Nicholas Holt (1602-1686) and
Elizabeth Short (1606-1656)
9th Great-Grandparents Four Ways
First Settlers of Andover
Nicholas Holt and Elizabeth Short are our 9th great grandparents by the following path: RWA → Fred Pemberton Abbott → Arthur Merrill Abbott → Justin Edwards Abbott → Benjamin Abbott → Benjamin Abbott → Mary Chandler Abbott → Priscilla Holt Chandler → Oliver Holt → Henry Holt → Nicholas Holt and Elizabeth Short
They are also our 9th great grandparent by a second path that varies just a little from the first path: RWA . . . Benjamin Abbott → Jonathan Abbott → David Abbott → Sarah Farnum Abbott → Elizabeth Holt Farnum → Nicholas Holt and Elizabeth Short
And they are also our 9th great grandparents two other ways, but I will not go into that. Both Arthur Merrill Abbott and his wife Mary Emma Knowles are descendants of Nicholas Holt and Elizabeth Short.
Nicholas and his first wife Elizabeth traveled to New England on the ship James in 1635. They were among the first settlers of Newbury where they stayed for about 10 years. They then relocated with a group led by Reverend Woodbridge to a new settlement first named Cochichawicke but later became Andover. Nicholas was among the group of first settlers that includes several of our ancestors including George Abbot.
Nicholas’s trade was listed as a tanner, but he also worked as a master cooper and a “dishturner.” A dishturner makes wooden bowls by turning them on a lathe. He also was one of the largest landholders in Andover and did farming. In addition, he helped to lay out roads for the new settlements. [The Holt Farm built by his grandson Nicholas Holt on land originally owned by Nicholas Holt the immigrant is pictured at the top of the page.]
As a town member, Nicholas was expected to attend the town meetings. He was fined 2 shillings in 1638 for not attending the scheduled meeting in Newbury. Apparently, there was some unruliness at these meetings, as an ordinance was passed 6 July 1638 stating the following:
Whereas there hath bin notice taken of much disorder in publick towne meeting by reason of divers speaking at one and the same time, some walking up and downe, some absent, and divers other miscarriages, it is henceforth ordered that if any person should offend against and order prescribed in this case there shall be exact notice of such offence in this respect, and hee shall be censured accordingly.
The original land holdings in Andover of Nicholas Holt included an area known as Holt Hill. This hill is now part of the Ward Reservation, a preservation area in Andover. Although it is not that high, Holt Hill is the highest point in Essex County, Massachusetts and is known for its view of the Boston skyline. Holt Hill and the view from Holt Hill are pictured below.
Nicholas and his first wife Elizabeth had nine children. One daughter died as an infant, but the others lived to adulthood. Two of those children (as well as one grandchild) died in the 1690 smallpox epidemic. Elizabeth Short Holt died in 1656. Nicholas remarried and had two children with his second wife. After the death of his second wife, Nicholas married a third time.
Nicholas was apparently not literate as he signed his name by mark. However, his descendants were educated. One of his great grandsons graduated from Harvard in 1737. Several other Holts were educated at Harvard during the 1700's.
Family group sheet for Nicholas Holt and Elizabeth Short: http://sites.rootsmagic.com/colonialgenealogy/family.php?f=411
Sources:
Anderson, Robert Charles. (1999-2011). The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Volumes 1-7. Boston, MA: Great Migration Study Project.
Bailey, Sarah Loring. (1880). Historical sketches of Andover. Cambridge, MA: Riverside Press.
Currier, John J. (1902). History of Newbury, Mass. 1635-1902. Boston, MA: Damrell and Upton.
Greven, Philp J. (1970). Four generations: Population, land, and family in colonial Andover, Massachusetts. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.