History and Descendants of the Holden Family

We are indebted to Jan McGrath, a direct Holden descendant, for this important information. Jan's home is in Geelong, State of Victoria, Australia. < janicemcgrath@optusnet.com.au >

Richard Holden and his brother Justinian arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the "Francis" from their home in Linsey, Suffolk, England. Richard was one of the first settlers in Groton, Massachusetts. He married Martha Fosdick ,originally from the same area in England, in 1640. They had eleven children. They were involved in an Indian attack and departed/escaped from Groton in 1675-76 for Watertown, to be near his brother, Justinian. They returned to Groton in 1684, where Richard died at age 86. At about the time of his death he had 52 grandchildren and 200 great grandchildren (source:Putnam).

Amasa Amidon Holden, the sixth generation from Richard, arrived in Deer Isle as a schoolteacher in about 1800, as a twenty-five-year-old from Mendon, Mass. He married Abigail Eaton, the daughter of William Eaton Jr. and Hannah Haskell Eaton of Deer Isle. They had eleven children, and Amasa taught school for 52 winters. Some of their children became teachers, and others went to sea. No descendants remain in Deer Isle today, but are found around the U.S. and Canada, and as far away as Australia. We are indebted to Jan McGrath, a direct Holden descendant, for this important information.