Individual Details

John was a Colonel of the Chesterfield Co VA Militia. He was a member of the House of Burgesses of Chesterfield for thirty years. He had no children by his first wife. The children of Col. John and Elizabeth Blair have long been disputed. He is said to have had many children, some dying in infancy, but only eight survived their father and one of them, Edward, had no children. Apparently several of the names of the children that died young were used again. There is a list of as many as ten children who died young. A later book written in 1963 by Zelma Wells Price adds twelve more children to the list - they are disputed. [I suspect some or all belong in a different generation or a different family line.] DNA testing shows several different Bolling/Bowling families. Undoubtedly many wanted to attach to the Bolling line that descends from Pocahonta and John Rolfe.

I have listed the eight children that survived Col. John. The ten children who died are said to have been a John, Archibald, Robert, 3 daughters named Elizabeth, a Sarah, Anne, Jane, and Rebecca.

John's children named in his will were minors at the time he first wrote his will, 1749,, all born 1735 or later, and only six are named since Archibald and Anne were born after 1749. One wonders if perhaps a third wife was involved.



Will of John Bolling:
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 Devise 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 Twenty one 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 Twenty one 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 Twenty one 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 Twenty one 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

Birth	20 Jan 1699/1700	Henrico County, Virginia
Marriage	1 Aug 1728	Elizabeth Blair
Death	6 Sep 1757	Chesterfield County, Virginia

Spouse

Elizabeth Lewis ( - 1728)

Spouse	Elizabeth Blair (1712 - 1775)
Child	John Bolling (1737 - 1800)
Child	Thomas Bolling (1735 - 1804)
Child	Robert Bolling (1738 - 1775)
Child	Mary Bolling (1744 - 1775)
Child	Edward Bolling (1746 - 1770)
Child	Sarah Bolling (1748 - )
Child	Archibald Bolling (1749 - 1829)
Child	Anne Bolling (1751 - )

Father	Maj. John Bolling (1674 - 1729)
Mother	Mary Kennon (1678 - 1727)
Sibling	Jane Bolling (1703 - 1766)
Sibling	Elizabeth Bolling (1709 - 1766)
Sibling	Mary Bolling (1711 - 1744)
Sibling	Martha Bolling (1713 - 1749)
Sibling	Anne Bolling (1715 - 1800)