James Holt (abt. 1650 - 1690)

Born about 1650 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

Husband of Hannah (Allen) Holt — married 12 Oct 1675 in Andover, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 13 Dec 1690 at about age 40 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

JAMES, the fourth son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Short) Holt, was born at Andover in say 1650. He is sometimes said to have been born on 21 Jun 1651 but this date is not in the Vital records and appears to be an error. His name is on the list of males over sixteen years of age who took the oath of allegiance to King Charles II , February 11, 1678, with his father and brothers, Samuel, Nicholas, and Henry, and also a Daniel Holt, who was probably his step-brother, Daniel Rolfe, the son of the third wife of Nicholas.

James was a soldier in Captain Nicholas Paige's troop in King Phillips' War. Captain Paige's troop was appointed June 27th, 1675, to accompany Major Thomas Savage in the expedition to Mount Hope, and took part in the movements there. Captain Paige accompanied the army to Narragansett and back, then returned to Boston with Major Savage, and disbanded. There is no account of any further service in this war. In the credits for men in this campaign is James Hoult, 2 lbs. 00s, OOd, September 3, 1675.

James married October 12, 1675, Hannah Allen, daughter of Andrew Allen and Faith Ingalls. She was consequently a sister to Sarah, the wife of Samuel Holt, and also to Martha Carrier, who was hanged for witchcraft. But their story has been told before.

Hannah was born October 28, 1652, and died September 30, 1698. James and Hannah both united with the North Parish Church in 1686. The following, recorded among the Salem deeds, is a transfer of land made to James by his father Nicholas.

• "Nicholas and Martha to James, Jan. 16, 1682. "To James one-third of my farm the land where his house now stands, the upland and arable ground running on north side by a pine swamp. Also one-third meadow called great meadow bounded on the west by a ditch N upland and NE by a black oak standing by a spring that comes out of Boston Hill . Also 3 acres of my commenage which I had of the town with my house lot, also 3 acres of commage for timbre and firewood. "James is required to pay 10 shillings a year in lieu of all rates both to town and church so long as the inhabitants of Andover shall continue this way of rating by land. "James is to pay his father 3 pounds yearly for maintenance as long as he lives and 40 shillings to Martha, that is now his mother-in-law."

The story of the smallpox which broke out in Andover 1690, and may have been partly responsible for the madness of the witchcraft trials two years later, has been told under the story of Samuel. An early history of Andover relates that nine persons out of its small population died in that year of smallpox. One of these was James Holt. He died December 13, 1690, aged thirty-nine. His infant son died of the same disease. His brother Samuel was made chief executor of his estate.

James & Hannah's children. born in Andover, Mass, included:

1. Hannah, b. 12 Aug 1677
2. Priscilla (Holt) Farnum, b. 13 Aug 1679
3. Lydia, b. 27 September 1681
4. Timothy b. 25 Jan 1683
5. Joseph b. 05 March 1686
6. Rebecca, b. 29 March 1688

Name

Name: James /Holt/

Given Name: James

Surname: Holt

Name Suffix: (9Th Great Grandfather)

Sources

• The First Three Generations of Holts in America

Published Under the Auspices of THE HOLT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA pages 193-194

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHLG-3J4 : 4 December 2014), Hanah Holt, 12 Aug 1677; citing Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, 138; FHL microfilm 877,468.

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZK3-2L8 : 4 December 2014), Priscilla Holt, 13 Aug 1679; citing ANDOVER,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0496897 IT 1-2.

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHLG-W27 : 4 December 2014), Lidia Holt, 27 Sep 1681; citing Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, 141; FHL microfilm 877,468.

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHLB-FLC : 4 December 2014), Timothy Holt, 25 Jan 1683; citing Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, 12; FHL microfilm 877,468.

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZK7-G41 : 4 December 2014), Joseph Holt, 05 Mar 1686; citing ANDOVER,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0496897 IT 1-2.

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZK3-8TL : 4 December 2014), Rebekah Holt, 29 Mar 1688; citing ANDOVER,ESSEX,MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0496897 IT 1-2.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Holt-573 created through the import of Ancestors of PBHowe.ged on Jun 6, 2011 by Buck Howe.
• WikiTree profile Holt-615 created through the import of Travis Family Tree.ged on Jun 22, 2011 by Roger Travis.
• WikiTree profile Holt-1380 created through the import of Madelon's Info_2012-08-26.ged.ged on Aug 26, 2012 by Madelon David.