William Robert Grattan Holt (1826-1861)
of Ballycrystal, near Geashill, Co. Offaly
He married Mary, daughter of the proprietor of Prumplestown Mills in Castledermot, Co. Kildare. After their marriage, he took out a five year lease on Ballycrystal near Geashill in Co. Offaly, a 291-acre grazing farm. It was not successful and when the lease expired they moved to a smaller 152-acre farm at nearby Alderborough which also proved unprofitable. When William died aged just 35, the family sank into poverty and his wife was forced to abandon the farm before moving to Portarlington where she found work as a housekeeper. Their two sons were taken into the care of her brother, Henry Hannon, who'd since succeeded their father as the proprietor of Prumplestown Mills. Their second son, Sir Herbert Holt, would become one of Canada's richest men but in reference to his ruthless reputation it is of interest to note that in a dispute between William and his brother, it was said that, "the business affairs of William Holt's family would not stand up to close scrutiny". They had four children and through their eldest son they are among the great-grandparents of Mrs John Astor.
