The Washington herald., 1914-07-26

The coat OF arms shown In the cut
belongs to the Holt family. 1t is de-
| scribed thus: Argent on q bend en-
grailed, sable three heurs de lis Of the
field. The crest is a dexter arm en-
! bowed, in armor proper garnished or.
holding IN the gauntlet q pheon sable.
The coat OF arms which is borne by the
American Holts was granted to the Eng
lish family June Is. 1852.
The name Holt is an ancient one. and
Is found first in counties Norfolk, Willis.
Worcester and Leicester. The name is
derived from the old English holt" e"
meaning a small forest or sometimes a
small hanging woods. It was first ap-
piled to localities and from the localities
was adopted as a surname.
One OF the most prominent progenitors
OF the American Holts was Nicholas Holt
who was born in Romsey, England. in
1870. and died in Andover. Massachusetts,.
in 1885. He had a son. Henry Holt, who
married Sarah Ballard. and their son
Nehemiah. born at Andover IN I7ss, was
a soldier in the French war. His son,
Nehemiah, entered the Revolutionary
war at the age Of nineteen and acted
as sergeant He was present at the bat
tie of Long Island. crossed the Delaware
with Washington and served in the bat
tie OF Trenton and Princeton.
Answers to Correspondents.
To Mrs H H, who asks for informa-
ton OF the descendants Of Gov Francis
Newman, who was governor of New
Haven colony in 1855 till his death In
1850
There is little available information
concerning the family Of Gov. Newman.
He was born in England early in the sew
enteenth century. One authority on the
early history OF New Haven includes his
name among the settlers Of New Haven.
who probably came from London. He was
admitted a freeman in the colony OF New
Haven in 1s40. ensign of the train band
in l642, lieutenant of the artillery COM
pany on its formation in 1916, secretary OF
the plantation in 1s47, and governor in
l6o6 There is reason to believe that he
had brother living in England.
Practically all that is known Of the wife
OF Francis Newman is that gained from
the old seating records of the meeting
house at New Haven, in which she was
assigned to the ''ffth seat in the mid
die" She is referred to as Mr. Francis
Newman's wife and sits with Sister
Gibbs, Sister Crane. Sister Fuller, and
genealogical dictionary of New England
she married the Rev. Nicholas Street
after Gov. Newman's death and accord
ing to the same authority Gov. Newman
had but one descendant. Elizabeth New
man, who married first Thomas Knowles,
and after his death Nicholas Rnell. II
this is true Gov. Newman had no de-
scendants of his own name
At the time Of Gov. Newman's death
Mr.. Davenport wrote to Gov. winthorp
in the neighboring colony in these words
about the good governor who had Just
died: I'VE were not worthy OF him,
a true Nathaniel an Israelite indeed who
served God and Christ in sincerity and
truth. He honored God In his personal.
conversation and in his administration
of the chief magistracy in this colony
and God hath granted him honor in the
hearts Of his people"
To Mrs. N. E. B. B., who asks for In
formation about the Blair family in
America
The Blair family owe their origin to
Scotland. where in Ayrshire the family
Is supposed to have been established for
900 years. The name is said to be de-
rived from q word meaning moss or
heath, though there Is some authority
for the statement that II Is derived from
the word meaning battle field.
The coat Of arms OF the Blair family
is described thus: Argent on q satire
sable nine n1ascles Of the first. Crest, a |
stag logged proper. Motto, Amo Probes. !
One OF the most prominent Blair fam |
lies in this country trace their descent |
to Abraham Blair, of Scotland, who for |
distinguished service at the seige Of Lon |
donderry received from the crown i'm
munity from taxes In all British pos |
sessions. His descendant Abraham had |
q son Robert Of Blandford. Mass. whose |
descendants are at present located In
Chicago and other parts Of the Western |
States.
There 10 an interesting account OF the |
Blair family of Maryland In the Will |
lam and Mary College Quarterly HISTORY