Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-01
Holnead Traditions
Reviewed by Relative


Some kind friend has sent to me your
issue Of the 18TH ultimo, containing
an interesting article concerning the
Jerry" Sullivan garages at "Kalorama."
The narrator may have recounted an
accurate history Of the garages, but Is
far astray on the details concerning the
old home and the Holmead family, and
as your story Is related as one of par
ticular interest In this connection ! am
prompted to request space for these
corrections.
This property was not Kalorama, nor
was it a grant from the King of Eng
land to Anthony Holmead, nor was 1t
inherited by nephew of the same name
from an uncle who would not avail him
self of the patent.
From the settlement of Maryland to
the War of Independence that colony
had proprietary form Of government,
excepting for very few years at the
beginning of the eighteenth century.
The Holmeads and their holdings in
this section are historically interesting,
but details are rapidly becoming lost in
obscurity and inaccuracies. To be brief,
and so avoid waste of space in genealog-
ical history, 1t suffices to state that the
Hblmead name first appears in the rec
ordS in 1718, when James Holmeard
tsic) secured a patent for land from
the government of Lord Baltimore. He
later patented many additional tracts
lying In the section from Cabin John to
beyond the limits. on the east, of the
present District of Columbia and gen.
orally north Of Boundary street, now
Florida avenue.
In 1741 James Holmead, ST., conveyed
by deed to his nephew. James Hol-
~ If <ran
intestate In 1853 or 1854, all of his
lands descended to James Holmead, jr.
Senior and junior at that time did not
necessarily mean father and son. The
rent rolls (tax lists) show the proper
ties year later In the possession of
James Holmead, jr.'s, heirs and in an
other year or two in that of Anthony
HOlmead. This Is the Anthony of your
story. The relationship of Anthony to
the two James has not yet been deter
mined, but he probably was also q
nephew. of the elder.
Anthony Holmead was primarily pos
sesSed, by inheritance and purchase, of
about two or three thousand acres of
land. He sold much of this, for, despite
a patent to him in 1900 of Pleasant
Plains Of something in excess Of five
hundred acres. he bequeathed, mainly
W AIAo tWO SOklop UUtilk anu f1LlbIIUilys Uub
approximately one thousand acres.
You have heretofore published inter-
esting articles on the history of Kalo-
rama, which was the, home Of Anthony
Holmead prior to its sale to Augustus
Scott in 1794. The old place at 2201 S
street you likewise refer to as Rock Hill
The correct name was Canton Rock Hill,
a fact established by several references
to it in an old Bible OF my grandfather,
Lieut.. Josias Melbourne Speake, U. s. N,
whose wife was Sarah, daughter Of An
thony Holmead.
Please allow me further short space to
refute other erroneous stories which
have appeared at intervals.
The bricks Of which this old house
was built were, without doubt, not
brought from England. Interesting
statements have frequently been made
about Colonial homes constructed of
English brick. This is held to have been
seldom, If ever, true.
Anthony Holmead did not bid the
old home, as has been told. The house
was not built until 1795 and Indians
had departed from that section many
years before.
Last, but not the least, Anthony Hol-
mead was not Tory. OF one hundred
and eleven signers OF oaths Of Fidelity,
recorded at Rockville, Md, before Jus
tice Burgess, think It was. his name
appears as number AZ. His descendants
are for this reason, am informed,
eligible for admission to the Sons, or
Daughters, Of the American Revolution,
other requirements being met. I am
pleased to have the opportunity to deny
this false tradition which has brought
chagrin to all Holmeads.
ALFRED HOWARD SPEAKE.