Holyoke Family Genealogy - Person Sheet
Holyoke Family Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameWilliam HOLYOKE 
, M
, MBirthabt Dec 1794, Hampton Lucy Parish, Warwickshire, England
Deathabt 1879, Galesburg, Knox, IL
BurialHope Cemetery; Galesburg, Knox, IL
MotherElizabeth HOLYOKE , F
Notes for William HOLYOKE
• Reportedly he is the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Holyoke in England
• One record states that he was a wagon maker and a wheelwright, an abolitionist, presided over Knox County Anti-slavery Society meetings in 1838 … HOWEVER, to me this sounds like they may have mixed up this William (1794-1879) with another William Holyoke (1787-1851) who:
- Was an abolitionist (like his father)
- Founded the Knox County Anti-slavery Society and presided over meetings in 1838 and 1841 (Illinois Anti-Slavery Society)
- Operated a “station on the Underground Railroad” in his home, similar to his uncle’s house in Brewer, Penobscot, ME.
- Was also a Knox College trustee, elected president, and a Board Member.
• Overall, this record of William Holyoke is a little bit suspious …
• One record states that he was a wagon maker and a wheelwright, an abolitionist, presided over Knox County Anti-slavery Society meetings in 1838 … HOWEVER, to me this sounds like they may have mixed up this William (1794-1879) with another William Holyoke (1787-1851) who:
- Was an abolitionist (like his father)
- Founded the Knox County Anti-slavery Society and presided over meetings in 1838 and 1841 (Illinois Anti-Slavery Society)
- Operated a “station on the Underground Railroad” in his home, similar to his uncle’s house in Brewer, Penobscot, ME.
- Was also a Knox College trustee, elected president, and a Board Member.
• Overall, this record of William Holyoke is a little bit suspious …