Moses Holt

     Moses Holt was born on 11 February 1742 at Wallingford, New Haven Co, Connecticut.¹ He was the son of Samuel Holt and Abigail Hough. Moses Holt married Desire Hall, daughter of Caleb Hall and Esther Humphreville, on 15 May 1760 at Wallingford, New Haven Co, Connecticut.¹ Moses Holt married Sarah (?) before 1779. Moses Holt married Esther Solomon, daughter of Elias Solomon and Catherine Cawley, on 30 January 1790 at Quebec; Their marriage was listed among Titles and Papers in Moses Holt's Inventory of Effects in 1800. It stated a contract of marriage was bearing this date and passed before Charles Stewart, notary.² Moses Holt died on 4 April 1799 at Sorel, Richelieu Co, Quebec, at age 57.³ He was buried on 5 April 1799 at Richelieu Co, Quebec.⁴
     A Petition is located in Pennsylvania indicating he had been taken prisoner.
On 27 May 1777, he was at Lancaster [PA] and sent to Lancaster
Committee, seeking permission to move to lodging in a private house in
Lancaster, provided he check in with the guard officer once every 24 hours.
How Moses Holt got to Pennsylvania, when he was living in Vermont, can only be speculated. They had been advertisements to join the Pennsylvania Loyalists commandered by Sir William Howe were circulating, promising 5 dollars, clothes and 50 acres of land at war's end. General Howe affered 250 acres to non-commissioned officers.^5,6 Moses Holt is listed frequently on the muster rolls of the Pennsylvania Loyalists. On January 30th, 1779 he was in Francis Kearney's Company as Quarter Master while in Pensacola. Later that year as well as through 1783, he was listed as both Lieutenant and Quarter Master. By mid 1783, his son, William Johnson Holt was listed in the same Company as an Ensign, under Major Francis Kearney, commanded by Lt. Colonel William Allen.
     Following the War, it appears he settled in Arlington, Vermont for several years. On February 16, 1785 [Vol 1, p. 229], Moses Holt "now resident of Arlington", paid Jonathan Fassett of Pittsford 90 pounds for the lot opposite Esquire Thomas Tolman's house, together with house and other buildings. Ozi Baker of Arlington sold Moses Holt, "now resident of Arlington" lots 52 and 53, of about 20 acres, together with a house, barn, stables and other buildings on 21 April 1785. In May, Thomas Tolman sold him a small amount of land, which was witnessed by both John Holt and Benjamin Holt. On 20 June 1785, Moses Holt, of Arlington, received 182 pounds from William Johnson Holt, also of Arlington, for several lots. One began at the N.W. corner of Thomas Johnson's home. John Holt was a witness.
He then settled in William Henry (now Sorel), in the district of Montreal, Quebec, where he acquired valuable real estate and was a magistrate. He received half-pay until his death in 1799.⁷ He Arlington, Vermont land records show a few transactions for Moses Holt in 1785, showing he was of Arlington at that time. His son William Johnson Holt was also said to be of Arlington.

Moses Holt was listed on the list of those who had forfeited their estates during the Revolution.

Sabine's Bigraphical Sketches of Loyalists mentions that after the war, when living in Sorel, he acquired valuable real estate and was a magistrate. He received half pay following his service.^8,9
     A document, dated 26 April 1800, found within the papers of Henry Crebassa, notary, gives an Inventory of the effects of Moses Holt. It mentions that Esther Solomon, his widow, was then a resident of William Henry (Sorel). His minor children were Guy, aged six, and George Garth, aged three, and Joseph Powell had been appointed sub-tutor for them at Montreal on 26 February 1800.²