“The Scrapbook”
A Compilation of Historical Facts About Places and Events of Laurens County South Carolina: Published by Laurens County Historical Society 1982
ABRAHAM HOLLAND FAMILY by: C. Bryan Holland
“My Ancestor, Abraham Holland (b. 1715), came from Maryland to Laurens District, where he died in 1800. The record states he purchased land on Duncan’s Creek. He married Asenath Spires in 1752; they were the parents of nine children. Some of the descendants of their children Rezin, Thomas, and William are living in Laurens County today.
Abraham’s grandson, John Holland, married Mary Ann Fulton. Their home was located about 816 E. Carolina Ave. (listed J.M.Pitts residence, 1907 county map). They owned several hundred acres of land north and east of their home, and their store was located across the street from the house. This store was the only source of store-bought goods in this area until 1830. Located in this store was the post office, “Holland’s.” This post office listed on maps dated as late as 1843 and 1855.
I am of the line of Abraham’s son, Thomas Holland, Sr. (1762-1815). He married Jane Adair, daughter of Joseph Adair, Jr. and Sarah Dillard. Thomas and Jane were the parents of five daughters and one son, Thomas R. Jr. Thomas and Jane Holland are buried in Old Zoar Chapel Cemetery on the hill south of Duncan’s Creek on Spartanburg Highway (56 North).
The marble tablet placed by Musgrove Mills and Henry Laurens chapters DAR, in 1926, on the front wall of Duncan’s Creek Presbyterian Church lists names of sixteen men who served in the Revolutionary War. Included in this list: Joseph Adair, Sr., Joseph Adair, Jr., James Adair, John Copeland, and Thomas Holland.
Thomas R. Holland, Jr. (1803-50) married Mary Leak; their plantation was in the area of American Legion and Rosemont Cemetery property. Thomas and Mary are buried in Salem Cemetery, located about three miles east on U.S. Highway #76. Living in Laurens County are some descendants of four of their children: Elizabeth Jane, Thomas III (some of his descendants moved to Texas), Essie, and Bluford R. Holland (1838-75)
My grandfather, Bluford R. Holland, served during the Confederate War in the S.C. Cavalry, 1861-64. When he entered service his personal horse was appraised at $200. When on duty at Ellis Ford on Rappahannock River, December 31, 1862, his horse was killed by the enemy. On December 20, 1863, he was paid $200 for his horse. Bluford married Margurite Elizabeth Adair (1842-1916), daughter of Thomas and Jane Blakely Adair. They lived near the fork of Duncan’s and Beard’s Fork creeks in Scuffletown Township. They are buried in Leesville Methodist Church Cemetery.
My father, Thomas Hampton (Hamp) Holland (1867-1947), on April 14, 1892 married Mattie Elizabeth Henry (1871-1958), both from Long Branch area. We lived at the eastern boundary of Laurens Township, on Leesville Road.
My lineage – T. Hampton, Bluford R., Thomas R., Jr., Thomas Sr., and Abraham Holland.”