The History of Our Branch of the Holyoke Family
The name Holyoke (as well as the variant spellings such as Holiock, Holyhok, Holliocke, Holyocke, and others) derive from the term “Holy Oak,” or “Gospel Oak,” an archaic term used to describe a boundry tree. The surname is recorded many times in the early records of the parishes Tanworth, County Warwick, England (also known as Tanworth-on-Arden, Warwickshire, England) and King’s Norton, County Worcester, England. These two parishes are located near the river Arden, along the border of these two counties. They are about two miles apart.
First Generation
The first known generation of our branch of the Holyoke family is that of John Holliocke, born circa 1460, of Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. He married sometime before 1490 to Ellen (maiden name unknown), also of Tanworth. Both became members of a religious and social guild located in nearby Knowle, co. Warwick, England in 1486. These guilds were very popular at the time, and were created for the purpose of encouraging charity and useful living. Social activities within these guilds included meetings, pageants, and feasts. The guild to which John and Ellen were members was quite popular, and was known to have several thousand members from the counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Stafford. It is unknown when or where John and Ellen died, although it was most certainly in Tanworth (where in all probability they were buried as well). Nor can we be sure of how many children they had. We are, however, reasonably certain of at least one child born to them. That child was:
William Holliocke, born circa 1490, Tanworth, co. Warwick, England
William Holliocke, born circa 1490, Tanworth, co. Warwick, England
Second Generation
William Holliocke, the son of John and Ellen Holliocke, was born circa 1490 in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. At some point in time prior to 1518, William married Joane Fairchild (born circa 1491) in Tanworth. William died prior to December 1573, and Joan died and was buried December 16, 1573 (she was listed as a widow at the time of her death). Both were buried in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England.
The children of William and Joane Holliocke were:
1. Edward Holyocke, corn circa 1518 in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. He married Margaret Atwood (alias Taylor – her stepfather was named Taylor) sometime before December 1558. Edward died and was buried June 10, 1598 in Tanworth, and Margaret was buried in Tanworth on April 25, 1610.
2. Thomas Holyocke, born circa 1520, in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England
3. John Holyocke, died 1594/95 in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. He was married to Margaret.
4. Elizabeth Holyocke, married December 2, 1568 to Francis Croswell, and died May 1579 in Tanworth.
5. Agnes Holyocke, married May 26, 1571 to John Grene at Tanworth.
The children of William and Joane Holliocke were:
1. Edward Holyocke, corn circa 1518 in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. He married Margaret Atwood (alias Taylor – her stepfather was named Taylor) sometime before December 1558. Edward died and was buried June 10, 1598 in Tanworth, and Margaret was buried in Tanworth on April 25, 1610.
2. Thomas Holyocke, born circa 1520, in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England
3. John Holyocke, died 1594/95 in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. He was married to Margaret.
4. Elizabeth Holyocke, married December 2, 1568 to Francis Croswell, and died May 1579 in Tanworth.
5. Agnes Holyocke, married May 26, 1571 to John Grene at Tanworth.
Third Generation
Thomas Holyocke was born circa 1520 in Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. He married Anne (Fletcher alias Hawthorne) Dawler by at least 1550. As a brief point of explanation regarding her name, her birth name was Fletcher, her father died and her mother married Phillip Hawthorne. Anne herself was previously married to William Dawler of Alcester who died in 1546. Anne was a widow at the time of her marriage to Thomas Holyocke. Anne was the daughter of Phillip Hawthorne and Anne Fletcher – Hawthorne, of Kinnerton, co. Warwick, England. Thomas died in 1568 and was buried at Alcester, co. Warwick, England on January 13, 1568.
The children of Thomas and Anne Holyocke were:
1. John “The Elder” Holyoke, born circa 1552
2. John “The Younger” Holyoke, born circa 1555 and married to Eleanor Worthington on June 24, 1587. He was a tailor by trade, and died in 1587. He was buried at Alcester, co. Warwick, England on December 1, 1587.
3. Thomas Holyoke, born circa 1558, and buried at Alcester, co. Warwick, England on May 3, 1605.
4. Joan Holyoke, born circa 1562, baptized January 21, 1562 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. She was married to William Martin at Alcester on June 25, 1586. Joan died in Alcester in 1616 and was buried there August 27, 1616.
The children of Thomas and Anne Holyocke were:
1. John “The Elder” Holyoke, born circa 1552
2. John “The Younger” Holyoke, born circa 1555 and married to Eleanor Worthington on June 24, 1587. He was a tailor by trade, and died in 1587. He was buried at Alcester, co. Warwick, England on December 1, 1587.
3. Thomas Holyoke, born circa 1558, and buried at Alcester, co. Warwick, England on May 3, 1605.
4. Joan Holyoke, born circa 1562, baptized January 21, 1562 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. She was married to William Martin at Alcester on June 25, 1586. Joan died in Alcester in 1616 and was buried there August 27, 1616.
Fourth Generation
John “The Elder” Holyoke (so named as to distinguish him from his younger brother of the same name), was born circa 1552 in tanworth, co. Warwick, England. He married Elizabeth Stokes on September 22, 1583 in Alcester, co. Warwick, England. Elizabeth Stokes was born in 1562, and was baptized August 28, 1562 at Yardley, co. Worcester, England. She was the daughter of Richard and Mary (nee: Smalbroke) Stokes. Elizabeth died in 1615. Richard Stokes was born circa 1544 in Yardley, co. Worcester, the son of Humphrey and Anne Stokes. Mary (Smalbroke) Stokes was born circa 1546. John and Elizabeth Holyoke lived in Alcester, co. Warwick, where John was a mercer, or fabric merchant. He was buried November 26, 1587 at Alcester, co. Warwick, England. His will, dated November 21, 1587, was witnessed by his stepfather, William Abell, and also by John Stockton, the parish rector. Rev. Stockton was the father of Prudence Stockton, who would later marry John Holyoke’s son, Edward.
The children of John and Elizabeth Holyoke were:
1. Mary Holyoke, born 1584. She married Florizell Bovey on May 23, 1606 at Alcester, co. Warwick, England.
2. Edward Holyoke, born 1585, married first to Prudence Stockton, and second, to Anne (Taylor) Tuttell.
3. Anne Holyoke, born February 1588, just two months after her father’s death. She married John Morris in Alcester on November 12, 1606
The children of John and Elizabeth Holyoke were:
1. Mary Holyoke, born 1584. She married Florizell Bovey on May 23, 1606 at Alcester, co. Warwick, England.
2. Edward Holyoke, born 1585, married first to Prudence Stockton, and second, to Anne (Taylor) Tuttell.
3. Anne Holyoke, born February 1588, just two months after her father’s death. She married John Morris in Alcester on November 12, 1606
Fifth Generation
Edward Holyoke was born in 1585 in Alcester, co. Warwick, England. In 1591, at the tender age of five, he was named as chief heir in the will of his great uncle, Edward Holyocke (son of William, listed above), of Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. His great uncle bequeathed to him property in Tanworth, Wooton Wawen, Ullenhall, and Henly. All located in co. Warwick.
Edward married Prudence Stockton, the daughter of Rev. John and Susanna (maiden name unknown) Stockton, on June 17, 1612 in Kimcote & Walton, co. Leicester, England. Prudence was born in 1584 in Alcester, co. Warwick, England, and died prior to 1648, possibly while living in Lynn, Massachusetts. Edward later married a second time, to Anne (Taylor) Tuttell (born circa 1594), the widow of Richard Tuttell of Boston, Massachusetts. She was the mother of John Tuttell who was married at the time to Mary Holyoke, the daughter of Edward and Prudence.
Following their marriage, Edward and Prudence lived in the parish of St. Lawrence Jewry, London, England, where Edward was a grocer. They later left London and moved to Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. They left for America about 1637, and they settled first in Lynn, Massachusetts, and later Edward moved to Rumney Marsh (now Chelsea), Massachusetts where Edward served as the agent for Sir. Fulk Grenvil (also known as Lord Brooke). He was also appointed Associate Judge of the Salem, Massachusetts court in 1639, and reappointed in 1640, 1641, and 1642. He served as Deputy to the General Court for Lynn from 1639 to 1643, and as Deputy for Springfield in 1660. Edward died May 4, 1660 at Rumney Marsh, Massachusetts.
The children of Edward and Prudence Holyoke were:
1. John Holyoke, born 1613 at St. Lawrence Jewry, London, England. John entered Oxford University on February 8, 1632 at age 19, and died three years later. He was buried March 8, 1635 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England.
2. Elizabeth Holyoke, born 1614 in St. Lawrence Jewry, London. She married George Keyser in 1645, and died in Salem, Massachusetts on June 24, 1659.
3. Elizur Holyoke, born 1617 in St. Lawrence Jewry, London. He married first to Mary Pynchon in Springfield, Massachusetts on November 20, 1640. She died in Springfield on October 25, 1657. He married second to Editha Stebbins Day Maynard in 1685.
4. Edward Holyoke, born 1618 in St. Lawrence Jewry, London, and died December 1631 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England.
5. Anne Holyoke, born 1620 at Tanworth, co. Warwick. She married Lt. Thomas Putnam on October 17, 1643 at Salem, Massachusetts. Anne and her husband Thomas were ancestors of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States. Anne died September 1, 16656 at Salem, Massachusetts.
6. Sarah Holyoke, born 1623 at Tanworth, co. Warwick. She married Corporal John Andrews and they were ancestors of William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States. Sarah died at Ipswitch, Massachusetts on April 29, 1666.
7. Mary Holyoke, born July 7, 1625 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. She married John Tuttell, the son of Richard and Anne (Taylor) Tuttell, on February 10, 1646, at Boston , Massachusetts.
8. Susanna Holyoke, born 1629 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. She was married September 12, 1656, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Michael Martyn, a mariner.
Edward married Prudence Stockton, the daughter of Rev. John and Susanna (maiden name unknown) Stockton, on June 17, 1612 in Kimcote & Walton, co. Leicester, England. Prudence was born in 1584 in Alcester, co. Warwick, England, and died prior to 1648, possibly while living in Lynn, Massachusetts. Edward later married a second time, to Anne (Taylor) Tuttell (born circa 1594), the widow of Richard Tuttell of Boston, Massachusetts. She was the mother of John Tuttell who was married at the time to Mary Holyoke, the daughter of Edward and Prudence.
Following their marriage, Edward and Prudence lived in the parish of St. Lawrence Jewry, London, England, where Edward was a grocer. They later left London and moved to Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. They left for America about 1637, and they settled first in Lynn, Massachusetts, and later Edward moved to Rumney Marsh (now Chelsea), Massachusetts where Edward served as the agent for Sir. Fulk Grenvil (also known as Lord Brooke). He was also appointed Associate Judge of the Salem, Massachusetts court in 1639, and reappointed in 1640, 1641, and 1642. He served as Deputy to the General Court for Lynn from 1639 to 1643, and as Deputy for Springfield in 1660. Edward died May 4, 1660 at Rumney Marsh, Massachusetts.
The children of Edward and Prudence Holyoke were:
1. John Holyoke, born 1613 at St. Lawrence Jewry, London, England. John entered Oxford University on February 8, 1632 at age 19, and died three years later. He was buried March 8, 1635 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England.
2. Elizabeth Holyoke, born 1614 in St. Lawrence Jewry, London. She married George Keyser in 1645, and died in Salem, Massachusetts on June 24, 1659.
3. Elizur Holyoke, born 1617 in St. Lawrence Jewry, London. He married first to Mary Pynchon in Springfield, Massachusetts on November 20, 1640. She died in Springfield on October 25, 1657. He married second to Editha Stebbins Day Maynard in 1685.
4. Edward Holyoke, born 1618 in St. Lawrence Jewry, London, and died December 1631 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England.
5. Anne Holyoke, born 1620 at Tanworth, co. Warwick. She married Lt. Thomas Putnam on October 17, 1643 at Salem, Massachusetts. Anne and her husband Thomas were ancestors of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States. Anne died September 1, 16656 at Salem, Massachusetts.
6. Sarah Holyoke, born 1623 at Tanworth, co. Warwick. She married Corporal John Andrews and they were ancestors of William Howard Taft, 27th President of the United States. Sarah died at Ipswitch, Massachusetts on April 29, 1666.
7. Mary Holyoke, born July 7, 1625 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. She married John Tuttell, the son of Richard and Anne (Taylor) Tuttell, on February 10, 1646, at Boston , Massachusetts.
8. Susanna Holyoke, born 1629 at Tanworth, co. Warwick, England. She was married September 12, 1656, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Michael Martyn, a mariner.
Research Sources
[1]Douglas Richardson, The Ancestry of Edward Holyoke, and His Nephew Thomas Morris of New Haven, "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register", Vol. CXLVII: January 1993.
[2]Douglas Richardson, The Stockton Family, Ancestry of Prudence (Stockton) Holyoke, "The New England Historical And Genealogical Register", Vol. CXLVII, April 1993.
[3]James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary, of the First Settlers of New England , (Baltimore, MD: GPC, 1969), in the custody of the Waco-McClennan County Library, Waco, Texas.
[4]Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to_1700, (Baltimore, MD: GPC, 1985), in custody of the Waco-McClennan County Library, Waco, Texas.
[5]LDS Ancestral File, Ver. 4.13, in custody of the Emerson Family History Center, Oradell, New Jersey [This person is not listed in the NEHGR article by Richardson].
[6]“The Register of the Guild of Knowle in the County of Warwick 1451-1535,” W.B. Bickley, editor, Walsall, 1894
[1]Douglas Richardson, The Ancestry of Edward Holyoke, and His Nephew Thomas Morris of New Haven, "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register", Vol. CXLVII: January 1993.
[2]Douglas Richardson, The Stockton Family, Ancestry of Prudence (Stockton) Holyoke, "The New England Historical And Genealogical Register", Vol. CXLVII, April 1993.
[3]James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary, of the First Settlers of New England , (Baltimore, MD: GPC, 1969), in the custody of the Waco-McClennan County Library, Waco, Texas.
[4]Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages Prior to_1700, (Baltimore, MD: GPC, 1985), in custody of the Waco-McClennan County Library, Waco, Texas.
[5]LDS Ancestral File, Ver. 4.13, in custody of the Emerson Family History Center, Oradell, New Jersey [This person is not listed in the NEHGR article by Richardson].
[6]“The Register of the Guild of Knowle in the County of Warwick 1451-1535,” W.B. Bickley, editor, Walsall, 1894