My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS HOLLAND, deceased, was the first member of this branch of the family to emigrate to America. He was a native of Oldham, Lancashire, England, where he was born June 13, 1829. His father, John Holland, was a silk weaver by occupation and spent his life’s career in Lancashire, which county in England is celebrated for its many silk and woolen factories.

John Holland had twice married. By his first union he had a son James and a daughter Elizabeth, who grew to years of maturity. The son James came to the United States in 1844, settling at Conshohocken, where he married and had one son by his first wife. .After her death he married (secondly) Bella Harrison, by whom he had a son Horace R., and a daughter Euphemia. James, the father of these children, died at Norristown, February 22, 1894.

John Holland, father of Thomas of this review, married secondly, and by this union had born to him three sons: Joseph, William, and Thomas. The latter was educated and reared to manhood at Oldham, where he also learned the trade of his father, that of silk weaving. In 1856 he decided to come to the United States, hoping to find here a broader field for his skill and labor. He accordingly sailed for New York, and after a long and tedious voyage of fourteen weeks he landed at New York, whence he at once came to Conshohocken, where he found employment with Dr. John R. Reed, with whom he remained for over two years. During this time he was frugal and industrious, carefully husbanding his resources, and in 1858 he decided to open a hotel in the building which the family now occupy on Fayette street, and which had formerly been used for a manufactory for weaving cloth and jackets for army use. After having made the necessary alterations and changes to the building Mr. Holland began to conduct an orderly and well kept house under his license, which was granted November 15, 1858. He continued keeping a hotel in this building uninterruptedly up to the time of his death, which occurred March 22, 1896. During these nearly forty years of his successful career he became well and favorably known as a genial and obliging host, and was regarded by his patrons and neighbors alike as a good neighbor and worthy citizen.

Thomas Holland married, July 3, 1858, Mary Ann Bawden, who was born October 19, 1831, and is daughter of William and Thomazine (Roseberry) Bawden, both of whom were natives of Cornwall, England. To this marriage were born two surviving children: John, who was born February 28, 1861, married, February 28, 1882, Mary Sockendency, who died February 18, 1894, leaving no issue; Thomazine, the second child of this family, was born June 13, 1865. She married Henry Pearce November 30, 1884, and they have one son, John H. Pearce, born July 26, 1901.

John Holland, son of Thomas and Mary Ann (Bawden) Holland, was educated in the schools of Conshohocken, and upon attaining to years of manhood learned the bricklaying trade, which occupation he followed until the death of his father, since which time he has assisted in the management of the interests of his father’s estate. Politically he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in such enterprises as are likely to benefit the community in which he lives.