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London Holliers

Many Hollier families had branches that moved to London, which has been a magnet for people trying to improve their lot over many centuries. We have already noted that the famous surgeon Thomas Hollier came from Coventry, the 'Till' Holliers, who made their mark in the City, came from the Isle of Wight and William Hollier (1796-1859) was born in Tamworth and settled in Stratford, East London (technically in Essex) as a Silk Printer.

However, there are a number of families who are found in London and whose earlier ancestry is not yet known; some are recorded here.

St Lukes and Lambeth

Four generations are known who lived in London, in and around the City: Henry & Eliza, who had a son Henry in 1830 in St Lukes. Henry (an Umbrella Maker) & Harriett, and John & Elizabeth. From the latter family, brought up in Lambeth, two, Albert Thomas and James, emigrated to Alberta, Canada.

Westminster Holliers

A fragment which has left no modern day descendants. The line starts with John and Ann Hollier, who I believe was a Watchmaker at Lambeth and was apprenticed to the Clockmaker's Company in 1742. His son William Thomas Hollier was born c1763 and was apprenticed to Joseph Hayling in 1777 in the Tinplate Workers Company. He became a Tinplate Worker in Westminster, combining this job with that of a Grazier (so Westminster was not so urban then as it is now). He married Hannah Cranmer in 1793 in Soho and had 5 children starting with William Thomas jnr in 1794. However, most of the breadwinners in the family died within a few years of each other: William Thomas Snr in 1816, William Thomas jnr in 1819 and brother John in 1820. The latter brothers had been running a business as Oilmen in St Albans Place in Westminster. John's will left everything to brother George, but he too died before proving the will. Another son of John and Ann was Nicholas, who was apprenticed in 1770 to the Musician's Company and became a Merchant. He had a son John (1801-1862) who was an instrument maker and music publisher and I think was the person involved in the music publishing company Addison & Hollier. He seems to have been the last of this line. There are other Holliers known to be clockmakers who may be connected with this family.

The Bethnal Green Holliers

A line starting with William Henry Hollier born c1796 who married Sarah Hardy at Bethnal Green in 1816. Both he and his son, another William Henry Hollier, were Shoemakers. William Henry, senior, was probably the son of John and Mary, there being a likely baptism at St Martin Vintry in 1796. There was another family of James and Elizabeth Hollier who had family in Bethnal Green in the early 19th century and as he too was a shoemaker, there may be a connection.