I have recently joined the Bowling list and thought I would post this query to see if anyone has any information that might help me. My earliest known Bowling ancestor is Alexander b 1781 VA or NC who married Elizabeth Worthy of Chester Co., SC ca 1801 and is in the 1805 Grainger Co., TN tax list along with several other Bowling's (Joseph, Joel, Jesse, James, David, Lisha, Stephen, Edmund and Thomas living there between 1800-10). Alex is in Lincoln Co., TN in 1810 and Madison Co., Al by 1811. He died in Lawrence Co., AL in 1843. Alexander's only known brother (proven by his will) is William b 1784 NC who is also in Grainger in 1805. William is in Madison Co., TN. by 1821 when it is opened to white settlement . He also lived in Haywood, Hardeman and Gibson counties of Tenn and Marshall Co., MS (ca 1850) over the next 50 years. There are other Bowlings living in these counties at the same time as William including Lewis, Thomas (2 or3), James, Isham, Joseph, David, Green, Burgess, Daniel and John. William died in 1870 in Hardeman or Obion Co., TN. During The War of 1812 both brothers would have been 31 and 28 years old and probably participated in The War of 1812. Coffee's Regiment, Tenn. Vol., War of 1812 was formed in Franklin, Tenn. just south of Nashville, (100-120 miles from Lincoln Co., TN). There is an Alex and William Boling in John Baskerville's company of Coffee's Regiment. Alexander and Elizabeth had the following children: Preston, b 1803 TN m 1 Cintha McWorther, 2 Ester J. McAfee, 3 Mary Ann Reynolds, Mildred b 1806 TN m Thornsberry Wilkerson, James M. b 1815 AL unmarried, George W. b 1818 Al m 1 Elizabeth C. Walton, 2 Felicia Olivia Bowers, 3 Laura Brooks, Alexander B., b 1819 Al, m Mahala Coopwood, William H. b 1824 m Rebecca Reed, and Permelia b 1826 m Andrew Jackson Walton. Goodspeed reports 11 children in all, thus 4 missing.. William and Mary had the following children: Lucretia b 1812 Al or TN m Thomas Yandell, Nancy Ann b 1817 m Francis A. Edney, Isham Merriman b 1824 TN m Betsy Minerva White (note: There is an Ishma Merriman living in Mecklenburg Co.,NC in 1800 who moved to west TN by 1810, is he namesake?), Alexander b 1826 TN m Sarah Jane Davies, Mary Adeline b 1828 TN m Ashburn Davis, Emaline T. b 1836 TN m William Henry , and Matilda C. b? m John C. Davie. Have wondered if my ancestors are connected to Benjamin since several of his descendants are in the Grainger area 1800-1810 or possibly the Clay Co., Ky Bowlings. Does anyone know anything that might help me. Larry Bowling