DANIEL HOLIFIELD AND MARY PYE

Daniel Holifield was born in 1756(according to his tombstone he died in "1834 at around 78 years old") but there is no agreement as to the place of his birth. I feel he was born in Virginia or Maryland. He may have been the son of Ralph(b. 1721, d. 1794) and Grandson of Valentine(b. 1685), but I have no proof. The descendants of Daniel and Mary Holifield spell their name varying ways. Holyfield, Hollyfield, Hollifield, and Holifield are even used for the same people in different documents. Many of the papers are signed with a "mark" so it may be that they didn't spell their name at all, but left it to the whim of the transcribe. Daniel Holifield served as a private in Capt. Charles West's Company, 3rd Virginia Regiment and is listed in the company payroll for February, 1777. A copy of these records can be obtained by writing the Virginia Museum of Archives and History or contact me. He is also listed in the book, Virginia Soldiers of the American Revolution, compiled by Hamilton J. Eckenrod in 1913. Daniel is buried at Belmont Methodist Church in Sumter County, Alabama where he died October 11, 1834. I also have pictures of his stone. Like many of the settlers of their day, Daniel and Mary seem to have moved from Virginia to North Carolina, on to Georgia and finally to Alabama. Daniel received two land grants of 200 and 300 acres in Wilkes County,(now Oglethorpe County) Georgia, in 1787. He sold 200 of those acres April 4, 1788. He is listed as owning 200 acres on a tax list in Captain Elsberry's District of Wilkes County, Georgia around 1790-1793. He was a witness on two deeds and appeared before the Justice of the Peace in Wilkes County concerning one of those deeds between 1787 and 1793. I have none of these documents, just reliable sources. Apparently the family is listed in Georgia and Burkes County, North Carolina in the 1790 and the 1830 census. I've not seen these records and would love to get a copy if anyone has them. It worries me that there might have been two Daniel's. Daniel died October 11, 1834, but he was awarded a land grant Oct. 14, 1834. This leads me to believe he lived in Sumter County in 1832, and had just completed the two year residency requirement. Daniel's oral will bequeathed everything to his daughter Jemima Estes, wife of Caldwell Estes. Lydia Holifield protested the will but the matter was resolved before it came before the courts.

The Children:

1. Alsea Holifield, born Nov., 30, 1779, died July 28, 1857 in Auburn, Alabama. Married Mildred Fry on January 10, 1799 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia She was born in Virginia, to Benjamin and Mary Johnson Fry, July 7, 1782 and died November 25, 1856 in Auburn, Alabama where they both are buried in the Pine Hill Cemetery. They were members of the Auburn Methodist Church. They lived in Capt. Hudspeth's District, Oglethorpe County, Georgia according to the 1800 census. Daniel gave him 160 acres in Oglethorpe County, Georgia on January 28, 1805 and he sold it December 14, 1808 and moved to Monticello, Jasper County, Georgia where they lived until 1810 when they were listed in Burke County, North Carolina. They acquired and sold land in Randolph, now Jasper County, Georgia, and Troup County, Georgia. They also had land in Lafayette, Chambers County, Alabama. I have no documentation.

2. Wiley Holifield, born May 25, 1784, died Jasper County, Georgia, July 11, 1830. Married Mary "Polly" Saffold, December 31, 1807, with Pleasant Compton, J.P., of Oglethorpe County, GA officiating. The family moved to Upshur County, Texas before 1855.

3. Seleh Holifield, born May 20, 1786, died October 6, 1827. Married Zachariah or Zachery Estes by Oglethorpe County marriage license dated September 23, 1803.

4. Jemima Holifield, born January 1, 1788. She married to Caldwell Estes on December 10, 1807 by Pleasant Compton, J.P. in Oglethorpe County, GA. Her husband died October 12, 1843 in Sumter County, Alabama and was living with her brother Jesse in Perry County in 1850.

5. William P. Holifield was born January 19, 1790 and married Rebecca Clark (b. 1788- 89) in South Carolina. He served as a private in Cpt. White's Company, Georgia Volunteers in the War of 1812. They lived in Jasper County, Georgia in 1820, in Butts County, Georgia in 1820 and in 1833 the moved to the north side of the Oseliga Creek in Chambers County, Alabama. They were the first white family in that area of the Creek Indian land.

6. Mary Holifield, born April 29, 1793, died September 15, 1827

7. Jesse Holifield, born August 29, 1797 and died in 1871 in Perry County, Alabama. He was married to Pheriba Lacy(b. February 13, 1801) on August 31, 1815 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia by Thomas B. Dasny, J.P After her death he was married to Martha "Patsy" Crews (b. May 13, 1811) July 21, 1842 in Perry County, Alabama, by John T. Sinclair, J.P. He married Jane Snead on 20 February 1840 in Bibb County and then Caroline E. w. on 24, April, 1856, again in Perry County, Alabama. The 1830 Census shows the family in Perry County, Alabama and the 1860 census lists them at Polecat Beat near Morgan Springs. For information on his children go to Jesse Holifield's Family.

8. Lydia Holifield, born August 19, 1800, married Asa Folly or Folby. 9. Willis Holifield, born c. 1800 d. 1870-1880. Married Ally Childers April 1, 1824 in Jasper County, GA with Rev. James Henderson officiating. She was born c. 1808-09 and died after 1879. They lived in Butts County, GA.

Return to My Home Page.