Robert Holladay (abt. 1736 - abt. 1802)

Born about 1736 in Bellefonte, Spotsylvania, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1802 at about age 66 in Elbert County, Georgia

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Biography

Robert Holladay was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The birth date of 'about 1736' is an estimate and it could have been a few years earlier. The surname Holladay is found spelled a variety of ways, often as Holliday.

Robert acquired his first land in 1755, along the Hardware River in Albemarle County. He had three grants there between 1755-1771, totaling 464 acres. The land was likely in the western part of the county near the mountains. In about 1770-71, Robert sold all his land in Albemarle Co. and relocated to Pittsylvania Co., Virginia.

The area of Pittsylvania Co. in which Robert settled was subject to boundary changes over the years. It became Henry Co. in 1777 and then Franklin Co. in 1786. The first land record for Robert here was in 1772, for 200 acres on the Pigg River purchased from Joseph Bird. Robert later acquired other land along nearby Chestnut Creek but his land on Pigg River may be important in understanding how Robert's daughter, Sarah, met her future husband, Allegany McGuire, son of Zachariah McGuire. About a year after Robert acquired his Pigg River tract, Francis McGuire acquired 240 acres, also on Pigg River, and also purchased from Joseph Bird. Francis McGuire and Zachariah McGuire were both from the Goochland/Cumberland Co., VA area, although their family relationship remains unclear. But when Zachariah moved into then Henry Co., it is very possible he lived, at least for a time, on the Pigg River property of Francis McGuire. This may explain how Sarah Holliday, born in Albemarle Co., met and married a man born in Cumberland Co.

The Pigg River area is also of interest historically. Located just south of today's Rocky Mount, this area was home to what became the Washington Iron Works. By about 1773, an expanding industrial community was established at what became Rocky Mount. When Robert Holliday sold his 200 acres there, it was purchased by the owners of the iron works, most likely for the timber used to fuel the furnace. Francis McGuire's land went to the same buyers.

Robert's wife has not been located in records, although some sources indicate her name may have been Mary or Polly. Robert's children probably included: Sarah, Banes, Jeremiah and John.

Robert lived in Henry Co. during the Revolution and after part of Henry split to form Franklin Co. Land records suggest Robert probably lived on his Chestnut Creek property for most of this time, a very short distance from his Pigg River land. Around 1798, Robert sold his holdings and relocated to Elbert County, Georgia, where his daughter Sarah and his sons also moved.

Some time in 1802, Robert died intestate in Elbert Co. Based on his inventory he owned some slaves. His wife was not mentioned in estate papers so it is assumed she died previously.

Sources

• Library of Virginia Land Office Patents No. 32, p. 577; 13 June 1755, Albemarle County; Land grant to Robert Holliday, 50 acres in the South Garden.

• Library of Virginia Land Office Patents No. 37, p. 230; 6 April 1768, Albemarle County; Land grant to Robert Holliday, 250 acres in the coves of the mountains of Hardware River.

• Library of Virginia Land Office Patents No. 39, p. 383; 16 March 1771, Albemarle County; Land grant to Robert Holliday, 164 acres on the ridges and in the coves of Mettles Mountain.

• Pittsylvania County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 502; 28 May 1772, Joseph Bird of Pittsylvania Co. to Robert Holliday, 200 acres on Pigg River.

• Pittsylvania County, Virginia Order Book 1, p. 416; May 1772, A deed from Joseph Bird to Robert Holliday was by the said Joseph Bird acknowledged to be his act and deed and Hannah the wife of the said Joseph she being first privately examined relinquished her right of dower…

• Complete Index and Abstract of the Henry County Order Book 1 and 2 (1777-1782), by Charles P. Blunt IV, 1978, p. 80; 28 October 1779, Ordered that Robert Holliday be allowed the sum of 13 pounds for necessities for Robert Hodges whose sons are in the Continental Service of the United States.

• 1782 Henry County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List
  

Robert Holliday, 1 tithe, 1 Negro, 4 Horses, 15 Cattle
Banes Holliday, 1 tithe, 0 Negro, 1 Horse, 7 Cattle

• A History of Henry County, Virginia by Judith Parks America Hill, Heritage Books, 2009, p. 315, February 1782, Robert Holliday for 20 lbs Bacon to Col. Penn for use of the militia of Henry County.

• The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 21, No. 3 (July 1913), pp. 277-280, p. 277, Marriage License Bonds from the files of the Clerk’s office, by C. B. Bryant, Martinsville, VA; p. 279, McGuire, Allegania – Sarah Holliday, 27 June 1782.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 4, p. 339; 8 December 1795, Robert Mason to James Bird, 665 acres on Chestnut Creek, adj. R. Holiday’s line.

• Franklin County, Virginia Order Book 1789-1793, p. 46, 13 February 1790, For the examination of Robert Mason on suspicion of felenously stealing and carrying away 2 hogs, the property of Robert Holliday, the value of 2 pounds. The said Robert Holliday appearing as presenter for the Commonwealth. Present, John Smith, Moses Greer, Swinfield Hill, Thomas Hale. The said Robert Mason being led to the Bar in the custody of Peter Sanders. Robert Mason answered that he is no wise guilty; whereupon the court proceeded to examine divers witnesses. Opinion of the court that Robert Mason is not guilty and discharged out of custody..

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 36-37, 7 January 1793, Lewis Davis & Robert Prunty to Melker Waggoner, 265 acres on waters of Chestnut Creek adj. Robert Holliday, Edward Wilson, Callaway.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 96-97, 4 March 1794, Robert Holliday to James Calloway, John & Jubal Early, as Tenants in Common members & Co. Partners in Washington Iron Works, 200 acres on Pigg River. Wit: William Crump, Thomas Crutcher, Samuel Hairston.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 147, March 3, 1794, John Martin and Elijah Warren, Power of Attorney for Robert Mason, to Robert Holiday for sum of 100 pounds, 371 ac on Chestnut Creek, John Jackeses (Jakes) corner, James Bird's line. Wit: Lewis Davis, John Hale, Joseph Hale.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 4, p. 339, 8 December 1795, Robert Mason of Greenville Co., SC to James Bird, for the sum of 114 pounds, 665 ac. bounding on Robert Holidays, old line, John Hargers line, up the Creek to Zachariah Warrens line. Wit: Elijah Warren, Drury Warren, Pleasant Hudson.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 493, 6 March 1797, Melker Waggoner to Adam Atter, 135 acres on waters of Chestnut Creek adj. Robert Holliday, Callaway. Wit: Lewis Davis, Jeremiah Holliday, Thomas Gadd.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 510, 4 December 1797, Melcher Waggoner to John Beckleshymer (Pickleheimer), 75 acres on waters of Chestnut Creek adj. Wilson, Robert Holliday.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 586, 30 March 1798, Robert Holliday to Stephen Smith, 443 acres on south fork of the north fork of Chestnut Creek, it being the tract whereon Robert Holliday now lives, adj. Briery Mountain. Wit: Lewis Davis, Thomas Prater, James Bird, Robert Wood, John Jakes.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 5, page 257, 28 March 1798, Robert Holliday of the County of Franklin to John Jakes, [no acreage] on the Waters of Chestnut Creek, adj. John Harger, James Callaway, Lewis Davis, Hollaway...Wit: Lewis Davis, Benjamin Roger.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to William Graham for creating WikiTree profile Holladay-171 through the import of WLGraham.ged on May 24, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by William and others.