Person:John Hollister (20)

"John Hollister was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 10 May, 1643. He settled in Weymouth and had land in the 'west ffield,' which had first been granted to William Howland, granted to him. He was a deputy from Weymouth to the General Court, 7 Mar. 1643-44. He was a 'Townsman' (selectman) of Weymouth in 1645 and 1646, and perhaps in 1648. Apparently he did not long remain at Weymouth but returned to England. John Hollister of the precincts of the castle in the city of Bristol, Gloucestershire, cordwainer, being aged, made his will 12 Sept. 1690, and it was proved 5 Dec. 1690. He gave to his cousin Samuel Hollister of Buirington, Somerset, the management of the ground there in the parish of Huntspil, Somerset, called Catchams, and the ground called Torreys, wherein Capt. William Torrey and his son Mr. Samuel Torrey hath lease for their lives in it, both living in New England, he to collect rents till otherwise ordered by them in New England. (Register, 40: 62.) His association in Bristol, Eng., with the Torreys of Weymouth must be considered as identifying evidence connecting John Hollister of Weymouth in 1643 with John Hollister of Bristol, 'aged,' in 1690. He must be distinguished from John Hollister of Wethersfield, Conn. (Hollister Family, 30, 31.)"

"John Hollister of Weymouth, Mass.

Nearly all the authorities who speak of Lieut. John Hollister of Wethersfield, Conn., say that he was at Weymouth, Mass., in 1643, and represented that town in the Massachusetts legislature in 1644.

The town clerk of Weymouth, under date of Feb. 9, 1886, writes as follows:

I find on examining the records of this town the name of John Hollister signed as one of the 'Townsmen,' Nov. 20th, 1645; Feb. 9th, 1645; 24th of the (not given) month, 1645; April 17th, 1646. Also, among the grants of land to several persons, which grants are without date, I find the following:

'THE LANDS OF JOHN HOLLESTER.'

'Two acres and halfe in the west ffield, first granted to William Howland, bounded on the East, West, and South by the Highwayes and on the North by the land of Edward Smith. Fower acres in Harrises Range, first granted to William Howland, bounded on the East by the Highway, on the West against a little swamp, on the North by the land of William Carpenter, on the South the land of Thomas Clifton, on the North.'

You will notice that Hollister is also spelled Hollester. I have carefully examined the records in that respect.

I do not find any records of his being a representative.

According to Trumbull's 'Colonial Records of Connecticut,' John Hollister was in Wethersfield March 2, 1642, in April, 1645, and in June, 1646. Goodwin says he was made a freeman there in May, 1643.

From these facts it would appear that either there were two John Hollisters in New England at the same time, or that one owned property in both towns, and while holding office in Wethersfield was regarded as a 'Townsman' in Weymouth.

I am inclined to the opinion that there were two John Hollisters, and that the one in Weymouth afterward returned to England, still holding his lands in Weymouth.

Wm. H. Upton of Walla Walla, Washington Territory, published in the January (1886) number of the 'N.-E. Historical and Genealogical Register,' page 62, an abstract of the will of John Hollister of Bristol, England, proved Dec. 5, 1690, in which he mentions land leased to Capt. William Torrey and his son, Mr. Samuel Torrey, living in Weymouth, Mass. This John Hollister apparently had no children, except perhaps a daughter Elizabeth, who was probably his step-daughter, as he calls her his daughter in one place and daughter-in-law in another. He mentions cousin John Hollister, son of Abel, late of Yeate, in Gloucestershire, Eng., deceased; cousin Samuel Hollister of Burrington, Somerset; cousin Abel Hollister's six sons; and appoints his cousin Philip Hollister sole executor."