….and their connections to the Holliman Family, Part 1

The reason for this research between the Hilbun and Holliman families is primarily due to the fact that my direct ancestor, Holiman HILBUN of Burke County, Ga. had connections with a Harmon HOLLIMAN as he was a chain carrier on Holiman Hilburn’s land survey in 1788. AND in 1789, a land survey in Burke for William Thompson (who was somehow connected to the Hilburns based on land records) had Harmon Holliman and Richard Holliman as chain carriers. These connections with the Holliman family will be further explored in Part 2. Part 1 will show the first recorded connections between the Hilburn & Holliman families.

The first direct Hilburn/Hilbun ancestor we are aware of was Vaughan Hilburn who was first found in a 1730 land record in Isle of Wight, Virginia. By the late 1740’s it appears that Vaughan Hilburn had left Virginia and was in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. The second Hilburn man, John, is first found in a ca. 1755 land record also in Edgecombe. The following narrative will show documentation of Vaughan and John Hilburn’s existence through the years prior to the Revolutionary War.

In 1730, on September 28, Vaughan Helburn received a 100 acres land grant in Isle of Wight Co, VA. on the North side of the Three Creeks, beginning on the north side of the great Reedy Branch.  Source: Land Office Patents #13, 1725-1730 (v.1- 2 p.1-540), p. 500 (Reel 12). As of 1775, this was in Brunswick County. with some records of the area recorded in Surry Co., Southampton Co. as well as Isle of Wight Co.).

1736  IOW, VA.  John Vaughan Will.  This will names Vaughan Hilburn as an heir & administrator & names John Simmons & John Simmons, Jr. as heirs. Witnesses to the will were:  John DORTCH, John UPCHURCH, John SPENCE & John VAUGHN. The will was probated in 1741.

Older Records Connecting Vaughn and others named in will:

• 1716-  a “Jno. Vawhan” mentioned on Oct. 31 in Isle of Wight as having land on the SE Side of Three Creek, adjacent to Thomas Holliday.   
• 1717- Mar 18 a John Vauhan bought 110 acres on the south side of the Nottoway River on the south side of Three Creeks in what was then Isle of Wight Co.   
• 1725 Mar 24, John Dortch was granted 145 a. on South side of Three Creeks.
• 1730- Vaughn Helburn, 100 a. on the North side of the Three Creeks,  beginning on the North side of the great Reedy Branch.

Three Creeks (comprised of Three Creeks, Little Creek, & Otterdam Creek) flowed from Brunswick into Surry Co. (the part that’s now Greensville Co) & on into IOW (now Southampton) where it emptied into the Nottoway River.

In 1737 Vaughan Hilborn is named a godparent in the following record- Stokes Sylvanus, son of Jones & Anne Stokes- born c. Feb 18 1737 to Mar 16 1739/40, p. 48.  Godparents listed as:   Wm Knight; Vaughan Hilborn; Rebecca Hardwood. “Albemarle Parish Register of Surry & Sussex Co.” published by Colonial Dames of America.

1740- May 17,  Vaughn Hilburn- witness on deed for Thomas Johnston, Sr. conveyed to his son Thomas, Jr. 83 acres on the N. side of Three Creeks along Plowman’s Branch, witnessed by Nathaniel Ridley & Vaughn Hilburn (Proven Sep 22, 1740).    Notes on Johnston family from their ancestors:  Thomas Johnston, Jr. b. abt 1710-1720 in the upper parish of Isle of Wight Co., VA, the son of Thomas Johnston, Sr.   He wasn’t mentioned in his father’s will of Apr 25, 1744 (Proven May 8, 1746) as he’d already received land from his father.

1741 Jan. 21.  Vaughan Hillbun of IOW-  110 acres to Joshua Nicholson of Surry Co. for 5 shillings.  North side of Three Creeks at upper end of the Broad Water, adjoining Mary Harris.  Witnesses:  James Bennet, Timothy Tharp, William Johnson, William Bennet

1 Aug 1745. Nicholson, Joshua. grantee.  Land grant- Isle of Wight Co.
Description: 275 acres on the s. side of theThree Creeks, adjoining land of John Vaughan, James Ridley, James Bennet.  Source: Land Office Patents No. 22, 1743-1745 (v.1 & 2 p.1-631), p. 329 (Reel 20)

NOTES FROM IOW Vestry Book online  re: IOW & Vaughan Hilburn.

Nathaniel Ridley was appointed a vestryman according to IOW Vestry Book Records 1724. He later was Church Warden.

Other familiar names in the IOW Vestry Book during same time frame:

• Christopher Holliman
• Thomas Holliman
• Ruben Proctor- listed often as a vestry man
• John Proctor
• Newet Drew
• Maj. John Simmons appted vestryman in 1733

By the late 1740’s it appears that Vaughan Hilburn had moved to Edgecombe County, North Carolina as his name is on a roster of Captain John Sherrard’s Company in that county. In 1752, in Edgecombe, a John Hilburn and Rubin Proctor were chain carriers for a land survey for John Prockter.  The land bordered Thomas Holliman’s corner on Tyancoca Swamp. This is the first known connection between a Hilburn and a Holliman, and the first record of a John Hilburn.

MY NOTE:  In 1742 IOW, VA, John Proctor’s land bordered Thomas Holliman & John Holliman’s land. Vaughan Hilburn also owned land in IOW at the same time! His land was on the north side of Three Creeks & a Josiah John Holliman had land which bordered on the Three Creeks.

Thomas Holliman is found in Edgecombe in 1752, 1753-56, along with a Samuel who appeared there earlier.  In addition, an Absalom Holliman is found on records in Edgecombe in 1754 as a CC, & 1756 as a witness to a will. In 1781, Absalom rec’d a land grant of 350 acres in Edgecombe.  It’s likely that he was not yet an adult in the first two records; by 1781 he likely already had a family.

By 1755, John Hilburn was in Duplin County, N.C. as he bought 100 acres  on the south side of Little Coharie Creek in August, but sold this land in March of 1756. During the same years, a Samuel Holliman bought & sold land in Duplin on the Great Cohary River.  Although one record places Samuel Holliman in Edgecombe & Duplin in 1756:  “1756  Edgecombe Co. (Halifax) Samuel Holliman, of Duplin Co, to Moses Hare, Edgecombe.”  So Samuel Holliman was in Duplin at the same time as John Hilbun.  Other Holimans in Duplin during this time frame include David Holliman

By 1759, a Samuel Holliman is listed as from Johnston County where he sold his land in Duplin on Great Cohary.  Also in 1759, Thomas Holliman is listed in Johnston in same record as Samuel.  Interestingly, Vann Hilbern is listed on the soldier roster for Johnston in 1761

1767    Capt. John Sherrard’s Company, Dobbs County, NC.  Vaun Hilbern listed on roster, along with several Hollimans.

In 1769, in Dobbs County, Vaughn Hilburn is listed as having 1 taxable. Also Samuel Holloman is also on this tax list.

1779- Wilkes GA.  WILL  of David Holliman:  Excrs.: Absolom & Charity Holliman, Oct. 1779. Probated 7/1783. David Holliman’s sons:  David, Mark, Samuel; daughter:  Alcy.

 1786 & 1788-  Wayne Co.; NC.  Early Tax List.  Vaughn Hilbourn

Part 2 to be published at a later date!