William Holborne

Captain Sir William was found to be an officer on the flag ship of Admiral Sir Edward Hawke, the 'Kent', this was in the year 1747. The Third HMS Kent was a 3rd Rate, with 74 guns commissioned at Deptford in 1746. Her first action was in 1747 off Cape Finisterre when she was part of a fleet sent to intercept a convoy of 250 French ships bound home from the West Indies.

The following year (1748) William served on board the 'Prince Frederick', a 64 gun ship of 480 men (Barrington papers Vol.I) Later, he served on board the third rate, 74 gun 'Terrible', with a compliment of 715 men in 1755. 

During the 'Seven Years War' it is a matter of record and known that Admiral Holburn’s brother, Captain William Holburn commanded the 80 gun ship ‘Newark’ which he had taken as one of the fleet under Lord Anson in the summer of 1758 off Breast, where Admiral Sir Francis had command of the ‘Terrible’. 

Whilst engaged in a battle with the French fleet the Admiral’s own ship, the ‘Namur’ was deprived of it manoeuvrability, Boscawen was compelled to transfer his command to the next best ship, the ‘Newark’.

During this battle against De la Clue, off Gibraltar 56 Englishmen were killed with 196 wounded. Five of these fatalities occurred on board the ‘Newark’ but the fleet were then able to proceed to victory against the French at Toulon.- Again William was part of the fleet in the Mediterranean in 1759 under Admiral Boscawen. 

IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO SUPPOSE THAT WILLIAM FOLLOWED HIS BROTHER TO AMERICA, and in looking for evidence of this one can not discount the records of John Tayloe III. William Holburne (ca. 1748–1810) was an agent for John Tayloe III (1771–1828). John Tayloe served as an administrator of the estate of William Holburne.

In the extensive accounts left by John Tayloe a letter book dated May 26–July 18 1801 reveals an item indexed by the staff of the Virginia Historical Society in 1970, it was kept, in part, by William Holburne (at Mount Airy, Richmond County, and Alexandria, Virginia). Letters kept detail records of horses, the Tappahannock Jockey Club, and the construction of the Octagon House, Washington, D.C., as well as other plantation, personal, and business matters. 

Further delving into this vast repository of American history in Section 66 thereof it is revealed: "Holburne, William (ca. 1748–1810), Estate Inventory, 1810 This section consists of one item, an inventory, 1810 October 19, of the estate of William Holburne, taken at Mount Airy, Richmond County, Virginia, by John Smith and Benjamin Boughton. 

Another account book, 1810–1812, kept by George Murren (d. 1824) concerns the estate of William Holburne administered by George Murren and John Tayloe III.

Further items include a record of 1809 for William Holburne with James Smock; a deed dated 1810, of John Smith to William Holburne for a Negro slave; an affidavit dated 1811, of Benjamin Boughton concerning estate of William Holburne; and further accounts from 1810 to 1832 of the estate of William Holburne (administered by George Murren and John Tayloe III).

Section 69, Holburne, William (ca. 1748–1810), Estate Legal Papers, 1805–1842: references a lawsuit between a William Holburne Gallagher and John Tayloe III (surviving executor of William Holburne), with a complaint of William Henry Tayloe (executor of John Tayloe III).

"Finally contained in Reel 4, Section 1, Land Records, 1650-1723, of (old) Rappahannock (now Essex) County, Virginia, is the record of the will of said William Holburne: Section 65, Holburne, William (ca. 1748-1810), Will, 1810.  

William the brother of Francis was born before 1748 as his father died between 1736/7, but he was the youngest son and served under Lord Anson in the summer of 1758 off Breast. He would have been about twenty and could have died aged 82, as this account implies.