Christopher Hollyman's Plantation - 332 Years On

by Glenn N. Holliman

Cousin Joe Barlow, whose mother Gladys Holleman Barlow was born at the 1830 Holleman House on the site of Christopher Hollyman's 1684 plantation, kindly has sent me this clipping from the April 13, 2016 edition of the Smithfield Times.  His sister, Sarah Barlow Wright shares information on the home.

Christopher Hollyman (1618-1691) first settled along the Cypress River in Isle of Wight County, Virginia in 1661 according to early deeds.  As an older man of age 66, he patented the 1,020 acres along Mill Swamp bordering Surrey County and built a home and tobacco barns.  He left the land and improvements to his four sons.

Below a photograph of Gladys Holleman Barlow and her 1996 obituary sharing information on her life in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.  Picture and obituary courtesy of the Barlow family.

For additional information on the Holleman House, Gladys Holleman Barlow and Isle of Wight Hollemans, please review my postings of autumn of 2013.  

Again our thanks to Billy Joe Holleman, his wife and son and all the Barlows for their many kindnesses during the early April 2016 Gathering of Hollymans from all over the United States.

A Holyman Gathering in Virginia

by Glenn N. Holliman

A report on the First National Gathering of the Descendants of Christopher Hollyman (1618-1691)....

They came from Washington, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia - direct descendants of the Englishman who migrated in 1650 from Bedford, Bedfordshire to Isle of Wight, Virginia. This picture taken at the Smithfield, Virginia Hampton Inn were many stayed and sessions were held.

Christopher Holyman (or Hollyman) settled in 1661 along the Cypress River and in 1684 nestled his family in northern Isle of Wight County along the Surrey County border.  He left his four sons over 1,000 acres to be divided amongst themselves.  Direct descendants - the Barlows and Hollemans still live in the county and in southeast Virginia and provided hospitality for those who traveled back to the community where the American venture of this extended family began.

Right, Steve Holleman of South Carolina and Allen Holleman of North Carolina.

Counting spouses and significant others, over 50 individuals from March 31 to April 2, 2016 enjoyed visiting and sharing research on our various lineages.  Organized by Allen Holleman of Raleigh, North Carolina and coordinated with the great assistance of Joe Barlow and Billy Joe Holleman of Smithfield, Virginia, cousins explored early home sites of 17th century Hollymans.

Below, after first sessions and an afternoon stop at the Isle of Wight Museum (a gem of a museum), the group traveled to the original plantation of Christopher Hollyman.  Billy Joe Holleman, owner and steward of the Hollyman plantation, explained who is buried in the family cemetery adjacent to the 1830 Holleman House and other older out buildings.  After a tour of the grounds and farm, Billy Joe and his wife hosted a late afternoon 'feast' of gourmet Smithfield ham and rolls at the Mill Swamp Baptist Church fellowship hall.

Many expressed their deep feelings at being able to walk the ground where Christopher Hollyman and family had girded virgin timber, cleared the first fields, raised livestock, corn and a cash crop and thrived in the New World.  And from this place, our ancestors lived and eventually began the western movement across what became the United States of America.  

Below, Sarah Barlow Wright, whose mother was raised in the Holleman House in Mill Swamp, shared her knowledge of the 1830 colonial style residence.  On this property Hollemans have lived and continue to live since 1684.

Billy Joe Holliman even provided a 'hay wagon' to take cousins deep into the former plantation fields to share the site of the oldest cemetery known to hold the remains of ancestors. Right in red, Laurie Sherrod and in white top with black dots, Jeanette Holiman Stewart.

Below in light green, Brenda Holloman of of Wake County, North Carolina, shared her thoughts as the group gathered at the oldest cemetery located on original Hollyman land. In living memory, a house of unknown age, but old, was located near this location.  Is this then the unmarked grave of Christopher Hollyman and some of his 18th century descendants?   We may never know.  Then again, what if?

 At the Hampton Inn community room, sessions were held on our English heritage and research papers and booklets distributed by Lynn Holliman, Steve Holleman, Allen Holleman and Glenn Holliman.  Importantly consensus emerged to formally organize a Christopher Hollyman Families Historical Society with future memberships and gatherings.  Among the goals of the Society will be to conduct scholarly research and share and preserve that research and family documents and photographs.

Below center in light blue, Joe Parker, acknowledged 'dean' of Hollyman family history, donated a volume of his research to be scanned and uploaded to the family's new virtual archive at www.bholliman.com/ .

Development of a Society web site is to be explored that would link or fold into the site current assets.  These being the Yahoo Hollyman group chatroom and Hollyman Facebook page developed and administered by Tina Peddie (who can be reached at desabla1@yahoo.com) and the Hollyman Ancestry.com Tree administered by Jeanette Holiman Stewart (who can be reached at htreekeeper@outlook.com).  Other assets include two administered by this writer - http://hollimanfamilyblogspot.com/ and a virtual archive at www.bholliman.com/ .

Additional photographs of this emotional and important Gathering can be found at the Hollyman Facebook page. Photographs on this page provided by Alice Holliman Murphy of Texas.

Please continue to watch this space not only for more items of family history, but information on the emerging Christopher Hollyman Families Historical Society....

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!