Holderness was named in 1751 for Robert Darcy, fourth Earl of Holderness, ambassador to Venice and minister at The Hague under King George III. He opposed the king's policy toward the colonies, and became a close friend of Governor Wentworth in efforts to promote friendly trade relations abroad. In 1761, the land was regranted to a group of New England families, including Samuel Livermore, who wanted to create a pretentious estate similar to that of the English countryside. Return to History