Drury Holland, my 5th great grandfather, fought in the Revolutionary War under General George Washington. This is an undisputed fact thanks to military records and letters written in the late 1830s on behalf of his widow, Sarah (Turner) Holland, who successfully claimed his military pension of $80 per year. (Drury paid her father 50 pounds to marry her so I think she did okay.) Drury suffered two wounds on the battlefield – a gunshot wound to his thigh and a bayonet to the head. I assume this was the blunt end otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this post.

Having a veteran of the Revolutionary War as a direct ancestor would satisfy most genealogists but not I. Although Drury’s parents cannot be confirmed at this time, it is assumed Drury, who lived in Virginia, is a descendant of Gabriel Holland, who was one of the early settlers at Jamestown, Virginia. Gabriel’s lineage, in turn, is hotly debated among Holland researchers. Why?

It is has been suggested that Gabriel was the 2nd great grandson of Henry Holland, the third Duke of Exeter. Gabriel’s alleged great grandfather was Thomas Holland, Henry’s illegitimate son by an unknown mother. According to one Holland researcher, when Thomas attempted to claim his father’s Dukedom, Henry’s legitimate wife – a member of the powerful Plantagenet family – had him murdered to prevent it. Although this theory has not been accepted (at all) by other Holland researchers, it’s intriguing nonetheless.

I am guessing the Holland/Plantagenet holiday gatherings might have been a bit awkward, though, after Thomas was permanently uninvited. ‘Tis the season.

Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relation: 5th great grandfather
Common ancestors: Possibly sworn enemies of the Plantagenets!