William Holloway (1734 - abt. 1827)

Born 24 Dec 1734 in Charles Parish, York, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 15 Jan 1827 at about age 92 in Mecklenburg, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joe Holloway [send private message]

Biography

William Holloway is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A205458.

William was born 1734 in York Co, VA. He was the son of George Holloway and Elizabeth (Unknown). He married Martha Ballard of Mecklenburg Co, VA.

William passed away about Jan 1827 in Mecklenburg Co, VA.

Last Will and Testament

William's last will was written 10 Feb 1824 and proven in probate court on 13 Jan 1827.

In the name of God Amen, I William Holloway senr of Mecklenburg County Virginia being in perfect sence mind and memory and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, Item first I wish a decent burial also all my just debts paid

Item, I bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth H. Holloway all my lands lying between Cooks road and the Courthouse road also my dwelling house the line commencing on the courthouse road running south so as to give her the spring thence North of the west to the fork of the branch that runs to the Church Branch thence up said branch to Speeds line during her life at her death it is my will that Martha B. Holloway would have the said land to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son William Holloway Jr. all the balance of my lands to him and his heirs forever. Item, I give unto Martha B. Holloway daughter of Edward Holloway One feather bed and furniture also one young mare the residue of my estate be it of whatever nature it may be to be divided between Elizabeth H. Holloway and William Holloway Jr equally to them and their heirs forever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this tenth day February one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, William Holloway (his mark)

Witness

Peter Hudson

Charles Hudson

Archer Phillips

At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 13th day of January 1827.

The last will and testament of William Holloway Senr was produced into Court and proved by oaths of Peter Hudson and Charles Hudson (?) being witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded

And at a Court Continued and held for the County aforesaid on the 21st day of November 1827 On motion of William Holloway who made oath thereto and together with Daniel Middagh and Stephen Dodson (?) his securities entered into and acknowledged bond on the penalty of $2000 understand according to Law. Certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration with the will annexed of the said decedent Est in due form, there being no excr appointed on said will

Edw L Tabb

Research Notes

Conflation with William Holloway of Brunswick Co, VA

Past researchers have claimed that William Holloway born 1734 in York Co, VA was the same William Holloway of Brunswick Co, VA whose will was proven 1784 in Brunswick Co.

Quoted from "Poquoson Families, Volume II" (Willett, 2002) ^[1]:

William Holloway was born on December 24, 1735, York County, Virginia.

William Holloway died in 1827 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. He was a man of considerable wealth, as proved by his will dated November 20, 1784, which left his estate to his four sons.

The will and four sons referenced here belong to William Holloway of Brunswick Co, VA who died in 1784. There is little reason to believe that William's will was written and proven 1784 in Brunswick Co, but that he died 43 years later in Mecklenburg Co.

Additional evidence of the conflation is that William Holloway of Mecklenburg Co, VA and his brother, Bennett Holloway, were paying land tax in Mecklenburg before and after the death of William Holloway of Brunswick Co, VA in 1784 ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}. The acreage in the tax records match the 177 acre shares bequeathed to the children in the last will of George Holloway of Lunenburg Co, VA proven 7 Aug 1759 from his grant of 1,063 acres along Church Creek on 16 Aug 1756 ^[8].

William sold two of the 177 acre shares along Church Creek to Robert Cunningham on 3 Jan 1765 ^[9]. Because William seems to have retained his own 177 acres based on subsequent tax lists, these shares are presumed to have belonged to two of his siblings; either deceased or otherwise having relinquished their stake. There may exist documentary evidence yet to have been located between 1759-1765 to further explain the nature of this transaction.

Mecklenburg Co, VA and Charlotte Co, VA were split from Lunenburg Co, VA in 1764-65 ^{[10] [11]}.

The first government of Mecklenburg Co includes several men (namely Henry Delony, John Speed, Samuel Hopkins and Benjamin Baird) who are found commonly interacting with the Holloways of Mecklenburg ^[10].

Husband of Martha Ballard

Additional confusion results from both Williams having married women named Martha. William of Brunswick (-1784) names his wife Martha Holloway in his last will. However, we do not have evidence as commonly claimed that she was Martha Ballard of Mecklenburg Co. In fact, it seems more plausible that Martha Ballard married in Mecklenburg Co where her Ballard family is well-documented interacting with the Holloways in Mecklenburg. A detailed mapping of land deeds may help to make sense of where each family was located with respect to one another.

Martha Holloway was named In John Ballard's last will witnessed 26 Aug 1783 and proven 9 Jul 1787 in Mecklenburg Co, VA ^[12].:

I lend to my daughter Martha Holloway four negroes named Fanny, Cawey, Jenny and Dick during her life, and at her death I direct that the said negroes and the increase of the said females be disposed of by my executor in such manner as he may think will best contribute to the support of my grandchildren by my said daughter Martha until her youngest surviving child shall arrive at lawful age and at that time that the said negroes & their increase of the said females be equally divided amongst my said daughters children to whom and their heirs I give them forever.

In 1790, William Holloway of Mecklenburg Co, VA named enslaved persons on his property tax list that provide continuity with those named in the last will of John Ballard: Butler, Cowey, Janny/Fanny ^[13]. This tax roll was almost six years after the death of the William Holloway in Brunswick Co, VA who notably made no provisions of any holdings in Mecklenburg Co. in his last will.

Son named John Holloway

In the last will of Williams daughter, Elizabeth H Holloway, proven September 1827 she mentions the children of two brothers, Gray and John. The identity of Gray is understood, but the identify of John is not. He seems likely to have been the John Holloway who married Susan (MNU) who were the parents of Edward A. Holloway of Mecklenburg, but further evidence is needed.

DNA

Descendants of this Holloway line and the line of William Holloway of Brunswick Co, VA are encouraged to participate in the Holloway Y-DNA Project. There are currently two representatives from the Mecklenburg Co, VA line who match Y-DNA with descendants of George Holloway's brother David Holloway Jr.. No confirmed descendants of the conflated William Holloway of Brunswick Co. VA have tested.

Sources

1. ↑ Willett, A. J. (2002). WILLIAM HOLLOWAY and UNKNOWN Of Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Poquoson Families, Volume II, In The Holloway, Messick, and Linton families of the Poquoson District, York County, Virginia: Being George Holloway, Zadok Messick, and Elijah Linton of Poquoson District, York County, Virginia (p. 32). essay, Heritage Books. Note, this source contains disputed details about William Holloway.
2. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Land Tax Books, 1782; William Holloway, 177 acres
3. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Land Tax Books, 1787; William Holloway, 177 acres
4. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Land Tax Books, 1788; William Holloway, 177 acres
5. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Land Tax Books, 1789; William Holloway, 177 acres
6. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Land Tax Books, 1790; William Holloway, 177 acres
7. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Land Tax Books, 1791; William Holloway, 177 acres
8. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Land Grants, Vol. 34, p. 108; 16 Aug 1756, land patent to George Holloway for 1063 acres along Church Creek.
9. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Deed Books, Vol. 1, pp. 95-7; 3 Jan 1765, William Holloway 354 acres on Church Branch to Robert Cunningham
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} History of Mecklenburg Co, VA on Wikipedia
11. ↑ Mecklenburg County, Virginia Genealogy on FamilySearch
12. ↑ Mecklenburg Co. Va. Wills, Volume 2, 1782-1788, p. 213 Last Will of John Ballard, Jr.
13. ↑ Mecklenburg County Virginia, Property Tax Lists, 1790; 14 Jun 1790, William Holloway son George Holloway

• Bell, L. C. (1932). Histories and Registers of Charles Parish. In "Charles Parish, York County, Virginia, history and registers: Births 1648-1789, deaths 1665-1787" (pp. 99, 106–108). essay, The Virginia State Library Board. Retrieved April 26, 2022, from https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/542348/. Citing Halloway/Hollaway/Holloway family Christening records in Charles Parish, York, Virginia.
• Mecklenburg County Virginia, Deed Books, Vol. 1, pp. 95-7; 3 Jan 1765, William Holloway 354 acres on Church Branch to Robert Cunningham
• First Census of the United States 1790, Records of the State Enumerations: 1782-1785 VIRGINIA; Citing William Holloway of Mecklenburg Co, VA.
• "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6684-9T7Q : 10 March 2023), William Holloway in entry for Gray Holloway, 24 Jan 1801; citing Marriage, Virginia, United States, Circuit court clerk offices, Virginia.
• "United States Census, 1820", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLC-4Q6 : Tue Apr 04 17:23:44 UTC 2023), Entry for William Hollaway, 1820.
• Mecklenburg County Virginia, Will Books, Vol 11 (1826-1829), p. 142; 15 Jan 1827, Last will of William Holloway Sr.
• Mecklenburg County Virginia, Fiduciary Book, 1765-1850; 21 Nov 1827, William Holloway Sr.
• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 24 Apr 2023), "Record of William Holloway", Ancestor # A205458.
• FamilySearch Person: LY2V-HXG