William Bolling of Orange, VA

Additional Curator's Notes:

This William is sometimes confused with William Bolling (1731-1776/8). As curator, I have elected to give this William the display name of William Bolling of Orange, VA, to hopefully prevent confusion with William Bolling born in 1731. It is important not to confuse the the two Williams because William born in 1731 did not exist.

The William Bolling who was born in 1731 supposedly married Amelia Randolph, daughter of Richard Randolph II and wife Nancy Meade. From everything I have read, these two never existed. The alleged connection between William Bolling (1731-1776/8) was caused by a fabrication conceived by a researcher who was looking for a way to the lineage of another William Bolling who was living at the same relative time.There were more than one William Bollings then, but the most likely one who fit the bill was William Bolling (1707-1772).

This is where the fraud started. Richard Randolph and Nancy Meade Randolph did not have a daughter named Amelia. The Randolphs are as extensively documented as the Bollings. The only place I can find a mention of Amelia is in discussions about the fraudulent pedigree.

As for her husband William, the person who created the false pedigree took the name of the real William (William Bolling of Orange, VA), gave him a fake Randolph wife, made up dates for the fake William, changed Samuel's date of birth, and created a fake bible entry showing the fake relationship to the Bolling and Randolph families. He (or she) then made up a fake letter from Samuel, explaining his pedigree.

This information was passed around to various genealogical societies and was included in a not too well researched book by a Mississippi judge named Zelma Wells Price. She published the erroneous list of John Fairfax Bolling's children in her book, "From Whom I Came, From Whence I Came". At that point, everyone accepted it as fact, including the DAR.

It was not questioned until the 1980's or 90's, when a descendant of John Bolling (brother of Samuel) began looking at the dates and land transfers. That's when the story began to fall apart. The Bolling Family Association had already started a DNA project for settling other false claims of descent from Pocahontas. Descendants of brothers Samuel and John Bolling of Orange County, Virginia, were tested and found not to belong to the same DNA group as descendants of John Fairfax Bolling.

The information below is what has been proven by DNA testing and by research of colonial documents.It is as accurate as I can make it at this time. Please do not try to link this family to the descendants of John Fairfax Bolling. Please do not add parents to this profile without proof of lineage. Maria Edmonds-Zediker, Volunteer Curator, February 15, 2014.

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William Bolling was born in Orange County, Virginia in 1707 and died there in 1777. His parents are not known. He married Ann Sims, daughter of William Sims, also of Orange County, Virginia. They had six known children.

Some researchers believe that William married twice, based on language in his will. He calls John and Samuel "my son" and not "our son." The suggested first wife is a "Miss Thornberry," because one of their other sons is named Thornberry. This is unlikely because there are children born between the births of John and Samuel. There is no evidence to prove this marriage.

Another theory for the recurring Thornberry name in this family is that William's mother was a Thornberry. This is more plausible, but, again, no documents have been found to support the theory.

William appears in the Orange County, Virginia Deed Book, 12 pg 67-68 24 Aug 1749 between George Taylor, Gent., (OC) and William Bowling (same) in consideration of covenants, hath granted to farm lett - one plantation cont. 57 acres, formerly belonging to William Donathan on which Francis Hensley lately lived. To hold during the natural lives of the said William Bowling, Anne, his wife, and Samuel Bowling, his son or longest liver paying on 5 Dec 500 pbs of Tobacco, also every year, first day of Feb, one fat hen, Capon or pullett, and delivering it at the dwelling house of George Taylor... sgd. Geo. Taylor Wit: Matthew Hubbard, William Isbell. Rec 28 Nov 1751

William appears in the Orange County Virginia Tithables 1735 - 1782.

By 1765, he is considered too old and too poor to pay county levies - Order Bk 7 Min Bk 1 p. 310 23 May 1765 (mb p. 68) - William Bolling being a Poor man being old & Infirm is excused from paying County levy.

In the Orange County, VA. Order Book 8, page 175 - At a court held April 23, 1772, John Bowling granted administration of Estate of William Bowling, deceased, whereupon he with Samuel Brockman, Jr., John Atkins and Conyers White, his security, entered into and acknowledged their bond for the same in the sum of #500.

Children of William Bolling of Orange, VA and wife Anne Sims:

• Sarah Bolling, died after 1790, named in mother's will.
• John Bolling b: ABT 1736, married widow Ursula Wisdom and had large family.
• William Bolling b: BET 1736 AND 1744, died during Revolutionary War.
• Jesse Bolling b: BET 1736 AND 1744, died of illness while serving in Revolutionary War
• Thornberry Bolling b: BET 1736 AND 1744, fought in Revolutionary War, named in mother's will, died after 1790.
• Samuel Bolling b: ABT 1744 in Orange County, VA, married Abigail Choice.

Links to additional material: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=PED&db=ubolling&...

William Elias Bolin

MyHeritage Family Trees Thorpe Web Site, managed by Tonya Taylor

Birth: 1700 - Culpepper, Orange, Virginia,

Death: 1756 - Fairfax, Fairfax, Virginia,

Parents: John Bolling, Mary Bolling (born Kennan)

Siblings: Mary Bolling, Robert Bolling, Martha Bowling, Margaret (Kennon) Bolling, Jane Bolling

Wife: Elizabeth Blue Bolin (born Colclough)

Partner: Elizabeth Kidwell

Wife: Elizabeth Bolin (born Kidwell)

Children: William Sr. Bolen, Tomas Bolin, Alexander Bowling, John Bolin William Elias Bolling