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Update on Family of Ephraim Holland & Nancy Kennedy: More Children Identified, but Questions Remain

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I love making contact with new cousins and, thanks to cousin Jerry, all of the children of Ephraim Holland and Nancy Kennedy of Scott County, Kentucky have now been identified.

I had identified most of their children and written about the family in the past, but two – a presumed son and daughter – were unsure/unknown to me.

As a quick review, the Holland family hailed from Anne Arundel County, Maryland and migrated south into Kentucky in the early 1790s.

Ephraim Holland, the son of Anthony Holland and Mary (probably Howard), was born c1756, likely in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Ephraim married Nancy Kennedy, daughter of Thomas Kennedy and Ann Locker, about 21 May 1794 in Bourbon County, Kentucky, where their marriage bond was filed.

Ephraim was a tavern keeper and settled in Scott County, Kentucky. He left no will, but died by 1814, when the inventory of his estate was filed. Nancy survived him at least until 1820, when she was enumerated as head of household in the census.

On  6 July 1836, Ephraim’s heirs sold his land in Scott County. Scott County courthouse had a fire and a number of records that survived were partially burned. I mention that because it seems that James Madison Holland is listed with “Eli” and then the page is partially missing. That would be his wife, Elizabeth, not They were named in the opening section:

Henry E. Brown, Abigail his wife,
Thomas K. Holland,
George W. Holland,
Polly Holland,
Ann Holland,
Montgomery Holland,
Mattison (James Madison) Holland
Eli. . . Holland

However, signing the deed were:

Thomas Holland
Henry E. Brown
Abigail C. Brown
George W. Holland
Polly Holland
Ann Holland

James Madison Holland was living in Howard County, Missouri and Montgomery was in Cincinnati, Ohio.

That leaves unexplained the identity of  “Eli. . .  Holland.”

The 1820 census, in which Nancy Holland is head of household, doesn’t help matters much, especially since marriage records are lacking. Scott County lost records in 1837.

Ephraim’s and Nancy’s known children:

1. James Madison, born 1790s (birth year varies a lot); married (1) Annie Thompson, 1818 (2) Sarah Hutchinson, 1832. Lived in Howard County, Missouri and counties split off from it until he died after 1860. James had three sons – John, Ephraim and James – and two daughters – Sarah and Mary.

2. Abigail C., born c1795; married Henry E. Brown, probably after 1820. There is one Henry Brown in Scott County in 1820, over 45 years of age, but with three males at home aged 16-25. Henry and Abigail were living on 2 July 1836, when they sold Ephraim Holland’s land with the other heirs, but they have not been identified in any census before or after that date.

3. Thomas Kennedy, born 2 January 1798; died 29 March 1856, Scott County, Kentucky; married Sarah Stone (1811-1881), c1829. They were the parents of Eliza A., Nancy J., Elizabeth, John Ephraim and William Madison.

4. Mary, born c1802, died 1857, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. She apparently never married.

5. George W., born c1804; died after 2 July 1836. No further information.

6. Anne, born 22 October 1806; died 13 July 1890, Franklin, Warren, Ohio; married (1) John V. Simpson, 26 October 1830, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio (2) Christopher Kellett, 27 January 1846, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio (3) Samuel Beresford, 11 July 1853, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio. She had one daughter, Mary Jane Simpson, born c1831.

7. Montgomery, born c1808; died 1891, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio; married Martha Meyers, c1830. They had 7 children – George W., Richard P., Ephraim, Charles, Milton G., Robert and Martha. What happened to Richard after the 1880 census is not known. At that time, all the children were still living unmarried at home with Martha, except for Charles. Ephraim married, but had no children. His other siblings apparently never married either, so Montgomery and Martha appear to have no descendants.

Are these all the children of Ephraim and Nancy? Well, I’m not sure. I mentioned that the 1820 census didn’t help clarify matters.

At that time, Nancy Holland had in her home not one female over 45 (herself), but TWO females over 45. Therefore, we are looking at some type of blended family.

Also in the home were the following:

Male, 16-25 (probably Thomas, born c1798)
Female, 16-25 (probably Mary, born c1802)
Male, 10-15 (probably George W., born c1804)
Female, 10-15 (probably Anne, born c1806)
Male, under 10 (probably Montgomery, born c1808)

Note the ages are off slightly, but since their true birth dates aren’t known, the children are still a good fit for those at home with Nancy in 1820.

The monkey wrench thrown in the mix, though, are the female 10-15 years old and the female under 10.

The elephant in the room is whether the female over 45 had one or two girls that she brought into the Holland home with her or if Nancy was the mother of one or both of the girls.

Given that husband Ephraim passed away in 1814, Nancy could have given birth to a child shortly after the 1810 census and another as late as 1815.

If so, one of those girls could be the “Eli. . . .” Holland listed with the heirs in the 1836 land deed. If she was born in 1815, that could also explain why the heirs were selling in 1836 – she had just turned 21 years old.

I don’t know if I will ever have an answer to those two young girls in Nancy Holland’s home in 1820.

Hollon, Stufflebean

Mary Elizabeth (Hollen) Stufflebean (24 Feb 1868-2 Jan 1905), Linn County, MO

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While reviewing my husband’s pedigree chart, I realized that although I had mentioned his great grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Hollen, in several posts, I had never directly written her story. Then I noticed that the 117th anniversary of her death was just two days ago.

Mary Elizabeth Hollen was born on 24 February 1868, probably in the town of Pleasant Hill in Sullivan County, Missouri. She was the daughter, and youngest child, of James Hollen and Eramanthus Elizabeth Scott.


Hollen Family, 1870, Sullivan County, MO
Source: Ancestry

Children of James and Eramanthus Hollen:

  1. John S. born c1849: died after 1870; married Clarissa A. Baskett, 25 Februrary 1869, Sullivan County, Missouri
  2. James Milton, born 17 February 1853, Sullivan County, Missouri; died 27 August 1939, Sullivan County, Missouri; married Nancy Melissa Baskett, 22 February 1874, Sullivan County, Missouri
  3. Eliza A., born c1856, Missouri; died after 1870; no further information
  4. George M., born c1858, Missouri; died after 1910, possibly Conewango, Caddo, Oklahoma; married (1) Charity Ann Stewart, 28 July 1878, Chariton County, Missouri (2) Alice Coffman, 19 February 1896, Sullivan County, Missouri (3) Mary Rodman, 10 June 1906, Livingston County, Missouri
  5. Columbus Marion, born September 1859 (9/12 in June 1860 census), Missouri; died after 1910; married Annie Zook, 21 May 1900, Ottawa, Franklin, Kansas. They had no children.
  6. William Edwin, born c1867, Missouri; died 20 June 1935, Winfield, Cowley, Kansas; married Mary Elizabeth Martin, 3 July 1894, Henry County, Missouri
  7. Mary Elizabeth – our subject

By 1880, the family circumstances had changed in a major way. During the intervening decade, Mary’s mother, Eramanthus, died. Her elder brothers John, James and George were married and out of their childhood home. Her only sister, Eliza, was gone – either married or had also died and brother Columbus was out making his way in the world.

Mary, her brother William, and her widowed father moved to Livingston County, Missouri, not far from where they had lived in Sullivan County and were living with her brother John and his family.


Hollon Family, Livingston County, MO in 1880
Source: Ancestry

A few months after her 18th birthday, on 27 June 1886 in Linn County, Missouri, Mary Elizabeth married John Henry Peavler Stufflebean. John both farmed and owned a general store.

By 1900, they had a growing family with Ernest, Iva Myrtle, James, Owen Wayne, Earl, Henry and Nolan. However, by that time,  they had also lost a child, their ten month old daughter, Lila Hazel, who they buried in January 1897.

The start of the 20th century was difficult for this family although one more child, John Kenneth, was born to them in March 1902. First, son Owen Wayne died in August 1902. Mary Elizabeth’s widowed father, James Hollen, who lived with them, died in December 1903. A short year later, on 2 Jan 1905, Mary Elizabeth herself passed away.

My father-in-law didn’t know how his grandmother died. She was only 36 and I thought it might have been in childbirth. The wealth of historical newspapers coming online has answered my question.

The Brookfield Gazette, of Linn County, Missouri, published two short announcements about Mary Elizabeth’s death. One stated that she died of pneumonia and left her husband and six children. The second noted that her funeral was held at the North Salem (Linn County) Church.

Due to copyright restrictions, there are no newspaper images to post, but my father-in-law was very thankful to have a chance to visit Linn County, Missouri. He never knew his grandmother, but he did visit Mary Elizabeth’s grave to pay his respects and photograph the stone.

If there were ever any photos of Mary Elizabeth Hollen Stufflebean, they have been lost to time. Ed, my father-in-law, kept in touch with all of his many Stufflebean relatives and said he had never seen a photograph of his grandmother.

He’d be pleased that she is being remembered today on the 115th anniversary of her death.

Hollon

Holland Family Facts – Anne Arundel County, MD in the 17th & 18th Centuries

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Much like my husband’s elusive Larrison family, clues abound indicating family relationships among the Hollands who settled in Anne Arundel County, Maryland by the mid 1600s. Also like the Larrisons, there may not be any documentary evidence to prove certain relationships, but hypotheses can be developed.

This post is going to be slightly different than most of what I write. That’s because one of my favorite finds in search engines is a page where someone has compiled many facts related to one person or family, which is a huge help to other researchers.

NOTE: There were other Hollands early in Maryland in other counties, but the Hollands in this record collection were all residents of Anne Arundel County.

Since I’m not sure proof of parentage for Anthony Holland, which is my goal, exists, I have compiled marriage, probate and land facts about the earliest Hollands in Baltimore and then soon in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Many of Anthony Holland’s FAN club were Quakers, such as Mordecai Price. It isn’t known whether Anthony was also a Quaker.

The preferred Holland neighborhood in Anne Arundel County was Herring Creek Hundred, one of five hundreds (land areas) existing in 1707 and was the hundred sitting in the southernmost portion of the county.

1. Francis Holland transported himself, wife Mary, son Francis and Mary Blackwell to Anne Arundel County in 1661. He likely is Francis, next, with Margaret being a later wife.

2. Francis Holland Sr. wrote his will on 7 April 1683 and it was probated the following year on 12 August 1684. He named his wife, Margaret, son Francis Holland Jr. and daughter Margaret, who married Col. William Holland, most likely a cousin of some degree. Francis Sr. have 190 acres called Holland’s Hills surveyed on 7 August 1663. Francis Jr. inherited two lots in Herringtowne, described as part of the addition “Cortes Bennit and Hollands Hills.” Francis Jr. may not have been married at this time or else a newlywed because his father stipulated that the land should go to his daughter if Francis Jr. had no heirs.

3. Thomas Parsons wrote his will on 11 October 1683 and it was proved on 31 May 1684. He named daughter Isabel Holland, who was married to Anthony Holland.

4. George Holland was “in service” (indentured?) by 1674. He wrote his will on 19 February 1683 and it was proved on 22 June 1685. He left bequests to Thomas, son of John Larkin (300 acres of “Holland’s Delight” and to Otho Holland, the residue of his estate. Otho’s wife, Mehitable, was John Larkin’s daughter. Otho Holland sold 97 acres on Middle River in Anne Arundel County to John Skinner on 13 January 1684. (NOTE: My own observation is that this Holland group did not remain in Anne Arundel County and I don’t think that they were related to my Anthony Holland extended family. DNA evidence seems to support my observation.)

6. Anthony Holland, who reportedly was transported from Virginia to Maryland in 1650, wrote his will on 12 February 1702 and it was proved on 2 August 1703. He named (second) wife Isabel and two sets of children: sons John, Benjamin, Anthony, Thomas (16 years old on 20th January last), Richard (16 on 1 March 1703), daughter Elizabeth, wife of Richard Gott, Jacob (16 years old on 2 May 1706), Capele (16 on 10 June 1708), daughter Susanna (16 on 24 April 1710), Abraham (16 on 13 June 1714) and to Judith Deavour, no relationship stated, personalty.

7. Thomas and Elizabeth Woodfield (called Gott, daughter and heir of Anthony Holland, deceased) sold 100 acres of 580 total acres to Thomas Macnemara on 13 March 1717.

8. On 16 July 1724, Richard and Sarah Gott of Baltimore sold 120 acres for £8 to Jacob Holland.

9. Jacob Holland (born 2 May 1690) married Margaret Medkiff, daughter of John and Lydia. Jacob and Margaret had the following children: Lydia, born 8 September 1715 and married Gideon Howard about 1733, Benjamin, born 11 September 1718, Ruth, born 11 September 1718, Rebecca, born 4 May 1720. It is thought that my husband’s Anthony Holland who migrated to Kentucky was a younger, unrecorded child. It is also thought that Anthony’s first wife was Mary Howard, who he married c1759. This is a puzzle piece that fits, but can’t be proven as fact.

10. Rebeckah Holland married Oliver Cherry on 5 July 1718. She was likely born in the 1690s, but her parentage is unknown and no further information has been found about this couple.

LAND ENTRIES

1. Locust Neck, undated, surveyed for Mordecai Price. Possessors: Mordecai Price, 116 acres, Mordecai Price, 18 acres held by him in right for Anthony Holland’s orphan. Conveyances: 4 March 1714 Jacob Holland from John Holland

2. Carter, surveyed 28 October 1651 for Richard Bennett near Herring Creek Bay. Possessor: Col. William Holland, 100 acres, in right of his wife, the sister of Francis Holland the son) Conveyance: 28 September 1719, William and Margaret Holland to Francis Holland Jr.

3. Bennetts Island, on Herring Creek Bay, surveyed 28 October 1651 for Richard Bennett. Possessor: Col. William Holland, 275 acres, in right of his wife the sister of Francis Holland. Conveyance: William and Margaret Holland to Francis Holland Jr. on 28 September 1719.

4. Ram Gott Swamp, on the north side of Herring Creek, was surveyed on 18 November 1659. At a later time (undated) owners included Richard Gott (300 acres), John Cheshire (200 acres) Samuel Harison (33 acres) and Mordicay Price (100 acres).

5. Greenwood, on the north side of Broad Creek running out of Herring Creek, surveyed on 12 July 1663, included later owners: Benjamin Capell (100 acres), Mordecai Rice (sic) (50 acres for Anthony Holland’s orphans). On 29 December 1721, Capel Holland sold land to Jacob Holland and on 31 January 1722, Jacob Holland sold the land to Samuel Chew.

6. Hollands Hills, surveyed 7 August 1663 for Francis Holland on westward of Herring Creek Bay near land of Carter Bennett.

7.Souldier Delight, 100 acres) was surveyed on 28 December 1670 for Lionel Pawly. Possessor (undated): Col. William Holland

8. Addition, 95 acres surveyed 6 March 1671 for Francis Holland. Possessor: Col. William Holland, in right of his wife the sister of Francis, son of the said Francis Holland. Coneyance: William and Margaret Holland to Francis Holland Jr. 28 September 1719.

9. Hollands Range, 120 acres, surveyed 12 July 1677 for Anthony Holland in Herring Creek Swamp. Possessor: Benjamin Holland Conveyances: John Holland to Jacob Holland, 4 March 1714, no quantity stated; Benjamin Holland to Samuel Guychard, 1 April 1717, 100 acres.

10. Hollands Addition, 47 acres, surveyed for Francis Holland lying near Herring Creek on 16 October 1687. Possessor: Col. William Holland, in right for his wife, sister of Francis Holland, the son).

There you have it, the facts connecting various Hollands who settled in Anne Arundel County, Maryland by the 1650s. Was the earliest Anthony related in any way to Francis Holland or was it mere coincidence that they both settled on Herring Creek? Y-DNA would settle that question, so patience may be a necessary virtue.