I'm not sure what color the Bowlings of my family are but I'd appreciate any connections you may have. The first member of the branch in America was Jessie Bowling, b. about 1754 in England. He was supposedly kidnapped to Maryland around the time of the Revolution. I have a photocopy of a marriage bond to Sarah Robertson, signed (with an X) by Jessie and John Robinson (father of Sarah with one or both misspelled?) dated September 1785, Cumberland Co., VA. The family soon made its way to Mercer Co., VA (WV) and settled there for the next 150 years or so. Jessie had several children, including William, Thomas, Nancy, Betsy, and John (my ggg grandfather). John (b. ca. 1800 in Giles Co., VA, - d. ca. 1875) married Sallie (Sarah?) Walker (b. 1805 in Giles Co. - d. ca. 1900) on Dec. 23 1824 and they settled in Spanishburg, Mercer Co., WV. Related families include WALKER, LILLY, BRAMMER, HOUCHINS among others. There is a family legend that John's son Charles Albert Bowling was offered tribal land in Indian Territory but preferred to remain in WV. I have no documentation, but I do know there are Bowlings on the Dawes Roll. If any of you have any further info, I'd sure appreciate hearing from you and would be glad to exchange relatives. I have a fairly extensive tree, but there are a lot of loose ends. Lew Bowling lbowling@pop.uky.edu