John Hollis and his wife Esther (lnu, possibly Canterbury) of Fairfax, VA are probably the "Adam & Eve" of the largest southern Hollis clan that settled in NC, SC, GA, AL, MS and LA in the 1700s and 1800s. John leased 205 acres of land from Henry Fitzhugh on the northern 11,000 acre tract portion of the 22,000+ acre tract known as the Ravensworth estate. John lived on this land, farmed tobacco and apples on this land and he also operated an "Ordinary" (sort of a tavern/hotel/livery all in one). This land was located on the north side of present day Braddock Road where it intersects with Rolling Road. This intersection and his property was referred to in some documents as the "Hollis Crossroad" and it appears to have been a major landmark in the area as it was referenced in road orders as late as 1797.
For more information on Ravensworth and John Hollis' rented land, visit these two pages: Ravensworth and John Hollis Ravensworth.org. The old Ravensworth mansion/house was located to the west of John's Ordinary near the present day intersection of Braddock Road and the Capital Beltway (Annandale).
Note that William Fitzhugh was the grandfather of General Robert E. Lee's wife, Mary Anna Randolph Custis and she inherited a portion of the Ravensworth estate when her aunt died in 1874. Also note that Mary Anna Randolph Custis Lee was the great granddaughter of Martha Washington from her 1st marriage to Daniel Parke Custis.
Tobacco was a currency crop in Virginia (much like cotton prior to the Civil War) and most of the Ravensworth land was likely a huge tobacco plantation,. Most of the tobacco was moved along the Potomac from several spots but most likely the tobacco from John's farm moved down through Pohick near present day Fort Belvoir to the Potomac.
Either John and his sons Burr/Burrell and William or his sons John, Jr., Burrell and William may have served under George Washington in the French and Indian War. See the Ravensworth website for more information and references. There are documents for these men but we have no way to prove that they are the same men. As with most genealogical research, the farther back in time that you search, the less confidence you will have in your results.
We have several records pertaining to John and some of the records are fascinating. For instance, in the records for Truro Parish and the historic Pohick Church, his name can be found on several pages and on at least one page his name is listed with George Washington's name.
In the book, "Minutes of the Vestry, Truro Parish Virginia, 1732-1785", there are the following entries:
Page 47 - To John Hollis to support son John, a disabled person, 500 (1745)
Page 51 - To John Hollis for the support of his son John a disabled person, two years, 1000 (1747)
Page 55 - To John Hollis Junr, for two years support, 750 (1749)
Page 56 - To John Hollis for his support, 500 (1748)
Page 60 - To John Hollis for burying a poor man, 250 (1750)
Page 66 - To John Hollis for 1 levy overcharged, 34 (1752)
Page 77 - To John Hollis P. Accot, 300 (1758)
Page 101 - To John Hollis for his support, 500 (1766)
Page 108 - To John Hollis for the board of Dorothy Chesher from the 25th of May to this date, 200 (1767)
Page 108 - To John Hollis for his support, 500 (1767)
Page 108 - "Resolved that a Church be built at or as near the Cross Road leading from Hollis's to Pohic Warehouse as water can be had which resolution was carried by a majority of seven to five." (1767)
We also have the following road orders where John and/or his Ordinary are noted (from Beth Mitchell and the Fairfax County History Commission):
May 1754 - Ordered that Philip Grimes upon receipt of this order do clear the road from Brown's Ordinary to John Hollis's with the tithables lately appointed to clear the new road.
May 1759 - ...the Surveyor of the road leading from William Ashfords to John Hollis for ... or direction post to the knowledge of two of us.
September 1759 - License is granted to John Hollis to keep an Ordinary. Hugh West, security. Note on same page George Washington, Esq. and his tenants are asked to clear a road.
October 1760 - License is granted to John Hollis to keep an ordinary for one eyar who with Hugh West his security is entered into bond.
March 1761 - On the Petition of Samuel Littlejohn ordered that Lewis Ellzey Thomas Ford and Thomas Withers Coffer view the road from the ox road to Hollis’s old field and report on oath whether it will be inconvenient to the public to turn the said road round his fence and whether it is necessary for the said road to be continued.
February 1764 - Ordd. that Wm. Payne, Wm. Payne junr. Benjn. Talbott & James Halley or any three view the most convt. way for a road out of the old Court house road near Benoni Halley’s to the Ravensworth road near Jno. Hollis’s.
March 1770 - Ordered that the road that leads from Hollis’ old field to Sangsters be opened, Thomas Withers Coffer appointed Surveyor, William Payne & Edward Payne Gent. are appointed to allot the hands to clear the same.
April 1770 - Thomas Sangster is appointed Surveyor of the road from Hollis’ in the room of Thomas Coffer.
September 1771 - Daniel McCarty & Peter Wagener are appointed to allot the hands to clear the road from Loofborrows to Colchester from the upper church to the new church & from Hollis’s to the new church from the back Lick to Accotink and from Accotink to Pohick.
May 1773 - We present the overseer of the road leading from where John Hollis formerly lived to Pohick warehouse for neglecting to keep the said road in necessary repair agreeable to act of assembly in that case made and provided within two months last past to the knowledge of two of us.
July 1791 - The road, from the Ox road on the Turnpike road to Hollis old fields, and opposite to where another road Intersects said turnpike road leading from the Ox road.
July 1791 - The road from Hollis’s old field - to Accotink, on the Turnpike road, The tithables which now are ...& c. - of Richard Lane, John Duling, Thomas Lewis, Andrew Allen, John R. Allen, Robert Scisson, Mary Smith, the quarter belonging to the Estate of Henry Fitzhugh decd. which is now on the South side of Accotink and one of William Fitzhughs quarters, on the South side of Accotink.
July 1791 - The road from the Ox road near Sangsters, to Hollis’s to the Turnpike road.
July 1791 - The road, from the Turnpike road, at Hollis’s to where it intersects the Pohick road at Jno. Fowlers fence.
December 1791 - Francis Coffer, James Waugh, Peter Mauzey and Thomas Woodard or any three of them, are appointed to view a way for a Road leading from William Deneale’s Mill to the Road leading from Hollis’s old Field to Thomas Sangsters, and report to the Court truly and impartially of the conveniences and inconveniences which will result as well to Individuals as the publick if such Road shall be opened.
April 1792 - The Viewers appointed to view a way for a road leading from William Deneale’s Mill to the road leading from Hollis’s old field to Sangsters, made a report, whereupon it is ordered that the said road be opened accordingly.
March 1797 - John Sangster is appointed Overseer of the road from the ox road near Sangsters & to Hollies at the Turnpike road in room of William Mills resigned.
October 1797 - From the Ox Road, along said Turnpike road to the Fork of the road at Hollices old field near Price Skinners ....
October 1797 - From Hollices old field in the fork of the Road Price Skinners to Prices Tavern on said Road ....
October 1797 - From the Ox Road near Tho Songsters to Hollices old field at the Turnpike road ...
October 1797 - From the Turnpike road at Hollices old field to where it intersects the Pohick road at John Fowlers plantation.
John was likely born around 1700 and he died in 1768. We do not know with any certainty who the parents of John were - some speculate that he was the son of Benjamin Hollis and Catherine Sylvester of England. Some have speculated that he arrived from England as an indentured servant. Others say that he came from Maryland. He does not appear to have owned any property while in VA but he does appear on the rent rolls for Henry Fitzhugh. His estate administration lists no land nor are there any records of transfers. I found no records for him owning any slaves.
The birth and death dates of Esther are not known. Her parents appear to be John Canterbury and Rebecca Ruth Williams. She likely had a brother named Samuel and Samuel's land is shown on the above map just to the south of John's Ordinary.
We also have a Deed Gift from John Hollis to Esther Hollis in 1765. It is not known what the deed contains because the record itself no longer exists - only the index entry exists.
We also have numerous Fairfax County court records for a John Hollis, a Burr Hollis, an Edward Hollis and a James Hollis. Many of these records do not cast a favorable light on the behavior of Burr, John and James. Instead of re-posting them here, I have provided a link below:
Fairfax County Court Records -Transcribed
Family Search Website - Actual Documents
As it will become apparent later, the names of GOING/GOWIN, GLADDEN/GLADING and MINOR are shown in the map above and in the Truro Vestry minutes. The Gladden and Going families appear to have moved with the Hollis clan from Fairfax, VA to Fairfield County, SC. Many men of the present day Going/Goins/Gowen family match Hollis yDNA fairly closely which indicates an adoption or name change in the Hollis or Going family line.
Another associated family is the KNIGHTON family. John may have had a sister or aunt named Susanna that married a Knighton. Then later there were several Hollis-Knighton marriages among the descendants of John's son Moses. The offspring of some of these marriages probably resulted in a double or triple dose of both Hollis and Knighton DNA! The Fairfield District records contain numerous Hollis-Knighton transactions and they lived very close to one another. They even shared common first names such as Moses and Isaac.
Several of John and Esther's descendants moved to NC and SC just before the American Revolution. A move that was probably precipitated by the death of their parents. Several of John and Esther's grandsons were Patriots in the American Revolution and numerous 2nd great - grandsons fought for the Confederacy where many gave the ultimate sacrifice for their "State & Country".
Click here for the CHILDREN OF JOHN & ESTHER
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[1] The Fairfax County Courthouse, like many courthouses across the South, were vandalized during the Civil War and many critical records have been lost forever.
(This page was updated 12/4/2022)