William Holder (abt. 1785 - 1855)

Born about 1785 in England

Husband of Mary Jane (Laskey) Holder — married 15 Oct 1832 in Bathurst, Cape Colony

Descendants

Died 2 Apr 1855 at about age 70 in Harrismith, Orange Free State, South Africa

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Biography

William Holder South African 1820 Settler and Descendants

1820 settler

William Holder was the leader of Holder's Party of 1820 Settlers. His first wife was Sophia Clark. His second wife was Mary Laskey, who had previously been married to James Thomas, with whom she travelled to South Africa in Southey's Party of 1820 Settlers, with their children: Elizabeth 18; James 10; Humphrey 6; Isaiah 2 and baby Arabella.

Holder's Party

A party of 39 from Gloucestershire led by William HOLDER sailed in the 'Kennersley Castle'. They were located on a tributary of the Bush River, their location being named New Bristol. It is now wrongly named Lampeter.

Settler Handbook Content: No. 44 on the Colonial Department list, led by William Holder, a yeoman of 7 Nelson Street, Bristol. This was a joint-stock party recruited in Bristol and consisting almost entirely of small tradesmen, although their leader assured the Colonial Department that 'all understood agriculture'. Only two of the names on the first list submitted - Holder himself and Webb - appeared on the party's final sailing list. Powell and Roberts were originally members of a party formed by John Staples of Bermondsey, London, who was unsuccessful in his application to emigrate; they were both Bristol men, and after Staples' party was rejected they joined Holder in place of drop-outs from his early list.

Deposits were paid for 12 men, one of whom did not in the event emigrate. Two of the party, Holder and Powell, were accompanied by servants (Currier and Woods; the latter's age was given as under 18 in order to avoid paying the full deposit).

The party sailed from Bristol on 10 January 1820 in the regular transport 'Kennersley Castle', reaching Table Bay on 29 March and Algoa Bay on 29 April. Eighteen children died on the voyage, many from measles; four children of Holder's party appeared on the London list but not in the Agents' Return, and may have been among those who died. In writing about his fellow passengers on the Kennersley Castle, Thomas Philipps described the party as 'mechanics from Bristol, we like all but the head, he and the Lieut (i.e. the Agent of Transports) often quarrel ...' This opinion of Holder was evidently shared by his people, who complained that they were 'dissatisfied with his general conduct and behaviour as also of his gross ignorance and uncouth manner', and requested permission soon after arriving in Albany for Shepstone to take over the direction of the party. Their location on a tributary of the Bush River was named New Bristol.

LIST OF HOLDER'S PARTY (some of) CURRIER, William 24. Labourer (servant of W Holder). GUEST, Edward 34. Mason. w Ann 40. c John 8. HANCOCK, John 23. Tailor. HILES, Frederick William 38. Sawyer and army pensioner. w Mary (or Elizabeth) 35. c William 11, George 9, Ann 6. HOLDER, William 30. Yeoman. w Sophia 25. c Sophia 3, Eliza 2.

Marriage

William Holder (widower) was married to Mary Thomas, widow of James Thomas on 15 Oct 1832 at the United Church of England and Ireland, Bathurst, Cape Colony by Pastor G. Porter. Witnesses were: T. Style, M. Style, and W. Roberts. ^[1] (image not avaibable)

Travel to interior

Many settlers were still unhappy with the living condition at the Colony, at this time, so they loaded their wagons and left for the interior. In so doing, their families were split up.

Seperated

William Holder left Colesberg during 1847, and had deserted his wife Mary Holder, as according to an affidavit on 19/7/1855 she never received any maintenance, nor ever saw him again. She made ends meet by staying with her children. Mary left for Fort Beaufort to stay with other family.

His children

William Holder

Joseph Benjamin Holder

Francis Holder

Eliza Harvey, born Holder

Jane Sophia Boardman, born Holder

Mary Ann Holder

Francis Holder

Mary Anne McLoud born Thomas

James Thomas

Jane Symes, born Thomas

John Thomas,

Isaiah Thomas

Jane Sophia Thomas *

Arabella Elliot, born Thomas

Elizabeth Moorcroft, born Thomas

• as at November 1888 distribution list

Travelled into the interior

William Holder had left Colesberg during 1847 to Bloemfontein, in the Orange River Colony and to Harrismith, Orange River Colony where he had decided to stay. His occupation on his death notice is illegible.

Death

William Holder died on 2 April 1855 at Erf 68 Harrismith. Death Notice MHG H4 refers to the death of William Holder, and was signed by Mary Ann (Marianne) (24) Holder on 4 April 1855. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage record was seen and transcribed by Gladwin-7 on 19/10/2023
2. ↑ death record was seen and added on 19/10/2023 by Gladwin-7

• 2nd Marriage.: "South Africa, Civil Marriage Records, 1840-1973", database, FamilySearch ( https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:CLQG-NSZM : 22 September 2022), William Holder, who was married to Jane Thomas (widow) on 15/10/1832 at Bathhurst .: entry 773 in the register. Film # 008145655, Image no. 22/612. Marriage record was seen and added on 19/10/2023 by Gladwin-7.

• Death.: "South Africa, Orange Free State, Probate Records from the Master of the Supreme Court, 1832-1989," , FamilySearch ( https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7TYP-153Z : 8 February 2022), Death notice H4 refers to the death of William Holder, who died on 2/4/1855; citing Probate, Harrismith, Orange Free State, South Africa, Master's Office of the Orange Free State Archives, Bloemfontein; 004079984. Film # 004079984, Image no. 160/602. Death record was seen and added on 19/10/2023 by Gladwin-7.

• 1820 settler group on Geni.

www.1820settlers.com [McArthur-306 : Ian McArthur - 14 Apr 2016]