• Daughters of American Revolution Ancestor #: A011824
• Service: NORTH CAROLINA Rank: SERGEANT
• Birth: 6-1-1758 HILLSBOROUGH ORANGE CO NORTH CAROLINA
• Death: 8-15-1841 PERRY CO KENTUCKY
• Pension Number: *S14974
• Service Source: *S14974
• Service Description: 1) CAPTS WILLIAM HALE, STIMPSON; MAJS PHELPS, HERNDON; 2) COLS CLEVELAND, CAMPBELL

Jesse Bowling

Rev. Jesse Bowling, born 22 May 1758 at Hillsboro, North Carolina, died 10 MAR 1841, on Quicksand Creek, Breathitt County, KY. He was son of Benjamin Bowling and Patty Phelps.

Jesse served in the North Carolina and Virginia Militia during the Revolution and was a Baptist Preacher, and County Judge of Perry County Kentucky 1821-1838.

Jesse was married twice, both times in Wilkes County, North Carolina. About 1776 he married Polly Green who died in 1778. They had one son, John E. Bowling, born in 1777 in North Carolina.

Jesse married for the second time, 6 JAN 1785, in Wilkesboro, Mary Pennington 18 NOV 1765 NC - 1843 Breathitt County, daughter of Capt. Micager Pennington and Rachel Jones.

After his second marriage, Jesse lived in North Carolina until 1793 then moved to Hopkins Co., TN.

While living in Hawkins Co., Jesse was baptized and ordained an Elder in the Primitive Baptist Church by Rev. Andrew Baker, his great great-uncle, at the Blackwater Church.

In 1795 Jesse and his family moved to Lee County, Virginia. At one time he was pastor of the Old Stony Creek Church at Fort Blackmore.

In 1810, Jesse and his family, and his father, Benjamin, moved to Kentucky and settled on the North Fork of the Kentucky River, just above the mouth of Grapevine Creek. Jesse's father soon returned to Wise Co., VA.

In 1818, Rev. Dan Duff and his family came from Harlan Co. and bought land adjoining that of Jesse so that he and Jesse could work together. About 1835 Rev. Duff moved to Quicksand Creek. In 1838 Jesse and his family also moved to Quicksand, near Rev. Duff, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

Jesse's brother William and his sister Hannah (Mrs. Soloman Osborne) also lived in Clay County. A number of Jesse's cousins, children of his uncle James Bowling and Sallie Blevins, came from Tennessee and lived in Clay County.

Reverend Jesse &Mary(Pennington) Bowling were among the founders of what was earlier known as the "Bowling District" and later known as "Bowlingtown Community," of Hazard, Perry Co, KY.

The Lost Community of Bowlingtown The story of a thriving community of hundreds that once prospered where Buckhorn Lake state park now stands. A plaque will be dedicated in its memory.

Bowlingtown 1800 -1960:

Long before Buckhorn Lake was created and the state park established in 1964, a small community flourished for many generations here, along the middle fork of the Kentucky River.

Early records refer to this area as the Bowling District, founded by Reverend Jesse Boling, his wife Mary Pennington, Reverend Duff and 50 other families. They were led to this remote area under the guidance of Daniel Boone. By the late 1800's Bowlingtown was a thriving community of hundreds. There was a post office, school, churches, grocery, saw mill, blacksmith and the Frontier Nursing Service. Local officials included a sheriff, magistrate, justice of the peace, and tax commissioner. The citizens were primarily farmers and coal miners. They were known to be patriotic, honest, kind, and well-educated people.

In 1960, when the construction of Buckhorn Lake began, Bowlingtown had to be abandoned and families relocated. Family graves (873) were re-interred to Buckhorn Cemetery. All were sad to leave their homeland of seven generations.

This exhibit is dedicated in their memory.

I was probably one of the last to be born in Bowlingtown. I started seven years ago to get the Buckhorn lodge or park renamed Bowlingtown. I did this in memory of my grandfather and also to prevent my birthplace from disappearing. When the Corp of Engineers decided to build the dam everyone was forced to leave. This place had been a homeland for seven generations of family and friends (mostly Bowlings/Bollings).

His family and friends from Bowlingtown were scattered to the four winds. That was the first time I saw him cry.

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My grandfather was a strong man who farmed and mined most his life to build up a heritage to leave his children (16+ acres in Perry Co and 64+ acres in Leslie). The government gave him enough money to buy 1/2 acre "unfarmable, not even a garden" lot in Richmond, KY. His family and friends from Bowlingtown were scattered to the four winds. That was the first time I saw him cry. He refused to visit Buckhorn Lodge or the lake because he and many others were adamant that it should have been named Bowlingtown. Maybe now he can rest in peace and I'm sure he will smile once again for Bowlingtown.

The lodge sits on the hill where the original log cabin school house was built in early 1800's, which a white frame schoolhouse replaced in early 1900's. The beach and swimming area is where children and adults alike played baseball. The picnic area was where they dug up hundreds of graves, which my grandfather watched to insure all relatives were properly re-interred at the top of the hill across from the lodge. It was horrific and caused him nightmares.

So you see it has been very important to get a 2' x 3' sign installed in front of the lodge with Bowlingtown's history. The sign illustrates the river and where the various families lived (designated by numbers) with a list of family members associated with each house. The sign was designed by my Father, Floyd Hacker, who is 78 years old. He also provided all the family names/members and where each house was located. There is a sign inside the lodge with a history of the Bowlings/Bollings that goes back to 1066 in Bradford, England (Bolling Castle still stands today in memory of the Bollings).

It is important to note the source of the funds for this project: $2000 from Bowlingtown family and friends and $1000 grant from the KY Heritage Society; And without the KY State Parks co-operation this project still would be on the drawing board.

Jewell Gordon, Bowlingtown Project Mgr.

Served in the Revolution, in the Virginia and North Carolina Militia. He was a Baptist Preacher, and also served as a County Judge, for Perry County Kentucky, 1821-1838. Enlisted from North Carolina December 1780, applied for pension 1832, Clay County Kentucky. Claim allowed, age 74 years 5 months, when pension granted October 22, 1832. Served with Washington at Valley Forge.

He was a Baptist Preacher, and also served as a County Judge, for Perry Co KY, 1821-1838

1790 census 10th company Wilkes Co North Carolina

Bolin, Jesse 1 3 3 0

1810, Clay Co., KY - listed as Jessee Boling

1820, Perry Co., KY #418 - listed as Jesse Bowling, Sr.

1830, Perry Co., KY #351- listed as Jesse Bowling

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• Jeanine Jordan originally submitted this to "OurCrazyFamilyTreeAndItsManyBranches! on 12 Jun 2008
• Mary Happy 50 added this on 5 Apr 2009

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Revolutionary War Soldier Perry County Magistrate Baptist Minister s/o Benjamin Bolling and Martha "Patsy" Phelps Bolling, h/o Mary Pennington. f/o John E, Hannah, Mary Polly, Justice, Rachel, Elizabeth, Jesse, John P, Elijah, Margaret Patsy, Nancy, Thomas.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71090197
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http://www.kykinfolk.com/breathitt/databases/jessebowling

Born: 22 May 1758, Hillsborough, NC Marriage (1): Mary Pennington on 6 Jan 1785 in Wilkesboro, NC Marriage (2): Polly Green about 1776 Died: 10 Mar 1841, Breathitt County, Quicksand Creek, KY at age 82

Jesse Bolling was in the battle of the Cowpens during the Revolution.

He came to Ky. in 1810 and settled in Clay Co. on the Middle Fork of the Ky. River. That section of Clay Co. later became Perry Co. and then Leslie Co.

Jesse enlisted in the Revolutionary war in 1780 in Wilkes Co. NC. He marched to Salisbury and was employed in guarding British and Tory prisoners. He marched with the prisoners from the Salisbury line to VA with the British in pursuit.

He served three months and was discharged. In the spring of 1781 he reenlisted in Wilkes Co. NC and marched from there down the Yadkin River to the trading ford and was used in guarding against an invasion by the British.

In July or August, 1781, he again reenlised in Grayson Co. Va. as a light horse soldier and marched to NC to a place where the troops guarded a town against the British.

After the war Jesse and his brother Benjamin Jr. settled in Flat Gap in Wise Co. Va. (Wise Co. was formed in 1856 from parts of Lee, Russell, and Scott Co.Va.) where Jesse became a Baptist minister.

He was pastor of the Old Stony Creek Church at Fort Blackmore, Va.(This is in Scott Co.) around 1800. He married Mary Pennington of Lee Co. Va., his second wife.

• *********************************************************** Birthplace: Hillsboro, Orange, North Carolina Death: Died March 10, 1841 in Quicksand Creek, Breathitt, KY

Immediate Family:

Son of Benjamin Jesse Bolling, Sr. and Martha Bolling Husband of Mary Bolling and Mary Elizabeth Bolling Father of John E. Bowling, VI; Hannah Charity Huff; Mary Barger; Justice Tucker Bolling; Jesse Bolling, Jr. and 10 others Brother of Benjamin Bolling, Jr.; James Bolling; William Bowling; John Bolling; Hannah Osborne and 6 others Half brother of Joseph Bolling; (No Name) and Jeremiah Bolling

Occupation: Baptist Preacher; Revolutionary Vet, Judge, Soldier during the Revolutionary War, Baptist Preacher, County Judge

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bolling-230

Jesse was in the Revolutionary war; saw General George Washington at Valley Forge

Rev. Jesse Bowling was born 22 May 1758 (note slight conflict with Find A Grave showing 2 May 1758) at Hillsboro, NC and died 10 Mar 1841 at Quicksand Creek, Breathitt County, KY. He was the son of Benjamin Bowling and Patty Phelps (Felts).
Jesse served in the North Carolina and Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War and was a Baptist preacher and County Judge in PerryCounty KY from 1821-1838.

Jesse was married twice, both times in Wilkes County, NC. He married first, in 1776, Polly Green who died in 1778. They had one son, JohnE. Bowling, born 1777 in North Carolina. John E. also lived in Clayand Perry Counties, KY. His second marriage was to Mary Pennington on6 Jan 1785. She was born to Capt Micajah Pennington and Rachel Joneson 8 Nov 1765 in North Carolina.

After his second marriage, Jesse lived in North Carolina until 1793,then he went to Hawkins County Tennessee. While living there Jesse was baptised and ordained an elder in the Primitive Baptist Church byRev Andrew Baker, his great-great uncle, at the Blackwater Church.

In 1795 Jesse and his family, his father, and his brother William moved to the North Fork of the Kentucky River, just above Grapevine Creek, in what was then a part of Clay County, KY.

In 1810 Rev Dan Duff and his family came from Harlan County and bough tland adjoining that of Jesse so he and Jesse could work in the church together. About 1835 Dan moved to Quicksand Creek. In 1838 Jesse and his wife also moved to Quicksand, near Dan, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Jesse is believed to be buried in one of the small graveyards at the mouth of Meatscaffold Creek, on Quicksand. Some of Jesse's brothers and sisters, William and Hanna (Mrs. SolomanOsborne) also lived in Clay County, KY at one time. James Bowling,Jesse's brother, and his children came from Tennessee and settled in Clay County.

Family

Husband: Benjamin Bowling & Wife: Patty Felts Married Date: 20 JUN 1753 Place: Albermarle County, Virginia

1. Child: Benjamin Bowling
2. Child: John Bowling
3. Child: James Bowling
4. Child: William Bowling
5. Child: Barnett Bowling
6. Child: Jesse Bowling
7. Child: Hannah Bowling
8. Child: Delaney Bowling
9. Child: Elizabeth Bowling

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This ancestry information has not been verified!

Married to Sarah Handcock in Spottsylvania County, VA in about 1775. Sarah was born in Pennsylvania in 1759 and died in Randolph County, NC in 1805. In 1784, the acquired 400 acres of land in Randolph County, erected a home and pent their remaining years there.

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 28 2018, 23:48:11 UTC

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• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 24 2022, 23:48:47 UTC

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Revolutionary War Soldier Perry County Magistrate Baptist Minister s/o Benjamin Bolling and Martha "Patsy" Phelps Bolling, h/o Mary Pennington. f/o John E, Hannah, Mary Polly, Justice, Rachel, Elizabeth, Jesse, John P, Elijah, Margaret Patsy, Nancy, Thomas.∼Jesse Bolling

Born: 22 May 1758, Hillsborough, NC Marriage (1): Mary Pennington on 6 Jan 1785 in Wilkesboro, NC Marriage (2): Polly Green about 1776 Died: 10 Mar 1841, Breathitt County, Quicksand Creek, KY at age 82

Jesse Bolling was in the battle of the Cowpens during the Revolution.

He came to Ky. in 1810 and settled in Clay Co. on the Middle Fork of the Ky. River. That section of Clay Co. later became Perry Co. and then Leslie Co.

Jesse enlisted in the Revolutionary war in 1780 in Wilkes Co. NC. He marched to Salisbury and was employed in guarding British and Tory prisoners. He marched with the prisoners from the Salisbury line to VA with the British in pursuit.

He served three months and was discharged. In the spring of 1781 he reenlisted in Wilkes Co. NC and marched from there down the Yadkin River to the trading ford and was used in guarding against an invasion by the British.

In July or August, 1781, he again reenlised in Grayson Co. Va. as a light horse soldier and marched to NC to a place where the troops guarded a town against the British.

After the war Jesse and his brother Benjamin Jr. settled in Flat Gap in Wise Co. Va. (Wise Co. was formed in 1856 from parts of Lee, Russell, and Scott Co.Va.) where Jesse became a Baptist minister.

He was pastor of the Old Stony Creek Church at Fort Blackmore, Va.(This is in Scott Co.) around 1800. He married Mary Pennington of Lee Co. Va., his second wife.

• *********************************************************** Birthplace: Hillsboro, Orange, North Carolina Death: Died March 10, 1841 in Quicksand Creek, Breathitt, KY

Immediate Family:

Son of Benjamin Jesse Bolling, Sr. and Martha Bolling

Husband of Mary Bolling and Mary Elizabeth Bolling

Father of John E. Bowling, VI; Hannah Charity Huff; Mary Barger; Justice Tucker Bolling; Jesse Bolling, Jr. and 10 others

Brother of Benjamin Bolling, Jr.; James Bolling; William Bowling; John Bolling; Hannah Osborne and 6 others

Half brother of Joseph Bolling; (No Name) and Jeremiah Bolling

Occupation: Baptist Preacher; Revolutionary Vet, Judge, Soldier during the Revolutionary War, Baptist Preacher, County Judge* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 5 2021, 15:00:19 UTC