James Holloway, Sr. of Essex Co., VA

James Holloway (Sr.) made his will on 18 Feb. 1697/8 (Julian vs. Gregorian calendar). He bequeathed to his sons John and Samuel his land in the forest; to his daughters Sary and Mary, two cows and their issue to be delivered to them when they became of age at 20 or else marry; to his son Richard, a calf and its issue to be delivered him when he became of age at 21; to his wife, a horse and mare; to his son James, the land on which he was then residing, to be given him after the decease of his wife and after James became 21. Witnesses were John Butcher and Richard Wilton. James died before the will was probated on 23 Sep. 1698, both of the witnesses proving the will. At that time, a bond of 10,000 pounds of tobacco or casks was acknowledged by Judith Holloway, John Butcher, and Richard Wilton toward settling the estate. Judith was named in the will as administratrix. Witnesses to the bond were Richard Covington and Thomas Hucklescott (Essex County Deeds 9, 1695 – 1699: 244; see Sparacio, Deed and Will Abstracts of Essex County, 1697 – 1699, Part II 1697 – 1699:47). Note that Richard Covington and Thomas Hucklescott were neighbors of John Meador Sr. of Hoskins Creek. Thomas Hucklescott's daughter Mary married Thomas Evans, son of Susanna Meador Evans, sister of John Meador Sr.

On 28 Oct. 1697, James Holloway patented 167 acres in Essex County on the branches of Occupacian Run (Occupacia Creek). The patent was in consideration of James having funded the importation of four persons to Virginia, namely, John Cole, John Wake, Samuel Ascough, and Patience Main. The property adjoined Richard Barber, a branch of Occupation (Swamp), Richard Copeland, Chiccahomony path, a main branch of the fork of Occupation (Creek), and Gerber (Virginia Land Office Patents 9, 1695 – 1706: 112). A deed of 1707 identifies this property as on a branch of Occupacia Swamp and on Occupacia Creek.