Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/326

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HOLCOMBE

kins) Holcoinbo; grandson of Chester Ilolconibe and tJillxTt Tompkins, and a descendant of Thomas llolcombe, who came to America in IGIJO, settling in Boston, Massachusetts Bay colony. He was graduated from Union college, New York, in 18G1, and went to China as a teacher and mission- ary, lie was connected with the U.S. legation at Peking, Cliina, as interpreter and secretary, 1S7I-8."), antlacting minister, ISTo-TO, l.S7S-89,and 1881-^2. lie was also a member of the commission for the negotiation of new treaties with Cliina in 1880; assisted in negotiating a treaty with Korea in 1882. and was offered but declined a decora- tion from the Emperor of China. He is the autlior of: The Heal Chinaman (1895); several works in the Cliinese language, and newspaper and magazine articles.

HOLCOriBE, Frederick, clergyman, was born in Granby, Conn., Oct. 13, 1786; son of Capt. Jesse and Louise (Pinney) Holcombe. He was graduated at "Williams in 1809; took a course in theology, 1809-12; received deacon's orders in 1812, and was ordained a priest in 1813. He was rector of Christ church, Ilarwinton, Conn., 1812-14, and of Ciirist cluircli, Watertown, Conn., 1814-72. He was a founder of Trinity college, Hart- ford, and of the Ei)iscopal seminary, Cheshire, Conn., curator of Trinitj-, 1832-72, and received from that institution the degree of S.T.D. in 1838. He died at Watertown, Conn., May 20, 1872.

HOLCOHBE, George, representative, was born in "West Amwell. now Lambertville, Hun- terdon county, X.J., in March, 1786; son of Maj. George and Achsah (Knowles) Holcombe; grand- son of Samuel and Eleanor (Barber), and of Josepli and Catharine (Grant) Knowles, and a great-grandson of John Holcombe, a member of the Society of Friends, who emigrated from Tiv- erton, England, under the auspices of William Penn, and settled in Abington, Pa., in 1700, re- moving to West Amwell (Lambertville), N.J., in 170.J. Maj. George Holcombe entei'ed the Colonial army as 1st lieutenant, and was pro- moted captain and then major. The son was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 180",; A.M., 1808, and from the University of Maryland, M.D., in 1808. He i^ractised medicine at AUentown, N.J., 1808-28; was a representa- tive in the state legislature, 1815, and in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th congresses, 1821-28. He was married in 1810 to Elizabeth Imley. He die 1 ill Alh-ntown. N.J., Jan. 14, 1828.

HOLCOMBE, Henry, clergyman, was born in Prince Edward county, "Va., Sept. 22, 1762; sou of Grimes and Elizabetli (Buzbee) Holcombe. He was a cajjtain of cavalry in the American army iluring the Pevolution. and was ordained a Baptist minister in 17S5. He preached at Pipe Creek. 17N5-91, Eutaw, 1791-95, and Beaufort,

S.C, 1795-99, and founded Beaufort college. He was founder of the First Baptist church, Sav- annali, Ga., and pastor 1799-1811, and of the Second Bapti-st church, Philadelphia, Pa., 1811- 24. He was a delegate to the South Carolina state convention that ratified the constitution of the United States; was a founder of the Savan- nah female orplian asylum; founder and editor of the Audhjtiral licjiository; heli)ed to found the Baptist academy at Mount Enon, Burke county, Ga., in 1804; the Georgia Baptist Missionary society in 1806, and originated the penitentiary system which abolished sentence of death for ordinary crimes. He baptized the first white l)erson ever immersed in the city of Savannah and was a pioneer in the establishing of the Bap- tist church and schools in the state. He received the degree of D.D. from Soutii Carolina college, and that of A.^M. from Brown university in 1800. He diiNl in Pliiladeli-bia, Pa., May 22, 1824.

HOLCOMBE, Hosea, clergyman, was born in Union district, S.C, July 20, 1780; son of Hosea H. and Phoebe (Smith) Holcombe, and grandson of John Holcombe, who was born in Prince Ed- Avard county, Va., in 1720. He was brought up a planter, was licensed as a Baptist in 1801, and pi'eached in South Carolina, 1801-11, in North Carolina, 1811-19, and in Jonesboro, Ala., 1819- 41. He was the first Baptist leader in the state and preached in every settled part of it. He established associations, presided over the state conventions, which he founded, and wrote a his- tory of the Baptists in Alabama down to 1840. His son, William Hosea, a Baptist preacher in Mississippi, 1832-67, died in Ripley, IMiss., in 1867. Hosea died at Jonesboro. Ala., July 20, 1841.

HOLCOMBE, James Philemon, educator, was born in Lynchburg, Va., Sept. 25, 1820; son of the Rev. William James and Eliza (Clopton) Holcombe, and a lineal descendant of John and

(Grimes) Holcombe, who resided in King

and Queen count}', "V"a., about 1720. He studied at Yale, and at the University of Virginia; was admitted to the bar, and was professor of law and belles lettres at the latter institution, 1852-60. He was a member of the Virginia secession con- vention and voted for the measure. He was a representative in the 1st Confederate congress, 1861-63, and commissioner to Canada, 1863-65. After the war he returned to Virginia and was principal of Bellevue high school, 1868-73. He was a member of the Virginia Historical society. He is the author of: Iiitrodiictioii. to Eqtiity Jn- rii<prndence (1846); Leading Caseft upon Coinmer- 6ial Law (1847); Diijcnt of Decisiona of the U.S. Supreme Court (1848): Merchants' Boole of Refer- ence m\H); Tjiw of Debtor and Creditor (1848); Literature and. Letterft C1«6S). He difd at Capon Springs, Va.. Aug. 25, 1S73.