Further Exploring Holleman History in Old Virginia (and North Carolina), Part 14

By Glenn N. Holliman

Cousin Allen Holleman, one of our serious family historians, continues to write of his Holleman ancestors who left Isle of Wight, Virginia for the Raleigh, North Carolina area in the early 1800s.  Christopher Hollyman, arrived in Jamestown, Virginia from Bedfordshire, England in 1650, and by 1661 purchased land in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.  He had two daughters and at least four sons.  

By the 3rd and 4th generations, many of the grandchildren and great grandchildren of colonial founder Christopher Hollyman were leaving the 'burned out' tobacco lands of southeast Virginia and migrating to the Carolinas.  This southwestern migration was typical of our many Holliman (various spellings) ancestral branches.  Below is Allen's lineage.

Christopher Hollyman, Sr. (1618-1691), father of:

Christopher Hollyman, Jr. (1660-1731), father of:

John Holleman (1700-1751), father of:

Jesse Holleman, Sr. (1735-1825), father of:

John Holleman (1766-1850), subject of this article who moved from Virginia to Wake County, North Carolina, where his descendant, Allen Holleman lives to this day.

A Strong Willed Second Wife by Allen Holleman

Right, Joe Barlow and Allen Holleman at the original Holleman farm at Mill Swamp, Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Both are direct descendants of Christopher Hollyman, Sr.  Joe's family remained in Isle of Wight County.  Allen's family moved to North Carolina from Isle of Wight County around 1805.

In July 2014, I posted an article on my 4th Great Grand-Father,  John Holleman (B 4 Feb 1766 Isle of Wight Co, Virginia), son of Jesse Holleman (1737-1824), planter, surveyor, minister and patriot in the American Cause.  I recommend re-reading that here for background:

 http://hollimanfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/John%20Holleman

As so often happens in genealogy, new information comes to light that adds to and sometimes even changes what we knew earlier.  And such is the case here.

John and his brother Jesse (Jr.) moved with their families to Wake County, North Carolina and settled in the Buckhorn District SW of Raleigh between New Hill and Holly Springs.  I stated that I couldn't place him solidly there before 1810, but we now have tax records as early as 1805. Likely they were there earlier as it takes time to get established and be recognized as a citizen of the community.

John and Nancy (nee Womble) were married in 1783 in Virginia and had five sons and three daughters before moving south.  Nancy was evident in the 1840 census but died soon after.

And he married another Nancy (nee Utley; 1792-1858) 19 Mar 1844.   She was born in Wake, the 2nd child of Britain Utley (1765-1813) and Mary Huckaby (b 1770-) and had five brothers and five sisters.  Her Grandfather was John (Capt. Jack) Utley, Revolutionary hero

John passed away six years later in August 1850 and very clearly limited what his 2nd wife was to inherit, via his will. 

"To beloved wife NANCY HOLLEMAN the interest of $500, to be paid by executor during life tenure or widowhood then the $500 to be divided among my heirs. Wife Nancy HOLLEMAN to have all of property she brought to my house when I married her.

It is my will and desire that my beloved wife NANCY HOLLEMAN have the interest of five hundred dollars as before named and what property she brought to my house as before named and no more. It is my will and desire that she have that much of my estate as her only shear (sic) in my estate in any way what ever"

North Carolina, as with the other colonies had mainly English law until after the Revolution. Much of that was not so much legislated as  determined by judicial decisions in court and based on custom of the times.  Even after, the old legal custom remained that a married couple became one entity that was represented (controlled actually) by the husband as the head.  That remained as a cultural custom, though not a legal demand well into our times. Then a married woman could not own property separately nor devise nor will property she 'owned' without consent of her husband.

It was custom but not legally required to provide an abode and 1/3 of all real property to the widow for her life or widowhood - unless she remarried.  This was not an inheritance with title and ownership but a 'life estate' that reverted to the heirs, usually the children upon her death, mainly an interest in the income the property produced as well as a home.

Nancy thought she deserved more and filed suit to get it. She was twice awarded a year's support in food and supplies, but the will was direct enough that the courts determined she wasn't due any of the property.  I now suspect Nancy wasn't an innocent know-little.  

I now see her as a strong-willed, intelligent woman, a powerful person who didn't marry until in her 50's because she was an ugly duckling.  It was by her own choice and it took a man as strong and able as John Holleman to change her mind.  I'd bet they had some lively conversations and discussions and I'd also bet he listened to her as well.

We had thought she was poorly treated in John's will and I speculated on the reasons.  But he gave her back all that she rightfully owned.  I now understand the reasons after finding her will and probate of 1858. 

Below, 2015  Joe Barlow and Billy Joe Holleman inspect an out building on the Holleman farm in Isle of Wight, Virginia, a structure probably similar to the John Holleman house in Wake County, North Carolina.

She didn't need John's house.  Nancy Utley was a rather wealthy woman for the place and time.  She already had a house, property, livestock and money. Nancy didn't cook or do housework because she owned slaves who did that for her.  John did not own slaves.   And I further think all of this was taken into account by the courts in their rulings.

I wouldn't go so far as to call her greedy, but we can wonder if perhaps marrying a wealthy older man, with an idea of adding to her own through inheritance, might have been an influence - as indicated by the lawsuit.  She likely already had some understanding that John intended to preserve his own wealth and pass it along to his own children, which was certainly understandable. 

I also see Nancy as a good person who willed much of her property and wealth to her own kin, mainly three nieces whom she cared about.  She devised the house to them "to live in during their single hood as long as they should agree".  Further she left to them her old "servant Issac to do for them" .  And even more, left funds to provide for him "should he get past laboring for support".  How about that - a retirement plan for a slave!?

Nancy didn't just go back to live with her Utley relatives. She made her own way.

Nancy did not inherit wealth from her father - just one young slave girl.  Her brothers got the property and money. She made it herself in a man's world and is to be admired for that.

I wish I could tell you how she did it - I can only see the result.- Allen Holleman

An important announcement below:

THE CHRISTOPHER HOLLYMAN, SR.

 HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Executive Committee

Tina Peddie (California) Jeanette Holiman Stewart (Texas), Allen Holleman (North Carolina), Glenn N. Holliman (Pennsylvania), Lynn Holliman (Texas) Glenda Norris (Alabama), Sue Jones (Wyoming), Joseph Parker (Texas), Denise Goff (Virginia) and Sandra Torbert French (Florida)

CORDIALLY INVITE YOU

to

The Inaugural Meeting of the Society

at

SMITHFIELD

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY

VIRGINIA

MARCH 31- APRIL 2, 2016

FOR

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TOUR TO THE CHRISTOPHER HOLLYMAN'S PLANTATION CA 1682

AND

OTHER HISTORIC HOLLYMAN SITES

AND

TWO DAYS OF SEMINARS

and Round Table Discussions

ON

THE HOLLYMANS of ENGLAND

AND

SUBSEQUENT MIGRATIONS

THROUGH OUT THE USA

PLUS

SESSIONS ON HOW TO TRACE YOUR HOLLYMAN DNA, THE MASSIVE FAMILY TREE (at www.Ancestry.com), HOLLYMAN WEB SITES, THE JAMESTOWN SOCIETY AND THE NEW HOLLIMAN ARCHIVES FOR HOLLYMANS (ALL SPELLINGS) AND ASSOCIATED FAMILIES!

If you trace your ancestry to Christopher Hollyman, Sr. (1618-1691) you will not want to miss this national gathering of his descendants in the ancestral home of almost all North American Hollemans, Hollimans (and various spellings).

Our Registration Center and Gathering Place for Seminars and Dinners will be the Smithfield Inn, 112 Main Street, Smithfield, VA (757-357-1732).

As the Smithfield Inn is sold out for lodging, a special rate has been secured at the near-bye Hampton Inn.  Guests may book individual reservations under the name of Holliman Family Reunion.  One may call the hotel direct at 757-365-4760 or go to www.smithfieldsuitesva.hamptoninn.com.

·       Enter the dates ranging from March 31-April 2, 2016.

·       Click on Add Special Rate Code and enter the Group Code (HFR).

·       Click on Check Rooms and Rates.

Guests will be able to select their room type and proceed to make their own reservation using a credit card to guarantee their room.

The rates are as follows:

·       Standard King room at $109.00 plus tax.

The cut-off date is March 1, 2016 for this special rate.

The program begins with a Meet and Greet, Thursday, March 31, 5 pm - 6:30 pm, Smithfield Inn followed by order-from-the-menu dinner.  Sessions and field trips held and/or originated at the Smithfield Inn on Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2, 2016.  Please call your lodging choice directly BUT let us know if you plan to attend as space is limited. Location could be moved subject to enrollment. 

The Holleman House and Smithfield are located approximately 1 hour from Jamestown (by ferry across the James River) where Christopher and his sister, Judith Hollyman landed after their long and weary sailing from England, May 1650!  Williamsburg and Yorktown are near Jamestown, making it possible to treat yourself and family to a delightful spring vacation while learning more about your English and Virginia roots.

For information and a complete schedule of the program and times, email Allen Holleman, Program Reservations, at jallen.holleman2@gmail.com or call (919-210-6862).

Join the Hollyman Gathering in Virginia!

by Glenn N. Holliman

Above Allen Holleman of North Carolina, direct descendant of Christopher Hollyman, Jr. at the 1830 Holleman House in Isle of Wight, Virginia. 

THE CHRISTOPHER HOLLYMAN, SR.

 HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Executive Committee

Tina Peddie (California) Jeanette Holiman Stewart (Texas), Allen Holleman (North Carolina), Glenn N. Holliman (Pennsylvania), Lynn Holliman (Texas) Glenda Norris (Alabama), Sue Jones (Wyoming), Joseph Parker (Texas), Denise Goff (Virginia) and Sandra Torbert French (Florida)

CORDIALLY INVITE YOU

TO

The Inaugural Meeting of the Society

at

SMITHFIELD

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY

VIRGINIA

MARCH 31- APRIL 2, 2016

FOR

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME TOUR TO THE CHRISTOPHER HOLLYMAN'S PLANTATION CA 1682

AND

OTHER HISTORIC HOLLYMAN SITES

AND

TWO DAYS OF SEMINARS

and Round Table Discussions

ON

THE HOLLYMANS of ENGLAND

AND

SUBSEQUENT MIGRATIONS

THROUGH OUT THE USA

PLUS

SESSIONS ON HOW TO TRACE YOUR HOLLYMAN DNA, THE MASSIVE FAMILY TREE (at www.Ancestry.com), HOLLYMAN WEB SITES, THE JAMESTOWN SOCIETY AND THE NEW HOLLIMAN ARCHIVES FOR HOLLYMANS (ALL SPELLINGS) AND ASSOCIATED FAMILIES!

Our Isle of Wight Greeters are:

Billy Joe Holleman (owner of the Holleman House on the site of the original plantation!), Janet Wright Moore, Joe Barlow and Sarah Barlow Wright 

Below, Joe Barlow and Sarah Barlow Wright, 

direct descendants of Christopher Hollyman, Sr.

If you trace your ancestry to Christopher Hollyman, Sr. (1618-1691) you will not want to miss this national gathering of his descendants in the ancestral home of almost all North American Hollemans, Hollimans (and various spellings).

Our Registration Center and Gathering Place for Seminars and Dinners will be the Smithfield Inn, 112 Main Street, Smithfield, VA (757-357-1732).

As the Smithfield Inn is sold out for lodging, a special rate has been secured at the near-bye Hampton Inn.  Guests may book individual reservations under the name of Holliman Family Reunion.  One may call the hotel direct at 757-365-4760 or go to www.smithfieldsuitesva.hamptoninn.com.

·       Enter the dates ranging from March 31-April 2, 2016.

·       Click on Add Special Rate Code and enter the Group Code (HFR).

·       Click on Check Rooms and Rates.

Guests will be able to select their room type and proceed to make their own reservation using a credit card to guarantee their room.

The rates are as follows:

·       Standard King room at $109.00 plus tax.

The cut-off date is March 1, 2016 for this special rate.

The program begins with a Meet and Greet, Thursday, March 31, 5 pm - 6:30 pm, Smithfield Inn followed by order-from-the-menu dinner.  Sessions and field trips held and/or originated at the Smithfield Inn on Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2, 2016.  Please call your lodging choice directly BUT let us know if you plan to attend as space is limited. Location could be moved subject to enrollment. 

The Holleman House and Smithfield are located approximately 1 hour from Jamestown (by ferry across the James River) where Christopher and his sister, Judith Hollyman landed after their long and weary sailing from England, May 1650!  Williamsburg and Yorktown are near Jamestown, making it possible to treat yourself and family to a delightful spring vacation while learning more about your English and Virginia roots.

For information and a complete schedule of the program and times, email Allen Holleman, Program Reservations, at jallen.holleman2@gmail.com or call (919-210-6862).

Above, Allen Holleman in the historic section of Smithfield, Virginia

Agenda

for the Christopher Hollyman, Sr. History Society

March 31-April 2, 2016

March 31, 2016

5 pm – 6:30 pm registration, meet and greet, Smithfield Inn, Smithfield, VA

6:30 – 8:30  pm – Dinner, Welcome, Announcements, Group Photo and Review of the Agenda  (order from the menu)

Distribution of Materials: “The Hollymans from England to Virginia and Beyond”

April 1, 2016

9 am – Noon

"Getting to Know You" - Share your lineage with the group and what do you wish to learn?"

"Where to Find your Cousins - Facebook, the Yahoo Group, The Hollyman Family Tree, the Holliman Virtual Archive and the Jamestown Society”

As time permits - “England to Virginia” and "The Virginia Experience"

 Noon – Lunch on your own at one of Smithfield's many dining venues

1:30 pm – Visit to Isle of Wight Museum (across from the Smithfield Inn)

2:30 – Field Trip 1830 Holleman House at Christopher Hollyman 1682  Plantation including loop tour of Smithfield Hams and Ivy Hill Cemetery. Group photo at Holleman House! Optional extended 30 minute visit to possible site of Christopher Hollyman’s grave (Wear old clothes and shoes as old burial place in woods)

Below, Sarah Barlow Wright, Allen Holleman, Billy Joe Holleman, owner of the original 1682 Hollyman plantation and Joe Barlow, exchange questions October 2015 at the Holleman farm in Isle of Wight, Virginia.  Also, in the picture is a Holleman dog!

5 pm – Return to Smithfield and Dinner on your own

7:30 pm Business Meeting of Christopher Hollyman, Sr. Historical Society Executive Committee; open to all

April 2, 2016

9 am –  Noon

Break Out Sessions  on Topics that interest You! – Whether more information on DNA, Ancestry.com, your lineage or problems in tracing your family, Hollyman genealogists will be prepared to lead discussions on ancestors and issues.  Floating round table discussions available .

11 am – Sixth and closing Session – ‘Creating Structure for the Christopher Hollyman, Sr. History Society”

Noon – Close of Hollyman Seminar – Participants encouraged to visit Jamestown on their own, site of Christopher and Judith Hollymans 1650 arrival in the New World!

And don't miss Williamsburg, founded in the 1690s, a marvelous Colonial towne preserved and celebrated.

Today, the lands (see below) patented by Christopher Hollyman, Sr. in the 1680s grow cotton.  Three hundred and twenty-five years ago, the crops were a few acres of tobacco and many of corn.

PLEASE JOIN YOUR COUSINS IN OLD VIRGINIA NEXT SPRING!

Further Exploring Holleman History in Old Virginia (and North Carolina) Part 14

by Glenn N. Holliman


With this post, we continue the series of articles by Allen Holleman of North Carolina, USA who explores the lives of his ancestors.  Readers may have noticed a series of posts for 19th Century Virginia and then the next article, 19th Century England.  Both branches descend from Thomas Holyman, d. 1558 in Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, England. It is interesting to note the differing lives, but perhaps similar occupations of these distant cousins, separated by time and space.

Left, Allen Holleman, family historian and his latest Mustang


Below from Terrine Holleman Woodlief , the GGG-Daughter of Jordan Holleman; she a teacher in Cary, North Carolina (1896-2001). 1 and 2 footnotes

"As kids we would listen, open-mouthed, to the tales Dad told us which his grandfather, Jordan Holleman, told him about the trip from Isle of Wight County, Virginia, the home of Jordan's father, Jesse Holleman.  They cut trees, for there were no roads in 1815 to where they wanted to go.    Trees and mud were a pest most of the way to Wake County, where Jordan settled on farmland in what is now Apex (North Carolina).  He and then his son, Wiley Wilkins Holleman, became a stabilizing part of the community.  They helped found Salem Baptist Church in 1840 and started a Masonic group."

^{Allen Holleman writes Part 1 of his Story of Jordan Holleman, his 4th great uncle....}

Terrine's great-great-grandaddy may have embellished the tales a bit as there were certainly roads to, in and through Wake County as folks had been moving there for years from Virginia.  But they might have needed to clear a path or two.  I have found that Uncle Jordan (he was a 4th Great-Uncle of mine) was a bit of a character and we'll see he had quite a sense of humor.

Jordan Holleman, (22 November 1782 - 1875), was the 3^rd Great-Grandson of 
Christopher Hollyman (1618-1691) who arrived in Virginia in 1650, settled in Isle of Wight County and amassed a farm of 1020 acres.  Jordan’s father was Jesse Holleman (1737-1824), the patriarch of our Wake County, North Carolina lines, though he never left Virginia.

As with all of Jesse’s sons, Jordan had a basic education, could read and write and knew some math, as well.  And certainly had experience in farming.

JORDAN HOLLEMAN, PLANTER

We find him in the 1810 census at 28, with his own farm in Isle of Wight County, VA. (IOW).  This would seem to be a larger farm than a young man could acquire; perhaps Jordan was running the family farm.  Though divided by inheritances, the farm was part of the original 1020 acres patented by Christopher Hollyman (d 1691).  This portion had passed to Jordan's father, Jesse.  However, the Census has parents, Jesse and Charity, living some distance away.

Jordan seems to have liked having lots of folks around him as the 1810 census shows him head of household with another male 16-25, two females 16-25, seven other “free white” and two slaves. We cannot account for the others with any certainty as only the head of house was named before 1850. More than likely they were relatives - cousins perhaps as they were listed as part of the household.  His younger brother, Jonathan, and bride of one year were listed two houses/farms away.   The other seven free persons would likely be field-hands living on the farm.3

We have not found the marriage record but that census leads us to think he and Mary Simmons (1790-1850), known as Polly of Southampton County, had married before the 1810 census, accounting for the other young woman  They then began their own family. In November 1812 Wyatt Jack Holleman (1812-1892) was born in the year of a major event in our country's history –  The War of 1812.

The War of 1812

Jordan Holleman had been serving as a sergeant in the 29th Regiment of the Virginia Militia, known as Ballard's Regiment under the commander, Major Joseph W. Ballard. His company commander was Capt. Simmons Gwaltney.   In January 1813, the 29th came under the command of the US Army, but an April 1813 poll in IOW, indicates they were not deployed, and remained at home as reserves with farms and families to protect from the evil Brits. 

Capt. Simmons Gwaltney (1765-1820) was married to Jordan's sister, Sarah (1776-1823) and also in the company were Jordan's brothers: Lt. Josiah Holleman (1771-1848), the 2nd in command and Corporal Jonathan Holleman (1787-1854).   Along with them were several other Gwaltneys and Cofers, Dews, Delks, Stringfield, Crocker, Gray, names we know and are related to some of them, a Who's Who of Isle of Wight County, Virginia. 

The British warship,  HMS Plantagenet, a 74 gun frigate, for several months lay off the "Rocks"⁵  in the James River.  Her very presence and occasional changing of position kept the 29th busy watching her movements.  It must be presumed that this ship was to intercept any vessels sailing from the James.

In June 1813 the British attempted a landing, and were soundly beaten back by the accurate and well-placed fire from the excellent riflemen of the 29th who had almost been born with a rifle and developed great accuracy in hunting. With the aborted landing at the "Rocks" the Royal Navy re-learned a lesson from the Revolution about how good the Americans were with firearms.  Although the Plantagenet remained at her station, they never made another attempt at a landing. ⁶

After the war, in 1815 Jordan and Mary decided to follow his older brothers, John and Jesse (Jr.) to North Carolina and first settled in western Wake County near them.  This was close to Chatham County, and land must have been less costly there as they bought additional properties across the line on the New Hope River. ⁷

Jordan's first property in Wake County seems to have been purchased from the estate of Stephen Mann in 1815.  Over the years there are records of him buying and selling properties in Wake and Chatham, some involved his older brother John, as well.  It seems they were partners in the land business.

  One 1818 deed says,  “Jordan HOLLEMAN of Chatham Co to Archibald Haralson of Orange County, for seven hundred and fifty cents, tract on the waters of New Hope, adj. .. containing 168 acres”.  I have found a copy of that deed and it does look like 'seven hundred and fifty cents but there is a tick on the left edge where I suspect the clerk added a '$' as he left off the word 'dollars', but that was not clear on the copy.

He did sell 54 acres in Chatham Co. for $216 in 1819 that was likely his youngest brother Jonathan’s first property in North Carolina.  That was prime land on a stream for irrigation, at $4.00 an acre. - Allen Holleman

Part 2 to be continued...on the story of Jordan Holleman

Footnotes
¹ (From: HISTORY OF WAKE COUNTY, NC, 1983, pg.373: Elizabeth Murray Reid) 

²The Masonic Lodge that Jordan helped found would have been the Western Sun Lodge, that existed from 1817 to 1827 at New Hill.  Jordan's oldest son, Wyatt J. Holleman, helped to found the Cary Masonic Lodge about 25 years later and served as Grand master for over 10 years and his son, Joel was Secretary .  He was also part of the founding of the Town of Cary - if a city of 150,000, that stretches from Raleigh on the east side to a portion in Chatham County to the west can be called a town, as it is even today.  

³ Of Jordan’s older brothers were two whom we know nothing of besides birthdate and probably died young,  Josiah was living in Smithfield, VA in public service and his family was with him.  The two eldest, John and Jesse, Jr. were already in North Carolina.

⁴  Mary Simmons was the daughter of Sprately Simmons (1740-1800) and Ann Drewry.  He was a Sergeant in the 15^th Virginia Regiment active in the American Revolution and was at Valley Forge in 1778.

⁵ The "Rocks" refers to a shore lined with natural marl, made up of petrified oyster shells.

⁶From a history of IoW by Col. W. M. Morrison   

⁷Which in the 1970's, for flood control and water supply, was dammed where it joined the Cape Fear River to become Jordan Lake.  

More in a later Posting on an amazing episode in the life of Jordan Holleman....  

Have questions about Holliman family history? You are invited to join the Hollyman Email List at Hollyman-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com and the Hollyman Family Facebook Page located on Facebook at "Hollyman Family". Post your questions and perhaps one of the dozens Holyman cousins on the list will have an answer. For more information contact Tina Peddie at desabla1@yahoo.com, the list and Facebook manager for Hollyman (and all our various spellings!).

There is also a massive Ancestry.com Holyman and Associated Families Tree available for review.  For an invitation to this collection of over 20,000 individuals, please write glennhistory@gmail.com.  

I also have a collection of associated family manuscripts and research collected by the late Walt Holliman, Cecil Holliman and Rhodes Holliman.  Happy to send these materials by email and to insure their research is available.  The surnames: Alexander, Baldwin, Barham, Bass, Beall, Blakeney,  Baker, Bond, Bostick, Brewer, Bryan, Bryant, Bullock, Calvert, Carter, Champion, Chew,Cofer, Cole, Crafford, Crockett, Curtis, Dale, Daniel, Davidson, Davies, De Mallpas, Douglas, Duckett, Edwards, Edgerton, Emerson, Fitzhugh, Fowlehurst, Fox, Gains, Garrison, Gonson, Graves, Gray, Guyton, Guins, Hall, Hamby, Hawkins,Hendrix, Hill, Hogg, Holliman, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Jones, Judkins, Love, Lucas, Maget, Mansfield, Manwaring, McBee, McComas, McCurdy, McNewsome, Nicholson, Norsworthy, Noyall, O'dell, Oliver, Pearce, Peerce, Pettigrew, Petway, Pitman, Plow, Plyler, Porten, Prather, Petite, Ridgely, Riggan, Roberts, Smith, Spencer, Sprigg, Standley, Stanyard, Swan, Strother, Thompson, Thornton, Thrope, Trelawney, Turpin, Underhill, Underwood, Wallace, Walters, Weedon, Whitherspoon, Whitten,Williams,Wilmot,Wilson, Whitaker and Yerby.  These are mainly Alabama families and their ancestors from the Carolinas and Virginia. Materials vary from one page to 200. - GNH at glennhistory@gmail.com.

When We Were English, Part 59

by Glenn N. Holliman

New Research Confirms Holliman English Lineage....

It has been a year since I have used this space to write of recent research delving into the roots of the American Hollimans (and assorted spellings) in England.  In my last writings, with the help of English genealogists Peter Smith and Anne Holmes, the Holyman lineage from England to the Virginia colony appeared (and continues to appear) to be as follows:

John Holyman of Cuddington, Buckinghamshire (d 1521), father of
John Holyman of Cuddington (d 1533), father of
Thomas Holyman (d 1558) of Cuddington and Dorothy Clark, daughter of Christopher Clark, parents of
Christopher Holyman, orginally of Cuddington (d 1588) and Margaret Lee, orginally of Dinton, later both of Sherington, Buckinghamshire, parents of
Thomas Holyman (d ca 1650) and Helena Poynard of Bedford, Bedfordshire, parents of Christopher Holyman of Isle of Wight, Virginia (1618-1691)

This research into wills, baptism and marriage records, time, place and commonality of first names, especially the name of Christopher, all seemed to have fallen into a convincing thesis.

What was lacking was a DNA test with an Englishman who believed himself a descendant of the same Holymans of Cuddington, Buckinghamshire. (It is the male DNA that provides the continuity of lineage.)  Thanks to Bob Hollyman-Mawson of Wales of whom I have written earlier in this space, I began an email exchange with Lindsay Holliman of Braybrook, near Market Harborough in the midlands of England. 

 Below, two cousins, Glenn Holliman on the left and Lindsay Holliman, right, study mutual lineages in Lindsay's home, January 2014.

We arranged to meet last winter in his home and village.  Thanks to genealogist cousin Tina Peddie, I had a DNA kit, and Lindsay kindly took the test.  Months later, the results were in, and as Tina wrote from California "BINGO!".   Lindsay tested positively to American Holliman DNA tests, mine included, that we Americans and Lindsay all share a common ancestor, one somewhat deep in time, but a same grandfather in our English past.    Below, Lindsay in his office nook surrounded by photos of his Holliman family.
 





Below is the lineage that Lindsay has traced to date of his family.  Note please the commonality of our mutual Buckinghamshire roots.  The English saying is "Bob's your uncle!" or there it is - strong evidence of science and saved records that both Lindsay and Holliman Americans share that common ancestry.


Robert Holliman (1599-1638) of Cuddington, Buckinghamshire, father of
Robert Holliman (1620-1667) of Cuddington and Mary, parents of
Brightwell Holliman (1650-1711) and Mary Wheeler, both of Cuddington, parents of 
Brightwell Holliman (1694-1761) of Cuddington and Mary Gibbs, parents of
John Holliman (1725 ca - ?) of Cuddington and Sarah Steel of Waddeston, Buckinghamshire, parents of
James Holliman of Cuddington (1767-1853) and Elizabeth Cook of Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire, parents of
James Holliman of Long Crendon (1797-1866) and Sarah Hendry of Haily, Oxfordshire, parents of
 John Holliman (1831-1907) of Long Crendon and Lillah/Zillah Sheriff of Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, parents of
James Holliman (1859-1932) of Long Crendon and Louise Atkins of Towcester, Northamptonshire, parents of
George James Holliman (1889-1950) of Chelsea, London nd Florence Howlett of Littleport, Cambridgeshire, parents of
Frederick George Holliman (1920-2001) of Cambridge and Dora Circuit of Bedford, Bedfordshire, parents of

Lindsay Holliman (1946) of Cambridge, now Braybrook


Lindsay observes from his research: "Generally the early surname spelling was Holyman, but this changed increasingly to Holliman as the 19th century progressed.  The English census returns show the usual variations in spelling - no doubt a combination of the illiterate householder's accent and the spelling ability of the enumerator.

Long Crendon is a village 3 miles from Cuddington, home of the still named Holyman Farm.  During the Medieval and Tudor periods the Holymans were a noted family in the Cuddington/Haddenham area of Buckinghamshire and appear to have had some considerable influence. 

By the 19th century however, those that remained in the Cuddington area, were largely employed on the land as labourers.  By the early 20th century there were no Hollimans living in the Cuddington area, including Haddenham, Long Crendon, Chearsley and Winchendon." - Lindsay Holliman

There is more work to be done and more to be said in forthcoming posts....but this is a major confirmation of the English Holliman heritage!

Have questions about Holliman family history? You are invited to join the Hollyman Email List at Hollyman-Subscribe@yahoogroups.com and the Hollyman Family Facebook Page located on Facebook at "Hollyman Family". Post your questions and perhaps one of the dozens Holyman cousins on the list will have an answer. For more information contact Tina Peddie at desabla1@yahoo.com, the list and Facebook manager for Hollyman (and all our various spellings!).

Join your many cousins at MyFamily.com and view an expanded Holliman family tree and many files on the history of the family.  Just write to glennhistory@gmail.com for an invitation. Or go to the HOLLYMAN GENEALOGY MyFamily site at http://myfamily.com/group/hollyman. Then click on "Request to Join" in upper righthand corner!