Brookeville Woolen Mill Worker’s House c.1800 – Chain of Title

Chain of Title:

Oct. 8, 1725 – Maryland Land Patent entitled “Bordley’s Choice” patented for Thomas Bordley, Sr. of Anne Arundel County. Bordley’s Choice containing 1014 acres is described in the Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD at PL#6/74 and by a later survey dated Aug. 5, 1825 and recorded at Liber “Y” folio 119 in the land records of Montgomery County. At this point the land is in Prince Georges Parish later Frederick County — becoming Montgomery County in 1777.

1726 – Thomas Bordley, Sr. falls ill in America, returns to England for treatment, and dies in England having never set foot in “Bordley’s Choice”. The Land Patent passes to his oldest son, Thomas Bordley, Jr. of Ann Arundel County. Beale Bordley, his youngest son, is born 4 months after his father’s death.

Dec. 23, 1731 – John Holland, Sr., is born to James Holland and Amy Simmons Holland in Londontown (near Annapolis) in Anne Arundel County. His mother is from the family of Richard Simmons. James is a descendant of the Earl of Holland who came from England with the Third Lord Baltimore.

May 21, 1734 – Maryland Land Patent entitled “Gittings Hah Hah” patented for Thomas Spriggs and Richard Simmons of Anne Arundel County. “Gittings Hah Hah” containing 517 acres is described in the Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD at El#4/246.

1742 – Richard Simmons to James Holland, 117 acres of “Gittings Hah Hah” Land Patent. James Holland & family move (c.a. 1750) to this parcel in what will become Montgomery County and build “Prospect Hill” family residence (Maryland Historic Trust site #M-23-72) on the north side of the Hawlings River.

Sept. 11, 1751 – Beale Bordley (Annapolis, Anne Arundel County) to John Riggs (Rich Neck, Anne Arundel County), 1014 acres of “Bordley’s Choice” for £200. John Riggs never lives at “Bordley’s Choice”.

May 1753 – James Holland dies and distributes property to his 10 children including son, John Holland, Sr. as recorded at Liber 28.491 (Hall of Records, Annapolis).

1761 – John Riggs’ sons; Thomas, John, and Elisha Riggs are living on “Bordley’s Choice” since their names appeared on a petition for a “chapel of ease” on the Hawlings River in Prince Georges Parish (eventually Frederick and then Montgomery County). Samuel is still in Anne Arundel County as a tobacco inspector.

Sept. 2, 1762 – Estate of John Riggs (Rich Neck, Anne Arundel County) leaves 200 acres of “Bordley’s Choice” to Samuel Riggs and 200 acres to each of Samuel’s 4 brothers, Thomas, James, John, and Elisha.

1764 – Birth of James Holland, son of John Holland, Sr. and Mary Gartrell Holland. His brother, John Holland, Jr., is also born within a few years of this time.

Sept. 8, 1768 – Samuel Riggs to John Holland, Sr., 110 acres of “Bordley’s Choice” for £100 as recorded at Liber “L” folio 498 in the land records of Frederick County, MD. At this time, John Holland, Sr. has accumulated into the Holland family, the main portion of the land relevant to the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House that is included and referenced in the land records for the present day parcel of 25.896 acres.

1783 Tax Assessment – John Holland, Sr. is assessed £125 for 110 acres of part of “Bordley’s Choice”. The assessment is based on a record of 2 small dwelling houses, framed tobacco house, 35 acres cleared, 2 acres bottom which may be made meadow, sapling land, and midling soil. It is possible that the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House site is one of these, since land records quoted here confirm that the 110 acre parcel contains the subject site and that it borders the Holland family “Prospect Hill” site.

1798 Tax Assessment – John Holland, Jr. is assessed for 92 acres and John Holland Sr. is assessed for 18 acres; two parts of the original 110 acre purchase of “Bordley’s Choice”. John Holland, Sr. is also assessed for 114 acres of “Gittings Hah Hah”.

Feb. 23, 1816 – The will of John Holland, Jr. is recorded at at Liber 2 folio 491 in the will records of Montgomery County, MD. His brother James Holland is the executor. James is married to Hannah Hammond Welsh. They have 5 sons and 3 daughters, all born c.a. 1800-1810.

1831 Tax Assessment – James Holland is assessed for 117 acres of “Gittings Hah Hah” and several other parcels. James becomes the principal land holder in the Holland family, accumulating a total of approx. 369 acres.

c.a. 1834 – James Holland dies leaving a verbal will.

Oct. 2, 1834 – Indenture Agreement executed between Grafton Holland (son), Phillip Holland (son), Charles Holland (son), and Samuel Holland (son) of the first part and Sarah Holland (daughter), Ann Holland (daughter), and Mercy Ann Holland (daughter) of the other part as recorded at Liber B.S. 6 folio 560 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD. This Indenture Agreement among the children and sole inheritors of James Holland (father) provides for the payment of $1,000 to each of the daughters by the sons and allows the daughters to remain in the Holland mansion, Prospect Hill (Maryland Historic Trust site #M-23- 72), until their marriage or death. This indenture agreement resulted from the “verbal will of their late father, and by their own good and mutual agreement”. Each of the sons has particular responsibilities under the verbal will, e.g. Charles Holland is to manage Prospect Hill for the benefit of the family and enjoy Prospect Hill farm profits in return.

Oct. 18, 1834 – Estate of James Holland (father) to Grafton Holland (son), deed recorded for 92.13 acres in response to Indenture Agreement of Oct. 2, 1834. Description of this parcel of land confirms that it contains the site of the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House.

Oct. 18, 1834 – Estate of James Holland (father) to Phillip Holland (son), deed for 105.16 acres, recorded at Liber B.S. 6 folio 572 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD. Description of this parcel of land confirms that it contains a second portion of the 59.75 acres plus 1 square perch parcel (see entry of March 13, 1928) that is relevant to the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House.

1837 Tax Assessment – Grafton Holland is assessed for 92 acres of part of “Bordley’s Choice”.

May 4, 1858 – All the sons of James Holland are deceased with the death of Charles Holland on this date. Charles’ only son is James T. Holland who manages Prospect Hill.

1865 – Map (Martenet & Bonds) indicates “Woolen Fact.” and “James T. Holland” for 2 adjacent, residence-marks (one of which is the Prospect Hill site) and “Remus Riggs” for a Pleasant Hill residence- mark. There is no owner or residence-mark shown for the site of the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House.

c.a. 1878 – The 1834 Holland family Indenture Agreement is satisfied by the death of all of James Holland’s children. The whole of his property resides in the estate of Phillip Holland (son).

Jan. 29, 1878 – Deed of partition of the Estate of Phillip Holland (uncle) including the transfer of 94.25 acres to James Thomas Holland (nephew) and 29.5 acres plus 28 square perches to Hannah A. Holland (niece) as recorded at Liber E.P.B. 17 folio 325 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD. Description of these parcels of land confirms that they contain the site of the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House.

1879 – Map (G.M. Hopkins) indicates “J. T. Holland, Res.” at the Prospect Hill site and “W”.C. Riggs” for the Pleasant Hill site. Both sites are noted by small, black residence-marks indicating an occupied dwelling. Although there is no residence-mark indicated for the site of the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House, the J.T. Holland name in the Atlas entry is written in large, bold letters over the site of the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House and Woolen Mill indicating ownership of that area.

April 13, 1892 – James Thomas Holland to James Clagett Holland, deed of transfer of 94 acres plus 33 square perches for $4,200 as recorded at Liber J.A. 33 folio 83 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD; less 64 acres plus 20 square perches (described in at Liber J.A. 33 folio 85) leaving approximately 30 acres. This parcel of land is one of two portions of the 59.75 acres plus 1 square perch (see entry of March 13, 1928) parcel relevant to the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House. This parcel contains pasture lands principally to the east of the House. This parcel is described as part of a tract of land called “Gittings Hah Hah” and “Land Gate”.

July 2, 1909 – Thomas J. Holland and wife to James Clagett Holland, deed of transfer of 29.5 acres plus 28 square perches for $375 as recorded at Liber 208 folio 244 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD. “Being the same land transferred from Hannah A. Holland, who died intestate without issue, and whose land descended to Thomas J. Holland and James Clagett Holland by law”. Description of this parcel of land confirms that it contains the site of the subject Mill Worker’s Stone House. This parcel is described as part of a tract of land called “Bordley’s Choice”.

Nov. 23, 1915 – Estate of James Clagett Holland (father) to Willie Grafton Holland (son), transfer of 59.75 acres plus 1 square perch as recorded at Liber H.C.A. 19 folio 28 in the Will books of Montgomery County, MD.

March 13, 1928 – Willie Grafton Holland to Robert R. Hottel and Durus C. Hottel, deed of transfer of 59.75 acres plus 1 square perch as recorded at Liber 454 folio 390 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD. This parcel composed of parts of land tracts: “Bordley’s Choice”; “Gittings Hah Hah”; and “Land Gate”.

Jan. 22, 1931 – Robert R. Hottel and Hazel N. Hottel to Durus C. Hottel, deed of transfer of 59.75 acres plus 1 square perch as recorded at Liber 518 folio 110 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD.

Jan. 16, 1987 – Estate of Durus C. Hottel and Evolyn K. Hottel to Amye Hottel Childs, Trustee, deed of transfer of 55.62 acres as recorded at Liber 7504 folio 003, parcel ID No. 8-501-1927595 in the land records of Montgomery County, MD.

May 7, 1998 – Subdivision Record Plat for Lot 10 Hawlings River Estates as recorded at Plat Book 188 page 20714 of the land records of Montgomery County, MD.

Oct. 20, 1998 – Amye Hottel Childs, Trustee to Jack L. Bufton and Carol L. Bufton, deed of transfer of 25.896 acres for Lot#10 of Hawlings River Estates

ref: Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites Inventory