Joshua Holden, Murray County, Georgia
Does anyone have any information about the Joshua Holden(or Holder?) who was in Murray County, Georgia in 1835?
He may be the same Joshua Holden who was living in Forsyth County, Georgia, during that period – but, if so, he apparently had not yet moved to Murray County, since he continued to be active in matters such as grand jury in Forsyth County for a few more years.
I know very little about the Joshua who was in Murray County in 1835, except that he took part in the Chief Vann House affair – and because that was so significant, I am hoping someone might have more information.
First, some time back another research sent me an incomplete citation to the following deed:G.B. Hargrove sold land to Joshua Holden (Jan.1835) in Murray County, but the person who sent me this did not have the deed volume or page number, nor any more information about the contents of the deed.
I suspect this was the same Joshua “Holder” mentioned in the following newspaper article:
From:“Political,” Southern Banner (Athens, GA), 11 June 1835, pp.1 +
“... On the 23d of February I had placed Mr. Holden, who was the authorized Agent of Hargrove, and who produced to me the grant, into possession of the house occupied by Vann, and who was from home at the time.It was not the design of Mr. Holder to unnecessarily disturb or incommodate his family in his absence, and he only took possession of one of the rooms, and told Mrs. Vann that she could occupy the residue of the house until the return of Vann, or for six days longer at any rate.With this she appeared entirely satisfied.We were making preparations for departing, when Riley came to the entry door, seemingly almost frantic with rage, and declared with an oath, that he would kill me or any other person who should persist in any endeavor to keep possession of the house, and instantly armed himself with a Rifle.I, in very mild terms, informed him, I had already placed Mr. Holder in the possession of the House, but that Van had permission through his wife, to remain until some in the first of March, at which time I had understood from Mr. Holder, he wished complete possession ... On the day appointed, I went to the house of Vann, at the request of Mr. Holder.By this time it was notorious throughout the village and neighborhood, that Riley had converted one of the upper rooms into a sort of arsenal and fort, having two Rifles, a large double barrelled shot gun – three pistols – a dirk and a tomahawk .... When we arrived at the house I informed Vann of my business, who without any resistance or murmur, surrendered to Mr. holder the entire possession of the premises ... “
“Georgia, Murray County:We, the undersigned do certify, that we were present when William N. Bishop put Joshua Holder in possession of Joseph Vann’s improvement, on the 23d day of February last; that after Holder put his furniture in the room that he had taken at that time, a conversation took place between said Bishop and Spencer Riley ...Riley said ... that if Bishop proceeded to put Holder in entire possession at the time set, which was on the 2nd day of March thereafter, he would kill him, and that he would break open the room already taken and throw Holder’s furniture out of doors ... Holder locked up the door and we all went away together; the door was opened and the furniture thrown out by some person ....”
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I have a fair amount of information about the Joshua Holden who was in earlier in Forsyth County, Georgia, and who appears to be the same Joshua Holden who was listed in the 1840 Murray County, Georgia census.That Joshua later moved to Louisiana and finally settled in Van Zandt County, Texas.
That Joshua Holden was married to Lucinda Reese, who a sister of my ancestor Absalom M. Reese.
But I am not confident that there could not have been two men of the same name without additional evidence.
For that matter, it is possible that the man involved in the Vann House incident was really named HoldeR, instead of HoldeN.
Any help will be appreciated.
Bill Page
Bryan, Texas
More Replies:
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Re: Joshua Holden, Murray County, Georgia
Sylvia Gentry 4/19/07
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Re: Joshua Holden, Murray County, Georgia
b H 5/15/12
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Re: Joshua Holden, Murray County, Georgia
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Re: Joshua Holden, Murray County, Georgia
Dortha Gamel 4/02/07