In the 1860 Grayson County VA Agricultural Census, William Holderfield
had $3 worth of farm implements,
1 milk cow, and 1 pig....livestock valued at $15...he owned no land.
His father Isaac had: 25 acres of improved land, 55 acres of unimporved
land, with a cash value of his farm of $500. He had 4 horses and
2 mules, 3 sheep and 15 pigs, with the value of the livestock at $137.
This agriculture census is not complete. It is from the site at this great
New River Notes site:
http://www.newrivernotes.com/
What the1860 Census for Grayson C.H.P.O. VA p. 072 tells us:
William Holdefield (misspelled
again!) is listed as born in NC, a laborer with the personal
estate of $35. It gives his age as 25 but from all else we have this
must be wrong. Lydia is
listed as age 25 putting her birth year at ca 1835. [See later
census for other birth year] She
was born in VA.
Children listed: Both born in VA.
Mary A age 4 (ca1856)
Eliza J. age 2 (ca 1858)
----------------------
What the 1870 Census( 16 Aug 1870) for Grayson Co VA, Old
Town Twp tells us:
Wm B. is listed as 43, making his
birth year ca1827 in NC. This year corresponds with the
1880 census. He is a farm laborer. LydiaC.,
listed as age 31 would have the birth year of
ca 1839 in VA. It seems Lydia can't make up her mind how old
she wants people to think
she is! But this age seems to agree with the next census. Lydia's
middle initial corresponds
with the deed below, but Wm's does not. Other places have the middle
initial "H".
Children all born in VA are:
Mary A age 14, (ca 1856)
Eliza J age 12, (ca 1858)
Geo W age 8, (ca 1862) (Could his middle name be Washington?
Could he be the "Wash"
Holderfield named in the deed below in 1898? and the same person
spoken of in the family?)
Sarah C age 6, (ca 1864)
Columbus age 4, (ca 1866)
John H age 11 months says born August, (1869)
-----------------------------
During the ten year period between the 1870 and 1880 census, the family
moved to Surry Co
NC. The youngest child was born in VA in ca 1872, so they probably
moved after that.
What the 1880 (17 Jun) Census for Franklin Township, Surry Co, NC
tells us:
Wm Holyfield was age 53.
So according to this age he was born ca 1827 in NC, with both
his parents also being born in NC. William was a farmer.
Carlin (must be Lydia C's middle
name?) was age 40. So she must have been born ca 1840.
So does this support the idea that she was born around 1839-40?
Living with them in addition to the children were two relatives. Valentine
Holyfield, age 35,
was William's brother. Now, that makes his birth date
ca 1845. He and his parents are
all listed as being born in NC. Valentine's occupation is listed
as "physician." [ Now, there
has been a story in the family that there was someone down south who
was referred to as Doc
Holderfield. When we found this, it was one of those times when
you celebrate. And there is a mystery also about Valentine. He is
listed as married, and married during the census year. But
no wife is listed with him. Where was she? In 1900 we find Valentine
in the Census for Carroll
Co VA in the Fancy Gap District. His birth is May 1845 in NC.
He has living with him a
daughter, Margarett J. born VA, May 1886 (age 14) and John
M born VA, Jan 1890. In 1910 Valentine is living with son John, a farmer,
in Carroll co VA. Valentine is widowed, not working
and is listed as a Confederate Veteran. John's wife is Mertie. Their
child is Curtis, 11 months.
In 1920 Valentine is not listed. John is listed as Hollyfield, with
wife Vertie and children Curtis
age 10, Susan age 7, and William I. age 5. ]
The second person living with them in 1880 was Eliza Carico,
age 55. Her birth year would be ca1825. She is listed as the mother-in-law.
She and her parents were born in VA. Her presence
on this census record was significant. You see, the death certificate
of our William
Holderfield/born ca1871 listed his mother as Lydia Caraco and his father
as William. So this census gave us a surname that matched another document.
[Elsewhere on the net, I found this William listed with wife Lydia
Fortner. But I believe from all else I have found that her last name
is Carrico. Lydia is listed in the IGI as being born 1839 in Grayson
Co VA and her father was William Carrico. Then on 28 Dec 1853 William Carrico
married Eliza Fortner.She would be the Eliza Carico listed in this 1880
census, probably the step mother of Lydia.]
Now the children:
They were all born in VA.
Mary A. age 23, ca 1857
Eliza J. age 21, ca 1859
GW (son)age 18, ca 1862 -- listed as working on farm
Sarah age 16, ca 1864
Columbus age 14, ca1866 [There is a Columbus C(Dec 1866 VA)
and Emma J(July 1869 VA)listed in Carroll Co VA, Piper Gap District in
1900 census. Maimie (Oct 1893 VA) and
Armer B (Dec 1895 VA)]
John age 11(could be 15 but would be out of order), ca 1869
William
age
7 , ca 1873 [In spite of this
discrepancy in birth year, I think this is
our William.]
Betty or Betsy(?) daughter, age 6, ca 1872
W H Holderfield[Wm
H/1871] from W R Holderfield &
wife[appears to be Wm/1827 and wife
Lydia]
This Deed made this 23rd day of July 1898
by Wm R Holderfield and wife L C Holderfield of Surry County and State
of NC of the first part and W H Holderfield of Grayson Co and State of
Va of the second part. Witnesseth: That said
Wm R Holderfield in consideration of $50 to him
paid by W H Holderfield the receipt of which
is hereby acknowledged has bargained and sold
and by these presents doth bargain sell and convey
to said W H Holderfield and his heirs a
certain tract or parcel of land in Franklin Township
Surry Co NC on head waters of Fish
River adjoining the lands of J JEdwards
& Duel (?Dull) and Co. and others and bounded
as follows Viz: Beginning at J J Edwards corner
a stake and thence running South with J J
Edwards line to a Chestnut oak sapling on top
of the Buzzard Knob Ridge thence with the
main top of said ridge to a stake in the out
side line. Thence N E with the old line to a chestnut
oak. Thence N with the old line to Wash
Holderfield's line. Thence West to the beginning
point containing twenty five acres more or less:
To have and to hold the aforesaid tract or bounds of land and all privileges
and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said W H Holderfield his heirs
and assigns to their only use and behoof [advantage,
benefit, interest, use] forever: and the
said Wm R Holderfield and wife L C Holderfield covenants that they are
seized of said premises in fee and have the right to convey
the same in fee simple that the same are free
and clear from all incumbrances. And that they
bind themselves, their heirs, executors, administrators
to warrant and forever defend the said
title to the same against the claims of all persons
whatsoever. In testimony whereof the said
Wm R Holderfield and wife L.C. Holderfield has
hereunto set their hands and seals the day
and year above written.
Wm R his
X mark Holderfield
L C her X mark Holderfield
Attest
Jas. Hodges
North Carolina Surry County
I Jas. Hodges Justice of the Peace do hereby
certify that Wm R. Holderfield and
L C Holderfield his wife appeared before me this
day and acknowledged the [?]due
execution of the within deed of conveyance.
And the said L C Holderfield being by me
privately examined separate and apart from her
said husband touching her voluntary
execution of the same, doth state that she signed
the same freely and voluntarily without
fear or compulsion of her said husband or any
other person and that she doth still voluntarily
assent thereto. Witness my hand and private
seal this 23rd day of July 1898.
Jas. Hodges J.P.
North Carolina Surry County
The foregoing certificate of Jas. Hodges a Justice
of the Peace of Surry county is adjudged
to be in and due[?] form and correct. Let the
instrument and certificates be registered.
Witness my hand this July 25th 1898.
W W Hampton
Registered July 25th 1898
T W Davis R.D.
By R A Inman D.R.D.
----------
1900 is the last census year that I found William
and Lydia C.
1900 Census, Franklin Twp, Surry County, NC,
page 91: William HOLDERFIELD, age 74 VA, born Sept 1825, married 44 yrs,
farmer, parents born VA; Lydia C, wife, age 61 VA, born Jan 1839, married 44
yrs, 8 children/8 still living, father born VA, mother born NC.
------------------------------
If you have any information about the people in the families on this
page, please email
me at the address on my home page.
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