Holly Grove Freeman Community was established December 28, 1879, by a survey of Deeded Lots that included parts of Anna Snowden-Hopkins Land and parts of Snowden Manor Enlarged granted to her sister Rachel Snowden Tyson and to her children upon her death (EBP 3 Folio 392 dated January 8, 1866). The original eighty-five acres of land was uniquely situated between Samuel E Powell’s 100-acre tract of land and Charles T. Hill’s 150-acre farm. Many of the original settlers’ descendants still live on this land.

Samuel E. Powell was born March 1843 to Samuel Powell, Sr. (B.1819) and Charlotte Budd (B. 1815). Samuel E. Powell was one of the original Trustees of Sharp Street Methodist Episcopal Church along with Remus Q. Hill and Levi Hall in 1886. He had nine children. He lived in both New York, and Montgomery County, Maryland throughout his life. At the age of twenty-one he was drafted into service according to the U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records and served in the military during the Civil War in 1864.

In 1874 Samuel E. Powell purchased one hundred acres of land for $1,750.00 from the Tysons. This vast tract of land ran along what is now Norwood Road bounded on the east by what is now Holly Grove Road and included what is now Johnson Road to Layhill Road. Samuel E. Powell provided the financing and held the Mortgage Notes for some of the owners of Lots which are recorded in the Maryland Land Records Archives. Samuel E. Powell was buried in Brooklyn, New York on December 9th, 1912. His granddaughter, Caroline Awkard lives on a parcel of his land today with her family.

Charles Thomas Hill was born February 3, 1861. His parents Edward and Sophia Hill were married in 1856 in Washington, D.C., and were the parents of seven children. Remus Q. Hill, Edward’s brother, was Charles’s uncle. In 1880 Charles lived and worked on Asa Stabler’s farm. In 1903 Charles Thomas Hill and Lucy Virginia Hill purchased 150 acres for $7,500.00 from Robert H Miller and his wife Mariana Miller within a short walking distance of Holly Grove. The Charles T Hill farm was located on both sides of what is now Norwood Road near Cloverly. Large events like the Annual Horse Show of Colored Farmer’s Club of Howard and Montgomery Counties, Maryland were held at his farm. His descendants Warrick Hill, grandson and Octavia Hill, great granddaughter reside on a portion of this ancestral land today. 

Actual Ticket from the First Annual Horse show in 1911

Article from the Evening Star, Washington D.C. August 24, 1917

John P. Stockett

John P. Stockett was born March 1840. He married Mary C. Stockett, and they had six children, Emma, William, Dorian, Eliza, and Joseph Stockett. John was a farmer and Mary was a housekeeper. He built a home and farmed his land. He would take his produce to the O Street market in Washington D.C to sell. His daughter Dora Stockett married Robert Beverley from Virginia and they had five children. Their son, John Francis Beverley who passed away in December 2021 at 99 years of age was the grandson of John and Mary Stockett. He built his home on the ancestral property in Holly Grove. John P. Stockett purchased ten acres on February 21, 1880, for $150.28.

Susanna Howard-Nugent Addison

Susanna Howard-Nugent-Addison was born December 1842- May 1928; her parents were Jack Howard (1793-1895) and Mary “Polly” Hackett Howard (1797-1882). Susanna had eight siblings, Enoch George, Leatha, Greenbury, Margarett, Sophia, Martha, Maria, and Eliza Howard. Her sister Leatha Howard was a slave (Bill of Sale Liber BS 10 Folio 357). Susanna married Joseph Nugent (1840-1880) and was a widow at 38. She married Charles Addison in 1891 at 49. She had four children, William T, Mary, Luvinia, and Joshua. Susanna was a housekeeper. Her great-great-granddaughters Jean Thomas Moore and Patricia Thomas still live in Holly Grove. Susanna Howard Nugent- Addison purchased five acres October 16, 1880, for $75.00.

Charlotte Budd

Charlotte Budd was born in 1815 to Eliza Budd (1795-1850). Her siblings were John E and Rebecca Budd. She and her husband Samuel Powell, Sr. (B. 1819) had five children. John S., Samuel Eli, Mary, Malvina, and William J. Powell. She lived in Cracklin/Sandy Spring, Maryland. Charlotte Budd purchased five acres on March 3, 1882, for $77.44.

Elizabeth Ann Johnson

Elizabeth Ann Johnson was born in 1850 and was married to Hanson (Henson) Johnson in 1875 (B. 1843) and they had five children. James, Henry, Martha, Frank, and Annie Johnson-Campbell. Elizabeth was a housekeeper for Francis Miller’s family and Henson was a farmer and well digger who also worked for the Miller’s. They lived in Sandy Spring and Colesville, Montgomery County, Maryland. Elizabeth Ann Johnson purchased five acres on January 1, 1883, for $75.00, and Hanson Johnson purchased 4.50 acres March 26, 1886, for $69.88.

James Colly

James Colly was born in Wythe County, Virginia in1840. His father William Colly was born in 1813 and was a Blacksmith. His mother Catherine Colly also from Wythe County, Virginia was born in 1818. James Colly had five siblings, Sarah, Mary, John, Catherine, and George Colly. He moved to Berry’s, Montgomery County, Maryland, and married Rose. James was a Laborer and Rose was a housekeeper. James Colly purchased ten acres on January 8, 1883, for $150.37.

William H. Thomas 

William H Thomas was born in 1836. At the age of thirty he was drafted into military service in 1863 according to the U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records and served in the military. He married Rachel Ann Thomas and they had three children, Margaret E., James William, and Mary C. Thomas. He was a farmer. William H Thomas purchased 10.75 acres on March 4, 1886, for $76.59.

Philip T. Stabler

Philip T. Stabler purchased four lots totaling 26.50 acres on June 8th, 1886 for $401.62. Samuel E. Powell purchased a portion of the 26.5 acres in 1889 from Philip Stabler.