Second Generation  

7. Zacharias Holler Jr. (Zachariah¹) was born 18 Jun 1759.

Zacharias married Margaret [--?--].

Their child was:

+ 12 M    i. Zachariah Holler was born about 1785.

10. John Holler (Zachariah¹) was born 9 Nov 1764 in Lynn Township, Northampton, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania, died 8 Feb 1849 in Washington Co., Indiana at age 85, and was buried in Prowsville Cemetery, Jefferson Twp., Washington Co, Indiana.

Holler, John

Revolutionary War Record #5146 of John Hollar

Enlisted October 1780 - Lynn Township, Northampton Co., PA.
Capt. Adam Statlter's PA. Co. - Enlisted 1781 and served in Capt. Henry Griglow's PA. Co. - Served for Philip Kisler first, then for Jacob Saunder 2nd enlistment, with Washington, Lee and Lafayette.

John Holler made pension application from Washington County, IN on October 1, 1841. He saw service in the Revolutionary War for 2 months in the fall of 1780 in a company drafted and called out under Captain Statler, bei ng stationed on the frontier of what was then Southampton County, PA, to guard against the Indians, serving from October until a few days before Chr istmas. In the fall of 1781 he served as a draftee in a company under Captain Greylow from the latter part of October until after Christmas. He was in no engagements and then lived in Lynn Township, Northampton, P A.

A memorial stone marking his service in the Revolutionary War was erected by Robert Holler.


John Holler

He stated he was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on November 9, 1764 and that he had a record in German which he thought was his birth record in a Presbyterian church in that county. After the war, he lived in Northhampton, Pennsylvania for two years, then moved to the counties of Rowan and Lincoln in North Carolina where he lived about 30 years. He then moved to Franklin County, Ohio, where he lived about 4 years before movi ng to Washington County, Indiana. John Holler died in Brown Township (now Jefferson) February 8, 1949 at the age of 85 years, 2 months, 13 day s. His wife, Margaret, died April 27, 1852, in her 74th year. Both are buried in the Prowsville Cemetery about 5 miles northeast of Campbellsburg. John Holler came to Pennsylvania in 1749 and stayed there 2 years and then moved to North Carolina. There he settled in Rowan Co., which included most of North Carolina. Where he settled is now Catawba and Lincoln Counties. He stayed there for 30 years and went to Ohio for 4 years and on to Salem, Indiana. He fought in the American Revolution and is buri ed in a privately owned cemetery (Prowsville Cemetery), 8.6 miles from the Salem Courthouse.


From the book "The Holler Family of Catawba and Iredell Counties, North Ca rolina", by Joanne Holler Atay

John Holler arrived in Rowan and Lincoln countries in approximately 1783. (Catawba and Iredell Counties were formed from these counties). He was about 20 years old when he came to North Carolina. Because John was under age when his father died in Lynn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, his eldest brother, Adam, administered the property.

After Anna Haller died, Adam distributed the money among her heirs. John probably traveled to North Carolina with his brother Zachariah, Jr., who also settled in Lincoln and Rowan Counties. Both brothers were involved in land transactions as early as 1795 in Iredell County. John's presence in this region was early as can be traced through records in St. Paul 's Lutheran Church in Conover. The Church recorded the births of three or possibly four of John's children: John Jr., born in 1783, and Sarah born in 1785. A third record could be that of Andrew. John and his brother may have been attracted to North Carolina because of Federal or State land grants. John's interest in acquiring land may also have been the reason for his departure for the Midwest in about 1813. It is also true that Catawba County's terrain is very similar to Northampton County.

According to family stories, John's first wife was Sally Shue who died in North Carolina. John was supposed to have gone back to Pennsylvan ia and remarried. However, a search of the records failed to uncover any second marriage in Pennsylvania. The only marriage recorded is the one to M argaret Low on October 19, 1794, the year that Andrew Sr. (our great-great -great grandfather) was born. We calculated Andrew's age based on the U. S. Census. However, his age varied slightly in each of the three surveys.

In 1790, the new United States government conducted its first census of free white male heads of households. John Hollar was listed as a resident of the Salisbury District, Rowan County, North Carolina. For John 's family the following information was recorded: one free white male 16 years and up; two free white males under 16 years of age; and three white f emales. (More specific census data about household members -even just their ages- would have been a great help to those of us conducting family res earch.)

According to the Rowan County, North Carolina marriage bonds, John Holler married Margaret Low, on October 19, 1794; the bondsman was Martin Basinger and the witness was May Troy. When John and Margaret married he was just three weeks shy of his 29th birthday. Margaret was 17 years old. She probably was John's second wife. According to the 1790 census, John had at least four children living with him at the time, a full five years before his marriage to Margaret. The October 19, 1794 wedding date may have been the official recording of John and Margaret's union. However, it is unlikely that Margaret began bearing children at age 12. Therefore, it seems possible that John's first wife died in childbirth.

John had thirteen children. He married Margaret Low about 1794. Andrew was born about this time. We know that the other children after the birth of Andrew definitely were Margaret's. The following chart provides information we have on the children:

Children of John Holler and Margaret Low after 1793:
John, Jr. (b. 1783) married Sally Sigsmen
Christeaner (birthdate unknown) married John Banday, 1817
Sarah b. 1785) buried at St. John's Lutheran Church, May 20, 1860
Andrew (Sr.)(born about 1793 or 1794) married Polly Bolick
Zachariah (b. 1800) married Eden Fairbrush, 1819
George (b. 1803) married Lucy Robertson, 1823
Absalom (b. 1810) married Sarah Rankin
Israel (b. 1811) married Susan Miller
Catherine (birthdate unknown)
Elizabeth (birthdate unknown) married Peter Stiggerwalt, 1827
Anna (b. 1814) married Wiley Enoch
Isaac (b. 1815) married Pelina Cunningham
Margaret (b. 1818) died 1825

When John moved his family to Ohio in about 1813, his two oldest sons and one of his daughters remained in North Carolina. According to John's will, John Holler, Jr., Andrew Holler, Sr., and Christeaner remained in North Carolina.

It was very likely that the family traveled in covered wagons during this move. The covered wagon was actually an import from Germany, and very popular among the Pennsylvania German community. "It was also the Pennsylvania Germans who developed the Conestoga wagon -- that boat-like, handsome, gaily colored "ship of inland commerce" drawn by at least four horses that proved such an invaluable transport during the Revolution. It was an adaptation of these covered wagons that in the next century carried an untold number of Americans to a new life in the western reaches of the union."

In November, 1983, the Christopher Harrison Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a marker and conducted a memorial ceremony for Revolutionary War Soldiers at the grave of John Holler at the Prowsville Cemetery. Those dedicating a marker at the Holler grave were Mrs. Dawson Souder, Regent; Mr. Robert Holler, a descendent; Mrs. William Petrere, Vice Regent; and Mrs. Herbert McConnel, Historian.

Fortunately, the Prowsville Cemetery had been designated a historical site and now has been enclosed so that the graves will be protected. John and Margaret's gravestones are remarkably preserved; one can easily read the names and dates on the gravestones. On her gravestone, Margaret is referred to as a "consort," which means spouse, but the word has many meanings .

Last Will and Testament of John Holler:

I, John Holler of Washington County and the State of Indiana do make and publish my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills and testaments by me at any time heretofore made;

and first, I direct that my body be decently interred and that my funeral be conducted in a manner corresponding with my estate and situation in life; and as to such worldly estates as it has pleased God to entrust me with I dispose of the same in the following manner, to wit:

my funeral expenses first paid, I direct and bequeath that my sons John Holler and Andrew Holler and my daughter Christeaner have of my estates two hundred and twenty five dollars equally divided between them [that would have been $75.00 per heir: - RPY],

and further, I will and bequeath to David Taylor, the legal heir of my daughter Sarah twenty five dollars if he can be found and if not, twenty five dollars of what I bequeath him shall be equally divided between the three above-named heirs;

and I further direct that my sons Zachariah Holler, George Holler, Israel Holler, Absalom Holler and my daughters Catharine, Elizabeth and Ann have an equal portion of all my estate hereby bequeathed to them at my decease except as herein directed, to wit::

I have paid sixty dollars to John Kelly for my son George and that amount shall be deducted from his portion at the time of my death and of the division;

and further I direct that forty three dollars shall be deducted out of Catharine’s part of my estates as I have paid her that amount some time in the year 1848,

and further I direct that my Executor take as much as seventy dollars and purchase land for my daughter Elizabeth and her children;

and I further direct that my daughter Ann have a certain lot of land lying and being situated in Washington County, it being the South East fourth of the South East quarter of Section No. six in township No. 3 north of Range three East;

and I further direct that my daughter Ann have thirteen dollars to purchase a cow;

and as for my son Israel Holler I have paid him in full in land and he has received in full of his portion of all my estates except one dollar before the date hereof;

and further I direct and bequeath to my beloved wife Margaret Holler two beds and bedding, one cow, one side saddle and one trunk;

and further I direct that my Executor use lawful means to obtain some money due me in the State of Ohio and if it, or any portion of it can be had shall divide the same among any heirs according to the above will and testament;

and further, I have appointed Jacob Banta my Executor of this, my last will and testament. In testimony whereof, I John Holler, the testator herein have herewith set my hand and seal this twentieth day of January, AD. 1849

Signed: John Holler

[There is no mention of Isaac Holler in John's Will - RPY]

Noted events:

• Birth, 9 Nov 1764. Buck Co., Pennsylvania

John married Sally Shue about 1781 in Northhampton County, Pennsylvania.

Their children were:

+ 13 M    i. John Holler Jr. was born in 1783 in Catawba Co., North Carolina and died 8 Oct 1837, buried at St. John's Lutheran Church, Conover, North Carolina at age 54.

   14 F    ii. Sarah Holler was born in 1785 in Catawba Co., North Carolina and died 20 May 1869, buried at St. John's Lutheran Church, NC at age 84.

+ 15 M    iii. Andrew Holler Sr. was born about 1794 in Catawba Co., North Carolina and died in 1870 about age 76.

   16 F    iv. Christeaner Holler was born in 1799 in Catawba Co., North Carolina and died in 1873 at age 74.

Christeaner married John Banday in 1817.

John next married Margaret Low 19 Oct 1794 in Rowan Co., North Carolina. Margaret was born about 1778 in Rowan Co., North Carolina, died 27 Apr 1852 in Washington Co., Indiana about age 74, and was buried in Prowsville Cemetery, Jefferson Twp., Washington Co., Indiana.

Their children were:

+ 17 M    i. Zachariah Holler II was born in 1800 in Iredell Co., North Carolina and died after 1849 in Union Church Cemetery, Baker Twp., Morgan County, Indiana.

+ 18 M    ii. Absalom Holler was born about 1803 in Iredell Co., North Carolina and died in Washington Co., Indiana.

+ 19 M    iii. George Holler was born 18 Feb 1803 and died after 1849 in Washington Co., Indiana.

   20 F    iv. Elizabeth "Betsy" Holler was born about 1805 and died after 1849 in Washington Co., Indiana.

Elizabeth married Peter Stiggerwalt 7 Oct 1827 in Washington Co., Indiana. Peter was born about 1807.

   21 F    v. Catherine Holler was born about 1807 in Washington Co., Indiana and died after 1849 in Washington Co., Indiana.

Catherine married Daniel McDonald 13 Mar 1828 in Orange Co., Indiana. Daniel was born about 1809.

   22 F    vi. Christiana Holler was born about 1809 in Washington Co., Indiana and died after 1849 in Washington Co., Indiana.

Christiana married William W. Berry 9 Jun 1831 in Orange Co., Indiana. William was born about 1811.

+ 23 M    vii. Israel Zachariah Holler was born 28 Jan 1811 in Wilkes Co., North Carolina, died 8 Jul 1879 in Brown Twp., Washington Co., Indiana at age 68, and was buried in Saltillo Cemetery, Indiana.

+ 24 F    viii. Anna Holler was born in 1814 in Hamilton Co., Ohio and died after 1849 in Washington Co., Indiana.

   25 F    ix. Sarah Holler was born about 1815 in Hamilton Co., Ohio, died after 1849 in Washington Co., Indiana, and was buried 25 Feb 1890 in Prowesville Cemetery, Washington Co., Indiana.

+ 26 M    x. Isaac Holler was born in 1815 in Hamilton Co., Ohio, and died in 1870 in Orchardsville, Wayne Co., Illinois at age 55.

   27 F    xi. Margaret Holler was born in 1818 in Washington Co., Indiana and died 15 Oct 1825 in Washington Co., Indiana at age 7.