Family Facts & Oddities!

Twins George Calvin Cornelius & John Cavelier Cornelius both born on 8-16-1896 also both passed away the same day on 8-4-1962.

Knighted by Richard "The Lion Heart" King of England
1189 for heroic action in The Battle of Palestine.
Described as having "Struck off three heads with
one swipe of the sword" [oh yea verily] !!!!

Sir John is the first Holcombe found recorded in visitations of
England. He served in the War of the Crusades to Palistine, where in
the Third Crusade (1177-1191) he beheaded three turks with one stroke
of his sword. He was knighted by King Richard for this deed. The
Holcombe Coat-of-Arms contains three heads in honor of that feat. He
later died of wounds received in the Holy Land. He was buried at the
Abbey Church of Dorchester, the oldest Abbey in England.

Note for: Sir John Holcombe, ABT. 1175 - ABT. 1269 Index
[5.FTW]
From CD#10, Tree 4213--Sir John Holcombe is the first to be mentioned in the Visitations of England. He served in the War of the Crusades, to Palestine, indications being that he participated in two of the Crusades. "During the Third Crusade, while in battle, with one mighty sweep of his sword he severed the heads of three Mohannedans. This explains the significance of the four heads on the Coat of Arms which was bestowed upon him hen he was meritoriously knighted for this deed of valor by King Richard in the latter part of the 12th century.The Heraldic Office describes the Holcombe Arms as follows: 'Azure field; chevron, argent, bewteen three Turks' heads in profile, coupled at shoulders or, wreathed about the temples, sable and of the second. Crest: a man's head, full faced couped at the breast proper, wreath around the temples or, and asure.' "The motto 'Veritas et fortitudo' in English is Truth and Courage." The effigy of the Knight Holcombe now rests in the old Abbey Church of Dorchester, England, one of the oldest abbies in England.
Per Jill Cruse: Sir John Holcombe was knighted by King Richard I (The Lion Heart) for deeds accomplished during the third crusade (1189-92). Sir John beheaded three Turks with one sword swipe. His tomb is located in Dorchester, Abbey, Oxfordshire England. The missing family pedigree which hung behind the sarchohagus in the lady chapel in 1995. Sir John's coat of arms, one of the oldest in England, are as follows: Azure field, a chevron argent, between three Turks' heads in profile, couped at the sholder, wreathed about the temples, sabled and of the second. The crest is a man's head, full faced, couped at the breast proper, wreathed around the temples (Source: The Holcombe Family http://claim.goldrush.com/~humbert/test.html). Jill has a B&W picture of the tomb and the crest.
the first recorded holcombe in history
Tomb of Sir John de Holcombe, Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire
Sir John's tomb is one of oldest likenesses we have of any family member

For 20 shillings on 6 Jul 1735, received a land patent of 200 acres in Prince George County between HillÕs and NashÕs Line.
For 25 shillings on 15 Aug 1735, 232 acres were added to the previous patent in now Amelia County on the Branches of Buckskin and Beaver Pond bordering the lands of William Lawson, LewisTurner, John Nash and Samuel Jones.
On 10 Jun 1738 for Amelia County, living betwee Deep and Flatt Creek, Thos Spencer was listed under Mr. Nash along with Jack Jeaney for a total of 3 tithes.
For 25 shillings on 30 Jul 1742, received a land patent of 250 acres in Brunswick County on the West Side of the Middle Fork of the Three Forks of Licking Hole Creek bordering lands of Joseph Morton.
For 15 shillings on 20 Mar 1745, 112 acres were added to the previous patent in Brunswick County on both sides of the Middle Fork of the Three Forks of Licking Hole bordering lands of Joseph Morton.
For 40 shillings on 20 Mar1745, received a land patent of 400 acres in Amelia County on the Head Branches of the Bryer River.
For 3 pounds on 20 Aug 1748, 571 acres were added to previous patent in now Lunenburg County on both sides of the Middle Fork of the Three Forks of Licking Hole bordering lands of Joseph Morton.
For 41 pounds 10 shillings on 27 Feb 1750, Thomas Spencer of Raleigh Parish, Amelia County bought 200 acres of land from Clement Read of Cumberland Parish, Lunenberg Countyon the head branches of the Roanoke in Lunenberg County adjoining Abram Womack, Thomas Spencer, and Richard Womack. Witnesses were Charles (Toby?), Abraham Dotke, Thomas Nash, and Robert Jones.
For 85 pounds on 7 Jan 1754, Thomas Spencer of Amelia County sold to Matthew Flournoy of Prince Edward County the land granted to him in Amelia County in 1745.
Thomas was appointed justice of Charlotte County in 1765.
He became a member of the Charlotte County militia in 1767 as a major.
Thomas Spencer was a member of the Charlotte County Committee of Safety in 1775, served in the armed forces with the rank of Captain and then Colonel, and was a member of the House of Burgesses.
Thomas was appointed deputy sheriff of Charlotte County 1779-1780.
Thomas of Charlotte County left a will dated 13 July 1793, probated 2 Dec 1793. Thomas' will did not mention his wife, Elizabeth Julia. Some say she died in 1793, apparently before Thomas wrote his will. His two children Sion and Ann also were not mentioned so must have died before 13 Jul 1793.
Thomas Spencer Will In the name of God amen I Thomas Spencer of Charlotte County, being of sound mind pleased be God, do make this my last will and Testament in the following manner. First I desirethat all my just debts be paid by my executors hereafter to be named. As I have never given to my Daughter Judith Spencer anything in her possession, I now give and bequeath to her, her heirs & assigns forever, the plantation on which I now live, together with all the land the upper side of the Creek and also thefive Negroes now named to wit: Phill, Harrod, Jesse, Amey, and Anakey. I alsogive her 12 head of Cattle, her choice of my stock, also my cart and oxen, my bay horse, two feather beds and furniture, ten head of sheep her choice, twelvehead of Hogs her choice. Item I give to my son Thomas Spencer all the Land onthe lower side of the Creek, to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son Gideon Spencer, Edmond, a Negro Boy, which I lent to him, to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son Saml F Spencer a Negro girl named Lizzy which I lentto him, to him and his heirs forever. All the rest of my estate of what kind or nature whatsoever, with money due me, by Bonds or open accounts, I desire may be equally divided among my eight Children now named to wit: John Spencer, Thomas Spencer, Gideon Spencer, Samuel F Spencer, Mary Speed, Elizabeth J Speed, Martha Owen Halloway, and Judith Spencer, to them their heirs and assigns forever. I now appoint my four sons to wit: John Spen.....cut off here....sorry...