useful commentary on genealogical research.

This description of the trek west to Alabama in the 1830s from South Carolina is important.  Imagine horses, cows, pigs, hand carts and wagons.  Women and children, along with young husbands and fathers, moving through near wilderness pushing ever westward.   

In the next post, we will begin Walt O.  Holliman's generation by generation interpretation of our early Holyman history.