William Holloway – Died After 04 December 1744 and Before 1 April 1746.
William Holloway died after 04 December 1744 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, the date of his will. Sometime before 1701 he married Anne. Some researchers have her maiden name as Waller, however there is nothing to substantiate that (at least to-date.) There were Waller families living close to William, but no daughters named Anne that have been found to-date. William and Anne had six children, all of who are mentioned in his will dated 04 December 1744. William’s will was proven 03 June 1746 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Some genealogies on the web give William’s surname as Holladay. There is no equivalence between the surnames Holloday and Holloway. Crozier, who abstracted the Spotsylvania records, may be responsible for some of the confusion since he abstracted “our” William’s will as that of William Holladay. The county records invariably refer to “our” William in the probate and deed records that can be clearly associated with him as Holloway. There were Holliday’s in that area of Virginia at the same time as our Holloway family. (Thanks to Scott Swanson for this clarification.)
Will of William Holloway- Died After 04 December 1744 and Before 1 April 1746.
In the name of God Amen I William Holloway of the Parish of St. George and County of Spotsylvania in the Colony of Virginia being of perfect sense and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner following:.
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ann Holloway three negroes named Jack a man and Nason and Jonny woman to her and her heirs forever also one negro girl named Milly to her and her heirs forever.
Item I give to my son John two negro men named Tony and Will to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give to my son Charles two negroes one named Robin a man and the other named Moll a girl to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son George a negro man called Harry and a negro boy called Toboy to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give to my son Robert a negro man named Sam to him and his heirs forever also a negro girl named Bette to him and his heirs forever also a negro woman named Sarah to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Dillard a negro girl named Judey to her and her heirs forever.
Item I give to my grandson John Robinson a negro man named Peter to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give unto my grandson William Holloway the son of Robert Holloway all my land in King William County to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give the one half of my land in Spotsylvania County unto my loving wife for and during her natural life including the plantation and after her decease I give the same land unto my grandson John Robinson to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give the remainder of my land in Spotsylvania County unto my grandson William Holloway the son of John Holloway to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give unto my daughter Ann the wife of John Robinson a cow and calf to her and her heirs forever.
Item I give all the rest of my estate be it of what nature of quality so ever to be equally divided amongst my wife and all my children.
And of this my last will and testament I do constitute and appoint my sons Charles and Robert whole and sole executors, confirming this to be my last will and revoking all other wills by me made in testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of December 1744.
[signed] William Holloway (x) Sealed, published, and declared in the presence of us W. Walton, Matthew Gayle, Henry Rogers.
[Spotsylvania County VA Will Book A: 431-432; printed in Carlton M. Dillard, Back to Old Virginia….: 14-15]
William Holloway´s will was proved by witnesses Matthew Gale and Henry Rogers. John Holloway, the heir at law, appeared and said he had no objections to offer against the proving of the will; Charles Holloway, one of the executors named in the will, refused the executorship thereof. Robert Holloway, the other executor, was summoned to the next Court to answer whether he will accept the executorship; 1 April 1746.
[Sparacio, Spotsylvania County VA Order Book 1744-1746: 87]
Anne Holloway, widow of William Holloway, renounced legacies and insists on her third share of his estate; William McWilliams, John Parrish, Matthew Gale, and Philip Vincent Vass ordered, once they have appraised the estate, to set aside her thirds; 3 June 1746.
[Sparacio, Spotsylvania County VA Order Book 1744-1746: 92]
Children of William and Anne Holloway
The children named in the will of William and Anne Holloway are:
- John Holloway (married Rachel and Elizabeth)
- Elizabeth Holloway (married Thomas Dillard)
- Charles Holloway (married unknown)
- George Holloway (married Elizabeth Slaughter)
- Robert Holloway (married Rachel)
- Anne Holloway (married John Robinson)
John Holloway (son of William and Anne Holloway)
About 1724 John married Rachel. Rachel’s last name is unknown. By the time of John’s death in 1964, John had remarried an Elizabeth. His wife Elizabeth and his son John (who married Elizabeth Carmack) were executors of John, Sr.’s estate. Some researchers also have John as married to Hannah. This John may, however be John, the son of David and Elizabeth (Matthews) Holloway.
Children of John and Rachel Holloway
John and Rachel had at least two sons:
- John Holloway (married Elizabeth Cammack)
- William Holloway (married Mary)
In the past I have William above as the father of Clarissa Holloway Hill who married Samuel Hill. It is now seems likely that William, father of Clarissa Holloway Hill, was the son of Robert (who married Rachel) and the grandson of William and Anne Holloway. Thus, he would have been the first cousin of William, son of John
Robert Holloway (son of William and Anne Holloway)
Robert Holloway and his brother Charles were executors of the estate of their father, William. Robert was born about 1710 and died about about 10 Dec 1748 when his wife Rachel was summoned to take administration of her late husband’s estate.
William Holloway (son Robert and Rachel Holloway)
William Holloway, son of Robert Holloway, heir in will of his grandfather William Holloway, dated 04 December 1744, proven 03 June 1746 Spotsylvania County VA: was bequeathed all of his grandfather’s land in King William County, Virginia.
William had at least two sons:
- William (married Frances whose maiden name may have been Carter) abt 1730-1794
- Charles died 1751, Caroline Co., Virginia
Children of William Holloway and Ms. Carter
William and Mary Holloway had three children:
- George Holloway
- John Holloway
- Clarissa Jane Holloway
Researchers of this branch of Holloways have historically given William’s wife name as Ms. Carter. I have yet to find any basis for this.
Clarissa married Samuel Hill, who is the progenitor of the Hills on this website.
The research on this family is ongoing. Many thinks to a lot of people who have given me information over the years, in particular, Scott Swanson, Steve Hammontree, Mark Royston and Cathy Rundell.
