Thomas Bolling was the son of John Kennon Bolling and second wife Elizabeth Blair. He was born on July 18, 1735 in Virginia and died August 7, 1804, at Cobbs Plantation, Henrico County, Virginia. Thomas studied law under Mr. Robert Carter Nicholas in Williamsburg. He married his first cousin Elizabeth "Betsy" Gay, daughter of Dr. William Gay and wife Elizabeth Bolling.

Most sources list his place of birth as Cobbs Plantation, however, the memoir written by his brother Robert gives the place of birth as Varina Plantation, also in Henrico County. Varina was the home plantation of the Rolfe family, so this is plausible. One would think his brother would know the facts.

Links to additional material:

• Bolling, Robert: 'A memoir of a portion of the Bolling family in England and Virginia.' Printed for private distribution. Published 1868 [available as free download here - http://openlibrary.org/books/OL7006188M/A_memoir_of_a_portion_of_the_Bolling_family_in_England_and_Virginia.]