John Holloway

Background

John Holloway was born c. 1666 in England. He was the son of Sir Richard Holloway.

Career

As a youth he "served a Clerkship, " and then went with King William's army to Ireland. He was later an attorney of the Marshalsea court. According to a contemporary, Holloway turned "projector" and failed in business. This misfortune caused his emigration to Maryland and eventually to Williamsburg, Virginia, where he practised law "upwards of thirty Years, with great Reputation for Diligence and Learning. "

Holloway was appointed a judge of vice-admiralty by Governor Spotswood. In 1718 the other judges objected to his sitting in the trial of a pirate for whom he had once served as attorney; Spotswood, accordingly, asked him not to sit, and Holloway relinquished his office. The Governor welcomed the opportunity to replace him with "an honester man" who was not, like Holloway, "a constant Patron and Advocate for Pirates. " Yet Holloway occupied with apparent success and over long periods several offices of honor and trust. On a number of occasions he was one of those appointed to supervise the construction of public buildings in Williamsburg and to survey and lay out the streets of the capital. When the city was granted a charter in 1722, he was appointed its first mayor. He was also a vestryman of Bruton Parish Church. For many years he was a member of the House of Burgesses--from King and Queen County, 1710-1714; York County, 1720-22, and Williamsburg, 1723-1734 (except that in 1727 he was elected from both York County and Williamsburg, although he could represent only one, and chose to serve for York).

He was elected speaker of the House of Burgesses, November 2, 1720, and reelected in successive sessions with little or no opposition, being forced by ill health to resign August 20, 1734. He was in addition treasurer of the colony from 1723 to 1734. His collections were in arrears, and his books were in such bad condition that the Assembly appropriated a special grant to his successor for putting the accounts in order. The act appointing Randolph upon Holloway's resignation stated that "through the infirmity and weakness of his body and memory [he] is become incapable of executing the said office. " His accounts were short £1, 850 but in September 1734 he assigned his whole estate to trustees to make good the debt. The following month the Council suggested that his disorder was due in part to the fatigue of settling the tobacco inspectors' accounts, and suggested that he be allowed a sum of money, whereupon the House awarded him £100. He died two months later, in his sixty-ninth year.

Achievements

• Holloway went down to history as a notable politician and lawyer of the British colony of Virginia. He is best remembered as a speaker of the House of Burgesses, treasurer of the colony, and the first mayor of Williamsburg.

Religion

Holloway was a member of Bruton Parish Church.

Personality

Holloway is described in official records as "an eminent lawyer well acquainted with Parliamentary affairs, zealous and careful of the Privileges of the House of Burgesses, " but according to Randolph, he was "of a haughty, insolent nature; passionate and peevish to the last Degree. He was "universally courted, " charged large fees, and acquired wealth which hid a multitude of faults. According to Sir John Randolph, who succeeded him as speaker and treasurer, "his management of the Treasury contributed to his Ruin, and brought him to the Grave with much Disgrace. "

Connections

Sometime after 1720 Holloway married Elizabeth (Catesby) Cocke, the widow of Doctor William Cocke and sister of Mark Catesby, the naturalist.

Father:

Richard Holloway

Spouse:

Elizabeth (Catesby) Holloway

References

• Speakers and clerks of the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1643-1776