Abner Holt of Montgomery County: A Descendant of Joshua Holt?

ABNER HOLT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 1 A DESCENDANT OF JOSHUA HOLT? by Priscilla, Noyes Chatfield* W e can't always get all the answers to our genealogical questions, but if we let the documents speak for themselves, we may be able to find at least part of the solution. Such was the case with the identification of the ancestry of Abner Holt. ABNER HOLT ABNER HOLT was born by say 1783. The first record for him as an adult is in Horsham Township, Montgomery County, in 1804, when he was taxed as a "single man," indicating that he was at least 21 at the time. He continued to be taxed as a single man in Horsham in 1805 and 1806; in 1807 his name was crossed off the tax list. 1 Abner Holt of Horsham Township married 30 October 1806 at Abington Presbyterian Church, Abington, Montgomery County, Miss SARAH BUTLER of Moreland Township. The marriage was performed by the Rev. Mr. Tennant at the Abington Presbyterian Church. 2 Sarah's parents have not been identified. 3 • Priscilla Noyes Chatfield, 44 Adams Road, Easton, CT 06612, is a research volunteer at the Fairfield [Connecticut] Historical Society and secretary of the Connecticut Ancestry Society. She is grateful for the thoughtful critique, valuable contributions, and warm interest provided by Sandra M. Hewlett, CG, and wishes to acknowledge the references forwarded by Vivian F. Taylor of The Historical Society of Montgomery County and Susan S. Koelble, CG. 1 Twelve years of tax records for the Holt family for 1799-1810 were provided by the Montgomery County Records Department. 2 "Records of Abington Presbyterian Church 1714-1864, copied by K. R. Bunting in 1908 from the original records at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 125; FHL #384,552 [hereafter cited as Bunting, "Abington Presbyterian Church"]. Tennant was minister at Abington from 1781 until his death in 1810. 3 No baptism was found for Sarah nor was there a Butler family in Moreland Township in the 1800-1810 census records. Research conducted by genealogists at the Historical Society of Montgomery County and the Old York Road Historical Society could not identify Sarah's ancestry. The research included will book abstracts, deeds, and John T. Humphrey's Pennsylvania Births series. The marriage on 14 January 1797 at Abington Presbyterian Church of James Butler to Sarah Hervey may be for a relative of Sarah; Bunting, "Abington Presbyterian Church," 121. James Butler was in Montgomery County in Upper Dublin in 1800 (16<26) [page 131; NARA M32, roll 41] and in Abington in 1810 (26<45) [page 107; NARA M252, roll 122 Pennsvlvania GenealoRical MaRaztne Vol. 44 (2005) 2005 Abner Holt of Montgomery County 123 They had two daughters before the 1810 census, when they were enumerated in the West Northern Libertie , Philadelphia County, where they had relocated. Abner was 26<45 (born 1765-84), Sarah 16<25.4 On 21 October 1812, Isaac Powell and Mary his wife of the Northern Liberties sold to Abner Holt hay merchant of the orthern Liberties for $275 a messuage and lot on the east side of Old York Road between Brown Street and Poplar Lane.5 On 24 April 1815, Abner Holt of the Northern Liberties hay merchant and wife Sarah sold this messuagc and lot to William Short, a free black man, for $390.6 The sale to a free black man suggests that Abner had a Quaker heritage, in spite of his Presbyterian marriage. Abner was taxed in the Northern Liberties-West in 1815, owning a house and lot.7 Philadelphia city directories list Abner in 1811 as a carter living on York Road, in 1813 (no occupation) on York Road above Poplar, in 1814 as a dealer in hay at the same location, and in 1818-1823 as an innkeeper, first on Old York above Buttonwood and then on 6th above Callowhill. 8 Abner Holt placed ads in Pou/son's Daily Advertiser on 21 and 25 December 1820 attempting to locate the owner of a brown mare that had come onto his premises. The ad has a drawing of a horse, and Abner Holt gives his address as "Sign of the Oley Waggon, in Sixth street, just above Callowhill street. "9 The name of the inn suggests it may have been a regular stop on the road to the Oley Valley in Berks County. Although the death information for daughter Ann indicates that she was born about 1808, all census information (as shown below) contradicts this, reporting that she was born about 1814 (1850), 1812 (1860), 1810 (1870), or 1814 (1880). Her household in 1840 had a female born 1801-1810 and one born 1811-1820, so is no help in resolving this; she is not found in 1830. Information closer to the event and provided by those most closely involved is considered more accurate. Thus, it appears that Ann was born in the early 1810s, and was a third daughter of Abner. 52]. In 1800 his household included females <10, 10<16, and 16<26; the middle one of whom was of an age co have married in 1806. 4 Abner Holt household, 1810 US Census, West North Liberties, Philadelphia County, page 285; NARA M252, roll 56. 5 Philadelphia Deed Book 26:24; recorded 10 September 1828. 6 Philadelphia Deed Book 26:25. Witnesses were C. Souder and G. Brownell. The deeds of purchase and sale were both recorded 10 September 1828 when Jane Short, widow of William, sold the property. 7 Northern Liberties-West Tax List 1815, 1819-1821; City Archives, Philadelphia. 8 James Robinson's Philadelphia Directory for 1811, 166;John A. Paxton's Phlladelphia Directory and Register for 1813; Benjamin and Thomas Kite's Philadelphia Directory for 1814; John Adams Paxton's Philadelphia Directory and Register for 1818, and Philadelphia Directory and Register for 1819; entries for 1820 through 1823 published by Whitely, McCarty & Davis and DesUvcr. 9 &rly American Newspapers on-line; NewsBanJcand American Antiquarian Society; database ac <www.newenglambncestors.org>. 124 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 44 The 1820 census entry in the orthem Liberties for Abner Holt i difficult to reconcile. The age for Abner, 26<45 (born 1775-94), is consJstent with the 1810, but the rest of the household doesn't flt. There is one male under 10 and a male and female 16<26 (suggesting a young family in the household), plus three free colored males. 10 o other Abner has been identified in the early 1800s, 11 but thi listing doe not indude femal of an age to represent the two females listed in 1810 and Ann, nor is there a female old enough to be wife Sarah. Possibly Sarah had died and the surviving daughter(s) were living elsewhere. A Philadelphia Board of Health Burial Record for an Abner Holt who died 4 September 1824, age about 42-46 years (born 1778-82), and was buried at St. John's Methodist Church probably refers to him. There t no cause of death given.1 2 Children of Abner and Sarah (Butler) Holt: L daughter, born between 1807 and 1810. ii. daughter, born between 1807 and 1810. iii. ANN/ANNAHOLT,born about 1814 (1850 census) in Philadelphia; buried 17 October 1892 at Mt. Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia, with the Rev. D. G. Shannon presiding. Ann Woolley died 11 October 1892 in Philadelphia at the Vine St. home of son George. Her death certificate says, "Anna Wool• ley, 84 years, Widow, Cause of Death Paralysis, J. M. Eagleton, M.D., born Philadelphia, Parents not recorded Residence: 1625 Vine St. Place of Burial: Mt. Peace Undertaker: R.R. Bringhurst." 13 She married first by about 1828 (son born in 1829 14) probably in Philadelphia, HENRYVOLENTINE/VALENTINE (statement by granddaughter, sec below); married second about 1845 (daughter born about 1846) ADAM WOOLEY,15 who died apparently by 1850. lO Abner Holt household, 1820 US Census, Northern Liberties, 4th Ward, Philadel· phia County, page 12, NARAM33, roll 110. 11 Pennsylvania censuses, 1790 to 1850, list an Abner Holt only in 1810 and 1820. 12 Board of Health Burial Records, City of Philadelphia from 1801-1860. There are no pertinent membership or baptismal records for the Holt name at St. John's or at several other Methodjst churches, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, or in the Orphans' Court; checked by Vivian F. Taylor. St. George's Methodist Church archivist, Brian McClusky, determined that the cemetery for St. John's was at Poplar and 7th and 8th, near Abner's residence. o Philadelphia obituary was found for Abner in the US Gazette or Paulson's American Daily.Advertiser from 4-12 September 1824. 13 Philadelphia Return of a Death 4'8586. Bringhurst Funeral Home Records, provided by Susan S. Koclblc and her obituary [Phtladelphla PubUc Ledger, 17 October 1892) say she died "in the 84th year of her age." Ann w.is buried in a black doth casket Lined with cashmere in a chestnut case. She W2S dressed in a black cashmere •wrapp." 1" Philadelphia Death Certificate, #22774. •George W. Valentine Died 24 September 1914 Resided 1625 Vine St. Born: Philadelphia 22 November 1829 Occupation: fish dealer Parents: Unknown.~ 15 She is listed as Adam's widow in the 1861 and 1870 city directories (sec below). McElroy's Philadelphia City Directory lists Adam Woolley first as a ailmakcr then as a macinc.r between 1835 and 1841 He was likely a widower. A Philadelphia Public Ledger obituary 30 September 1844 lists the death of Jane, wife of Adam Woolley, age 31, residing at 29 Catherine below Front. A photograph of Ann in middle age with •Ann ru ~~~b, ~~~n bl J ill sus lists Ann Woolley, market woman, 48, with Joanna Woolley, 13, Wm. Valentine, 22, paper hanging, and William Stiff, 39, brick mason, born in DC [presumably a boarder]. 21 The 1861 city direct0ry lists her as "Wooley Ann, widow Adam, fi hdealer tails 6 & 7 Franklin Mkt h[ome] 9 Cather• ine."22 The 1870 city directory lists her as Wooley Ann, wid Adam, h 9 Bowery pl.1123 The 1870 census lists Ann Woolly, 60; (son-in-lawJ George Jackson, 30; [daughter} Johanna Jackson, 25; Irene Jackson, 5; and William Jackson, 1.24 The 1880 census continues the same Jiving arrangement, but George is listed as head of household; Ann "Hooley," 66, is his mother-inlaw.2 5 The 1890 and 1891 city directorie list her as "Woolley, Ann. Profe ion: fish. Address: 1913 Torr." 26 A~ Holt Volentine (Wooley second husband)" written beneath is in possesslo author. 16 Desilver's Philadelphta. City Directory, 200 (1829), 200 (1830), 219 (18 219 (1832); McRlroy'sPhiladelphia CiJy Dtrect.ory(1835-36). These entries m not ref er to Henry and Ann. 17 Ann Valentine household, 1840 U Census, Spring Garden 1st ward, Phi~----,-•_, ... County, page 216; ARAM704, roll 487. 18 1844 Philadelphia City Directory, 321. 19 Ann Woolley household, 1850 US Census, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Cou 319; NARAM432 roll 818. 2 0 1853 Philadelphia c,·ty Directory, 455. 21 Ann Woolley household, 1860 S Census, 13th ward, Philadelphia, Phi.I County, page 843, -'215/236; NARAM653 roll 1163. 22 McElro s 1861 Phik«Lelphta City DtrKtory, 1088. ln 1844 a John WQQlley 1.1 Pennsylvania GenealogtcaJ Magazine 126 VoL44 HOLTS IN HORSHAM Research for Abn r's parents focused on the locality in which he first appeared, Horsham Township in what is now Montgomery County. A Holt family had been established there for a century before Abner' first appearance in the records. 1. JOSHUAHOLT was born ay 1687 (estimating 25 at marriage). He was an early settler of the area, who probably arrived in Horsham about 1707 or 1708.27 He married 19 April 1712 at Fairhill Meetinghouse, Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, HANNAH MICHENER, daughter of John and Sarah.28 29 He married second in 1728 MARYCoUSINs. He was overseer of Hor ham Meeting in 1724 and an active Friend until his death in 1761; his land bordered Horsham Meeting. 30 Jo hua Holt. yeoman of Philadelphia County, died between 8 August 1760 (will) and 5 May 1761 (probate). His will name children Benjamin, Mordecai, Joshua (executor), Susannah, Rebecca, arah Walton, Ann Parry, and Mary Morris; son~in-lawJames Morris; and grandchildren arah Walton, Hannah Parry, and Sarah Holt. He divided his two hundred acres in Horsham among his three sons.3 1 Chronologically, Benjamin, Mordecai, or Joshua were reasonable candidates to be Abner's grandfather. Further investigation proved Abner was the grandson of Benjamin (see below). Children of Joshua and Hannah (Michener) Holt: 2 i. BUUAMIN HOLT, born say 1718; died between 3 October 1797 and 10 February 1804; married first in 1743 SARAHIIALL<>WELL; married second 27 September 1747 at Abington Monthly Meeting MAit.GAR.ET PEN rlNGTO. Children of Joshua Hol~ wife uncertain, most by Hannah (Michener) Holt: ii. MOKDECAI HOLT, died before 19 December 1812 when administration of his estate in Horsham was given to Nathan Holt. ili. JOSRUAHOLT. iv. MARY HOLT, married by 1761 -?- JAMES MORJUS. v. ANN BOLT, married by 1760 -?- PAIUlY; daughter Hannah Parry born by 1761. 27 Charles Harper Smith, The Settlement of Horsham Township (Ambl«, Pa.: Trinity Press, 194-0),33-36.Joshua's brother-in-law, Thomas Palmer, was in Horsnam by 17071708, and Jo hua first resided on the Palmer tract. 28 William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker GetwakJgy (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edwards Brothers, Inc., 1936), 2:551. 29 Smith, The Settlement of Horsham, 34. 30 Smith, The Settlement of Horsham, 32, 34. 3l Will of Joshua Holt. Register of Wills,.PnUadcJphia County Wills, M:101. ExccutOl'S were Joshua Holt and John Luk.ens;witnesses wer,e Thomas Barns, William Lu.kens,and Wm. Lukens, Junr.; FHL #21,725. Note that the abstracts done by the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania and published by Family Linc Publications incorrectly give the date of the will as 8 August 1861. Abner Holt of Montgomery County 2005 127 vi. SAJlAII HOLT, married by 1760 -?- WALTON; possibly the Isaiah Walton of BensalemTownship, BucksTownship, who wrote his will 16 April 1791, naming Wife Sar2h and children Mary, Agnes, Jane. Isaiah, Nicholas, although there is no arahand this family appears to ~ too young.' 2 vii. REBECCA HOLT. viii. SUSANNAH HOLT. 2. B~AMIN HOLT (Joshua) was born say 1718 (estimating 25 at mar- riage) in Horsham Town hip. Pennsylvania He died between 1800 (census) and 10 February 1804 (probate), probably in Horsham, Montgomery County. He married first, perhaps in 1743, SAllAB HAllOWELL. 33 Benjamin Holt of Horsham Township, Philadelphia County, yeoman married 27 9th month [November} 1746 at Abington Monthly Meeting MARGARET PENNINGTOof Manor of Moreland Township, Philadelphia 4 County.3 She was born 11 January 1727/8, the daughter of Thomas and Martha (Steel) Pennington.3 5 Horsham Friends took up a case against Benjamin in 1760 "for assisting in impressing horses for military service."36 The Horsham Township assessment for 1776 lists Benjamin Holt with 102 acres and eight children and [brother] Mordecai with 100 acres and 3 children. It lists several members of the Barnes family, with the single man, Thomas Barnes, the most likely husband-to-be for his daughter Martha} 7 In 1790, Benjamin (2 males 16+, 1 male <16, 3 females) and Mordecai (2 males 16+, 2 females) are in the same semialphabetical grouping in Montgomery County, with [probable son-in-law] Thomas Barnes (2 males 16+, 3 males <16, 2 females) and [father of son-in-law] Christ[ia]n Chr~ tian {l male 16+, 1 male <16, 4 females); [son] Thomas is on a nearby list (1 male 16+, 1 male <16, and 5 females);38 [son] Jesse was in adjoining Bucks County (1 male 16 , 2 males <16, 3 females), as was [son-in-Jaw] Seneca Fells (1 male 16+, 2 males <16, 4 femalcs).3 9 The 1790 Pennsylvania census list.s seven additional Holt beads-of-families. 40 32 Bucks County Wills 5:277. 33 Smith, The Settlement of Horsham, and Mary Hough, HaJJ.owell-PaulFamily History. 52, provided by Vivian Taylor. 34 Meldrum, Marriages and Deaths of Montgomery County, 4. 35 Church Rccorru of Abington Friends Meeting. FHL1192,633, item 1; 18. 36 Smith. The Settlement of Horsham, 34. 37 Theodore W. Bean, History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: Everts & Pede:,1884}, 880. 3S 1790 US Census, Montgomery County. pages 29-30; NARAM637, roll 9. 39 1790 US Census. Bucks County, pages 266,161; NARAM637, roll 8. 40 They arc Evan in Chester; Lewis in Fayette; Frederick in Lancaster; John, Elisabeth, and William in Miffl~ Mary in Philadelphia; Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States tallen In the Year 1790, PennsyltJanta (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1908), 64, lo6, 127, 153,154,207. 128 Pennsylvania Genea/QgtcalMagazine Vol. 44 In 1800, Benjamin, J se, Mordecai. and Sarah [widow of Thomas] Holt resided near each other in Horsham, as djd Thomas Barnes and Christian Christian. 41 Benjamin Holt of Horsham Town hip, Montgomery County, wrote his will 3 10th month [October] 1797. It both illuminate and shades the question of Abner's parentage [italics added] . . . . wife Margaret Holt ... one room in the house ... goods to furnish the room ... my son Charles Holt, two horse , ... keep bis mother my sd wife o long as she remains my widow ... sole use and profit of my plantation and messuage ... until the death or marriage of his mother. Next, my will is that all the rest of the moveables & goods be sold, and the money of said move,. ables & goods I give, to be equally divided between my daughters, Martha Barnes, Grace Fell, Joanna Christine, & to Hannah Ryon's children their mother's share, & to my Son Thomas Holt' children, his Share. divided among them, to Abner Holt half his mother's share. And my son harks shall pay to my Daughter arah Wadkins one dollar .... to my two sons,J se Holt & Charles Holt, and to their heirs and assigns, at the decease or marriage of their mother, all my sd plantation, messuage, and tract of one bun• dred acres of land be the same more or less situate in Horsham Town hip, as aforesaid, subject to the payments and encumbrances therein mentioned, ... to be equally divided between them ... with [each) paying the sum of fifty pound in twelve months after the death of their mother, which makes the sum of one hundred pounds, which shall be divided between my said daughters & sd grand children. in the same Proportion & Manner, as was the Money of my personal Estate." Three notices of probate were po ted: "one at Horsham Meetinghou e, one at Michael ewbolds and one at Jo eph Carr' , thre of the mo t public places in the neighbourhood of the parties interested ... all the said notice were put up at least thirty days before this time ... " There i an inventory in the file, but no accounting. 42 Because of this missing accounting, the estate was the subject of a petition to the Orphan's Court of Montgomery County in 1912-over a century later.'13 The suit was brought by Enos D. Watson, Harvey D. Thomp on, and Adele Watson Jenk , "respectively owner in fee of eparate portions of the land formerly owned by Benjamin Holt [but together owning all of it] and which is subject to the provisions of the will of Benjamin Holt." Toe sticky phrase in the will was ..subject to the payments and encumbrances therein mentioned." Descendants of Abner Holt might wish for an accounting of the estate in hopes that it might shed light on his parentage. The owners of Benjamin' land wished for an accounting to clear their title. They had been advi ed that because there was no evidence of the payment of the legacies of the will, that "all of the legacies th rein remain a charge upon th 41 1800 US Census, Horsham, Montgomery County, page 715; NARAM32, roll 41. 42 Benjamin Holt probate file, Montgomery County •2468. Executors were Jesse and Charles Holt; witnesses were Benj. Cadwalder, athan Holt. and Nicholas Martin. 43 Montgomery County Orphan's Court, original me. 2005 Abner Holt of Montgomery County 129 real estate." (One suspects it was hindering the sale of the land.) The case was brought to dear those encumbrances. The sheriff reported that he had dutifully published notices for four successive weeks in two local papers for interested parties to appear (knowing full well that all such parties had been dead for decades). The final decree states there was "no person appearing and claiming" and released the encumbrance . Benjamin' will makes it dear that Abner was not the child of a son of Benjamin, but of a daughter. The grandfather was clearly attempting to assure that Abner was provided for, which might not happen from the funds given to Benjamin's daughter. They would legally be under the control of her husband, who might not adequately provide for an illegitimate stepson. But which daughter? Grace, Hannah, Sarah, Martha, or Johanna? Hannah can be eliminated based on the phrase "and to Hannah Ryon's children their mother's share" in Benjamin will. Sarah can be eliminated since Benjamin gives her only one dollar, which it seems a bit pointless to divide, leaving Grace, Martha, and Johanna. Chronology can be an important factor. Birth years were estimated for Benjamin's children based on their marriages. It is possible that one child was born about 1744 or 1745 from his marriage to Sarah Hallowell. The first child of his second marriage was born probably about 1747 or 1748, leaving room for all three daughters with unknown marriage dates to have been born before Jesse. Thus. we have e timated birth dates and actual or estimate marriage dates Martha (1751-1753; 1776-1782), Grace (1758; 1783), and Joanna (1763; 1788). Abner was born by ay 1783, at which time both Martha and Grace were married (or nearly so). Joanna, approximately twenty at the time seems the most likely-but not proven-mother for Abner. Children of Benjamin and probably Margaret (Pennington) Holl: L SARAB3 HOLT,born say 1747-1753; married by 1797 -?-WATKIN • left onJy one dollar by her father; she may have been the Sarah Holt named in her grandfather's will. U. HANNAH' HOLT, born say 1747-1753. apparently deceased by 1797; married -?- RYON. Hi. MARTHA'HOLT, born say 1751-1753, married by 1797 -?- Barnes, most likely THOMASBARNES. The marriage occurred probably between 1776 ( ingle on assessment list) and 1782 (four chUdren in 1790). In 1 housdlold of Thomas Barnes (1-3-2) was in the same listing as Mi\,t~:L~ and Benjamin Holt. iv. ,TESSE3 HOLT,born say 1755 (estimating 25 at marriage); died be • • n March 1815 (will) and 21 October 1825 (probate). Jesse Holt, son jamin Holt of Horsham Township, Philadelphia County, married l monrh [November] 1780 at Gwynedd Monthly M~ting, [now] ery County, SARAHTHoMASl daughter of John Thomas of Moo Township, Philadelphia County, having consent of the pa.rents 44 Meldrum, Marriages and Deaths of Montgomery County, 49. Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 130 Vol44 Holt was crossed off the tax list in Horsham in 1802.45 Jesse and Sarah removed to the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphl3.i selling his half of the Horsham land inherited from his father, Benjamin, to brother Charles 4 April 1807.46 In 1810 in West North Liberties, Philadelphia County.Jesse Holt is listed on the ame page as Abner with one male and one female, both over 45. 47 Jesse and Sarah had children at Gwynedd Monthly Meeting in 1793 and 1797. 48 In his will, Jesse Holt of Philadelphia mentions wife, Sarah, and children Mary, Nathan,John, Charlcs,Jessc, and Seth.49 v. THOMAS3 HOLT, born say 1756 (estimating 25 at marriage) in Horsham Township, Philadelphia County; died before 12 September 1797, the date of his administration bond, predeceasing his fathcr;50 Thomas Holt, on of Benjamin Holt of Horsham Township, Philadelphia County, married 13 2nd month [February] 1781 at Gwynedd Monthly Meeting SARAH MORGAN, daughter of Enoch Morgan of Gwynedd Township, Philadelphia county, having consent of the parents. 51 Sarah Holt died intestate in Horsham before 25 October 1803, the date of her estate's two-page invcntory.52 Although Benjamin's 1797 will mentions "son Thomas Holt's children," they have not been identified. Thomas's administration bond names only wife Sarah, Job Spencer, and Enoch Kenderdine, all of Horsham. arah's probate records contain no mention of children. Thomas Holt's household in 1790 suggests five children. Sarah's household in Horsham Township in 1800 included Sarah, 45+, one male 16<25, one female 10<15, and two females 16<25, which is consistent with the 1790 household. 53 vi. GRACE3 HOLT, born say 1758 (estimating 25 at marriage); Grace Holt, daughter of Benjamin Holt of Horsham Township, Philadelphia County, married 19 12th month [December] 1783 at Horsham Monthly Meeting SENECA FELL, son of John Fell of Buckingham, Bucks County, having consent of the parents. 54 Seneca Fell died about noon 10 August 1804 of a lingering illness. 55 The will of Seneca Fell of Buckingham Township, Bucks County, was written 31 7th month Uuly] 1804 and proved 1 September 45 Twelve years of tax records for the Holt family for 1799-1810 were provided by the Montgomery County Records Department. 46 Montgomery County Deeds, 23:179, Jesse Holt Mnow of Northern Liberties," recorded 18 August 1807. Vivian Taylor viewed the deed. Smith, The Settlement of Horsham, 35. 47 Jesse Holt household, 1810 US Census, West North Uberties, Philadelphia County, roll 56, page 285. 48 John T. Humphrey, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Births through 1800 (Washington: Humphrey Publications, 1993), 204. 49 Montgomery County Wills, 6:312. SOToomas Holt, administration bond, Montgomery County Register of Wills, # 12191. 5 l Meldrum, Marriages and Deaths of Montgomery County, 48. 52 Register of Wills, Montgomery County, RW, 12120. Enoch Kenderdine, a distant cousin, was administrator. 53 Sarah Holt ho~hold, 1800 US Census, Horsham, Montgomery County, page 715; ARA M32, roll 41. 5-4McJdrum, Marriages and Deaths of Montgomery County, 50. 55 "Marriages from the Docktt of Isaac Hides, Justice of the Peace, Bucks County, 1736-1836," Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 12:71. 2005 Abner Holt of Montgomery County 131 1804. It names wife Grace, sons Ely (executor with Grace), Stacy, Seneca, and Jesse, and daughters Sarah, Martha, Rachel and Grace Fcll.56 vii. JOAN A' HOLT, bom say 1763 (estimating 25 at marriage; she was between 60- 70 in 1830, hence born 1760- 70); Joanna Holt daughter of Benjamin Holt of Horsham Township .iontgomery County, married 7 4th month [April] 1788, at Horsham Monthly Meeting GEOllGECBIUSTIAN, son 7 of Christian Christine, of Horsham TownshJp.5 They are not found in the 1790 census, and Christian Christine, who is in the same census grouping as Benjamin and Mordecai Holt, has only one adult male in the household. viii. C~ BOLT, born say 1769 (estim.Lting 25 at marri2ge) or by 1765 ( 18 l O census); Charles Holt married 2 January 1794 at Abington Presbyterian Church ELIZABETH CARTER. 58 Charles and wife Elizabeth were of Horsham in 1807, when they sold the land Charles inherited from his father to Nathan Luken _59 He remained in Montgomery through 1810, when Charles (26<45) was residing in Horsham near Benjamin Holt [16<26; probably his nephew] and Mordecai Holt [45+, probably his u~ cle]. 60 ABNER'S GREAT-GRANDDAUGHTER Anne {Valentine) Jackson, 1871-1953, was born and raised in Philadelphia. In reminiscences entitled "My Childhood Days in Friends School in Philadelphia," she said her paternal grandmother's maiden name was Ann Holt.61 The handwritten document states that her paternal grandmother was of the ociety of Friends and attended the same Meeting that she "traversed down Arch St. to Fifth past the churchyard where Benjamjn Franklin lies & into the Meeting House Grounds." She writes that she believe her grandmother's Quaker ancestors came over from Wales to join the William Penn Colony. Ann Holt told stories to her granddaughter Anne Valentine "of her girlhood days in the Quaker household of her aunt who was very strict." Anne Jackson says that Ann Holt later left the Society of Friends. Additionally. a very brief genealogy was dictated to the author by her grandmother Anne (Valentine) Jackson in the early 1940s. The one-page note had been written in the back of a diary and forgotten. Anne Valentine's paternal tine commencing with herself is presented as: 56 Bucks County Wills 7:17, abstracted in F. Edward Wright, Abstracts of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Wills 1685-1785 (Westminster, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1995), 101. 57 Meldrum, Marriages and Deaths of Montgomery County, 53. 58 Meldrum, Marriages and Deaths of Montgomery County, 65, 70. 59 Montgomery County Deeds 23: 179, 4-42. 60 Charles Holt household, 1810 US Census, Hor ham, Montgomery County, page 133; NARA M252, roll 52. 61 Anne V. Jackson, "My Childhood Days in Friends School lo Philadelphia,• 1-6. This mcmoirwas Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 132 Vol. 44 Anne Valentine married George AyresJackson 62 4 William Henry Valentinc 3 married Frances MariaWilkinson Ann Holt 2 married Henry Volentine AbnerHoltl An entry next to Abner's name states "raised in Philadelphia by aunts with the surname of Christine.» CHRISTINE CONNECTIONS The Chri tian and Holt familie lived near each other in Hor ham Township, Montgomery County. In 1776 Christian Christine owned 66 acr s that bordered Meetinghouse land in Hor ham, as had Jo hua Holt' land. 63 George Christine (son of Christian Christian 64) was listed in the 1788 militia roll as residing in Horsham Township, between the age of 18 and 63, and capabl of bearing arms. In 1789 he is listed as a private, as was Nathan Holt 65 In 1790 and 1800, Christ[ia]n Christian resided in the ame section of Montgomery County as did Benjamin and Mordecai Holt 66 By 1800, however, George Christine had apparently relocated to the orthern Liberties West, Philadelphia County, where his household was listed with males <10 and 16<25 and one female 16<25.67 This is the correct configuration for George and Joanna (Holt) Christian and son Thomas, except that the age ranges of George and Joanna do not match their estimated age , being one category too low. 68 He was identified as a carter, residing between 3rd & 4th St. in Poplar Lane in 1800 and on York Road near Green in 1808.69 By 1810, Abner Holt was also in the West North Libertie , residing adjacent to George Christine, who had one male 45+ and one female 26<45 in his home. 70 George's residences were near those listed for Abner. He 62 George Ayres Jack.son is not to be confused with George Jackson who marrie<i Anne Valentine's half-aunt Johanna Wooley. 63 Smith, The Settlement of Horsham, 37. 6-4Will of Christian Christian of Horsham., written 8 Octo~.r 1819, proved 21 August 1821. He named son George an executor and left him a gun and a share of the cst2te. Montgomery County Wills, 5:324. 65 "Militia Rolls 1783- 1799; Washington County; Thomas lynch Montgomery, edi• tor, Pennsylvania Archives, 6th series, 3(1907): 1358-59. The Horsham Montgomery County MiJitia listings arc found with those of Washington County. 66 1790 US Census, Montgomery County, pages 29-30; ARA M637, roll 9. 1800 US Ccn us, Hor: ham, Montgomery County, page 715; NARAM32, roll 41. 67 George ChriStine household, 1800 S Census, Northern liberties West, Philadelphia County, J)2,ge98; NARAM32, roll 42. 68 George Christine was on the 1788-89 militia roUs, ~tween ages 18 and 64, thus born on or before 1770. 69 Comelius William Stafford's Philadelphia Directory for 1800, 30. James Robinson's Philadelphia Directory for 1808. 70 George Cristian household, 1810 US Census, West North Liberties, Philadelphia County, roll 56, page 285. 2005 Abner Holt of Montgomery County 133 was a drayman on Old York Road above Poplar in 1813, a location shared with Abner in 1814, and at which he remained through 1822.71 The Northern Liberties-West tax list of 1815 was not alphabetized. Abner Holt was listed two pages away from George Christine, carter, with a brickhouse and lot, and Thomas Christine, carpenter [George and Joanne's son]. 72 George's household in 1820 held himself, one male 26<44, two males 45+, and females 10<15, 26<45, and 45+.7 3 The 1824 administration for George Christine was given to Joanne Christine, widow of Northern Liberties, and Thomas Christine, of Northern Liberties, carpenter, son. 74 Joanna is on the same census page as Thomas Christine in the 7th Ward, Northern Liberties in 1830. Her household had one male 5<10, and females 20<30, 40<50, and 60<70. 75 CONCLUSIONS We must be careful of too-literal interpretations of family statements when there may be motives involved. The information that Abner was illegitimate was not passed down in the family. If the statement of being raised by aunts does apply to Abner, he might have been farmed out to his aunt Joanna (Holt) Christine when his mother married (hence, not Joanna's son). Conversely, Joanna may have been his mother, but he didn't want to reveal his illegitimacy to his own children (he certainly knew about it, as he was in his early teens when his grandfather wrote his will) so invented the "aunts" to explain the household in which he was raised. It is also possible based on the handwritten memoirs, which place Abner's daughter Ann in the household of an aunt, that this note should refer instead to her, since we don't know where she was raised. None of these scenarios explains the plural aunts in the family notes. Although we cannot identify Abner's father or mother, we can identify his grandparents as Joshua and Hannah (Michener) Holt. 71 John A. Paxton's Philadelphia Directory and Register for 1813; Benjamin and Thomas Kite's Philadelphia Directory for 1814; James Robinson's Philadelphia Directory for 1816; John Adams Paxton's Philadelphia Directory and Register for 1818, and Philadelphia Directory and Register for 1819; entries for 1820 through 1823 published by Whitely, McCarty & Davis and Desilver. 72 Northern Liberties-West Tax List 1815, 1819-1821, 31, 33, City Archives Philadelphia. 73 George Cristine household, 1820 US Census, 7th ward, Nonhern Liberties, Philadelphia County, roll 110, page 55. 74 Philadelphia Estate Records, George.Christine, 6 September 1824, Administration #273. 75 Joanna Christine household, 1830 US Census, 7th ward, North Liberties, Philadelphia County, roll 157, page 186.