From the Galaxy of Holliman Cousins, Part II

by Glenn N. Holliman

Recently distant cousin Allen Holleman (photo below) of North Carolina and I met and shared a meal.  I had noticed Allen's comments and thoughtful questions on the Tina Peddie Holyman Group chat room, and thought as I would be in his area, would like to meet him.  As we indulged in our common passion for comfort food and Holliman/Holleman history, it was an enjoyable and long lunch.

 

Over three glasses of an iced beverage (unsweetened) he told me his family branches, which intrigued me because I knew a lot of Holleman/Hollimans had moved across the Virginia border into North Carolina, not long after the unpleasantness with the Tuscarora tribe ended in the early 1700s.  For many the western march meant moving south by southwest as did my branch of the family.  Allen's moved into Wake County after the Revolutionary War. His ancestors put down roots and some, such as Allen, remain in the Raleigh area to this day.

His lineage begins in America as does mine with the arrival in Jamestown, Virginia in 1650 of Christopher Holyman, Sr. who had four sons and two daughters.  The daughters married Atkinsons. The four sons married and had children and swoosh, the family branches started multiplying.

Allen's branch emerged from Christopher, Jr. (mine from Richard Holyman, one of his brothers) who begat John who begat Jesse, the husband of Charity Cofer.  Their son, John Holliman, left Virginia and moved to Wake County, North Carolina.  Then came David Holleman, John Austin Holleman , Junius Dowd Holleman and then Joseph Holleman, Allen's grandfather, a carpenter - the first Holleman in this branch to leave the occupation of farming.

Allen's father, Joseph Allen Holleman, Sr., was in the building business.  Joseph Allen Holleman, Sr., our Allen, joined him, bought and sold it and other business and has thrived as a creative entrepreneur.  He now claims he is retired (which I doubt given his high energy level), but he looks great in his blue Mustang convertible.

 

Allen's resume is amazing - scuba diver, car race driver and U.S. Marine helicopter gunner in Viet Nam - are just a few of his endeavours.  Indeed, he must have the same DNA as Christopher Holyman, Sr. who in the 17th Century left England, sailed a dangerous sea, scratched a farm out of a wilderness and kept a look out for wild animals and angry Indians as he stripped his tobacco.  A salute to both Allen and his 8th great grandfather, Christopher, Sr. for their spunk and achievements!

Another post next week from our amazing Galaxy of Holliman cousins....