HOLLAND-WATSON CEMETERY, Stillhouse Hole Duck River Bluff, MAURY COUNTY TENNESSEE
Also known as Holland Cemetery, and aka Watson Cemetery

HOLLAND, Major James, b. A.D. 1754 - d. 19 May 1825, in his 70th year. (Revolutionary War; N.C. State Legislature and U. S. Congressman; December 1780, married Sara Gilbert who is buried in Tuscaloosa, Ala. See below for complete inscription from top slab of large box tomb, now tumbled.)
 

HOLLAND, Major James. The inscription on his tomb reads: "Major James Holland, who was born A.D. 1754, and died 19 May 1825, in his 70th year. He served his country in a military and civil capacity throughout the war of American Independence and was afterwards for many years a member of the legislature of North Carolina & a representative in Congress from that State. in 1811 he retired to private life with great popularity and
weight of character, after an arduous and faithful public service of 57 years.

"He was possessed of an energetic and philosophical mind, was of an humane disposition and a sincere lover of order and peace in the world. In private relations he was a good husband, parent, master, and friend, was
kind and hospitable to the poor and strangers and as ye would that man should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

Sarah Gilbert Holland the wife of Major James Holland and daughter of Col. William Gilbert was born in North Carolina Dec 25, 1765 and died in Tuscaloosa at the home of her daughter Sophia S. Perkins 10 Sep 1841. She is interred in the Greenwood Cemetery there in Tuscaloosa Alabama.

The James Holland family settled on the south side of the Duck River between Rieves Bend (north side) and Whithworth Bend (north side) but on the south side of the Duck river. The family lived near the Holland Ford at the mouth of Negro Creek where there were shallow rapids to allow crossing of the river. This was also near the Stillhouse Hole upriver, which was at one time a swirling mass of water that seemed not to flow forward. There is a fine spring above Stillhouse Hole that afforded plenty of water. 

During April 1863 of the Civil War, the Yanks took the life of a Confederate Soldier close by. His name was Albert Childrey. It happened while Childrey was home on leave at his home. After being notified of Childrey's presence in the area the Yanks stationed at nearby Hurricane Switch (Glendale) pursued him. He escaped and fled north toward the Duck River. He plunged into the rain-swollen waters of the river and attempted to escape by crossing to the other side. The soldiers caught up with him and shot him from the bluffs overlooking the Duck river as he was swimming across. Albert was buried in the Hill Cemetery near his home, at Hill Station. His grave is today considered lost and is unmarked. See Hill Cemetery.

See Pope, Wm. Rivers, History of Pope, Carter and McFerrin Families, 1950, McQuiddy Pub. Co., Nashville, p. 131f, for more about the Holland family.