Janie (Dove) Holland petitions court for support

While researching my great-grandparents, Elijah Jeffers Holland and Cornelia Jane “Janie” Dove, I uncovered a court document that reveals new details about their lives. I’m sharing it here as an extension of their story, rather than a traditional timeline sketch (I’ve already created one for each of them). If you’d like to learn more, click their names above to read their earlier sketches.

Elijah and Janie (Dove) Holland

Elijah and Janie married in 1894. After a brief stay in Hart County, Georgia, they made their home in Whitfield County, Georgia, where they farmed the land, attended church, and surrounded themselves with family and friends, becoming respected members of the community. They were blessed with three children: Roy Holland (1897), Nellie Holland (1898), and Samuel “Sam” Jackson Holland (1904). A fourth child, sadly, did not survive.

On March 4, 1915, their lives were forever altered. Elijah passed away in Dalton, Georgia, at just 42 years old, leaving Janie, 43, to navigate an uncertain future. Their three children—Roy (17), Nellie (16), and Sam (10)—were still too young to shoulder the burden of their loss. For Janie, the passing of her husband also meant the loss of the family’s sole provider.

In the early 20th century, widows like Janie endured immense hardships. With no breadwinner to support them, they turned to the courts for relief—a provision allowed under Georgia law at the time. On April 1, 1915, Janie petitioned the Whitfield County Court for 12 months of financial and property support for herself and her children, along with household furniture to help sustain their lives.

The court appointed five appraisers—G. L. Broadrick, A. L. Rollins, C. N. McAllister, George W. Cline, and W. N. Richardson—to evaluate the estate and allocate resources for Janie and the children. Their assessment concluded Janie required $890 for support and maintenance. She chose to receive her allotment in this form:

• Land: Elijah’s equitable interest in 33 acres (lot 305) and 35 acres (lot 272), valued at $700
• Livestock: One mule ($100), one cow ($25), and two pigs ($5)
• Tools and furniture: Farming tools and wagons ($10), and household furniture ($50)

This allocation provided much-needed support, but with a stipulation: Janie would be responsible for settling all outstanding debts associated with the estate.

This court document offers a small window into the challenges Janie faced after Elijah’s untimely passing, while also shedding light on the struggles women endured during that era. I can’t imagine standing in her shoes, forced to petition the court simply to secure the means to support my family. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come.

References

E. J. Holland, Whitfield County, Georgia, Probate Records 1865–1935, images 325–326, FamilySearch.