HOLLINGSWORTH FAMILY HISTORY
Descendants of Valentine Hollingsworth Sr., 
Society 18 Westover Road, Newport News, VA 23601-3928
INTRODUCTION
We are interested in sharing information about Valentine Hollingsworth, Sr. and 
his descendants. The origin of the Hollingsworth name appears to be associated 
with old Anglo-Saxon families whose ancestors probably came from North 
Germany in the 5th and 6th Centuries AD. Variations of the name, such as 
Hollinworth, Hollinsworth, and Hollingworth, first appeared on records in 
Cheshire and Lancashire Counties, England around 1022. 
    The family established an estate in Cheshire known as Hollingworth Manor. 
Today we probably would call it Holly Farms, which may account for the holly 
leaves in the family shield. The Manor, which is mentioned in the Domesday 
Book as being located on the edge of the woods near Macclesfield, lasted until 
after World War II, but became so dilapidated that it was torn down. Part of 
the family went to Ireland early in the 17th Century. 
    Valentine and his family became associated with William Penn and his 
Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers. In 1682, Valentine and his family 
moved to America about the same time as William Penn and settled in 
Delaware. Valentine and some of his family made the voyage on the ship 
Antelope.  One son, Henry,  made the voyage on the ship Lion. 
    It took 167 years for some of Valentine's descendants to make their way to 
the American West Coast. In the meantime, branches of the family scattered 
across the country and around the world making it very difficult to keep track 
of them. This is further complicated by the fact that there were several other 
Hollingsworth patriarchs that came over about the same time as Valentine.

The Latin motto Disce Ferenda Pati on the  coat of arms means Learn to Bear 
Patiently What Must be Borne. 
Origin of the Hollingsworth Name
The two old Angle-Saxon words, HOLEGN, or HOLYN, (a holly tree), and WORD 
or WUR DE, (both pronounced similar to our modern English word 'worth', 
meaning "an enclosed place,") are believed to be the roots forming the ancient 
place name HOLYNWORTHE, or HOLLINGWORTH. Thus, the meaning of this 
place-name and surname, would be, "THE HOLLY-TREE FARM," or " ENCLOSED 
HOMESTEAD AMONG HOLLY BUSHES." It is thought that the place HOLISURDE 
(pronounced HOLLYS-WERTH) mentioned in the Cheshire Domesday Book (c1086 
A.D.) lying in the area of Mottram-in-Longdendale, in the northeastern part of 
the county, gave rise to the surname.
There is also a "Hollinworth", a hamlet or chapelry in Butterworth Township in 
Mottram Parish. Two families calling themselves "Hollingworth" held manors 
and also grants of arms, in this township, beginning about the year 1613. 
Persons bearing the surname extend back to at least 1215 at this place. How, 
by what means, or for what purpose, some of the members of the Hollingworth 
or Hollinworth families in England began to spell the name "Hollingsworth," by 
adding the letter "s", is unknown. The practice first appears about the middle 
of the 17th century, although isolated instances can be noted back into the 
1500's. 
Source: Hollingsworth Register. All material provided is copyrighted to the 
public domain for non-commerical, non-profit use only. No commercial use is 
legal without permission. 
Hollingsworth
A Genealogy in Progress
 
A VISIT TO HOLLINGWORTH SITES IN ENGLAND 
by Mary Sharrard Johnson & Ronn Johnson

Hollingworth Hall Farm is located in Hollingworth (near Mottram, outside 
of Manchester). Coming from Manchester on the Manchester road (A628), 
turn left onto Green Lane.  (It is across from the Methodist Church, 
which has no sign!  Green Lane is also near The New Inn)  Continue on 
Green Lane until it curves...you will see hills....turn left on Cow 
Lane.  Go straight up an unpaved, narrow  road.  At the top, turn right 
to Hollingworth Hall Farm.  Until we asked for directions at the Mottram 
Church, noone knew where the Hollingworth Hall area was.

Don Parker, the overseer of Hollingworth Hall Farm, has a photo of the 
old Hall before it was demolished.  The buildings used for the "Holiday
Cottages" are refurbished out-buildings of Hollingworth Manor.  The
cottages are self-catered and can be rented for 60 British Pounds per 
day.  The restaurant was closed at the time we visited.  Don has a 
scrapbook with names of various Hollingsworths who have visited, 
clippings about the Manor House and Hollingworths.  He has a photo of 
the stone with 3 holly leaves from over the door of the now demolished 
Manor House.  Currently the stone is in the museum at Abram's Delite, 
Winchester, VA.  Phone number for booking the Holiday Cottages is 01457 
766188.

Don told us that there is another Hollingworth Home at which Valentine 
and Robert (his brother) lived.  They later sold it and moved in with 
their parents.  The present owners of that home are not cooperative in 
showing it or having visitors.  (Mary's note:  This doesn't seem 
possible, since Valentine was born in Ireland.  But, it would be 
interesting to know who lived in the other Hollingworth residence.)

We were told that the records from the Mottram Church and the whole area
are in Chester. 

Leaving Hollingworth Hall Farm, we continued up a lane toward the site 
of the Manor House.  Remaining are the pair of gate entry posts which 
used to lead to the Old Hall.  Several barns are visible as one proceeds 
along the road.  Then an attractive stone house, which served as the 
servants' home, with an old stable building behind it comes into view.  
The gentleman who lives there pointed out paving stones between his 
house and the stable which originally extended to the edge of the Manor 
House.  

Hollingworth Hall Farm as well as this property lie high atop a hill
overlooking the surrounding countryside.  There are lovely vistas from
numerous points on these properties.  

The Church Of St. Michael and All Angels at Mottram-in-Longdendale,
Cheshire, sits high above Mottram, a suburb of Manchester.  On the 
Sunday of our visit in late May, a stiff cold wind blew atop this hill, 
making it feel like it was at least 40 degrees.  At 10:30 a.m., the 
church bells began tolling and continued until 11 a.m. when the service 
began.  Preceeding the service there was a feeling of enthusiasm as 
various parish members prepared coffee to be served after the service, 
dressed children in choir robes, adjusted microphones, prepared 
communion.  Everyone was extremely cordial and let us know that it was 
exciting to have members of the Hollingworth family present for the 
service.  It was a lovely service which included baptism of a baby and 
communion.  

Peter Elwood, a member of the congregation and historian of the church,
stayed after the service to give us a guided tour of the church.  He
pointed out the Hollingworth chapel, the coat of arms in a stained glass
window, a Hollingworth plaque, a Hollingworth grave marker in the floor 
JH 1661,  and a Jacobean dining room chair from the Manor House.  A 
brass plaque on the chair is inscribed with Mr. J C de Hollingworth  
DDDMDCCCXXL (or possibly Mr. J. I. de Hollingworth).  Additionally, on 
the exterior of the church, over the door by which the Hollingworths 
would have entered the church, can be seen the Hollingworth coat of arms 
with initials J H. 

Another chapel in the church was built by a local cotton mill owner.  It
has an elaborate wood ceiling, detailed woodcarving on pews, very
decorative tall back chairs.  The church roof was raised during the 
1800s and, because of this, the church has many more windows than before 
and is much brighter.   Wood beams in the ceiling of the"choir" of the 
building are held together with visible pegs exhibiting the age of the 
structure.  Many gravestones line the floors of the church & the yard 
outside.  Vents in the foundation of the church, visible on the 
exterior, were used to vent the odor of the bodies decaying under the 
church.

Peter Elwood is most interested in the Hollingworth family and expressed 
an interest in having the address of the Hollingsworth Society, which I 
will provide to him.  He says he will be glad to meet Hollingsworth 
family members at the church any time they are visiting the area and 
give them a tour.

His address is:  Peter Elwood, 9 Stalybridge Road, Mottram VIA Hyde,
SK146NF  England
 
Ken Hollingsworth / P.O. Box 8281 / Redlands, CA 92375