Thomas Hollowell (abt. 1625 - abt. 1687)

Born about 4 Feb 1625 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 16 Mar 1687 at about age 62 in Chuckatuck, Nansemond, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Judy Byrum [send private message]

Biography

Thomas was a Friend (Quaker) and was a member of Chuckatuck Monthly Meeting Monthly Meeting, Nansemond County, Virginia

Thomas Hollowell was an early settler to the Virginia Colony, and was also an important member of the early Quaker Community in Virginia.

The following entry appears in Early Virginia Immigrants:

Hollowell, Thos. 1649 by Stephen Gill, York Co.

This shows that Stephen Gill, a prominent land owner in Isle of Wight, Virginia, received land as a "head right" for paying to transport Thomas to Virginia. The full entry from the land patent office was transcribed by Nell Marion Nugent in Cavalier and Pioneers as follows:

STEPHEN GILL, 1150 Acs., Yorke Co., 30 Apr. 1649, p. 163. Lying on N. side of Yorke River up Rosewell Cr., part being a neck of land within the main branches of said Cr. & the rest S.E. upon a pocoson, S. upon the land of Mr. Gouch & W. upon a former deviant of sd. Gills. Due for trans, of 23 pers: Francis James, Wm. Thomas, John Hart, Tho. Hollowell, Richd. Smith, Sarah Smith, Robert Carter, Andrew Cobb, James Hunt, Edwd. Harvey, Wm. Roberts, Fra. Smith, Ja: Winchett, Edward Parr, Robt. Pinn, Tho. Hackery, Edwd. Nessum, James Wilson, Wm. Frost, Wm. Wright, Ralph Jarret, Alex Downes, Peter Sterkey.

Because it quite often took some time for head right patents to be issued, it can be assumed that Thomas actually arrived in the colonies some time before 1649. It may have even been several years earlier if Gill incurred any debt to purchase the passage for those people.

Thomas married Alce^[1] (surname unknown) and the couple settled on the West Side of the Western Branch of Elizabeth River, near present day Norfolk, Virginia.

Children of Thomas and Alice:^[2]

1. Sarah Hollowell, born the first of 11 month 1647 (Jan 1, 1647. The year changed to 1648 on March 25).
2. Thomas Hollowell, born the 22th of the first month 1649 (this is March 22, 1649 - 3 days later was March 25, 1650).
3. Henry Hollowell, born the 18th of the 8th month 1652 (October 18, 1652).
4. John Hollowell, born the 22th of 4th month 1655 (June 22, 1655) (died 1671)
5. Joseph Hollowell, born the 15th of the 6th month 1657 (August 15, 1657).
6. Benjamin Hollowell, born the 28th of 12 month 1659 (Feb 28, 1659 - the year changed to 1660 on March 25).
7. Elizabeth Hollowell, born the 9th of the 7th month 1662 (September 9, 1662).
8. Alice Hollowell, born the 16th of the 12 month 1664 (Feb 16, 1664. The year changed to 1665 on March 25).
9. Edmond Hollowell, born the 15th of the 9th month 1667 (Nov 15, 1667).
10. John Hollowell, born the 5th of the 9th month 1672 (Nov 5, 1672).

They were of the Quaker faith, Society of Friends, both are listed in the Chuckatuck monthly meeting records in Nansemond, Va. where they attended church. In fact, George Fox visited them and recommended that the local Friends community meet in their home if necessary.

1672 October -- Letter from George Fox from Elizabeth River to Friends in Nansemond, Va.

"Friends William Denson, William Yarret, John Porter, George Kemp, Thomas Jordon, Edward Perkins, William Pope, Robert Lawrence, Thomas Hollowell, Lvin Bufkin, Friends ye above mentioned are to keep a man's meeting once a quarter and if John Fowler's house be too farre off then ye may appoint it at Thomas Hollowell's or other place as you may see most convenient and William Yarrett may send to that little meeting above Jamestown, if there be any man there that they know who it is, and if there be any other faithful Friends that ye know of make them acquainted with ye meeting so that once a quarter ye and they may meet together in power and wisdom of God."^[3]

Their children's birth and their deaths are recorded in Quaker records. No place of burial is mentioned. Thomas was most likely buried on his own land, as the practice then, or at least nearby in that area. He died while living at his homestead and his wife Alice outlived him about 13 years. Their son John inherited the Hollowell homestead.

He was a grower of grains and tobacco and had a apple orchard, dairy barns, plenty of wooded land, a tide mill near a waterway, an all around good piece of land on a main county road from Suffolk to Norfolk and on to Carolina. ~Linda Hollowell Bock^[4]

Thomas died 16 Mar 1687.^[5][6]

Notes

• The will of Thomas Hollowell was proved in court 17 May 1687 Lower Norfolk County, Colony of Virginia. It is now on file at the new Chesapeake Civic Center, Great Bridge, Virginia, Book 5 - File 22 - Norfolk County.^[7]

Previous Hollowell Researchers

There have been a couple of genealogists who did a lot of research in to the Hollowell Family, and into the immigration of Thomas Hollowell and Alice.

• Lucy Elliott Hollowell of Woodland, NC, compiled much information and created The Hollowells in June 1969. This book contains much research from original sources, but as with any genealogical work it has quite a few errors.

• Vikki Hollowell Highfield spend many decades researching the Hollowell family, including corresponding with Lucy Elliott Hollowell. Vikki created a great web site on the Hollowells before she died, which is still available at Vikki Hollowell Highfield Hollowell site. I have noticed that Vikki's work tends to convert Quaker dates prior to 1751 incorrectly.[1]

Notes from Lucy Elliot Hollowell

Immigration

In April 1649, Thomas Hollowell and family^[8] were transported to the Virginia Colony by Stephen Gill.^[9][10] He came to Virginia with his wife and two small children, Sarah and Thomas. They settled on the west side of Western Branch of Elizabeth River and he was known as Thomas Hollowell of Elizabeth River. This was 30 years before the City of Norfolk was founded in 1680. Eight more children were born to these parents in Virginia. As the sons grew to maturity, they too, bought land in what is now Norfolk County. All the sons married in Norfolk County except Henry who married in Adjoining Nansemond County.^[10]

Thomas Hollowell did not approve the services of the Established Church of the Church of England. When the Society of Friends was introduced into the Colony of Virginia in 1656, he and his family became members of the new Society. The endured the persecutions that were inflicted on the Dissenters, but they remained steadfast in the Quaker faith.^[10]

Land Grants or Patents

To encourage people to settle in the New World, the King of England gave land to anyone who would be responsible for bringing people to America -- 50 acres for every person who transported himself to Virginia "at his own costs" and 50 additional acres for each person whose passage he paid. These transported persons were called "head rights" in the patents and this head right system was the only method by which an emigrant could obtain a grant of land from the colony.^[11]

The "Headrights" were in the main "servants" who were indentured to their "masters" for varying lengths of time to seven years in order to reimburse him for his expense. Many a settler brought over his wife, children, friends, and relatives, receiving 50 acres of land for each one of them. This was the system in use for obtaining land grants in the seventeenth century. The patents for land are recorded at Richmond, Virginia. The wills and deeds are found at the county courthouses.

Thomas Hollowell received three patents for 650 acres for transporting thirteen people. These people were probably relatives or friends. Thomas Hollowell patented land on the west side of Western Branch of Elizabeth River. His sons patented land adjoining their father. Benjamin and Joseph patented land in the southern part of Norfolk County. The sold land to each other.^[11]

To Thomas Hollowell, Sr.

Know ye that I the said Richard Bennett, Esq. give and grant unto Thomas Hollowell three hundred acres of land, being a neck of land lying on the West Branch of Elizabeth River bounded with Broad Creek on the Southwest and a branch of said creek called the Sedgy Creek on the Northeast and running one hundred seventy chains into the woods to a reedy swamp which thawarts the said neck, the said land being paid to the said Thomas Hollowell, Sr, by and for the transportation of six persons into this colony: Richard Thompson, Richard Jones, Daniel Pulson, John Roge, William Raffe, George Gosden. By assignment of Richard Starnell of Virginia.^[12]

To Thomas Hollowell, Sr.

One hundred fifty acres in Allentons Creek, a branch on the West Branch of Elizabeth River running north east, etc. adjoining land of Richard Jones and his own land for transportation of three persons: Alice Coley, Sarah Nunerall and Margaret Royall.^[13]

To all and whoever?

Know ye that I the said Henry Checkoby?, duputy governor do give and grant unto Thomas Hollowell, Sr., 650 acres of land lying on the Northern side of the Western Branch of Elizabeth River in the county of Lower, Norfolk, Va. beginning at the marked pine upon Broad Creek and running by the Creek west by north 58 degrees on the said Creek N. W. 64 and thence on the said Creek N.W. by W. 50 chains, then on the said Creek west N.W 136 poles, ect...to a white oak in his own line, thence S.E. to first station, four hundred fifty acres of the said land being formerly granted to the said Thomas Hollowell by patent bearing date 18, March 1662, the remainder two hundred acres being by and for the transportation of four person to this country.^[14]

Last Will and Testament

Will of Thomas Hollowell, Sr. of Lower Norfolk Co., Va dated 13th March 1686/87 Proved in Court 17th May 1687 Book 5 - File 22^[15]

The last will and testament of Thomas Hollowell, Senior of Lower Norfolk Co. being sick and weak of body but in perfect mind and memory I do make this my last will and testament following: 1stly I do bequeath both my Soul to God that gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried and my worldly goods as followeth:

2ndly - I do give unto my sonne Henry Hollowell all the Land hee now Liveth on and that hee has Cleared and builte upon and all along to the Weather Edge of the thichett next to his Cleared ground and called ye Great Thicket and soe along to the Corner of the Swamp and soe along ye Swampe Side to the head of the land taking in Chinckepin Ridge and the Thickett and all of which land I doo give unto my sonne Henry Hollowell and to his heirs of his body begotten forever and in defaulte of such heirs then the land to go to the next Brother.

3rdly - I doo give unto my loving wife Alce Hollowell my plantation I now liveth on and all the rest of my land that I have not given away for my said wife to enjoy and make youse of dureing hurr naturall life and after hurr decease I doo give the said land unto my two Sonnes Edmond Hollowell and John Hollowell to them and to the heirs of their body begotten forever and to be equally divided between my two sonnes Edmond and John with all houses, orchards, and fences that I have shall bee ye said land and my sonne Edmond to have ye furst choyce and in defaulte of such heirs then ye land to go to ye next brother of the youngest sonne.

4thly - I doo give unto my sonn Thomas one cow.

5thly - All that is left of my estate of whatsoever nature I do give until my loving wife Alce Hollowell and after hurr decease of what is then left to be divided equally by two naibors among my five sonns and three daughters herein named to say: Henry, Joseph, Benjamin, Edmond, John, and my daughters Sarah Howard and Elizabeth and Alce and if any do so decease before such division then to be divided among them that are heare named and to be then living.

Lastly I do appoint my wife Executrix and my sonn Henry executor of this my last will in witness heareof I have set my hand and seal this 23rd day of March 1686. Proved in court 17 May 1687.

Notes from Vikki Hollowell Highfield

Family History

As we know it, Thomas Hollowell, Sr. of the Western Branch of Elizabeth River in Lower Norfolk, Colony of Virginia, was our first Hollowell ancestor to arrive in the Colony of Virginia. He first appears in public records as a "headright" of Stephen Gill in 1649. Before proceeding further, I would like to explain the "headright" system to dispel the misconceptions about Thomas' entry into the Colonies.

Virginia law allowed any person paying the cost of passage for himself and/or another person to claim 50 acres of land in the right of the new settler. A voucher to prove "importation" was obtained, and could be transferred by the "importer" (assigned) to anyone else. The land claim did not have to be made promptly after the immigrant arrived. Some of these vouchers changed hands for years before they were ultimately redeemed for land. It should also be noted that by paying the cost of an immigrant's transportation, the "importer" became entitled not only to the headright land, but also to receive service, i.e., labor, from the immigrant for a specified time. If the immigrant was a minor, the time of service ran until the child became an adult, or later than that if the indenture contract so specified.

Everyone assumes that Thomas Hollowell and his wife Alice came to Virginia in 1649 and their first two children, Sarah and Thomas, were born before they arrived in the Colony of Virginia. The reference for this assumption is the patent for 1150 acres of land Stephen Gill recorded 30 April 1649 in Yorke Co. for the transportation of 23 persons named in the patent, one of whom was Thos. Hollowell. Much speculation has been made and many theories expounded about how and where Thomas and Alice were married, her maiden name, and how/when the first two children arrived in the colonies. We may never know Alice's maiden name, but it is a certainty that all of the children were born in the colonies. It is definitely a fact that Alice and the two oldest children did not come at the same time as their father, but were not mentioned in the patent. Stephen Gill received 50 acres of land for each person he transported. If you multiply 23 x 50, it equals 1150 acres. Surely Mr. Gill would not have given a "freebie" ride to three persons and deprive himself of an additional 150 acres of land. The date given is when the deed was registered not necessarily the date the people arrived. It was often years later when deeds were actually registered, some having changed hands several times in the interim.

Thomas Hollowell's name next appeared in a Quarter Court held at James Citty 30 Oct. about 1650 where he had 1 bill of 265 lbs. of tobacco. (Book B, Lower Norfolk County, Virginia, 2 November 1646-15 Januqry 1651/2). It would have been almost impossible in a little over a year for Thomas to have come into the colonies in 1649, work off his passage price, obtain land, plant and harvest a crop of tobacco large enough to have the 262 pounds of tobacco available to pay the bill mentioned above. The most logical explanation is that Thomas was here before 1649 when the deed was registered. It is also unfortunate that the records of Yorke and Nansemond Counties are no longer extant for they would certainly be able to shed some insight into solving the many mysteries surrounding the early settlers.

It is a well-known and much documented fact that Thomas Hollowell and his wife, Alice, were members of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers. On 12 November 1663, Thomas Hollowell and his wife were arrested by Thomas Lovell the Underschrieve for Lower Norfolk County where several people called "Quakers" were meeting unlawfully. This proves that Thomas and Alice were actively pursuing their religious beliefs. When George Fox, the Society of Friend's founder, visited the Colony of Virginia in 1672, he found followers firmly settled, and in his famous letter written to Friends in the area, suggests that a permanent meeting house be built and proposed Thomas Hollowell's house at Elizabeth River could be used until a permanent structure could be completed.

George Fox mandated that a permanent record should be kept. The names and birth dates of Thomas and Alice Hollowell's children were inscribed as one of the first entries of the Chuckatuck Monthly Meeting, the oldest Quaker record in Virginia. On the first page of the old book [Register of the original Chuckatuck Quarterly Meeting] is found the following: "This book began with the Yeare 1672 by the motion or order of George Ffox the servant of God." It should be noted, however, that some of the data precedes this date by a number of years, the earliest date being 1647, which is the birth date of a child of Thomas and Alice Hollowell of Elizabeth River.(Hinshaw, Vol. 6, p. 21).

Vikkie's Fact and Fiction

Vikki's Common Myths

Note: Although Vikki Hollowell Highfield has a really great Hollowell web site, there are some aspects of it which I have found to be confusing including her Family Facts and Fiction section. Unfortunately Vikki has now passed away, so I cannot communicate with her about these things. So I am rewording the "Myths" part to make statements which are "mythical" in nature. That is, statements which are false, as opposed to what Vikki had done, which is to make true statements about misconceptions. I appreciate any comments about which style makes more sense, but I want to get Vikki's work captured here before her web site disappears one day.

according to Vikki the following statements are FALSE but are taken to be true by some people. her explanations for why these statements are false is in the next section

1. Thomas Hollowell, of Elizabeth River, Virginia was the son of William Hollowell of Lancastershire, England.
2. Thomas Hollowell's wife Alice, and two children, Sarah and Thomas, came to Virginia with Thomas.
3. The name of the ship that brought Thomas Hollowell to the Colonies is known.
4. Henry Hollowell had sons named John and William
5. Henry Hollowell's second wife was Elizabeth Scott, daughter of William Scott, Jr.
6. The terms JR. and SR. used during colonial times mean the same thing that they do today
7. All American Hollowells are descended from Thomas and Alice.
8. Smithson Hollowell had two sons named Silas.

Vikki's "Proven Facts"

1. If Thomas' father had been named William, one of his children would have been named William. The first occasion of the name William in the Hollowell family was the son of John and Elizabeth Scott Hollowell who named one of their sons William after Elizabeth's father, William Scott. Seventeenth century naming practices were to name the first son and daughter after the father's parents, the second son and daughter after the mother's parents, the third son and daughter were named after the parents, and other children were named after siblings and other relatives. Although this was not set in stone, Thomas and Alice did name their third daughter Alice. Since we do not have proof of their parents, the names of their older children cannot be certain.
2. Thomas Hollowell, of the Western Branch of Elizabeth River, Colony of Virginia, first appeared in the public record as a "headright" of Stephen Gill in a patent registered in 1649. (Nugent, C&P, #1, p. 180). The term "headright" in connection with a patent for land has been subject to much misunderstanding. For the purpose of stimulating immigration and the settlement of the Colony, the London Company ordained that any person who paid his own way to Virginia should be assigned 50 acres of land "for his own personal adventure," and if he transported "at his own cost" one or more persons he should, for each person whose passage he paid, be awarded 50 acres of land. It is not to be assumed that the claim for land in consequence of a person transported was made immediately after the arrival of the "headright" in the Colony. The headrights may have arrived in the Colony long before the patentee had entered claim for land thereby due. Stephen Gill received 1150 acres for the transportation of 23 persons including Thomas Hollowell which should dispel the rumor that his wife, Alice, and two oldest children, Sarah and Thomas, came with him. (23 x 50 = 1150).
3. Thomas Hollowell's exact time of arrival in the Colonies is not known. He first appears as a "headright" in a land patent of Stephen Gill in 1649. A search of immigration lists to this date have proven fruitless in identifying either the exact date of arrival or the name of the ship.
4. The only proven children of Henry Hollowell are his daughter, Elizabeth, who married Richard Ratcliffe on 18 day of 7 month 1700. (Hinshaw, Vol. 6, p. 34) and his son, Thomas, mentioned in the will of Joseph Hollowell as "Thomas Hollowell the son of Henry Hollowell." (Norfolk DB7, p. 88). It is possible there were other children, but there is no proof available at this time.
5. John Scott, the son of William Scott of Chuckatuck married Elizabeth Belson, the daughter of Elizabeth Belson, the 19 day of 8 month 1682. (Early Quaker Records in Virginia, White, p. 6). Henry Hollowell of Elizabeth River and Elizabeth Scott of Nansemon County married on the 20th day of 2 month 1693. (Hinshaw, Vol. 6, p. 30). Benjamin Small and Elizabeth Hollowell of Nansemond County married 12 day 1st month 1699. (Monthly Meeting of Friends, Nansemond Co., VA, p. 27). Elizabeth Small, wife of Benjamin Small of Nansemond County, born 31st of 6th month 1666. Her parents, Edmund and Elizabeth Belson were pious Friends; taken ill the 21st of the seventh month 1717, being the first day of the yearly-meeting at Chuckatuck... quietly departed the 25th of the 7th month 1717, aged 52, a minister about 11 years. (A Collection of Memorials...of the People Called Quakers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Parts Adjacent, from Nearly the First Settlement thereof to the Year 1787).
6. Because of the repetitive use of given names within families, the term JR. meant "the younger" and SR. meant "the elder." Although these terms could denote "son of" or "father of", the most common usage during colonial times was to differentiate between two individuals living in an area who both had the same name. The younger individual was identified as JR. and the elder individual as SR.
7. There were at least four other persons named Hollowell who were transported to the Colonies during the 17th Century, and many others later.
8. The 1850 census of Washington Co., IN lists Smithson Hollowell with two children named Silas living in his household. Only the Silas aged 14 is his son. The other Silas M. Hollowell was the son of John and Hannah Self Hollowell. The Bible of John and Hannah Self Hollowell lists their son, Silas M. Hollowell, born January 28, 1841. (See Bible of John and Hannah) 7 Apr. 1859. JONATHAN LINE and SMITHSON HOLLOWELL, Gdn. Of Ex. Parte partition of MERRIAM HOLLOWELL, et al -- Partition 20 acres of SW 1/4 of SE 1/4, except 7 acres in NW corner; also 13 acres in NE 1/4 of SE 1/4, the SE corner of said land; also 39 acres off SE 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec. 22, T1S, R1E to be made by WILLIAM HOLADAY, ALEXANDER MORRIS and JOHN M. FREE, disinterested resident freeholders, not kin to any of the parties; to JONATHAN LINE 1/2, MARIAM HOLLOWELL 1/6, LEE HOLLOWELL 1/6, and SILAS HOLLOWELL 1/6. (Orange Co., IN Probate Order Book Common Pleas 3, p. 32).

Sources

• Greer, George Cabell. Early Virginia Immigrants, 1912.
• Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants, 1623-1666. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1983.
• Hinshaw, William Wade. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume VI . Genealogical Publishing Company. 1950.
• White, Miles, Jr. (compiler) Early Quaker Records in Virginia. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company. 2008.
• Hollowell, Lucy Elliott. The Hollowells. self-published (i.e. typed and bound) Woodland, NC. June 1969.
• Vikki Hollowell Highfield Hollowell site

1. ↑ Alce's given name is recorded with many different spellings in the Quaker record. Variations include Alce, Allice, Allis, Alic, and Alise. The most common spelling in the Quaker record is Alce.
2. ↑ Hinshaw p. 30.
3. ↑ Hinshaw, p. 7.
4. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 October 2018), memorial page for Thomas Hollowell (1625–16 Jan 1687), Find A Grave Memorial no. 27709786, citing Western Branch Cemetery, Chesapeake City, Virginia, USA ; Maintained by Linda Hollowell Bock (contributor 46573238).
5. ↑ White. p. 49
6. ↑ Note that the Quaker record says "Thomas Hollowell ye Elder died ye 16 of ye 1 mo(th) 1687. Prior to 1752, in England and the colonies, the Julian calendar was still in use, so the year began on 25 Mar. So "1st month" was March.
7. ↑ Hollowell, Lucy Elliott. p. 15
8. ↑ This is disputed by further research done by Vikki Hollowell Highfield
9. ↑ Greer, George Cabell. Early Virginia Immigrants (1623-1666).
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Nugent, Nell. Cavaliers and Pioneers.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Hollowell, Lucy Elliot. The Hollowell. June 1969. Volume I. p. 11
12. ↑ 11 Jan 1652. Book 3. Page 148
13. ↑ 18 March 1662. Book 3. Page 497
14. ↑ 21 September 1680. Lower Norfolk County, Virginia, p. 59 (Reel 7).; digital images, Land Office Grants. (www.lva.virginia.gov).
15. ↑ as reproduced in The Hollowells by Lucy Elliot Hollowell, p. 16