Individual Details
Colonel Robert Bolling
(26 Dec 1646 - 17 Jul 1709)
According to Willis W. Lake in an article "The Pocahontas Connection" in the 1986 Clay County, Virginia Ancestral News, descendants of the marriage of Col. Robert Bolling and Ann Stith are called the "White" Bollings. Descendants of his marriage to Jane Rolfe are called the "Red" Bollings. (from Sue Cook, 2020 Bay Dr. Bradenton, Fl 34207)
Robert was a Colonel in the King"s Army. He came from England at age 14 and was justice for Charles City Colony before 1698, High Sheriff, 1692 and 1699, surveyor, 1702.
He was buried at his estate "Kippax" on the James River, but his great-grandson by his second marriage moved his body in 1858 to a mausoleum erected in Petersburg, Blandford County, Virginia. His original tomb in "Kippax" bore the Bolling arms and the following epitaph " Here lyeth interred in hope of a joyful resurrection, the body of Robert Bolling, the son of John and Mary Bolling of All Hollow, Barkin Parrish, Tower Street, London. He was born the 26th of December in the year 1646 and came to Virginia October 2d, 1660, and departed this life the 17th day of July 1709, aged sixty-two years, six months and twenty-one days.
Note: Robert Bolling was the founder of the Bolling family in Virginia, where he became a wealthy landowner and an active participant in the political affairs of the Colony. By his own account, he arrived from England "Ye 2nd day of October, 1660(age 14); and Ye yeare '75 married Jane, the dau of Thomas Rolfe, gent., by whom he hath one son, John Bolling." Jane, granddaughter of John Rolfe and Pocahontas, died in 1676. Bolling then married Anne Stith who bore him several children.
----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
To Mr. Robert Bolling for insolvents: 0356. [Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume III, Charles City County Court Orders and Fragments, 1664-96, FTM CD187 Family History: VA Genealogies #3, 1600s-1800s]
p. 6. Abstract. Com of admr jointly to Maj Fran: Poythres and Mr Peter Read on est of Anne Young decd. Est to be equally div betw orphans of dec'd. Maj Poythres and Mr Robt Bolling give bond L50. Sterl. Mr Peter Read and Mr. John Jean give bond in same amt. [ibid.]
p. 89. Att a Court holden att Westover the third day of March 1696 Annoq Reg: Doni Rs Guiel: 3:9. The Justices present were Cap Daniel Lewellin, Cap't Charles Goodrich, Mr. Robert Bolling and Capt John Hamlin. [ibid.]
p. 90. Abstract. Robt Bolling vs Thos Vinson to next Court. [ibid.]
Robert Bolling, who at the age of 14 settled in Virginia in 1660 (arrived in VA, Oct 2, 1660), was the first of his name to come over. He was the son of John and Mary Bolling of Bolling Hall, near Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He was born in London, Dec 26, 1646, and m.1 1675 Jane, dau. of Thomas Rolfe and Jane Poythress. By this union there were 5 daughters and 1 son, John Bolling of Cobbs. [The Walker Family by Lee Nicholson, p. 1, Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, FTM CD187
Col Robert Bolling and Jane Rolfe's children are sometimes referred to as "red" Bollings as they are descended from Pocathontas; Col. Robert and Ann Stith's descendants are referred to as "white Bollings". This source says he and
Jane Rolfe had only one child and all other children were by Anne Stith. Lived at Kippax, sometimes called Farmingdate; served as a Burgess in 1704 and took a prominent part in the affairs of the colony. The Bolling family was deeply interested in the church in Virginia, and have been represented in the vestry of Old Bristol Parish in every generation. [WFT Vol 21 Ped 1211]
Until a few years ago when the fragments were removed to a family burial vault in Petersburg, the broken tomb of Col. Robert Bolling, the immigrant, remained at "Kippax," Prince George County. It bore the Bolling arms and the following epitaph:
"Here lyeth interred in hope of a joyful resurrection, the body of Robert Bolling, the son of John and Mary Bolling, of Allhallows, Barkin Parish, Tower Street, London. He was born the 26th of December in the year 1646, and came to Virginia October the 2d, 1660, and departed this life the 17th day of July, 1709, aged sixty-two years, six months and twenty-one days."
As these dates show, Robert Bolling was only 14 years of age when he came to the colony and was doubtless, in the care of some friend. In early manhood he engaged in trade as a merchant, and the firm of "Robert Bolling and Company" is referred to in the records of several counties, showing that their business was extensive. He was also a planter and acquired large tracts of land. His residence was in Charles City County, on the south side of James River in what is now Prince George County. The name of the plantation where he lived, "Kippax," did not probably originate with him, as he had, so far as is known, no reason for giveing the name.
The first public office which he held was, doubtless, that of justice of Charles City County, and he was sheriff of that county in 1692 and 1699 (Va. Mag. Hist. and Biog. I, 234). In 1702 he was still a justice. He was member of the House of Burgesses for Charles City at the sessions of April 1688, April 1692, and April 1699 and for Prince George, April 1704 (Va. Mag. Hist. and Biog. XV, 332, 438, 441, and Colonial Va. Register). In 1705 he is styled, in a land patent, "Col. Robert bolling," which indicates that he was then Colonel of the Prince George militia.
Col. Bolling probably acquired much land by purchase, as his grants were not extensive. There is on record in Henrico County a deed dated March 1700-1, from Stephen Cocke to Robert Bolling, merchant, of Bristol parish, Charles City Co., conveying 240 acres north of the Appomattox River, part of a plantation called Old Town. His grants comprised about 1760 acres in Bristol Parish, 50 acres in Henrico Co., and 1973 acres in Prince George on Moccasoneck Creek and Nottoway River. That last grant, dated May 6, 1706 was to "Collo. Robert Bolling." His first grant was in 1682 to "Robert Bolling, Gent."
There is in the Virginia State Library an old volume of the laws of Virginia known as "Purvise's Collection," which once belonged to Robert. A Flyleaf contains an entry which gives the dates of his birth and arrival in Virginia as they appear on his tomb, and continues, "& in the year 75 married Jane the daughter of Thomas Rolfe, gent., by whom he had one son, John Bolling, born ye 26th day of Jan'y 1676. She dying [in 1676 - Bolling Memoirs] he married a second venture Anne ye daughter of Major John Stith in ye year 1681, by whom he hath Robt Bolling born Jan ye 25th 1686, Stith Bolling borne March ye 28th 1686, Edward Bolling borne ye first day of October 1687, Ann Bolling borne ye 22d of July 1690, Drury Bolling borne ye 21st day of June 1695, Thomas Bolling borne ye 30th day of March 1697/8, Agnes Bolling born ye 30th November 1700, and that god almighty may bless these blessings shall be the continuall prayer of their father Robt Bolling." [FTM CD162 Family History: Virginia Genealogies #1, Genealogies of Virginia Families V, R-Z, The Ancestors and Descendants of John Rolfe, Bolling, p. 217-18]
Robert was a Colonel in the King"s Army. He came from England at age 14 and was justice for Charles City Colony before 1698, High Sheriff, 1692 and 1699, surveyor, 1702.
He was buried at his estate "Kippax" on the James River, but his great-grandson by his second marriage moved his body in 1858 to a mausoleum erected in Petersburg, Blandford County, Virginia. His original tomb in "Kippax" bore the Bolling arms and the following epitaph " Here lyeth interred in hope of a joyful resurrection, the body of Robert Bolling, the son of John and Mary Bolling of All Hollow, Barkin Parrish, Tower Street, London. He was born the 26th of December in the year 1646 and came to Virginia October 2d, 1660, and departed this life the 17th day of July 1709, aged sixty-two years, six months and twenty-one days.
Note: Robert Bolling was the founder of the Bolling family in Virginia, where he became a wealthy landowner and an active participant in the political affairs of the Colony. By his own account, he arrived from England "Ye 2nd day of October, 1660(age 14); and Ye yeare '75 married Jane, the dau of Thomas Rolfe, gent., by whom he hath one son, John Bolling." Jane, granddaughter of John Rolfe and Pocahontas, died in 1676. Bolling then married Anne Stith who bore him several children.
----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
To Mr. Robert Bolling for insolvents: 0356. [Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volume III, Charles City County Court Orders and Fragments, 1664-96, FTM CD187 Family History: VA Genealogies #3, 1600s-1800s]
p. 6. Abstract. Com of admr jointly to Maj Fran: Poythres and Mr Peter Read on est of Anne Young decd. Est to be equally div betw orphans of dec'd. Maj Poythres and Mr Robt Bolling give bond L50. Sterl. Mr Peter Read and Mr. John Jean give bond in same amt. [ibid.]
p. 89. Att a Court holden att Westover the third day of March 1696 Annoq Reg: Doni Rs Guiel: 3:9. The Justices present were Cap Daniel Lewellin, Cap't Charles Goodrich, Mr. Robert Bolling and Capt John Hamlin. [ibid.]
p. 90. Abstract. Robt Bolling vs Thos Vinson to next Court. [ibid.]
Robert Bolling, who at the age of 14 settled in Virginia in 1660 (arrived in VA, Oct 2, 1660), was the first of his name to come over. He was the son of John and Mary Bolling of Bolling Hall, near Bradford, Yorkshire, England. He was born in London, Dec 26, 1646, and m.1 1675 Jane, dau. of Thomas Rolfe and Jane Poythress. By this union there were 5 daughters and 1 son, John Bolling of Cobbs. [The Walker Family by Lee Nicholson, p. 1, Genealogies of Virginia Families, Volume IV, FTM CD187
Col Robert Bolling and Jane Rolfe's children are sometimes referred to as "red" Bollings as they are descended from Pocathontas; Col. Robert and Ann Stith's descendants are referred to as "white Bollings". This source says he and
Jane Rolfe had only one child and all other children were by Anne Stith. Lived at Kippax, sometimes called Farmingdate; served as a Burgess in 1704 and took a prominent part in the affairs of the colony. The Bolling family was deeply interested in the church in Virginia, and have been represented in the vestry of Old Bristol Parish in every generation. [WFT Vol 21 Ped 1211]
Until a few years ago when the fragments were removed to a family burial vault in Petersburg, the broken tomb of Col. Robert Bolling, the immigrant, remained at "Kippax," Prince George County. It bore the Bolling arms and the following epitaph:
"Here lyeth interred in hope of a joyful resurrection, the body of Robert Bolling, the son of John and Mary Bolling, of Allhallows, Barkin Parish, Tower Street, London. He was born the 26th of December in the year 1646, and came to Virginia October the 2d, 1660, and departed this life the 17th day of July, 1709, aged sixty-two years, six months and twenty-one days."
As these dates show, Robert Bolling was only 14 years of age when he came to the colony and was doubtless, in the care of some friend. In early manhood he engaged in trade as a merchant, and the firm of "Robert Bolling and Company" is referred to in the records of several counties, showing that their business was extensive. He was also a planter and acquired large tracts of land. His residence was in Charles City County, on the south side of James River in what is now Prince George County. The name of the plantation where he lived, "Kippax," did not probably originate with him, as he had, so far as is known, no reason for giveing the name.
The first public office which he held was, doubtless, that of justice of Charles City County, and he was sheriff of that county in 1692 and 1699 (Va. Mag. Hist. and Biog. I, 234). In 1702 he was still a justice. He was member of the House of Burgesses for Charles City at the sessions of April 1688, April 1692, and April 1699 and for Prince George, April 1704 (Va. Mag. Hist. and Biog. XV, 332, 438, 441, and Colonial Va. Register). In 1705 he is styled, in a land patent, "Col. Robert bolling," which indicates that he was then Colonel of the Prince George militia.
Col. Bolling probably acquired much land by purchase, as his grants were not extensive. There is on record in Henrico County a deed dated March 1700-1, from Stephen Cocke to Robert Bolling, merchant, of Bristol parish, Charles City Co., conveying 240 acres north of the Appomattox River, part of a plantation called Old Town. His grants comprised about 1760 acres in Bristol Parish, 50 acres in Henrico Co., and 1973 acres in Prince George on Moccasoneck Creek and Nottoway River. That last grant, dated May 6, 1706 was to "Collo. Robert Bolling." His first grant was in 1682 to "Robert Bolling, Gent."
There is in the Virginia State Library an old volume of the laws of Virginia known as "Purvise's Collection," which once belonged to Robert. A Flyleaf contains an entry which gives the dates of his birth and arrival in Virginia as they appear on his tomb, and continues, "& in the year 75 married Jane the daughter of Thomas Rolfe, gent., by whom he had one son, John Bolling, born ye 26th day of Jan'y 1676. She dying [in 1676 - Bolling Memoirs] he married a second venture Anne ye daughter of Major John Stith in ye year 1681, by whom he hath Robt Bolling born Jan ye 25th 1686, Stith Bolling borne March ye 28th 1686, Edward Bolling borne ye first day of October 1687, Ann Bolling borne ye 22d of July 1690, Drury Bolling borne ye 21st day of June 1695, Thomas Bolling borne ye 30th day of March 1697/8, Agnes Bolling born ye 30th November 1700, and that god almighty may bless these blessings shall be the continuall prayer of their father Robt Bolling." [FTM CD162 Family History: Virginia Genealogies #1, Genealogies of Virginia Families V, R-Z, The Ancestors and Descendants of John Rolfe, Bolling, p. 217-18]
Events
| Birth | 26 Dec 1646 | All Hallows, Barking Parrish, Tower Street, London, England | |||
| Emigration | 2 Oct 1660 | From London England To Virginia | |||
| Marriage | 23 Nov 1675 | "Kippax", Charles City, Virginia, USA - Jane Rolfe | |||
| Marriage | 1681 | Anne Stith | |||
| Alt. Death | 7 Jul 1708/09 | ||||
| Burial | Jul 1709 | "Kippax", Charles City, Virginia, USA | |||
| Death | 17 Jul 1709 | "Kippax", Charles City, Virginia, USA |
Families
| Spouse | Jane Rolfe (1650 - 1676) |
| Child | Colonel John Fairfax Bolling (1676 - 1729) |
| Spouse | Anne Stith ( - ) |
| Child | Robert Bolling (1686 - ) |
| Child | Stith Bolling (1687 - ) |
| Child | Edward Bolling (1687 - ) |
| Child | Anne Bolling (1690 - ) |
| Child | Drury Bolling (1695 - ) |
| Child | Thomas Bolling ( - ) |
| Child | Agnes Bolling (1700 - ) |
| Father | John Bolling (1615 - 1684) |
| Mother | Mary Carie (1620 - 1648) |