William Holbert – The Great, Great, Great Grandfather to the children of Rennie Orville Holbert was born in 1751. His birthplace states Holland, but born of German ancestry*. He married Mary Showers in 1773 she was also born in Holland around 1754.
William came to the American territory around 1770. He came from the Connecticut area and settled on the Delaware River in Montague Township, Sussex New Jersey around the 1770's. He afterward purchased a large tract of land in Lackawaxen, Pike County, Pa. extending from the confluence of the Delaware River to Mast Hope. Here he had large lumber interests and his farm was the oldest in that locality. His name appears on the assessment roll of Lackawaxen Township as having 2 mills showing he was an enterprising man. William's history is sketchy. It is stated he possibly was a relative of Ebenezer and Dorothy Brown Holbert who originally lived in the New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area. One of the sons, Capt. John Holbert settled in the Chester, New York area. (Listed information is from "Chester Presbyterian Church, A History.") There is no listing of William's parents or siblings, only his birth date and birthplace. The information obtained from various sources indicates he may be a brother, uncle or son to Ebenezer. Their connection is unclear. Capt. John Holbert may be a nephew or brother. This information on him was from "The New York in the Revolution".
William and Mary owned property on the Pennsylvania side at the point since called Holbert's Bend. Shortly after making a home in Indian Orchard, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in 1775 the Indians took them and a few other families, after burning their buildings, to the Forks, now known as Hancock. Here they placed the women and children in a canoe and let them go free down the Delaware. The women and their children made their way down to the barracks at Minisink. The Indians meanwhile, took the men on west to what is known as Oneida. (This is a conflicting story about the Indians.) See Milford Dispatch – story by Josephine Lassley
When Independence was declared, the Holberts went to Lackawaxen and bought the river flats from Widow Jones at sixpence an acre, and then followed the business of lumbering and farming. William Holbert's name appears on the assessment of Lackawaxen in 1800 with 1 mill, 1 house, 4 oxen, 4 cows and 50 acres of improved land. The next year he is assessed for 2 mills, showing that he is a man of considerable means and a good farmer for that early day. The Holberts were the first settlers at Masthope to make improvements, their farm being one of the oldest in the township.
William and Mary had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin (our Holbert line). History states that though William and Mary were quite small in stature, their sons were the reverse, being tall and bony men. Currently there is nothing much known about Joseph. He does appear on the 1810 census with his father and brother. Also in 1813 Joseph was assessed and Benjamin was assesses as an inn keeper. Joseph died on March 27, 1836, as per his tombstone inscription, at the age of 56 years 3 months and 28 days. This would make his birth date November 28, 1779.
William Holbert died April 30, 1819 at the age of 67 and was buried at Westcolang, in the original family plot on the river road towards Mast Hope. His tombstone, as well as Mary's and many other family members, stands there yet today. Up the road just a bit is the current Holbert Cemetery founded in 1879 by William Holbert, the great - grandson of our William Holbert. Mary died on June 27, 1834 at the age of 80 years.
William left his two sons ten thousand acres of land in Wayne and Pike counties. Joseph inhabited the Masthope and Wayne county tract. Benjamin made his home the Westcolang and Delaware River lowlands. (This homestead property remained in the Holbert family from 1775 through 1925 – 150 years.)
Biography by Janet L Hickey (copyrighted excerpt from my book "The Holbert-Eldred Family: A Union of Two Families)
William came to the American territory around 1770. He came from the Connecticut area and settled on the Delaware River in Montague Township, Sussex New Jersey around the 1770's. He afterward purchased a large tract of land in Lackawaxen, Pike County, Pa. extending from the confluence of the Delaware River to Mast Hope. Here he had large lumber interests and his farm was the oldest in that locality. His name appears on the assessment roll of Lackawaxen Township as having 2 mills showing he was an enterprising man. William's history is sketchy. It is stated he possibly was a relative of Ebenezer and Dorothy Brown Holbert who originally lived in the New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area. One of the sons, Capt. John Holbert settled in the Chester, New York area. (Listed information is from "Chester Presbyterian Church, A History.") There is no listing of William's parents or siblings, only his birth date and birthplace. The information obtained from various sources indicates he may be a brother, uncle or son to Ebenezer. Their connection is unclear. Capt. John Holbert may be a nephew or brother. This information on him was from "The New York in the Revolution".
William and Mary owned property on the Pennsylvania side at the point since called Holbert's Bend. Shortly after making a home in Indian Orchard, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in 1775 the Indians took them and a few other families, after burning their buildings, to the Forks, now known as Hancock. Here they placed the women and children in a canoe and let them go free down the Delaware. The women and their children made their way down to the barracks at Minisink. The Indians meanwhile, took the men on west to what is known as Oneida. (This is a conflicting story about the Indians.) See Milford Dispatch – story by Josephine Lassley
When Independence was declared, the Holberts went to Lackawaxen and bought the river flats from Widow Jones at sixpence an acre, and then followed the business of lumbering and farming. William Holbert's name appears on the assessment of Lackawaxen in 1800 with 1 mill, 1 house, 4 oxen, 4 cows and 50 acres of improved land. The next year he is assessed for 2 mills, showing that he is a man of considerable means and a good farmer for that early day. The Holberts were the first settlers at Masthope to make improvements, their farm being one of the oldest in the township.
William and Mary had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin (our Holbert line). History states that though William and Mary were quite small in stature, their sons were the reverse, being tall and bony men. Currently there is nothing much known about Joseph. He does appear on the 1810 census with his father and brother. Also in 1813 Joseph was assessed and Benjamin was assesses as an inn keeper. Joseph died on March 27, 1836, as per his tombstone inscription, at the age of 56 years 3 months and 28 days. This would make his birth date November 28, 1779.
William Holbert died April 30, 1819 at the age of 67 and was buried at Westcolang, in the original family plot on the river road towards Mast Hope. His tombstone, as well as Mary's and many other family members, stands there yet today. Up the road just a bit is the current Holbert Cemetery founded in 1879 by William Holbert, the great - grandson of our William Holbert. Mary died on June 27, 1834 at the age of 80 years.
William left his two sons ten thousand acres of land in Wayne and Pike counties. Joseph inhabited the Masthope and Wayne county tract. Benjamin made his home the Westcolang and Delaware River lowlands. (This homestead property remained in the Holbert family from 1775 through 1925 – 150 years.)
Biography by Janet L Hickey (copyrighted excerpt from my book "The Holbert-Eldred Family: A Union of Two Families)
William Holbert – The Great, Great, Great Grandfather to the children of Rennie Orville Holbert was born in 1751. His birthplace states Holland, but born of German ancestry*. He married Mary Showers in 1773 she was also born in Holland around 1754.
William came to the American territory around 1770. He came from the Connecticut area and settled on the Delaware River in Montague Township, Sussex New Jersey around the 1770's. He afterward purchased a large tract of land in Lackawaxen, Pike County, Pa. extending from the confluence of the Delaware River to Mast Hope. Here he had large lumber interests and his farm was the oldest in that locality. His name appears on the assessment roll of Lackawaxen Township as having 2 mills showing he was an enterprising man. William's history is sketchy. It is stated he possibly was a relative of Ebenezer and Dorothy Brown Holbert who originally lived in the New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area. One of the sons, Capt. John Holbert settled in the Chester, New York area. (Listed information is from "Chester Presbyterian Church, A History.") There is no listing of William's parents or siblings, only his birth date and birthplace. The information obtained from various sources indicates he may be a brother, uncle or son to Ebenezer. Their connection is unclear. Capt. John Holbert may be a nephew or brother. This information on him was from "The New York in the Revolution".
William and Mary owned property on the Pennsylvania side at the point since called Holbert's Bend. Shortly after making a home in Indian Orchard, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in 1775 the Indians took them and a few other families, after burning their buildings, to the Forks, now known as Hancock. Here they placed the women and children in a canoe and let them go free down the Delaware. The women and their children made their way down to the barracks at Minisink. The Indians meanwhile, took the men on west to what is known as Oneida. (This is a conflicting story about the Indians.) See Milford Dispatch – story by Josephine Lassley
When Independence was declared, the Holberts went to Lackawaxen and bought the river flats from Widow Jones at sixpence an acre, and then followed the business of lumbering and farming. William Holbert's name appears on the assessment of Lackawaxen in 1800 with 1 mill, 1 house, 4 oxen, 4 cows and 50 acres of improved land. The next year he is assessed for 2 mills, showing that he is a man of considerable means and a good farmer for that early day. The Holberts were the first settlers at Masthope to make improvements, their farm being one of the oldest in the township.
William and Mary had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin (our Holbert line). History states that though William and Mary were quite small in stature, their sons were the reverse, being tall and bony men. Currently there is nothing much known about Joseph. He does appear on the 1810 census with his father and brother. Also in 1813 Joseph was assessed and Benjamin was assesses as an inn keeper. Joseph died on March 27, 1836, as per his tombstone inscription, at the age of 56 years 3 months and 28 days. This would make his birth date November 28, 1779.
William Holbert died April 30, 1819 at the age of 67 and was buried at Westcolang, in the original family plot on the river road towards Mast Hope. His tombstone, as well as Mary's and many other family members, stands there yet today. Up the road just a bit is the current Holbert Cemetery founded in 1879 by William Holbert, the great - grandson of our William Holbert. Mary died on June 27, 1834 at the age of 80 years.
William left his two sons ten thousand acres of land in Wayne and Pike counties. Joseph inhabited the Masthope and Wayne county tract. Benjamin made his home the Westcolang and Delaware River lowlands. (This homestead property remained in the Holbert family from 1775 through 1925 – 150 years.)
Biography by Janet L Hickey (copyrighted excerpt from my book "The Holbert-Eldred Family: A Union of Two Families)
William came to the American territory around 1770. He came from the Connecticut area and settled on the Delaware River in Montague Township, Sussex New Jersey around the 1770's. He afterward purchased a large tract of land in Lackawaxen, Pike County, Pa. extending from the confluence of the Delaware River to Mast Hope. Here he had large lumber interests and his farm was the oldest in that locality. His name appears on the assessment roll of Lackawaxen Township as having 2 mills showing he was an enterprising man. William's history is sketchy. It is stated he possibly was a relative of Ebenezer and Dorothy Brown Holbert who originally lived in the New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area. One of the sons, Capt. John Holbert settled in the Chester, New York area. (Listed information is from "Chester Presbyterian Church, A History.") There is no listing of William's parents or siblings, only his birth date and birthplace. The information obtained from various sources indicates he may be a brother, uncle or son to Ebenezer. Their connection is unclear. Capt. John Holbert may be a nephew or brother. This information on him was from "The New York in the Revolution".
William and Mary owned property on the Pennsylvania side at the point since called Holbert's Bend. Shortly after making a home in Indian Orchard, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, in 1775 the Indians took them and a few other families, after burning their buildings, to the Forks, now known as Hancock. Here they placed the women and children in a canoe and let them go free down the Delaware. The women and their children made their way down to the barracks at Minisink. The Indians meanwhile, took the men on west to what is known as Oneida. (This is a conflicting story about the Indians.) See Milford Dispatch – story by Josephine Lassley
When Independence was declared, the Holberts went to Lackawaxen and bought the river flats from Widow Jones at sixpence an acre, and then followed the business of lumbering and farming. William Holbert's name appears on the assessment of Lackawaxen in 1800 with 1 mill, 1 house, 4 oxen, 4 cows and 50 acres of improved land. The next year he is assessed for 2 mills, showing that he is a man of considerable means and a good farmer for that early day. The Holberts were the first settlers at Masthope to make improvements, their farm being one of the oldest in the township.
William and Mary had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin (our Holbert line). History states that though William and Mary were quite small in stature, their sons were the reverse, being tall and bony men. Currently there is nothing much known about Joseph. He does appear on the 1810 census with his father and brother. Also in 1813 Joseph was assessed and Benjamin was assesses as an inn keeper. Joseph died on March 27, 1836, as per his tombstone inscription, at the age of 56 years 3 months and 28 days. This would make his birth date November 28, 1779.
William Holbert died April 30, 1819 at the age of 67 and was buried at Westcolang, in the original family plot on the river road towards Mast Hope. His tombstone, as well as Mary's and many other family members, stands there yet today. Up the road just a bit is the current Holbert Cemetery founded in 1879 by William Holbert, the great - grandson of our William Holbert. Mary died on June 27, 1834 at the age of 80 years.
William left his two sons ten thousand acres of land in Wayne and Pike counties. Joseph inhabited the Masthope and Wayne county tract. Benjamin made his home the Westcolang and Delaware River lowlands. (This homestead property remained in the Holbert family from 1775 through 1925 – 150 years.)
Biography by Janet L Hickey (copyrighted excerpt from my book "The Holbert-Eldred Family: A Union of Two Families)
Inscription
William Holbert
died
April 30, 1819
AE 67
Family Members
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