Christene Holt
Christene Holt
Died
Sept. 7, 1907
Age 60 yrs
HOLT
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
Biography
Christine Holt died on September 7, 1907. Her data at that time indicates that she was about 60 years old. Christine is a member of the African-American community that was vibrant in the First Congregational Church that was established shortly after the Civil War. In the 1880 census (Federal census of Nueces County, page 16) Christine is listed under the name of Christina Whetstone. In most census records in fact she is listed as "Christina". She says that she is 30 years old (born about 1850), a native of Alabama; and she says that she is already a widow. Christine is listed with the Norwick Gussett family whom she serves as a domestic. Her next future husband, John Holt, is not found in the Nueces County records of the federal census of 1880, and it is unclear which John Holt he might be among the ones listed in Texas in 1880. The two most likely possibilities are both younger than Christine, and this may partly explain why she preceded her husband in death. Christina married John Holt in Corpus Christi on Feb. 16, 1884 in the First Congregational Church, with Rev. (Solomon) Coles as the minister.
In the 1900 census records of Nueces County, Christina is listed as living alone in a home near Fr. Jaillet (the pastor of St. Patrick's Church on Carancahua) and the Thomas Beynon family. There she lists herself as born in July of 1855, married 15 years and with one child surviving. In this record, she states that she is a native of South Carolina and that she is earning a living as a washerwoman. However, John is not listed with her. This may mean either that they are separated for personal reasons or purely for financial reasons (that is, he is elsewhere employed in an effort to bring in some money). There is a "John Holt" listed in San Antonio (Bexar County federal census E.D. #92, page 1B) who might fit the description of her husband as he is born in January of 1855 and married about 13 years. However, like Christina he has no spouse listed with him. Further complicating the picture is the presence in Corpus Christi of a Henry Holt who may be a relative of John. However, their connection is unclear. Nevertheless, whatever the reasons for their separation during parts of their marriage, Christina and John are buried together in Old Bayview Cemetery.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell (April 2006)