Thomas Bolling

Family/Spouse: Mary Louisa Morris. Mary (daughter of Richard Morris and Mary Watts) was born on 11 Aug 1810 in , Campbell, Virginia, USA; died on 4 May 1852 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Goochland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mary Elizabeth Bolling was born on 1 May 1834; died on 28 Jun 1834 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Goochland, Virginia, USA.
2. Juliet Calvert Cabell was born on 3 Aug 1835; died on 21 Jan 1923 in , Buckingham, Virginia, USA; was buried in Warminster, Nelson, Virginia, USA.
3. William Randolph Bolling was born on 17 Oct 1836; died on 2 Sep 1839 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Goochland, Virginia, USA.
4. Virginia Randolph Holladay was born on 18 Nov 1838 in , , Virginia, USA; died on 12 Jul 1899 in , Wake, North Carolina, USA; was buried in Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina, USA.
5. Richard Morris Bolling was born in 1841; died in 1921 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Goochland, Virginia, USA.
6. Thomas Bolling, III was born on 7 Sep 1844 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; died on 15 Apr 1912; was buried in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA.
7. William Bolling was born on 1 May 1846 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; died on 2 May 1847 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Goochland, Virginia, USA.
8. Helen Wilmer Bolling was born on 1 May 1848 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; died on 27 Dec 1848 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Goochland, Virginia, USA.
9. Louisa Morris Bolling was born on 9 Jan 1850; died on 3 Jul 1879 in , , Virginia, USA; was buried in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA.
10. Charles Edward Bolling was born on 4 May 1852 in , Goochland, Virginia, USA; died on 22 Jun 1929 in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; was buried in Richmond, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA.

Notes:

"Bolling Hall" is located on the James River, about 35 miles west of Richmond. The land was claimed by John Bolling in 1714 and was inherited by grandson, William Bolling. William Bolling built the original Bolling Hall in the late 18th century and the house remained in the Bolling family from 1714 to 1872. Bolling Hall was the original site for one of the first schools in the United States to educate deaf children. Congenital deafness ran in the Bolling family. William Bolling had three siblings who were born deaf. Since there were not any schools for the deaf in the United States at the time, William’s deaf siblings were sent to Scotland to learn under acclaimed teacher, Thomas Braidwood. In 1760, Thomas Braidwood opened 'Braidwoods Academy' in Edinburgh, the first school for the deaf in Britain, which later relocated to Hackney, England. He made early use of a form of sign language, which continues to be used today. William Bolling married Mary Randolph and they had 4 children. One of their children, William Albert Bolling, was born deaf. William hired John Braidwood, grandson of Thomas Braidwood, to come to Bolling Hall and teach all his children. Thus, Bolling Hall became the first place in Virginia where children with congenital deafness were taught. Later, William opened a larger school for the deaf at Cobbs, another Bolling family plantation, which was large enough to accommodate deaf children from other families. The Cobbs school operated from 1812 until 1816. Bolling Hall fell into disrepair in the 1940's but has undergone a rejuvenation in recent years. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, noted for its significance in architecture, education and social history.

Sources:

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/VAGuide/tour19.html

www.bolling.net

www.wikipedia.com

http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/va/Goochland/state.html

William married Mary Amelia Bolling on 23 Feb 1798 in , Henrico, Virginia, USA. Mary was born on 5 Jul 1774 in Curles Plantation, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died on 8 Aug 1863 in Bolling Hall, Goochland, Virginia, USA; was buried in , Goochland, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Randolph

James married Elizabeth "Betty" Gay on 24 Nov 1757 in , Amherst, Virginia, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of William Gay, Sr and Elizabeth Bolling) was born in Sep 1738 in Varina, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died on 27 Nov 1813 in Cobbs Plantation, Henrico, Virginia, USA; was buried in Enon, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 6 Aug 1810, Chesterfield, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA

Notes:

John was noted for his sagacity in business and fine executive ability, as well as for his hospitality and love of pleasure. He lived in a style of profuse elegance, feasting and hunting and keeping fine horses and dogs.
For many years he was County Lieutenant of Chesterfield, an office of much dignity and importance, as he commanded the county militia, and presided at court.
He married (August 24, 1728) Elizabeth Blair, daughter of Col. Archibald Blair, and niece of the Commissary of the Bishop of London, Rev. Dr. James Blair, one of the founders of William and Mary College and its first President.


Will of Major John Bolling, b1700 d1757

1749 Will
-In the name of God Amen, I John Bolling of the Parish of Dale in the County of Henrico Gent. being of Sound and disposing mind and memory Thanks be to Almighty God for the same do make constitute and appoint this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following I give and Devise unto my loving Wife Elizabeth Bolling during her natural life all my lands and tenaments in the Counties of Henrico and Chesterfield except the land at the Point where John Bolling Inspection Houses are, also the use of all my Negroes on my several Plantations in the said Countys Also my Plantation cal1ed by the name of Bollings Island in Goochland County against Rock Castle Low Ground Also the use of Six Negroes named Lusey, Austin, Toney, Jugg, Sue, and Betty Also the use of all my Plate during her nature Life with full power to Bequeath the said Plate by her last Will and Testament to such of my Children as She shall think fitt (sic, fit) and in Case She shall Die without such Will then I give and Bequeath so said Plate unto my Sons Living at the Time of her Death to be equally divided amongst them. Also give and bequeath unto my said Wife all my Household goods, Stocks and other Personal Estate belonging to and being upon the said Lands Tenaments and Plantations to her own proper use forever.

I Give and devise unto my Son Thomas Bolling and his heirs and afsign (sic, assign) forever all that part of my Land in the County of Goochland called Licking Hole that is above Licking Hole Creek and two acres on the Fork of the said Creek below Alexander Logans be the same more or less which said Two Acres of Land I intended to have bounded by Marked Trees in the presence of several of the Neighbours (sic, neighbors).

I give and devise unto my Son John Bolling all the rest of my Licking Hole tract of Land lying below the said Creek and including the Fork thereof (except the two Acres before given to my Son Thomas) to him and his Heirs forever. I also give and devise unto my said Son John Bolling and his Heirs and Afsign (sic, Assign) forever my Mill on Beaver Dam Creek in the County of Goochland and all the Land which I have on the said Beaver Dam Creek and the Branches thereof. Also the Reversion of all my Lands in the County of Henrico on the North Side of James River after the Death of my Wife as also of one Tract of Land on the South Side of James River called Rogsdale joyning (sic, joining)to Henry Battes and Edward Folks Land and on the said River.

I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Robert Bolling all my Land at Willis’s Creek and at Tolere or near the seven Islands and Also a small Tract of Land above Dugads between the said Dugads and one of the Seads and all my Surveys Entries and orders of Council adjoining or near the same and also all my entries on Rock Island Creek all which said Lands lye in the County of Albemarle and I do give and devise them unto my said Son Robert his Heirs and afsigns (sic, assign) forever.

I Give and Dev1se unto my Son Edward Bolling, his Heirs and Afsigns (sic, Assigns) forever my Lands in the County of Lunenburgh on the Heads of the Branches of Falling River containing Five Thousand Acres also my Land on Roanoak River on Butcher's Creek and the Reversion of all my Lands given unto my Wife lying on the South Side of James River and north side of Appomattox River not herein before given. Also my Land Called John Bollings Inspection at the Point which said Lands at the Point I give unto my said Son Edward, his Heirs and Afsigns (sic, Assigns) when he shall arrive to the age of Twentyone years. I also give and devise unto my said Son Edward my Land called the Buffalo Lick on both Sides of James River also all my Entries not Pattented above Possum Creek to him his Heirs and Afsigns (sic, Assigns) forever. It is my Will and Desire that if either of my Sons Robert Bolling or Edward Bolling should Die before the age of Twentyone years that the survivor of them and his Heirs shall have and enjoy his Part of the Lands hereby devised him. It is also my Will that the Rents and Profits of my Land called John Bollings Inspection at the Point shall be applied by my Executor towards discharging the Quitrents of my Lands 1n the Counties of Albemarle and Lunenburg untill (sic, until) my Son Edward comes to the age of Twentyone years if he Lives so long but if not then until my Son Robert shall Attain that age.

I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Bolling so much Money as will make the Legacy given her by her Aunt Anne Whiting amount to Five Hundred Pounds to be paid her when She shall Attain the Age of Twentyone Years or be Married which shall first happen.

I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Bolling so much Money as will make the Legacy given her by her Aunt Anne Whiting amount to Five Hundred Pounds to be paid her when She shall Attain the Age of Twentyone Years or be Married which shall first happen.

It is my Will and Desire that the Slaves given unto my Wife for Life be at her Death equally divided among all of my said Sons and that when the first of my said Sons shall come to the Age of Twentyone Years all my other Slaves shall be then equally Divided into as many Parts as I shall have Sons living and the eldest shall have one Part thereof Allotted to him for his own Use and the other Parts of the said Slaves shall be Delivered unto my said other Sons as they shall arrive to the same Age respectively and if any of my said Sons shall happen to Die before he shall come to such Age then his Part of my said Slaves shall be equally divided among my surviving Sons which said Slaves I give unto my said Sons forever. And Whereas my said Son Thomas Bolling may Claim a Legacy given by the last Will and Testament of his Aunt the said Anne Whiting deceased to him.

I do declare my Will to be that whatsoever I have given and devised to him by this my Will is upon this Condition that he my said Son Thomas do as soon as he comes to Age Release to my Executor and the Executors of the said Anne all his Right and Title to the said Legacy and the Legacys given by her to his Brothers therein mentioned now Dead or any of them and if he shall refuse so to do then I do Subject all my Estate hereby given him with the paiment (sic, payment) of so much Money as he shall be entitled to by Virtue of the Will of the said Whiting to be raised and paid to my Executor towards Discharging to Legacys hereby given to my Daughters. It is my Will that the Profits of my Estate given to my Children be app1ied towards the paiment (sic, payment) of my Debts and their Education and Maintenance until they shall have a Right to receive their Parts thereof respectively and that all my Stocks and Personal Estate after paiment (sic, payment) of my Debts and Legacies shall be equally divided among my Sons in the manner and at the same Time and Times as the Slaves are herein before directed to be divided and Allotted to them Lastly I do Constitute and Appoint my esteemed Friend Peter Randolph Esq. and my Son Thomas Bolling when he shall come to the age of Twentyone Years Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and I do also appoint and desire the said Peter Randolph to be Guardian to all my Sons and my said Wife Guardian to my Daughters hereby directing that my Estate shall not be Appraised and revoking all former Wills by me made In Witnys (sic, witness) whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Seal this fourth Day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and forty nine. Signed, Sealed published and declared by the Testator to be his last Will and Testament In Presence of William Kennon J" Robert Goldie John Gilliam J" Bolling (SS)

1757 Codicil
I John Bolling of the Parish of Dale in the County of Chesterfield late of the County of Henrico Gent. being of perfect and disposing Memory do make the several Alterations and Additions following to my last Will and Testament bearing Date the fourth Day of September in the year One Thousand seven hundred and forty nine and so direct and appoint this Writing as a Codicil thereto and to be taken as Part of my said last Will and Testament to wit; I give and devise to my Son Archibald Bolling and his Heirs forever Twelve Hundred Acres of Land with the Appurtenances situate in the County of Bedford being one half of Six Surveys of Land made by me lying in the County of Bedford aforesaid from the Branches of Rock Island Creek to the Otter River Road that is to say that Part of the said Six Surveys of land lying next the said Road and the other Twelve hundred Acres residue of the said Six Surveys I give and dispose of in manner following that is to say I give and devise Four Hundred Acres with the Appurtenances Part of the said last mentioned Twelve hundred lying next on Rock Island Creek to my Nephew Bolling Eldridge and his Heirs forever and four Hundred Acres other part thereof with the Appurtenances. I give and devise to my Friend John Childers at Willis's Mountains in the County of Albemarle and his Heirs forever and Four hundred Residue thereof I give and Devise to my Friend Richard Taylor of Slate River in Albemarle County to hold the same with the Appurtenances to him and his Heirs forever all the said several Portions of the said Six Surveys to be laid off by such Lines and Boundaries and in such manner as my Son Thomas in his Discretion shall direct and appoint. I do give and devise to my aforesaid Son Archibald and his Heirs forever all Part of my Tract of Land called Buffalo Lick Tract which is Situated on the South Side of the Flevanna River now in the County of Bedford late in Albemarle which in my said Will is before devised to my Son Edward with all my Surveys Entries and Orders of Council adjoining the same some of which Entries Orders of Council and Surveys are in my said Will before given and devised to my Son Robert.It is my Will and Desire that my said Son Archibald come in with my other Sons for an equal Division of my Slaves at the same Time and Times upon the same Terms and under the same Regulations Limitations and Restrictions as in my said Will are mentioned and directed for each of my other Sons Respectively.It is my Will and Desire that the Legacy of Five Hundred Pounds in my said Will be given to my Daughter Sarah be reduced to Four Hundred Pounds and that the same be paid her at her Attaining the Age of Eighteen years and not sooner but if she shall Die before that Age then I give One hundred Pounds part of the said Legacy to my Daughter Anne and the Residue thereof to Sink for total Benefit of my Estate. I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Anne the Sum of Four Hundred Pounds to be paid for on her Attaining the Age of Eighteen years and not sooner and if she shall Die before that Age then I give One hundred Pounds part of her Legacy to my Daughter Sarah and the residue thereof to Sink for the Benefit of my Estate and it is my further Will and Desire that each of my Daughters receive their respective Legacies without Interest and that they be each of them maintained educated and decently supported out of the Profits of my whole Estate untill (sic, until) they each of them respectively become entitled to receive their Legacies or Marry which ever shall first happen In Witnys (sic, Witness) whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed my Seal the Fourth Day of September in the year of Christ One thousand seven hundred and fifty seven Affixing this Codicil to my last said Will and Testament and Declaring it to be Part and Cancel of the same.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Published and Declared by the said John Bolling as and for Part of his Last Will and Testament the Day and year last above mentioned In presence of the Subscribers John Fleming Alex Bolling John Bannister Thomas Fleming Bolling


Major John Bolling
Major John Bolling, Son of Colonel John Bolling and Mary Cannie and Father of Bejamin Bolling, was born in 1700 in Petersburg, Virginia, USA. He married Elizabeth Blair on 01 Aug 1728 in Cobbs, Virginia, USA. He died on 06 Sep 1757 in Chesterfield, Virginia, USA. More on Major John Bolling and Elizabeth Blair and Family John and Elizabeth are the 7th Great Grandparents of Roger G. Spurgeon. From "From Pocahontas to the Bollings and Krimms", by James Lawrence Reed Jr. p. 14-5. "Major John Bolling, son of John and Marry Kennon Bolling was born in 1700 and died September 6, 1757. He was married August 11, 1728 to Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Archibald Blair. She was the niece of James Blair D.D., who was the founder of William and Mary College. According to the Pocahontas book, they had 19 children, but from the January 1985 issue of the Pocahontas Trails newsletter we learn that there were 21 children counting one that died as an infant. According to the newsletter, the list was copied from the book [Of Whom I Came; From Whence I came] by Zelma Wells Price... We find from reading the Pocahontas book that Major John Bolling devoted much of his energy taking long and perilous journeys into the wilderness country for the purpose of claiming valuable unappropriated lands for his family. He was described as a person who took much pleasure from fine horses, hounds, hunting, fishing, fowling, feasting and dancing, yet always had time for his family. He was public spirited and well liked. John was [County Lieutenant] of Chesterfield, an office of much dignity and importance. He commanded the Militia and presided over the courts and for thirty years represented his county in the House of Burgesses." Also, from Reed's book, page 14, it is stated that Major John's son, John, married Mary Jefferson, a sister of Thomas Jefferson. And on page 32, John and Mary's son was Dr. Archibald Bolling who married Ann E. Wigginton. They were the parents of Judge Wm. Holcomb Bolling who married Sallie White and they were the parents of Edith Bolling, who married President Woodrow Wilson.

Major married Mary Elizabeth Blair on 1 Aug 1728 in , James City, Virginia, USA. Mary was born on 4 Apr 1709 in Williamsburg, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA; died on 22 Apr 1775 in Cobbs Plantation, Henrico, Virginia, USA; was buried in Enon, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Elizabeth Bland Blair

Notes:

By deed dated 1 Dec 1746, William Gay conveyed to his brother, Joshua Gay, 50 acres of land, which land was devised to William Gay by his father, Henry Gay and this deed is recorded in the Isle of Wight Courthouse in Deed Book 7 at Page 407.

William married Elizabeth Bolling. Elizabeth (daughter of John Fairfax Bolling and Mary Sarah Kennon) was born on 17 Dec 1709 in Cobbs Plantation, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died on 24 Jul 1766 in Curles Plantation, Henrico, Virginia, USA; was buried in Enon, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1704, Cobbs Plantation, Henrico, Virginia, USA

Notes:

The Cobbs from County Kent, England
In 1639, Ambrose Cobbs and his family landed in Virginia, in the original Henrico County deeper inland on the James River, and settled Cobbs Hall, a 350 acre estate on the north side of the Appomattox River in York County. According to Early Virginia Immigrants 1623-1666, by George Cabel in 1912, Robert Cobbs and Margarett Cobbs, the children of Ann and Ambrose Cobbs were brought to Henrico County by Ambrose and Ann Cobbs.

Ambrose Cobbs was born in 1603 in Petham, Kent, England, where he married Ann White on 18 April 1625. Ann White was born in 1608 in Norton Parish, Kent. Before the marriage, Ann was living in Willesborough with her sister Sarah and brother-in-law Thomas Cobbs, the brother of Ambrose. Ambrose and Ann gave birth to son Robert in 1627, and then in 1633 sold their property in England in preparation for the trip to the colonies. On July 25, 1639, Ambrose patented 350 acres on the Appomattox River, near Swift's Creek, about nine miles from present Petersburg, about fifty miles upriver from Jamestown, and adjacent to properties owned by Abraham Wood and John Baugh. During his lifetime, the entire locale became known as 'Cobbs' or 'Cobbs Hall', a name that was used to identify the entire surrounding area until well after the Civil War. Robert, the son of Ambrose, became the York County Anglican Church Warden of Marston Parish two years after the death of Ambrose. He was York County’s Justice of the Peace in 1676, and High Sheriff of York County in 1682 – the year Robert died. At that time Robert’s son, Ambrose, was a member of Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, and helped build the Bruton Parish Anglican Church, which is still operating today. Robert inherited Cobbs Hall when Ambrose died in 1656, and he immediately sold the property to Michael Masters, who then sold it to John and Thomas Burton that same year. In 1704, a son of Thomas Burton sold "Cobbs" to John Bolling, and though it continued to be known as "Cobbs", the property remained in the possession of the Bolling family for over a hundred years.

John Bolling was the son of Colonel Robert Bolling and his wife Jane Rolfe, daughter of Thomas Rolfe and granddaughter of Pocahontas. The state of Virginia owns a painting of the mansion at Cobbs Hall, but was probably built by the Bolling family. During the Revolution, the property was raided by the British. The crops and outbuildings were burned, but the main house was left untouched. During the Civil War however, the entire property was overrun in 1864 and burned to the ground by Federal troops.


Major John Bolling (January 27, 1676 – April 20, 1729) was a colonist, farmer, and politician in the Virginia Colony. John Bolling was the son of Colonel Robert Bolling and Jane (née Rolfe) Bolling. His maternal grandfather was Chief Powhatan's grandson, Thomas Rolfe and maternal great grandmother was Pocahontas. John Bolling was born at Kippax Plantation, in Charles City County, a site which is now within the corporate limits of the City of Hopewell. He made his home at the Bolling family plantation "Cobbs" just west of Point of Rocks on the north shore of the Appomattox River downstream from present-day Petersburg, Virginia. (Cobbs was located in Henrico County until the area south of the James River was subdivided to form Chesterfield County in 1749.)

John Bolling married Mary Kennon (1679–1727), daughter of Richard Kennon and Elizabeth Worsham, on December 29, 1697. They had at least seven children, whose names appear in John Bolling's will:

John Bolling Jr. (1700–1757) married Elizabeth Lewis in 1720. Later married Elizabeth Bland Blair (the niece of James Blair, the first president of the College of William & Mary) on August 1, 1728 and had at least nine children, including John Bolling III, who married Mary Jefferson (the sister of United States President Thomas Jefferson.

Jane Bolling (1703–1766) married Colonel Richard Randolph in 1714 or 1720 and had seven children.
Elizabeth Bolling (b. 1709), married William Gay of Scotland and had three children.
Mary Bolling (1711–1744), married John Fleming and had eight children.
Martha Bolling (1713–1737), married Thomas Eldridge in 1729 and had four children.
Anne Bolling (1718–1800), married James Murray and had six children.
Sarah Bolling (1727–1816), married Major Robert Davis and had one child.

In 1722, he opened a tobacco warehouse in what is now the 'Pocahontas' neighborhood of Petersburg. William Byrd II of Westover Plantation is said to have remarked that Major Bolling enjoyed "all the profits of an immense trade with his countrymen, and of one still greater with the Indian.". Major Bolling served in the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1710 until his death in 1729. John and Mary Bolling's descendants are some of the descendants of Pocahontas, and include Latter-day Saint pioneer Martha Jane Crismon Lewis, First Lady of the United States Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, astronomer Percival Lowell, Virginia Governor then Senator Harry Flood Byrd, New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Rear Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd.

In Old Virginia Houses Along the James by Emmie Ferguson Farrar (New York: Bonanza Books, 1957). On pp. 61-62, Ms Farrar has this to say about Cobb's Hall:

"AMBROSE COBB patented three hundred and fifty acres on Appomattox River in 1639. The patent was granted him in order that he might bring over himself, his wife, his son and three others to Virginia and settle on the patented land. He was in business in York, and from the records, there were two other sons, Ambrose II and Thomas. (Bishop Meade mentions Ambrose Cobb, vestryman at the Church in Williamsburg, some time between 1674-1769.)

Cobb built the first mansion at Cobb's. Its site was on the north side of
Appomattox River in what is now Chesterfield County. Later John Bolling
(the great-grandson of Pocahontas and John Rolfe) and his wife, Mary Kennon, of Brick House, bought Cobb's, and it became a Bolling home for many generations. John Bolling went into mercantile business and carried on extensive trade with the Indians as well as the English.

John and Mary had a son, John, who was something of a gay blade and liked
dancing, fishing, hunting, dogs and horses. He was devoted to his family.
He became a justice in the courts, while the family acres were still a part of Henrico, and later presided over the first Court of Chesterfield County. John had a son, Thomas, who married Elizabeth Gay. She rode about the county and to church with her coach and four, with coachman, footman and postillion in bright yellow livery.

Many distinguished Americans, including the second Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, were descendants of this family.

The burial ground at Cobb's is surrounded by a high brick wall, and many
Bollings are buried here. There is a granite monument on which is
inscribed, 'Around this stone lie the remains of Colonel John Bolling of
Cobbs. Great Grandson of Rolfe and Pocahontas--Born 1676--Died 1709.'

Some members of the Bolling family were deaf, so William Bolling engaged a teacher, John Braidwood, of Washington, and in 1815 organized the first
school for the deaf in America. It continued for only four years.

Cobbs suffered damage both during the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars.

It eventually burned down but was rebuilt. After the Bollings sold the
place, there was a succession of owners and several changes of name. Now,
since Mr. M. T. Broyhill, of Hopewall, purchased the property and subdivided it into small farms, there are many people living at Cobb's."

John married Mary Sarah Kennon on 29 Dec 1697 in St Johns Church, Henrico, Virginia, USA. Mary (daughter of Richard Kennon and Elizabeth Worsham) was born on 29 Jun 1679 in Conjurers Neck, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died on 29 Jun 1727 in Cobbs Plantation, Henrico, Virginia, USA; was buried in Enon, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Elizabeth Kennon

Notes:

Henry made a will on 3 February 1735 in Isle of Wight Co., Virginia.

Will of Henry Gay:
I, Henry GAY of Isle of WIGHT county, being at present sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, think fit to make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following:

First; I give unto my son Henry GAY five shillings Curr. money of VIRGINIA.

2nd; I give unto my son John GAY two shilings and six pence Curr. money of VIRGINIA.

3rd and 4th ; I give unto my three sons to wit, Thomas GAY, William GAY, Joshua GAY, all my land to be equally divided between them and their heirs and assigns forever, Excepting I give them all privilege to make use of timber in the swamp for their own use for ever but not to sell.

I give unto my son Joshua GAY the Manor plantation that is the house werein I live with his equal share of the lands adjoining to the houses.

5th; I give unto my daughter Ann LAWRENCE two shillings and six pence Curr. money of VIRGINIA.

6th; All the remaining part of my estate whatsoever and all the rest to be equally divided between my four children Thomas, William and Joshua and my daughter Sarah BABB.

7th; I nominate and appoint my son Thomas to be my whole and sole executor to this my Last Will and Testament which I do own and ratify, revoking all other WILLS and Testaments formerly made by me. In witness, I hereof I have herewith set my hand and fixed my seal this 3rd day of February 1735. Henry GAY, X his mark.

The bottom part listing the witnesses names is barely legible, appears to say James Denson, Joseph Denson but date of probate is not legible.

On 6 Feb 1663, one James Long was granted a patent to land in Nansemond County in the Virginia tidewater, on a “headright” obtained for paying the passage of Henry Gay and eight others to the New World {Cavaliers and Pioneers, 1:492}. then on 22 Apr 1669 Henry Gay was himself granted four hundred acres in Nansemond County by patent {VA Patents 6:242}. There is record of the passage of three other GAYs to Virginia about the same time (George by 1654, Thomas by 1661, and Walter by 1673), but Henry is the only early GAY who seems to have purchased land. The vast majority of Virginia immigrants during this period were indentured servants, and at least a minority of those were able to save enough to later purchase their own small piece of land, but if Henry was an indentured servant, his story may be a particularly interesting one.

There is a reported deed, dated 1 Feb 1688, in which “Henry H. Gay” of Isle of Wight County, VA, is selling land “formerly belonging to Ms Henry Gay”. The quotations come from a genealogical report posted by one Craig Rhodes, a descendant of Henry. Mr. Rhodes appears to assume that this is a son of the 1669 patentee selling his father’s land, and despite the difference in counties, it might well be the same land because much of Nansemond Co was transferred to Isle Of Wight in 1774. The reported name of the grantor does raise some doubt that the deed was read correctly, as middle names were exceedingly rare during this period. Evidently, the name of the former owner (“Ms Henry Gay”) was misread, but if the original was instead “Mr Henry Gay”, that would be of considerable interest, because it would mark this Henry as a recognized gentleman — a member of the social elite.

The honorific, “Mr.”, in those days, was the equivalent of “Esq.” or “Gent.”, and to merit such recognition required more than the wealth a former indentured servant might have acquired through extraordinary hard work, talent, and luck; it also required evidence of higher education and gentlemanly bearing. It is worth noting, also, in this connection, that Henry’s patent of 400a was a fairly large holding, especially for a former indentured servant; it seems likely, therefore, that he was no such thing—at least if the deed does really make Henry a “Mr”, which remains to be seen.

Be that as it may, according to Rhodes’s compilation, a second Henry left a will in Isle Of Wight Co in 1737, in which he names sons Henry, Thomas, William, Joshua, and John, so this GAY family was at any rate well established in that part of the world by then. The compiler’s line is then carried down to the present day with much additional primary records material. I should also mention that this compendium is published on the website “Electronic Scotland”, but neither the area in which the original Henry settled, nor the given names in his descendancy suggest that he was of Scottish descent.

There are many GAYs who appear in the records of these tidewater counties, and later in counties to the west, and on down into the Carolinas and Georgia, but it’s likely that a fairly large proportion of these tidewater GAYs are descendants of these early Henrys, although few genealogists researching their GAY roots have been able to establish clear links to Henry’s line. Hopefully, further yDNA testing will be able to strengthen the sketchy paper trail evidence for this important family, and accomplish the desired link-ups.

By deed dated 1 Feb 1688, Henry Gay, of Isle of Wight County conveyed to Lewis Brian "...the land and houses whereon Robert Lawrence now liveth..." said land "formerly belonging to Ms (Mr?) Henry Gay...". Henry Gay signed this deed by making his mark which was witnessed by Jno. Brian and James Doughtie, and this deed is recorded un the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court of Isle of Wight County, Virginia in Deed Book 1 at Page 17.*2

On 1 May 1689, Henry Gay, son of Henry, made an agreement with Lewis Brian (Bryan) as follows: Lewis Brian of Nansemond stands indebted to Henry Gay of Isle of Wight, 1 Feb 1688-89. Conditions are that Lewis Brian will not molest Robert Lawrence where he now lives on land formerly belonging to Henry Gay, decd., from the main river up to Burnt House Branch. Henry Gay also stands indebted to Lewis Brian and promises to pay in Tobacco. Conditions are that Henry Gay will not molest Lewis Brian in possession of land adjacent to John Brian Sr." 1 May 1689, Witnesses: John Brian, James Daughter (17c-601)*1

On 10 Apr 1710 , Michael MacQuinley (McKenny) and Rose, his wife, conveyed to Henry Gay 150 acres, plus or minus, on the western branch of Nansemond River in Isle of Wight County. This deed recites that it is a part of 450 acres conveyed to John MacKenny on 20 Apr 1694, as aforesaid and excepts 200 acres which was conveyed to Capt. Richard Exum and 100 acres conveyed to Lewis Brian. This deed is recorded in the Isle of Wight Courthouse in Deed Book 2 at Page 157.*2

Henry married Jane Lawrence. Jane was born in 1664 in , Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA; died on 25 Apr 1737 in , Isle of Wight, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Robert Bowling

Notes:

Parents of Robert Bolling were John Bolling and Mary Cary who resided in Bolling Hall, Bradford, Yorkshire,England. Robert was baptised at All Hallows, Barking Essex. Emigrated to America, arrived on October 2,1660 at age 13. He married Jane Rolfe in 1675. Jane Rolfe was a descendent of Pocahantas and John Rolfe. His wife died the next year in 1676, leaving one child. Robert remarried in 1681 to Jane Anne Stith. They had 7 children. Robert, Edward, Anne, Drury, Thomas, Agnes (1700-1762), Mollie (1702) in Virginia. Descendents of Jane Anne Stith-Bollings were referred to as the "white bollings" and descendents of Jane Rolfe were known as the "red bollings". Robert died at Kippax, Virginia on June 17th, 1709.



Robert Bolling, founder of the family in Virginia, was the son of John Bolling, of "All Hallows," Backen Parish, Town St., London. This John Bolling was descended from a younger branch of the Bolling Hall. His son, Robert, b. December 26, 1646, arrived in Virginia, October 2, 1660, when not quite fifteen years old. He lived at Kippox, sometimes called Farmingdale, a large estate below Petersburg on James River. His dwelling house is now in ruins. Robert Bolling grew up, and early attained prominence in the colony and married Jane Rolfe, daughter of Lieut. Thomas Rolfe and Jane Poythress, and granddaughter of John Rolfe and Pocahontas. They had one son, Col. John Bolling, b. 1676, the same year his mother died. He settled, lived and died on his plantation called "Cobbs," on the Appomattox River, below Petersburg, hence his sobriquet "of Cobbs." Col. John Bolling engaged in commerce and soon became very wealthy. He is described as gay and social in his disposition and eminently adapted for society. Judge Windham Robertson, a descendant of the Bollings, in his "Biographical Sketches," relates the following anecdote of him: "Col. Robert Bolling, in England, at a feast given him by a kinswoman, met a Yorkshire lady, who hearing him talk, exclaimed, 'Oh, mine Got, you no hear dat man, an he talk English as well as me.' 'Aye, madam, and a good deal better, or I would not talk at all,' was the Colonel's quick and not over gallant rejoinder."
Volume IV Chapter XII Bolling Family.

Robert married Jane Rolfe in 1674 in Petersburg, Independent Cities, Virginia, USA. Jane (daughter of Thomas Rolfe and Jane Poythress) was born on 10 Oct 1650 in Varina, Henrico, Virginia, USA; died on 26 Jan 1676 in Hopewell, Prince George, Virginia, USA; was buried in Hopewell, Prince George, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jane Rolfe (October 10, 1650 – 1676) was the granddaughter of Pocahontas and English colonist John Rolfe, (credited with introducing a strain of tobacco for export by the struggling Virginia Colony). Her husband was Colonel Robert Bolling who lived from 1646 to 1709. Robert and Jane had one son John Fairfax Bolling (1676–1729).

Pocahontas, who adopted the Christian name of Rebecca, [1] [2] married John Rolfe on April 5, 1614 in Jamestown. Rolfe's longtime friend, Reverend Richard Buck presided the wedding. [3] They had one child, Thomas Rolfe, who was born in Virginia on January 30, 1615.

Jane Rolfe was born in Varina, Henrico County, Virginia on October 10, 1650 [4] to Thomas Rolfe and his wife, Jane Poythress, whose parents were Francis Poythress and Alice Payton of England. [5] [6] [7]

In about 1675, Jane married Robert Bolling of Prince George County, Virginia. Their son John was born on January 27, 1676. Jane is said to have died shortly afterward. [4]

John Bolling married Mary Kennon, daughter of Richard Kennon and Elizabeth Worsham of Conjurer's Neck.[4] The couple had six surviving children, each of whom married and had surviving children. [8] As a result, many Americans are today able to claim descent from Pocahontas through her great-grandson, John Bolling.

Rolfe's interment was near her father in the Kippax Plantation, but her birth year was never engraved on her headstone.

References
The conversion of Pocahontas to Christianity was undertaken by Alexander Whitaker.

"Pocahontas Biography: also called Matoaka and Amonute, Christian name Rebecca (1595–1617)".

Travels and Works of Captain John Smith (Edinburgh 1910), p. 514

John Frederick Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person, 4th ed., Vol. 3, pp. 23–36.

Snow, Megan (May 2003). "Thomas Rolfe". Historic Jamestowne. National Park Service.

Pecquet du Bellet, Louise (1907). "Bolling Family". Some prominent Virginia families. Lynchburg, VA: J.P. Bell Co. p. 304. Retrieved August 31, 2011.

"The Descendants of Pocahontas: An Unclosed Case", by Elizabeth Vann Moore and Richard Slatten, Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, XXIII, no.3, pp. 3–16, cited by John Frederick Dorman, Adventurers of Purse and Person, 4th ed., Vol. 3, p. 26, fn23–24. Moore and Slatten traced the suggestion that his wife was a Poythress back to a comment by W. G. Stanard in "Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents", Virginia Historical Magazine(I, 1894, 446–447): "His wife is said to have been a Miss Poythress (if so, doubtless a daughter of Francis Poythress." According to Moore and Slatten, Stanard cited as evidence handwritten notes on the flyleaf of a copy of A Complete Collection of All the Laws of Virginia Now in Force Carefully Copied from the Assembled Records (London, 168[?], now in the Library of Virginia. Moore and Slatten state: "Interestingly, Thomas Rolfe here is recorded as married to a 'Miss Payers'. We recall that in John Rolfe's will the name of his third wife is spelt Pyers (Peirce) and that it was John who married a "Jane". Here again a Bolling descendant confused the son with his father. Not recognizing the name 'Payers' as another variant of Peirce, someone searched the records for a name beginning with 'P' and having a 'y' in the first syllable. Francis Poythress lived in adjacent Charles City County and his name ended in s! Stanard wrote, 'His wife is said to have been a Miss Poythress (if so, doubtless a daughter of Francis Poythress).' (VMHB I, 446) Wyndham Robertson, a Bolling descendant, wrote in Pocahontas Alias Mataoke and Her Descendants (Richmond, 1887), 'I adopt "Jane Poythress" (not "Poyers") whom he is stated in the Bolling Memoirs to have married in England.' He added in justification of his charming adoption of an ancestress, '...no such name as "Poyers" is anywhere known ... the family of Poythress was already settled in Virginia.' ... The result has been the acceptance of a non-existent personage, 'Jane Poythress', in the Bibles of Virginia genealogy, as the bona fide ancestress of many illustrious Virginians. Who the wife (or wives) of Thomas Rolfe may have been remains an unanswered question."
Henrico County Deeds & Wills 1697–1704, p. 96

VA PROMINENT FAMILIES VOL 4 Chapt XII BOLLING FAMILY

For over a year Pocahontas was held as a hostage by Gov. Dale and lived in his family. During these months she proved a willing and apt scholar in many things. An old chronicle says quaintly, "When instructed in the Christian religion she made good progress and was baptized." While staying with Gov. Dale, she met a young Englishman, one Capt. John Rolfe, Gent., of the old family of Beacham Hall, County Suffolk, England. They were married at Jamestown, and, a year or so later, Capt. Rolfe took her to England, where she became the guest of the Virginia Company, was introduced at court and received marked attention from the Queen and her ladies. She was also "entertained with special and extraordinary state festival and pomp by the Lord Bishop of London." Imagine what the contrast must have been to her, taken from the wigwam of an Indian chief, to the palace of England's queen. Some one has said, "It was small wonder this wild flower of the wilderness drooped and died when transported to the hot bed of civilization."

The health of Pocahontas became affected by the excitement and strain of court life, and she pined for her baby boy. In 1617 Capt. Rolfe determined to return to America, and took passage on a vessel belonging to the Virginia Company, which was specially fitted up for the comfort of his wife; but on the eve of her embarkation, she died at Gravesend, and was buried under the chancel of St. George's Church, where the tablet erected to her memory and record of her death and burial may still be seen. On the tablet is inscribed, "Pocahontas Rebecca Rolfe, b. 1595; d. 1617, wyff of John Rolfe, Gent." At "Beacham Hall," Norfolk, England, there is a handsome portrait of her, painted in 1616, by de Passe.

The name of Rolfe is Danish and first occurs in history when Rolfe Kroke was King of Denmark. This special branch of the Rolfes are recorded as owners of Beacham Hall, County Norfolk, where they were living as far back as 1560. The first entry in the record is the marriage of Eustace Rolfe to Jener (Joanna). These were the grandparents of John Rolfe. The record further states that John Rolfe, son of John Rolfe and Dorothea Mason, was b. May 6, 1585. John Rolfe, Jr., was one of the prominent characters of his time, being the first Secretary of State and Recorder General of Virginia, also a member of the Royal Council for the colony. Thomas Rolfe, the only child of John Rolfe, Jr., and Pocahontas Rebecca, b. 1615 in the colony, after the melancholy death of his young mother was taken in charge by his uncle, Henry Rolfe, of London, by whom he was reared to manhood. In 1640, when he was twenty-five years old, he came to Virginia and took possession of his property, called "Varina," located some sixteen miles below Richmond. The Rev. William Stith, President of William and Mary College, speaks of him in his "History of Virginia" as "a man of distinction and fortune" in the colony. In Hening's Statutes we find the following entry, "And be it further enacted and granted that Left. Thomas Rolfe shall have and enjoy for himself and his heirs forever ffort James, ole Chickahominy ffort, with four hundred acres of land adjoining the same, with all the houses and edifices belonging to the said ffort, provided the said Left. Rolfe doe keepe and maintaine sixe men upon the place during the term and tyme of three years, for which tyme he, said Left. Rolfe, for himself and sixe men, are exempted from publique tax." That Thomas Rolfe should have been entrusted by the government with so important a position shows him to have been a man of high standing, possessing the confidence of the leading men of the time.

Lieut. Thomas Rolfe, b. 1651, son of Capt. John Rolfe and Pocahontas, married Jane Poythress, daughter of Lieut. William Poythress, of Jamestown, Va. They had one child, a daughter, called Jane Rolfe, who married (1675) Col. Robert Bolling.

Notes:

Richard Kennon, who was founder of the family in Virginia, was a prominent merchant living at Bermuda Hundred on the James River. In 1685 he was factor for William Paggen, a London Merchant. He was a constant visitor to London, justice of the peace for Henrico county in 1680 and other years, and burgess in 1686.

He married Elizabeth Worsham, daughter of William Worsham and Elizabeth his wife. He died in 1696 and in his will names his children Richard, William, Martha married Robert Munford, Mary married married Major John Bolling of Cobbs, Elizabeth married Joseph Royall Sr, Sarah, and Judith married Thomas Eldridge.

Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. I-II. New York, NY, USA: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1915. p 271.

Richard married Elizabeth Worsham in 1675 in , Henrico, Virginia, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of William Worsham and Elizabeth Littleberry) was born in 1656 in , Chesterfield, Virginia, USA; died in 1705 in Conjurers Neck, Henrico, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]