An American Family History

Hannah Bradstreet Rolfe Holt was born in 1625 in England. Her parents were Humphrey and Bridget Bradstreet. When she was nine years old she came to America with her family.

When she was 25, she married her first husband, Daniel Rolfe (Roff, Roffe) in 1650.  Daniel was born in 1621. His parents were not Ezra Rolfe and Abigail Bond. They were born after he was.

Daniel and Hannah's children included:
Hannah Rolfe (1652) and
Daniel Rolfe (1655, married Mary Knight). 

According to the Essex Antiquarian in the court of June 3, 1651

Joseph Muzye fined for lying and for saying, when some one was reading that it was the devil's service book.
Witness: Daniell Rofe.

Her father mentioned her in his will

Item I doe give to my daughter Hannah Rofe 20 (twenty) pound.. . . [and] to my two grand choldren Daniel and Hannah Rofe each of them five pound to be paid out of the farme by my sonne Moses when they attain the age of 21 years.

Daniel, Sr. died in 1654 before Daniel, Jr. was born. He was only 34 years old.

The inventory of his estate gives us a fascinating glimpse of their lives. Although Hannah was made the administratrix of the estate, all the the family's assets were listed because they belonged to her husband since a married woman could not own property in her own name.

She married her second husband, Nicholas Holt (Holton), on June 12, 1658. She was his second wife. His first wife was Elizabeth Short. Nicholas was born in 1602 in England. He manufactured woodenware and called himself a "dish turner." On the ship roll he was listed as a tanner which could be a misreading of turner.

Nicholas and Hannah's children included:
Rebecca Holt (1662) and
John Holt (1664).

She died on June 20, 1665 when she was 40 years old. After her death, Nicholas married Mrs. Martha Preston, the widow of Roger Preston on May 21, 1666.

Their son, Daniel Holt, was killed December 19, 1675 during the attack on the fort at Narragansett.

Nicholas died January 30, 1684/85 in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Mary White Rowlandson,Talcot was captured by Native Americans during King Philip's War (1675-1676).

During the 17th and 18th centuries an adult unmarried woman was considered to have the legal status of feme sole, while a married woman had the status of feme covert. A feme sole could own property and sign contracts. A feme covert was not recognized as having legal rights and obligations distinct from those of her husband and could not own any property. When a woman became a widow she became a feme sole again.

The ship Elizabeth sailed from Ipswich, England in April, 1634 with William Andrews, Master. On board were Richard and Ursula Kimball and their children, Ursula’s mother Martha Whatlock Scott and her brothers Roger and Thomas Scott. Humphrey and Bridget Bradstreet sailed on the same ship. They arrived in July at Boston.

Children of Humphrey and Bridget Bradstreet Hannah Bradstreet Rolfe Holt John Bradstreet Martha Bradstreet Beale Mary Bradstreet Kimball Captain Moses Bradstreet Sarah Bradstreet Wallis Rebecca Bradstreet Bonfield

Old Style Calendar Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.