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Robert Holloway
Born Jan 17, 1774 Craven? Co. SC
Died by 1833? Franklin Co. MS

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Father
Mother

SPOUSE	CHILDREN
Rebecca Wells m. Nov 22, 1796 Natchez Dist. b. 1776? ?Brier Creek, St. George Parish, GA d. by Oct 4, 1832 ?Franklin Co. MS	Mary b. Aug 17, 1797 Natchez Miss. Terr. d. by 1830? ?St. Helena Parish LA	John b. Jul 5, 1799 Natchez Miss. Terr. d. by May 28, 1851 St. Helena Parish LA	George b. Dec 5, 1801 Louisiana Terr. d. Dec 25, 1845 DeBastrop Twp. AR
	Esther "Hetty" b. Nov 20, 1803 d. after 1830 ?Adams Co. MS	Jane or Mary Jane b. Aug 10, 1805 d. 1872 MS	Susan b. Jun 1, 1807 d. 1851?
	Elizabeth b. Mar 20, 1809 d. Before 1850	William b. Dec 10, 1811 St. Helena Parish LA d. by 1820?	James Lee b. Dec 1, 1813 St. Helena Parish LA d. Mar, 1870 Ashley Co., AR
	Rebecca b. Jan 22, 1817 St. Helena Parish LA d. Oct 1, 1852 ?Franklin Co. MS	Robert S. b. Aug 1, 1818 St. Helena Parish LA d. Jun 17, 1846 Franklin Co. MS	Permelia K. b. Feb 22, 1820 St. Helena Parish LA d. after May 1851 ?Ashley Co. AR
	?Cader R. b. Dec 24, 1822
When Robert was age 7, his father John Holloway was shot and scalped by Indians five leagues from the Fort of Natchez. At the time, he was apparently working as "an overseer" of the plantation of Joshua Howard. Brother George was tied with a rope but escaped during the night, and around 1786, when still a teenager, moved to Burke Co. NC to live with his uncle, William, and grandfather James Taylor White. The other six children including Robert remained in Natchez District. In May 1782, some of the White uncles and their familes arrived by flatboat at Natchez.
When wife Rebecca was born, the Wells family had land on Brier Creek in St. George Parish GA, where in Mar 1779 there was a battle in which the Patriots were defeated. (see map of Ga. Parishes 1773-1777 for location of this area). The Wells family then moved to Washington Co. GA soon after it was created (adjoining St. George Parish to the west).
Wife Rebecca was the daughter of John Wells and "Juana Duarit" (Joanne or Jane Dewitt). They had settled on land on the headwaters of Sandy Creek by 1795. In 1801 the brother of John, William Wells, purchased land in St. Helena Parish in the Louisiana Territory, and John Wells settled there in the same year.
In March 1794, Robert attested to a land transaction in Natchez court records in which his brother-in-law "Cady Raby" was executor of the estate sale. On Aug 27, 1796 Robert was a witness to a land claim that involved improvements to the land and houses on Sandy Creek in the Natchez District.
Map of the Natchez District as it may have looked between 1779 and 1799.
In the mid-1790's, Robert's brothers John and James Holloway, along with Reuben White (1765?-1835?) and James T. White (1770?-1842?), sons of uncle James White (1736?-1783), moved into northeastern Rapides Parish LA, which became known as Holloway Prairie, where they obtained Spanish land grants and engaged in the cattle business. Many of the Anglo families of the Deville area came there from Natchez.
In Mar 1794, Robert attested to a sale of land from the estate of John Hartley to Christian Harmon. His brother-in-law, Cady Raby was one of the executors [McBee, Book E, p. 320].
Robert and Rebecca Wells were married on Nov 22, 1796 at St. Joseph Church founded in 1792 under the diocese of Santiago de Cuba. It is now St. Joseph Cathedral and still exists in its original location in Baton Rouge LA, the oldest church building in the area. In the church records, Robert and Rebecca were married "at Natchez", and are identified as Calvinists. Rebecca's grandparents are recorded as "Juan and Jeanne Duarit" [Diocese of Baton Rouge, Catholic Church Records, vol. 2, p. 387].
On Mar 23, 1804, the heirs of Samuel Wells claimed 250 acres on Second Creek, that was originally granted by the British Govt. to Absalom Hooper [McBee, Book F, p. 442]. Robert's father was killed by Indians on nearby land on Second Creek.
In 1801, Robert was living on and cultivating 102 acres in Adams Co. on Sandy Creek, according to claim to purchase the land in 1804. Adams Co. was created in 1799 and included the town of Natchez.
Adams Co. was founded in 1799, the first county in the new Mississippi Territory. It was named for the U.S. President at that time. (see present day map for location).
Franklin Co. MS was formed on Dec 21, 1809 from the eastern part of Jefferson Co. and parts of Amite, Wilkinson and Adams Counties (see present day map for location).
St. Helena Parish LA was founded in 1810 and borders Mississippi (see present day map for location).
Daughter Mary married Joseph George Sep 8, 1814 in St. Helena Parish LA. In the 1820 Census of that Parish, they had two children, a boy and a girl, in their household. In 1830, the household of Joseph George has no women over 30, but has one born before 1810. In the 1841 Franklin Co. MS Census, page 6, 8th entry, there is a household of "Joseph George" household with 2 males and 1 female [familysearch.org, website].
Father-in-law John Wells died Feb 24, 1815. In a meeting of his heirs on Jun 16, 1815, Robert Holloway is present but not his wife, John Wells' daughter Rebecca. Four of her siblings were recorded as deceased, but not her. Two sons of his second marriage and one son of his first marriage were present. The first wife of John Wells was Jane Duhart (possibly Dewitt), Rebecca's mother. His second wife was Susannah Young [M.L. Ragland, p. 16].
Robert's stepbrother Michael Lamport Stillee (1786-1823) married Delilah Starnes about 1808. On May 18, 1815, after Delilah's mother Elizabeth Starnes died, Robert helped the Justice of the Peace of St. Helena Parish find the "absent heirs" of the Starnes estate [M.L. Ragland, pp. 15-16].
In 1816, Robert claimed land in St. Helena Parish as a result of settling there years before [American State Papers].
Daughter Esther married Simeon J. Broadaway on Oct 28, 1820 in St. Helena Parish LA. He and Esther are listed as 20-30 year olds with many children and slaves in the 1830 Franklin Co. MS Census including Leesdale in Adams Co.
In the 1820 Census for St. Helena Parish LA, Robert and Rebecca Holloway included 8 children and 1 female adult in their home as follows: 1 male under age 10 (James Lee), 1 male under age 16-18 (George), 1 male between age 16-26 (John), 1 male aged 45 and over (Robert), 2 females under age 10 (Rebecca, Permelia), 3 females between age 10-16 (Jane, Susan, Elizabeth), and 1 female between age 26-45 (his wife born after 1775). Also counted were 6 slaves, including one female over 45 (possibly Dorinda, born to the Holloway family in SC about 1773, and inherited after Aug 1817 from Robert's deceased mother).
On Oct 25, 1834, daughter Jane is referred to as Jane Graham, one of brother John's heirs. "Jane Hollaway" married Archibald B. Graham in St. Helena Parish on May 30, 1827 [St. Helena Parish Marriages]. In May 1851, Jane is identified as Jane Lord widow of Joseph Lord in petitions relating to brother John's estate. A Jane Ford married Joseph Lard on Dec 2, 1841. On Jun 18, 1856 in Franklin Co. MS, she may have become the second wife of Absalom Ford, son of John Ford.
In the 1830 Census for St. Helena (line 101), the household of "Robert Holoway" included: 2 males under age 10? (Cader or possibly orphan children related to Robert's sister Elizabeth Raby), 2 males between age 15-20 (Robert S., James Lee), 1 male 50-60 (himself), 1 female between age 5-10 (Permelia), 1 female between age 15-20 (Rebecca), 2 females between age 20-30 (Susan, Elizabeth), and 1 female between age 50-60 (wife Rebecca born after 1770). Also counted were 7 slaves. About two years later, on Oct 4, 1832, Robert "ask tutorship of his minor children to wit: James L., Rebecca, & Permelia Holloway." On Jan 3, 1834 after her mother has died, son George is appointed Guardian of minor Rebecca.
In the 1830 Franklin Co. MS Census, page 156, line 11, there is the household of "George Holaway" born between 1800 and 1810, with a female born during the same time and no children. There was a male and a female slave both aged 10-24 years. The geographic location of that part of the census is given as "Leesdale, Adams Co." On line 13 is the large household of "Jno. Ford Snr." aged 60-70 with many slaves. On line 15 is the household of Robert's son-in-law "Simeon J. Broadaway" aged 30-40, his wife, and children and slaves, and a female aged 50-60 years old, possibly Robert's wife Rebecca.
Leesdale in Adams Co. is located west of Second Creek, a few miles north of Liberty Road [Second Creek Road] and now has a population of abbout 3,000. It was originally called Franklin because it was on the Franklin Co. border, and thus included in that county's census in 1830 [msghn.org, website].
Two of Robert's sons married daughters of Joseph Porter (1781-1840). In 1833, George Holloway married Jane Porter (1807-1840) and had 4 children, and on Dec 13, 1835 in Franklin Co. MS Robert S. Holloway married Sarah Porter (b. 1813) and they had 5 children. In the 1816 Franklin Co. MS Census, page 5 (last line), there is a household headed by Joseph Porter with: 1 male over 21 (Joseph), 3 males under 21, 1 female over 21 (wife), 3 females under 21 (Jane, Sarah, ?) and 5 slaves. There was no Robert Holloway household counted here because in 1816, he was living in St. Helena Parish.
Daughter Susan married David Hinson on May 24, 1832.
Son John was listed in the 1830 St. Helena Parish Census (line 118) as a 20-30 year old farmer living alone near his father's farm (line 101), but on Sep 28, 1834 he married Martha Glasscock. They left no children. John left an estate to brothers and sisters and their children. In May 1844, John and Martha along with Asa and Elizabeth Kemp sold 640 acres to New Orleans Gas Light & Banking Co. In a petition on May 28, 1851 Martha says that her husband died without children, but left brothers and sisters and their children. Martha Glasscock married Francis M. Daniel on Apr 4, 1856 in St. Helena Parish.
Son John was active in St. Helena Parish LA regarding debt collection, appraisal and administration of estates from 1838-1847. In 1839 he was appointed administrator for the Glasscock family relative to the estate of his father-in-law John Glasscock [McBee, "Succession Records", St. Helena Parish, pp. 1-166].
Daughter Rebecca married Dempsey Benton Cain (1813-1885) as his first wife, in Franklin Co. MS on May 27, 1835. She is buried in the Cain Cemetery in Franklin Co. MS. Photo of her grave marker. They may have had 5 children. Her husband is also buried there. Photo of his grave marker.
Daughter Permelia K. married William Ducker Jan 21, 1839 in Franklin Co. MS. He became a sheriff in Ashley Co. AR. She is named as an heir of brother John in May 31, 1851.
In the 1841 Franklin Co. MS Census, page 5, next to last entry, the household of son "George Holaway" had 5 males and 3 females. His household was right between Robert's other sons, "J L Holaway" [James Lee] with 1 male and 1 female, and "Robert Holaway" [Robert S.] with 3 males and 2 females. [familysearch.org, website].
In the 1850 Census for Franklin Co. MS, dated Oct 8, the household of "Dempsey B. Cain", Blacksmith, aged 37 born in MS, and wife "Rebecca Holloway Cain", aged 33 born in LA, list 4 Cain children, and 5 Byrd children of "Elizabeth Byrd", aged 32 born in MS, and 2 Holloway children as follows: Virgil and "Gustin Holloway" (males), aged 12 and 8, born in MS [M.L. Ragland, pp. 9-10].
In the 1850 Census for St. Helena Parish LA, dated Aug 13, the household of son John and Martha "Halaway" aged 51 and 44, had no other members. His birthplace was listed as MS and his occupation was listed as Farmer with 9000 ?acres. Martha's birthplace was listed as LA [M.L. Ragland, p. 9].
After son George died in late 1845, daughter Permelia was apparently granted guardianship of his sons Burlin, George, and James. In the 1850 Census for Ashley Co. AR, dated Oct 22, the household of "William M. Ducker", Sheriff, aged 35 born in MS, and wife "Permelia Holloway Ducker", aged 30 [corrected] born in LA, list 3 Ducker children and 3 Holloway children as follows: "Burtin", "George" and "James" (male children of the deceased George), aged 13, 11 and 9, born in MS. All three attending school [M.L. Ragland, pp. 9-10].
In the 1850 Census for Ashley Co. AR, dated Oct 22, the household of "William M. Ducker", Sheriff, aged 35 born in MS, and wife "Permelia Holloway Ducker", aged 30 [corrected] born in LA, list 3 Ducker children and 3 Holloway children as follows: "Burtin", "George" and "James" (male children of deceased son George), aged 13, 11 and 9, born in MS. All three in school [M.L. Ragland, pp. 9-10].
It seems the deaths of several of Robert's children were part of a cholera or Yellow Fever epidemic that erupted every year from about 1842 through 1854 with devastating consequences. The epidemic spread to various counties in Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee by immigrants from the affected areas fleeing the disease. Some counties lost as much as one fourth of the population in a single season. It tended to start in the late summer and stop with the first frost sometime about October or November. This may have precipitated the movement of the Hollaways out of Mississippi and Louisiana [Keating p. 89].
After his sons George and Robert both die (1845-46), son James Lee is granted guardianship of granddaughter Amanda Jane (born 1837), and George's sons James M. (1841) and Marcus Lafayette (1844). James M. enlisted in C.S.A. on May 20, 1861 and died Jul 10, 1861 near Richmond VA in one of the first Civil War battles, Bull Run. Marcus (Porter M.L.) also enlisted the same day.
SOURCES: American State Papers, Class B, vol. 3, p. 70. U.S. Gen Web Archives, St. Helena Parish LA, 1820 Census. U.S. Census, St. Helena Parish LA, 1830, p. 47, in McBee, May Wilson, comp., Crosby, Tempe Fenn, Bible record of Virginia Cain Gammil Byrd, reprinted in Marsalis Book, Vol IV, unpublished, one of two copies in Pike-Amite-Walthald Library in McComb MS, other copy in Jackson LA. The bible was last owned by Flavis Goza James of McComb MS. A notation says "Copied August 1863." Diocese of Baton Rouge Department of Archives, Catholic Church Records, vol. 2 (1770-1803), Baton Rouge LA, p. 387. Imbert, J. Leopold, map maker, Carte des Possessions Angloises... 1777, reprinted by the Museum of the American Revolution from map image at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, Boston Public Library. "John Holloway, 1851", File H-3, on p. 209 of "The MS Cains", website. Unknown author, "...to John ..." [illegible], correspondence detailing discovery of baptismal records of Stillee children in Cathedral Archives, no date but possibly mid 1900's. Keating, John McLeod, The History of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878 in Memphis, Tennessee, The Howard Assoc. of Memphis 1879, reprinted Heritage Books , 2008, p. 89. "Franklin County, MS 1810 Census", abstract from Gillis book, rootsweb website. Franklin Co. MS Census 1830, www.familyhistory,org, website, pp. 156. Marriages of Early Natchez Settlers, New Orleans Genesis Vol. 6 no.21, Jan 1967, p 84. McBee, May Wilson, comp., Holloway Succession Records of St. Helena Parish, LA, Greenwood MS, May 1990, pp. 12-15. McBee, May Wilson, comp., "Land Claims", in Natchez Court Records, 1767-1805, Book E, p. 320, Book F, p. 442, 504-505. Ragland, M.L., comp., "Holloway Census Records", Greenwood MS, May 1990, pp. 9-10. Ragland, M.L., comp., "Holloway Succession Records of St. Helena Parish, LA", Greenwood MS, May 1990, p. 16. Rowland, Dunbar, "1816 Census for Franklin Co. Miss.", taken from The Official and Statistical Register of the State of Mississippi, Centennial Edition, 1917, rootsweb website. St. Helena Parish Marriages,website. USGW Archives, 1830 Enumeration Census St. Helena Parish La., submitted by Donald W. Johnson, Aug 1998. Veach, Damon, "Louisiana Ancestors", article in Sunday Advocate Magazine, Baton Rouge LA, Feb 21, 1982. White, Gifford, "James White and John White", Wm Wiseman & the Davenports, Pioneers Of Old Burke County, North Carolina, v.2 by M.L.Vineyard & E.M.Wiseman, Franklin NC,1997, p. 111. White, Gifford, James Taylor White of Virginia and some of his descendants into Texas, Austin, TX, 1982. Williams, Ernest Russ Jr., Genealogical and Historical Abstracts of Legal Records of St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, 1804-1870, 1995, pp. 60-61.