JOHN HOLT

The eldest son of Randall Holt.
John was born about 1664 in Lawnes Creek Parish, Hog Island, Surry County, VA.
He died in 1705 in Lawnes Creek Parish, Surry Co., Virginia (Y).
He married ANN CRAFFORD about 1685 in Virginia, daughter of Esq. David Crafford The Immigrant and Jane Douglas. She was born about 1665 in James City co., VA. She died about 1700 in Hogg Island, James City Co., Virginia (Y).

On Feb 24, 1685 Mr. John Holt and his wife were fined for not going to church by the Surrey County Court. (This may have been rather harsh as she most probably was pregnant.)

Listed in the 1687 Cavalry of Surrey County, Virginia. In 1703 he petitioned the Legislature to be Keeper of the Ferry settled on James River to Archer's Hope Creek on the north side.

Appears on the 1704 Rent Roll for Surry County, VA On November of 1706 the Surry County Court Records state that "John Holt upon his petition is admitted to keep a ferry in Hog Island pursuant to a Law made to that purpose and for his better compliance therewith ordered that he forthwith provide and maintain one substantial flat bottom boat of at least fifteen feet by the keel for carrying over of horses as also one other boat of at least twelve or thirteen feet by keel for passengers with three able men constantly to attend the said service ant that he enter into a bond with good and sufficient security duly to perform the same.

In May of 1710 John Holt petitioned the Court and they "exempted him from payment from his bond for keeping a ferry at Hog Island. (Surry County, Virginia Court Records, 1707-1711, Book VI By 1704 the Holt family would own 2,768 acres in Surry County. Of this , 1,450 acres were controlled by Elizabeth Hold, wife of Randall Holt , Jr.. The remainder was owned by the sons of Randall and Elizabeth..

On or about 1707 John Holt "laid violent hands upon himself" (suicide) , contrary to English Laws, and controversy resulted, as in a suicide the land of the perpetrator reverts to the crown. After much legal has sled John's sons John Jr., Charles, Benjamin, and Joseph attended the hearing. His other son David, had already received a substantial land grant from his grandfather David Crafford prior to David's twenty-first birthday.

The deposition of the court read in part: "Having labor' d long under a very great Indisposition of Mind, and at last layd violent hands upon himself", a coroner's jury found that his estate was forfeited as "Felo de Se." Governor Edward Nott having represented the Crown "his Five Surviving Children are fit Objects of Our Mercy and Compassion.". Queen Anne commanded the restoration of his estate to them on 7 Jan. 1705/6. (taken from the book "Adventurers of Purse and Person".

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 17 2019, 20:23:01 UTC

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• Reference: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Holt-315

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• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 1 2020, 0:10:15 UTC

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• https://www.google.com/books/edition/Genealogies_of_Virginia_Famili...

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