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).

Further Exploring Holleman History in Old Virginia (and North Carolina) Part 13

by Glenn N. Holliman

I am happy to post another article by cousin Allen Holleman who continues to research and write of his ancestors, direct descendants of Christopher Holyman (1618-1691) who migrated from Bedford, Bedfordshire, England with his sister, Judith (b 1621), and made his home in Isle of Wight, Virginia. GNH

A Holleman Family leaves Virginia....
by descendant Allen Holleman, 4th great grandson of John Holleman (1766-??)

My previous article (May 3, 2014) was about JESSE HOLLEMAN, great-grandson of CHRISTOPHER HOLLYMAN, and only briefly mentioned his nine sons and four daughters. While the daughters are important, the focus is on the boys as they carried the family name directly forward. We have very little to relate on four of them, and Glenn Holliman has given us so much knowledge on the second son Josiah, who with his children were a well regarded and successful family in Isle of Wight County, Virginia in colonial times, early America and even today. I will concentrate on the four sons who chose to migrate to North Carolina, leaving the legacy and property of 150 years and family behind. Why...?

JOHN HOLLEMAN, the eldest of Jesse and Charity Cofer Holliman's sons was named for his grandfather and born 4 Feb 1766 in Newport Parish in western Isle of Wight County, VA on the family land by the Blackwater River. We don't know a lot about his early years but can surmise much just because he was the son of Jesse and much was expected of him being the firstborn.

He was schooled in the basics and could read and write and learned math as well.  Most of his real-world education was from Jesse and seems to be mainly in farming, and 18th century land and farming economics.  He doesn't seem to have taken up surveying, one of his father's professions. Yet we see he learned about land appraisal and trading. In 1796 he appraised the estate of his uncle, James Cofer.

About 1783 at age 17, he married NANCY WOMBLE, the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Womble. It is most likely that in early marriage they lived with Jesse and Charity.  Son Axum was born in 1784 and Davis in 1785. The family farm was well looked after but getting rather crowded, with other siblings. John inherited land from his grandfather THOMAS COFER in 1784, and he and Nancy likely moved there and farmed that until tobacco drained the soils of nutrients.

The original Virginia patent of Christopher Hollyman's original 1020 acres had been well divided by 1800, and there was not a lot of available farmland nearby. The Holleman boys, being adventurous sorts, needed to make their fortunes and futures as Christopher had done in leaving England for Virginia. North Carolina had become a draw for many, with a lot of available land and an emerging "civilization", especially in Wake County near the new state capital, Raleigh. 

All eight of John and Nancy's children were born in Virginia and moved to North Carolina with them. That would have been after 1802 when the youngest, Edwin was born.  Axum, the eldest, bought farmland from Mark Cook in 1804 and sold another parcel in 1807 both in Chatham County, NC.   If he moved south with his family that would place them at least that early.  Axum was an independent sort and may have moved first and influenced the others. 

I can't place John in Wake County solidly until witnessing an 1810 land sale, where his son, Jeremiah bought farmland from Richard Levens.  Generally, witnesses to legal transactions, such as deeds and wills, were substantial citizens - landowners, so he and his sons were well established there already. 

Below, a North Carolina county map with Wake County in blue.  Chatham County is just to the west.  Johnston County bordering Wake is the historic home of another set of Hollimans, Samuel and James Grantson in the 18th Century. GNH
 

Between 1812 and 1848, John became quite a land trader as he is named on numerous deeds as buyer or seller. He also witnessed several deeds for others, and executor of several wills establishing that he was a respected and trusted citizen of the county. 

John seems to have been a money lender also, and some loans did not go well as he had to take property in settlement of some debts.  That may not have been all bad, but it must have been difficult to foreclose on friends and neighbors. We don't know how many of these there might have been as only the problem loans were recorded by the county.  And we might think he wasn't particularly avaricious as he signed notes as security for others, promising to cover their debts.  Again, only those that didn't go well were legally noted.  Even though the debts were discharged by sale of property, it must have been a hassle to have to travel 25 miles to Raleigh - much of the day by horse, and then deal with the legal issues. 

Below, pioneer John Holleman of the early 19th Century would scarce recognize the metropolis known as the Carolina Research Triangle.  Several millions live in the multi-county region which abounds in numerous universities and high tech services.

 
A Remarriage and Legal Troubles...

John's wife, NANCY WOMBLE was on the 1840 census but died before 1844 when he marries another NANCY, nee UTLEY. We don't know whether she was a spinster at 50 or had been married to an Utley but suspect the former as the bondsman was Hinton Utley. John would have been quite a catch to support her in her later years and he certainly needed a wife to cook and keep house for him. But, as we shall see, it may not have been a match made in heaven.

The last land sale I have for John is an important issue, even after he passes away in August 1850, as you will see as the history of my 4th GGF comes to a close. He was selling off  properties and transferring land to his son, Edwin.

Wake County, NC, Deeds, Book 18: pp. 584-585:

10 Apr 1848.

John HOLLEMAN of Wake Co to Edwin HOLLEMAN of Wake Co

for $125, tract adj. Johnson Busbee, Allen Jones, Burwell Utley, containing 279-3/4 acres.

Signed: John HOLLEMAN

Witness: John Bennett

Many of us are familiar with an abbreviated abstract of the will of John Holleman, but it leaves out some wording that is significant and indicaties some strained relationships, shown in italics.

Wake County, NC, Wills- Book 27:pp. 088-089:

Will of JOHN HOLLEMAN SR. of Wake Co, NC.

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=

To son JOHN HOLLEMAN $1 as his only shear in any and all in any way whatever=

To lawful heirs of son Jeremiah HOLLEMAN dec'd. $1 to be equally divided among them all and as there only shear in any and all of my estate in any way what ever=

Furthermore it is my will and desire that my executor herein after named shall sell all of my property consisting of land, negros and perishable property... and furthermore collect all debts due to me - and all the moneys arising from the sale of all my property... 

to be equally divided among children whose names follow: AXUM HOLLEMAN, DAVIS HOLLEMAN, EDWIN HOLLEMAN, PEGGY BRIGHT, BETSY WILSON, NANCY DUPREE.

...appoint son Edwin HOLLEMAN executor.                                                                                                                                13 Oct 1846.                                                                                                                                                         Signed: JOHN HOLLEMAN                                                                                                                                         Witnesses: R.M. Brown, John Brummet                                                                                                           Proved August term 1850 by R.M. Brown and John Bennet

John died in August of 1850.  Nancy, surely in a state of grief and confusion and inexperienced in legal matters, likely thinking she would be able to remain in the home and on the property she had shared with her husband and perhaps thinking she was to receive the $500 stated, gave agreement of the will, by receipts to Edwin, son and executor. 

Then finding the ugly facts: that the interest only of $500 was not enough to live on and worse, she was not to remain in the house nor did she inherit any property.  Beloved wife indeed?  It was customary then for a widow to be granted a place to live for her life or widowhood - unless she remarried.  

We can only speculate as to how and why the will was written this way. Was John so callus as to toss her out even after he was gone?  Was she so difficult he just didn't care?  Or did he just see her as a cook and housekeeper and no more?  Was his mental state in his 80's such that he didn't realize how this would affect her? Or was he so influenced by his progeny - Edwin, in particular, as claimed? Or was this an inadvertent omission? We cannot know for sure but we can surmise, considering the very specific wording of the will.  It was very direct.

After the realization that she had a problem, through a lawyer named Saunders, she filed suit against Edwin and the other heirs, in the Wake Court of Pleas and Quarter. Claiming that her husband had a personal property estate of "$8000 or some such large amount" (a LOT of money in 1850) and asking for 1/3 of all the real property he "seized and possessed" further that "through some improper influence, left her without a home".   

Pleas and Quarter was more of an administrative court handling relatively minor cases and staffed by Justices of the Peace.  And a panel of three JP's twice considered this case, in Nov. 1850 and in 1851, decided that she was not entitled to additional properties but that she should be supported and twice awarded a years supply of household supplies and foods paid for by the estate. 

The lists of foods is informative in that it tells us what was normally available. Beef was not included although cattle were raised in North Carolina.  Beef was more expensive, and chicken more common and cheaper.

Most was preserved by drying, smoking or salting.  List of Nov. 1850: 2 barrels corn, 300 lbs. pork (most likely smoked or salted bacon or hams), 1 barrel flour, 20 lbs. coffee, 4 gallons molasses, 20 lbs. lard, pepper, spices and ginger, 1 bushel salt, 15 lbs. cotton, 5 lbs. wool, 10 lbs. butter, 2 gal. vinegar.  

Again in 1851 the court awarded: 2 barrels corn, 200 lbs. bacon, 30 lbs. sugar, 25 lbs. coffee, 5 gallons molasses, 20 lbs. lard, 20 lbs. butter, 1 bushel salt, 4 gallons vinegar, pepper, spices and ginger, 15 bushels potatoes, 5 bushels Irish potatoes, a lot of vegetables.  (I don’t know if this meant a specified amount or grouping  or just a whole bunch of vegetables.)

It is presumed that she went back to live with her Utley relatives, and we lose track of her.  The other progeny went on to live their lives, and we have quite a lot of records on them
.

Next we'll examine the three other brothers of John who had moved to North Carolina....Allen Holleman, 2014 

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 18,000 individuals, please write glennhistory@gmail.com.