The Holt Family of Andover
Nicholas Holt was born 19-10-1602 in Romsey, Hampshire, England and died 30-1-1685 in Andover, Massachusetts, USA. Nicholas Holt of Andover stands as one of the most significant early links between the Hampshire town and the story of English migration to New England. Born in the early seventeenth century, Holt left Andover during the great Puritan exodus and settled in Massachusetts, where he became a foundational figure in the emerging community of Andover, Essex County—named in honour of his English home. His journey reflects the wider forces that propelled many families across the Atlantic: religious tension, economic uncertainty, and the promise of land and self‑determination in the American colonies. Today, descendants tracing their lineage back to Nicholas Holt find in his migration a defining moment that connects the parish life of old Andover with the earliest chapters of U.S. settlement.
The Holt Association of America
The Holt Association of America (https://www.holt-association.org/) is a long‑established genealogical and historical society, which started in 1921, dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the story of the Holt families who settled in New England and across the United States. These are the descendants of William Holt, Nicholas Holt, John Holt, Oliver Holt, Robert Holt, Randall Holt, Michael Holt and all other branches of the Holt surname that arrived in America between 1620 and 1892. Rooted in the legacy of early migrants such as Nicholas Holt of Andover, Massachusetts, the association brings together descendants, historians, and researchers to document family lines, publish findings, and foster connections among Holt kin. Through reunions, newsletters, archival projects, and collaborative research, the association works to safeguard the heritage of the Holt name and to deepen understanding of the family’s role in the broader narrative of American settlement and migration. The association produced an anniversary booklet for their 100 years. It can be read here.
