Boling, Sullivan Co., TN John Bolin Sr. and his wife Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) are the foundation of our family tree. John was born in Henry Co., VA about 1759. John Sr. came to Tennessee in the late 1790's or the early 1800's and is found on a deed record of 1808 and the 1812 tax records to be living in Sullivan Co., TN. In July 1814 he filed on a land grant for 125 acres on the North Side of the Holston River in Sullivan Co. This grant was signed by Willie Blount, Governor of Tennessee. The 1840 Census of Sullivan Co., TN shows John's age to have been 80 to 90 years old. The same census shows Elizabeth's age to have been 60 to 70 years old. This would place her birth to be between 1770 to 1780. I have chosen 1775 as her birth date. John Sr. died about 1845, and Elizabeth died between 1840 to 1850 as she is no longer present on the 1850 Census. John Bolen Sr. served in the American Revolutionary War. He records for a pension reads like this: Bolen, John. S.1790 21 Nov. 1832. Sullivan Co., Tenn. John (X) Bolen, Sr., of said county, aged 72, declares he enlisted in 1780 as a minute man from Henry Co., Va., under Capt. Abraham Penn and was marched to Jamestown and joined Col. Carrington�s regiment. He guarded the magazine and plantations on the bay and river from the pillage that was daily committed by British troops, who were trying to take Negroes and stock from the citizens. He was within hearing of the guns at Dunmore�s engagement. He thinks he served five months. A few weeks after returning home to Henry County he was ordered from Henry Court House to Bedford Court House under Capt. Peter Haston and served between two and three weeks in guarding prisoners. He moved to Montgomery County (then Botetourt) and immediately, in a few days of arriving , was drafted to go against the Indians on the Kanawha and marched under Lieut. Isham to a fort on that river. He was there some weeks under Capt. Parris. He served seven or eight weeks. 25 Jan. 1833. Sullivan Co., Tenn. John (X) Bolin Sr., of said county makes statement as to length of his service. He was told by his parents he was born in Henry Co., Va., and is 72 years and some months old. (No jacket showing amount of pension and certificate number is now in file.) I found the following on the TENNESSEE PENSION ROLL OF 1835 REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR IN RELATION TO THE PENSION ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1835. REPORT IN OBEDIENCE TO RESOLUTIONS OF THE SENATE OF THE 5TH AND 30TH OF JUNE, 1834 AND THE 3rd OF MARCH, 1835. IN RELATION TO THE PENSION ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON. JOHN BOLEN, SULLIVAN COUNTY PRIVATE VIRGINIA LINE $23.66 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE $70.98 AMOUNT RECEIVED MARCH 1, 1833 PENSION STARTED AGE 74. (THIS REPORT WAS DONE IN 1835) The land deed records of Sullivan Co., TN show that John Bolin Sr. had three sons. John Jr., Isaac, and Tolliver. At first I also included a Joel Boling as a son as he was listed on a land deed of 1838 where all of John Bolin's Sr. sons put up their land and stock to bail their brother John Jr. out of jail. Why he was in jail I have not been able to determine from the records available, but it must have worked out as they all received their land and stock back. I now think that Joel was probably related in some manner, but as of 1998 I have yet to know exactly how. The records of this period very seldom list women. If John Sr. and Elizabeth had any daughters I have not been able to find them listed in any records. In 1828 John Bolin Sr. sold 125 acres of land located on the north side of the Holston River to John R. Delaney. In 1835 John Sr. gave 56 acres of land to John Jr. and gave Isaac 56 acres of land as the deed states for "love and money". Fifty dollars from John Jr., and One hundred dollars from Isaac. They in turn mortgaged the land back to John Sr. for $150. John Jr. and Isaac were to pay John Sr. back by giving him 36 bushels of corn, 12 bushels of wheat and 300 pounds of pork annually and every year thereafter on the 25 day of December during the natural lives of John Sr. and Elizabeth. If either John or Elizabeth died they were then to pay half the amount of corn, wheat, and pork. John Sr. whose house and garden plot then set on the land of John Jr. was to retain this land as long as he or Elizabeth were still alive. In 1838 John Bolin Jr. sold his land to Benjamin A. Beeler. Isaac Bolin sold his land to William Offield. The land where John Bolin Sr. and Elizabeth lived was not included in this land transfer until after their death. This land then went to Benjamin A. Beeler. John Sr. left 2 tracts of land to Tolliver and this is where he lived. Joel is not mentioned but, he is no longer found on the census either. He may have died or moved away before then. In the 1840 Census of Sullivan Co., TN there is another Larkin Bolin listed in the same house as Tolliver. He probably was related to John Bolin Sr. in some manner as they lived in the same house. Our grandfather Larkin Boling is shown to be a male child between the ages of 5 to 10 years old in this record. His father was Tolliver and his mother was Telitha (maiden name unknown). John Bolin Sr. and Elizabeth also lived in the same house. Tolliver was born about 1805 and died about 1871. Telitha was born about 1812 and died after 1880 but before 1900. Larkin was the only child ever listed for Tolliver and Telitha in any record I could find. Upon Tolliver�s death he left his land to Larkin and his children. THIS IS HOW I PROVED THAT JOHN BOLIN SENIOR WAS OURS: Know all men by these presents that I John Bolin Senior of Sullivan County state of Tennessee, for and in consideration of the love and affection which I have towards My Grand Son Larkin Bolin (Son of Tolaver) and for his being so kind and attentive to me in my old age. I do therefore give and convey unto my Said grand Son Larkin Bolen One Bay filly two years old this Spring and one red and white pided cow about four years old To have and to hold the same unto the Said Larkin Bolin my grand Son and his heirs forever. In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this fifth day of March 1844. Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us Silas Crockett, Jesse Elkins. John (X) Bolin Senior. STATE OF TENNESSEE } Personally appeared before me Jacob T. Messick , Clerk of the SULLIVAN COUNTY } County Court for Said county Silas Crockett and Jesse Elkins the within witness to the said deed of Gift who being first sworn -----and say that they are acquainted with the bargainor ...? who acknowledge the same to be his ast. and deed for the purposes therein contained on the day it bears data. Witness my hand at office this 10th of January 1845. Jacol T. Messick Clerk Read the foregoing Deed and certificate February the 15th 1845 at 1o�clock p.m. and then was registered F. Sturm Nye ?