Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham; Bedford County Assistant Archivist Kathryn Hopkins; USD Tennessee State Honorary President Jo Hill; Chapter Chaplain Sharon Schier; Chapter President Jan Perry; Chapter Treasurer Phyllis Carter
Holt family descendants, shown from left to right, Van Ayers, Jeannette Sherrill; David Isom; Pam Isom. Not pictured: David and Lucas Holt; Kathryn Hopkins
The Volunteer-Wauhatchie Chapter of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 honored Private Joseph Holt on April 27, by dedicating a War of 1812 veteran marker at his grave in Haley, Tn.
The first Holt in America was Michael, born about 1697 in the Alsace area of West Germany known as the Palatinate. In 1717, 20 families immigrated to Virginia to settle in Germanna in Spotsylvania County. Their new lives began with a rough start when the ship’s captain claimed they had not paid their fares. In order to get the people off the ship, Governor Spottswood forced them to sign a contract which indentured them for several years. By 1725, the period of the indenture was completed. The following year, Michael Holt was granted 400 acres on the Rapidan River and two years later added an additional 245 acres. By 1755, the family moved to Orange County, North Carolina. By 1800, grandson John Holt (son of Michael’s son Nicholas) had moved to Middle Tennessee, settling in Bedford County, along with his wife Francis. They had five sons and five daughters. There were three Holt families that settled in Bedford County and were probably distantly related.
Their son Joseph Holt was born in North Carolina about 1787. War of 1812 muster rolls reveal that Joseph served from November 1814 through May 1815. He was a part of the 1st Regiment, West Tennessee Militia, which included Bedford County. He served under Major General William Carroll at New Orleans. He served in the right section of Carroll’s line at the breastworks at Chalmette Battlefield. The actions of this unit took place during mid December 1814 and in January 1815. Some researchers believe that he also served in the Indian Wars under Andrew Jackson.
Shortly after Joseph’s return home, he married Catherine Kimbro on 15 July 1815, and they lived at Haley Station. Records show they had 13 children, 11 daughters and 2 sons. Two daughters, Lucinda and Elizabeth died young. Surviving were Sarah (married Ayers), Rowena (married Green), Louisa (married Isom), Frances (married Blackman), Mary Ann (married Culley), Emily (married Green), Elias, Elizabeth Minerva (married Holt), Belinda (married Couch), Joseph Marion, and Harriet Virginia (married Hooser). Of the 11 surviving children, 10 of them are buried in the Holt Cemetery at Haley. Daughter Rowena moved to Texas and is buried there.
Both of Joseph’s sons, Elias and Joseph M., served in the Civil War and were present at the close of the war at Appomattox. With the assistance of his wife, children and extended family, Joseph managed his farm in Bedford County until his death in 1854.
Master of ceremonies was President Jan Perry. Greetings were brought from USD 1812 Tennessee Honorary State President Jo Hill and from Mayor Chad Graham of Bedford County. Dedication of the marker was led by Chaplain Sharon Schier and Joseph Holt’s biography was written and read by Phyllis Carter. Bedford County Assistant Archivist, Kathryn Hopkins, presented a program on the history of the area.
Several Holt descendants attended the dedication ceremony including Pam and David Isom, Van Ayers, Jeannette Nease Sherrill, David and Lucas Holt, and Kathryn Hopkins.
For more than a century, members of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 have dedicated themselves to patriotism, preservation of documents and relics, and education.