Valentine Hollingsworth, a native of England, came from Belfast, Ireland, in 1682, and settled in New Castle County, near the Brandywine.  His first wife was Catharine Cornish, daughter of Henry Cornish, high sheriff of London, who was unjustly executed during the reign of James II.  His second wife, Ann, was a Calvert and probably related to the proprietaries of Maryland.  The children of the first wife appear to have been Thomas, b. ca 1660; Henry, b. ca 1662; Catharine b. ca 1664, married George Robinson; Mary b ca 1666, m. Thomas Conway, who died 7-17-1689 and in 1603 m. Randal Malin, of Providence.

The children of the second wife were Samuel, Ann, Joseph, John, ch and perhaps others.  The family is principally represented in this county by the descendants of Thomas.*(1881)