John Holloway (1737 - 1781)

Born 1737 in Virginia

Husband of Elizabeth (White) Stillee — married about 1767 in Craven, South Carolina

Descendants

Died 24 Oct 1781 at about age 44 in Natchez, Mississippi Territory

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dale McManus [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1737. He passed away in 1781.

Residence

abt 1764 - Craven Co, South Carolina

John Holloway settles near James Taylor White's 200 acres, the father of his future wife Elizabeth

15 Aug 1768 - Pee Dee River, Mars Bluff, Craven Co, South Carolina

Reported an incident near Marr's Bluff, on Pee Dee River. An armed company of Regulators, "headed by one Gideon Gibson, on the 25th past, near Marr's Bluff, surrounded a constable and twelve men, who were sent to bring one of the villains before a Magistrate, and after a short skirmish, where two of the Constable's Party were mortally wounded, and one shot thro the shoulder, took the Rest Prisoners, whom he discharged, after ordering them 50 lashes each." ^[1].

bet 1778 and 1781 - Natchez, Mississippi

John Holloway and Elizabeth decide to move themselves and their children to Mississippi Territory. They probably take a flat boat down the Tennessee River which hooks up with the Ohio and then down the Mississippi River to Natchez as did the later White families. In John's lawsuit of 1781 he states that he brought at least part of the family down in two pirogues (dug out canoes ).

Said to have moved to Natchez, then in French-Spanish territory, "in order to escape the Revolution".

8 Sep 1781 - Natchez, Mississippi

John Townsend versus John Hollaway . Townsend has an account against John Holloway for $12; asks for an order of payment. Sept. 8, 1781. Sig: John Townsend. Bill enclosed. / In reply John Holloway states that he has a account against said Townsend for two pirogues (dug out canoes ), in one of which the petitioner came to this district and left in the care of the negress, Eleanor Price, from whom the said Townsend took it, the other was blown out into the river, and your petitioner commissioned the said Townsend to recover it for him which he did by paying $4 to a certain Baptiste in the presence of Mr. Gaillard and at the same time exchanged it for a smaller one which would facilitate him on his way to Natchez. Now the said Townsend refuses to make any compensation for the said pirougues. Asks for a judgment for same. // Let this be communicated to the plaintiff./ ^[2]

Military Service

bet 1758 and 1759 - Craven Co, South Carolina

1758-John Holloway is listed in the militia of Craven Co., NC [sic] troop of horse commanded by Peter Rutgers, New Bern, IV - 15-1758 ^[3].

1759

John Holloway is on the list of Capt. Butler's Company in Col. Geo. Gabrel Powell's battalion in expedition against Cherokees X-59 to I1760 (S. C troops).

Probate

24 Oct 1781 - Natchez, Mississippi ^[4]

On the twenty fourth day of the month of October, in the year one thousand seven hundred and Eighty one-- We, Charles De Grand Prei, Lieutnant Colonel of the Regiment of Louisiana, Civil and Military Commandant of the Post and District of Natchez, on notice received of the death of John Holloway, killed by the Indians, have proceeded to the appointment of a guardian to the Children, minors, namely, George, aged fourteen years, William, aged thirteen years, John, aged twelve years, Robert, aged seven years, Mary, aged four years, and James aged two years, Elizabeth Holloway, Widow of the said John Holloway, has declared that she is seven months- pregnant, and has beside another daughter, named Elisabeth, married to Cady Rabey: And the said Guardianship falling naturally to the said Widow Elisabeth, we have appointed her guardian to her six children, minors, and to the child yet to be born, Which charge she has willingly accepted, and promised conscientiously to discharge; in presence of Isaac Johnson, Francois Farrell and Willian Vousdan; who have signed with the said Widow and we the Commandant aforesaid, the day and year before written. Elizabeth Holloway. William Vousdan. Isaac Johnson. Charles DeGrand Pré.

On the twenty fourth day of the month of October the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty one Charles De Grand Pré, Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment Louisiana, Civil and Military Commandant of the port and District of Natches, on notice received of the death of John Holloway killed at his Plantation by the Indians, distant five leagues of the preceeded to the description and Inventory all the Estate belonging to him and his ----wife, appointed guardian to his children, minors, having preparatively ??? ed Isaac Johnson and Daniel Perry, for the appraisement thereof, who have promised on oath to discharge faithfully same; to which said Inventor we have proceeded in, of the said Widow Elizabeth Holloway, Cady Raby, her son in law, Francois Farrell and Silas Crane, in manner for.

First. Two feather - Beds, appraised to thirty Dollars.. . . . . .

Item. One pair of sheets, of Beaufort Linen, appraised to Eleven Dollars.

Item. One Blanket and one Bedspread, appraised to ten Dollars...

Item. Two blankets appraised to twenty Dollars.

Item. One chest and one small trunk appraised together to two Dollars...

Item. Six chairs, appraised to six Dollars....

Item. Two old Pots, appraised to two Dollars...

Item. One Pot, of the capacity of five gallons, appraised to eight Dollars...

Item. One Pot, of the capacity of five gallons, appraised to eight Dollars ...

Item. One old skillet, appraised to one Dollar....

Item. Five pewter Plates, and two Dishes, appraised to five Dollars and four rials....

Item. Four pewter Basons, appraised to four Dollars ...

Item. Three plates, two dishes , appraised to four Dollars......

Item. Three plates, two dishes and one small Pot, of Earthen ware, and the whole appraised to two Dollars...

Carpenter's tools.

One Cross-cut Saw, appraised to twelve Dollars...

Item. One Hand-saw; appraised to two Dollars and four Rials...

Item. One small Joiner's saw, appraised to three Dollars ...

Item. Three inch augers, three chisels, and two ???ders; the whole appraised to six Dollars...

Item. One smoothing-plane and three jacks = ditto amounts of four dollars ---.

Item. One grindstone, appraised to two Dollars.

Item. One Drawing knife, appraised to four Dollars..

Item. One gun, appraised to ten Dollars..

Item. Five axes, one of them a Broad-axe, appraised Eighty Dollars....

Item. Five hoes, appraised to four Dollars .....

Item. One horse- Plough, appraised to twelve Dollars...

Item. One small horse- Harrorr, appraised to two Dollars...

Animals

Item. Five Sows, appraised to twelve dollars.

Slaves.

One Negro man, named "Samuel", of the Angola ration, aged about fifty years, appraised to two hundred Dollars.

Item. A negro wench, named "Sarah" native of Barbadoes, aged about thirty years, appraised to two hundred Dollars.

Item. A negro girl named "Dorinda", native of South Carolina, aged eight years, appraised to two hundred Dollars.

Item. a negro girl, named "Bella", native of South Carolina, aged about ten years, appraised to two-hundred Dollars.

Item. The said Widow declares that there are two cows, two calves, belonging to her eldest Daughter Elizabeth, given to her of her marriage with Cady Raby.

Mem.

Item. And as respects the Plantation, it belongs to Joshua Howard, who is absent from this District: and nothing more being found, neither Titles nor Papers, we have closed the present Inventory, amounting ot the sum of Eight hubndred and thirty three Dollars, and the said effects, tools, slaves and animals, have been left in the charge and care of the said Widow Elizabeth Holloway...... ?(unreadable)Appraisers and Witnesses, and we the Commandante of the day and year written (Daniel Perry has duty and that he cannot write) Elizabeth Holloway. Isaac Johnson. William Vousdan. Cady+ Raby. Charles De Grand Pré .

_____________________________________(total value of the above items is $833 which is totaled in the document).

Charges

One Setting for appointment of a Guardian......................................22.

Preceps - verbal of ditto ...............................................8.

Signature in full..............................4.

Inventory

Two settings..................................44.

Procefs verbal of Item ........................8.

Signature in full .............................4.

Rials 90 $11.

Research Notes

There were many contemporary John Holloways in colonial Virginia making it difficult to pinpoint his lineage. His probate record seems to confirm widespread lore that he was killed by Native Americans near Fort Natchez in Oct 1781.

Y-DNA Study

Male Holloways who suspect descent from John are highly encouraged to participate in the Holloway Y-DNA Project to understand his relation to contemporary Holloway families.

Sources

1. ↑ South Carolina Gazette, August 15, 1768
2. ↑ McBee, May Wilson. Natchez Court Records, Geneological Pub. 1953, page 290 Book G. p6
3. ↑ Clark, State Records of NC, v. 22, p. 323
4. ↑ Book of Inventories Convayence, Book A, July 29th 1787 - Nov. 1787 p. 304. Transcribed by Elroy Christenson from photocopies of the original record.

• Information posted by StevenRoss79 on May 22, 2014, "According to her grandfather, Robert, husband John moved to Natchez in about 1780 which was then Spanish territory in order to escape the Revolution. In October 1781 John Holloway was shot & scalped by Indians, 5 leagues from the Fort of Natchez. At the time he worked as an overseer of the plantation of John Havard. Son George was tied with a rope but later escaped. George at age 14 or 15 goes back east , lives with his grandfather, James Taylor White & Uncle William White "Esquire" on Mulberry Creek, Caldwell County, North Carolina and later becomes a Methodist Minister. This information is apparently taken from a book, "William Wiseman and the Davenports, Pioneers of Old Burke County, North Carolina, Vol. #2" by Maribeth Lang Vineyard & Eugene M. Wiseman, Published in 1997.
• http://www.next1000.com/family/EC/hollaway_john.html
• John's Find a Grave profile doesn't really add any documentary evidence, but is provided for completeness - Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66870319/john-hollaway : accessed 26 April 2022), memorial page for John Hollaway (1737–24 Oct 1781), Find A Grave: Memorial #66870319, ; Maintained by Matt's Mom (contributor 46565757) Burial Details Unknown.