Julie's Home Page, The Foote Family of Burin NFLD Canada:Information about James Hollett
James Hollett (b. 1781, d. 10 Apr 1811)
Notes for James Hollett:
The following letter is from the book " The History of Burin" by it's Senior Citizens 1977
Arras, France
April 11 1812
Mr. Joseph & Phillip Hollett
Burin, Newfoundland.
Having a opportunity to forward this letter from france to england, we have embraced it by writing a few lines to you, not hearing from you since writing of date Aprl 11, 1811, which caused suspicion in us that you never received it which served to inform you that your brother James Hollett departed this life April 10 1811, after about 6 weeks illness.
In the first place, he was seized with a fever which, after a few days proved to be smallpox but, being sensible to the last, he requested in his illness that he would wish a will to be made out so as to avoid disputes after his decease, and leaving the affaire to us we acted according to his request which shall again forward to you a copy of it,
Signed, Samuel Newman, John Foote
Arras, France
Sundries remaining which will be remitted you as soon as the lord pleases to make a way for our escape and, if deprived of this, we shall remit by some trusty friend the following:
Cash in hand, after expenses of the funeral, one watch, two rings, and one to be braised and forwarded, also clothes which he had desired to be given to his friends. Signed, Samuel Newman, John Foote
Notes from the research of Doug Hollett:
While sailing from Burin to England to continue his education, James was captured at sea in February 1809 from a ship named the "Hawk", by the French. As a prisoner of war during the "Peninsular War" (18081814) between Great Britian and France during the reign of Napoleon, he died in a prison hospital of smallpox.
Arras is located 112 miles north of Paris on the Scarpe River
A copy of the Will of JAMES HOLLETT
Arras, France April 05,1811
In the name of God Amen:
I, James Hollett, a native of Great Burin, Newfoundland, now detained a prisonerofwar in the hospital at Arras, being in a weak state of health, but of sound mind and memory thanks be given to Godbut calling into mind the mortality of the body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, therefore I do, for avoiding controversies after my decease, make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body to the dust, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, demise and bequeath in the following manner:To my Honourable Father and Mother, John and Dinah Hollett, brothers and sisters, what money belongeth to me, equally to be divided amongst them, furthermore I give, demise, and bequeath to my brothers Philip and Joseph Hollett all and every messuage, lands, and tenements, and heridiments whatsoever, which I also charge with the payments of my said legacies.
In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the hospital of Arras (Empire of France) this fifth day of April in the year of our Lord, One Thousand, Eight hundred and Eleven, (1811) and in the fiftieth and first year of the reign of H.M. King George the Third over the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
Signed, sealed and published and declared by the said James Hollett as his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, hereunto subscribed and at his request annex our names in the presence of each other as witnesses.
signed:Samuel Newman
John Foote
More About James Hollett:
Burial: 1811, Arras, France.