In a message dated 9/5/2011 7:42:49 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Charlene, There has got to be a good story here. Tell us more! Craig ************************************************************************** I participate in the BOWLING Family Association. Upon researching our line--Group 7-- we kept running into a line that connected TARPLEY with our proven patriot Samuel BOWLING m Abigail CHOICE through an Amelia RANDOLPH. There is no evidence, much less proof, that she ever existed; whereas we had wills and land transactions and other documents that proved that Samuel 1744-1808 was the son of our William BOWLING c 1707-1782 and his wife Ann LNU d 1809 Orange Co., VA. We think our William was born in St. Thomas Parish---YES, the Northern Neck. Having been a high school teacher for 34 years, I questioned some of the phraseology as being more modern. *************************************************************************** Here are the perpetrators and ensuing discussions and findings by the BOWLING Family and/or DAR. "Joyce" is Joyce POOLE of the BOWLING group. We were also in contact with Todd BOLEN who literally "wrote the book" on the BOLLING/BOWLING Families. Joyce POOLE and Janice FRIEL are both cousins of mine through BELL and BOWLING. Our line is NOT related to Pocahontas! Lineage Book, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume XCIII, 1912, p. 198. MRS. MARY BOLLING HICKSON WALKER Wife of Dr. Franklin Pierce Walker Descendant of William Bolling, as follows: 1. William Hickson (1832-97) m. 1858 Martha Ann Bolling (b. 1833) 2. Tully Bolling (1774-1840) m. 2nd 1828 Mary Anne Smythe Mimms (1792-1858) 3. Samuel Bolling (d. 1808) m. Abigail Choice 4. William Bolling m. Amelia Randolph---NO, NO, NO William Bolling (1731-1776) served as a private in Henry County, Virginia militia. He was born in Goochland County, Va.; died in service. Lineage Book, Volume CVIII, 1914, p. 58. MRS. KATE WALKER SANDERSON Born in Appleton, S.C. Wife of Dr. Raymond Sanderson Descendant of William Bolling and of Ensign Samuel Bolling, as follows: 1. Franklin Pierce Walker (b. 1855) m. 1884 Mary Bolling Hickson (b. 1860) 2. William Hickson (1832-97) m. 1858 Martha Ann Bolling (b. 1833) 3. Tully Bolling (1774-1840) m. 2nd 1828 Mary Ann Smythe (1792-1858) 4. Samuel Bolling m. 1772 Abigail Choice 5. William Bolling m. Amelia Randolph------- NO William Bolling (1731-1776) enlisted as a private in the Virginia militia. He was born in Goochland Co., Va., died in Virginia. Samuel Bolling, in 1775 was commissioned ensign, serving in Capt. William Ryan's company, Virginia Continental Army. He was born in Henry Co., Va.; died in Laurens County, S.C. The DAR members cited above were obviously mother and daughter, both married (it would seem) to physicians. They were undoubtedly well-to-do, prominent members of the community. Some in this forum enjoy portraying Bolling genealogical controversies in terms of class warfare, with the powdered wig "aristocracy" allegedly trying to exclude honest working folk by "stealing" their heritage. The genesis of the "blue Bolling" dispute -- at least the "William Bolling-Amelia Randolph" aspect of it -- may demonstrate exactly the opposite: wealthy folk trying to add Pocahontas descent to their social resumes. The DAR is sensitive to the issue of gilded lineages for the socially prominent and, in the case of William Bolling, no longer lists him in the Patriot Index. Ironically, "Private William Bolling" probably deserves a place of honor. He's been excluded because he's been used for purposes other than establishing descent from a Revolutionary War participant. 2. William Bolling's "promotion" to Colonel must be a relatively recent invention. Perhaps this aspect of the controversy can be put, at long last, to bed. Those spreading the "Colonel" story probably felt uncomfortable with the idea that a "son" of Colonel John Bolling and a "son-in-law" of Richard Randolph, Jr. would go into service as a private soldier from Henry Co. Their discomfort was perfectly understandable, to say the least. 3. With the assistance of the Librarian at the Bassett Branch Historical Center (an unbelievably valuable facility for genealogical research), I'm trying to find evidence that "Amelia Randolph Bolling" was an actual person. So far, nothing. As someone who recently replied to a posting of mine has suggested, the emphasis in "blue Bolling" research needs to be on finding evidence of actual linkages to the family of John Bolling and Elizabeth Blair Bolling.----Fred Hof (This was a handwritten note in Samuel's Bible: presumably in his own hand.)(QUOTE) ‘I will set down some facts for my children to remember. John Bolling II and Elizabeth Blair were my grparents. She the drt. to Archibald Blair & Mary Wilson. One of their children was my father, Wm. Bolling B. 5 May 1731. My mother Amelia Randolph was drt. to Richard Randolph and w. Ann Meade. My parents were 2nd cousins, he being 5th and she 6th in descent from the Princess Pocahontas. (END QUOTE) Bowling, Samuel Spouse: Polly Hudnall Marriage Date: Jun 20, 1797 Location: Fauquier Co., Virginia Source: Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT Microfilm: 0031632 - 0031634 Bowling, Samuel Spouse: Elizabeth Oxford Marriage Date: Oct 28, 1731 Location: King George Co., Virginia Source: Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT Microfilm: 0032053 . *************************************************************** >From [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) Poole---Bolling Family Association: Robert Bolling made an affidavit for William Choice's children and wife in 1848. William Choice was Robert's uncle, the brother of Abigail Choice, Robert's mother. This is evidence that no family Bible record for Samuel/Abigail's family could have existed in the 1900's when Sara Sullivan Ervin said she saw it, then typed it and notarized it. That family record burned a long time prior to 1848, as the following indicates. The so-called "Bible record" of Samuel Bolling (seen in certain publications and certified by Sara Sullivan Sullivan in the mid-1900's saying that she had the original) was destroyed long before Sara Sullivan was born. Robert Bolling, son of Samuel, stated under oath that the family record had been destroyed in a fire when he gave an affidavit in 1848 for the application of William Choice's children and widow for a pension based on William's service as a Revolutionary War soldier. This affidavit is described below. Greenville District, SC, county court, 18 Oct 1848. Robert Bolling signed an affidavit in which he stated that he was present at the marriage of William Choice and Mary McDonald in Laurens District, SC, on May 10, 1786. He further stated that he was then 72 or 73 years old and that "the record of his age was burned." (Such records in that day and time would have been the family Bible.) This indicated that he was born in 1775 or 1776. This affidavit was part of the application of the children of the said William Choice and his said wife for a pension (for the service of the said William Choice in the Revolutionary War) and that both the said William Choice and his said wife Mary had been entitled to receive but did not receive. The surviving children were awarded payments for their father's service. (A more detailed summary was published by John Frederick Dorman and a copy was attached to the DAR application of Elizabeth Gambrell Garrison) This William Choice pension application was investigated by Glen Garrison, and this is what he wrote to A. D. about it a few months ago: "Robert Bolling, a son of Samuel Bolling and Abigail Choice, wrote and signed a formal affidavit on 18 October 1848 in support of a pension application based on the military service of his uncle, William Choice, in the Revolutionary War; and in this document Robert Bolling said that he was then "72 or 73 years old and the record of his age was burned." It is well known that the standard proof for date of birth at that time in this country was the date of the birth recorded by the person's parents in the family Bible. This affidavit is strong evidence that this Robert Bolling in 1848 knew that the BIBLE OF SAMUEL BOLLING AND HIS WIFE, ABIGAIL (CHOICE) BOLLING, HAD BEEN BURNED AND NO LONGER EXISTED!!!! In the 1790 federal census the family of Samuel Bolling in Laurens County, SC, contained two free white males age16 years and up, undoubtedly indicating that one was Samuel Bolling and the other one was his oldest son, Robert Bolling, Robert Bolling admitted in the aforesaid affidavit that he did not know the year of his birth, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT HIS PARENTS THOROUGHLY KNEW THE YEAR IN WHICH THEIR FIRST CHILD WAS BORN!!! I estimate that this Robert Bolling was born about 1773. It is recorded that Samuel Bolling and Abigail Choice were married prior to the gift of land from Tully Choice on 28 March 1771." --Joyce-- Colonial Dames XVII has recently sent out their notice of Suspened, Revised, etc. Lineages. Bolling/Blair was of particular interest. "Revised. The children of John Bolling and Elizabeth Blair are descendants of John Rolfe and Pocahontas. However, some of tthe children claimed for this couple by Zelma Wells Price using documents by Sara Sullivan Ervin of South Carolina are spurious..... For a discussion of Sara Sullivan Ervin's activities, ples see Carolyn Copeland Bland, ....Mag. Va. Gen. 25 (4) Nov 1987: 3-13. Any material bearing her (Sara S. Ervin) name or any publication citing material provided by her must be considered suspect and can NOT be used as proof, under any circumstances." ***************************************************** THE MYTH OF WILLIAM BOLLING AND AMELIA RANDOLPH Author: Janice Friel Date: 30 Mar 2005 11:13 PM GMT Classification: Query Post Reply | Mark Unread Report Abuse Print Message There seem to be many of our Bolling folks who still do not know the story of the notorious non-existent William Bolling born 1731 died 1776 with wife Amelia Randolph.” This actually should only affect the family of Samuel Bolling and Abigail Choice, since William and Amelia were “created” for the Samuel Bolling of Laurens Co., SC family. It was therefore surprising to find that some descendants of John Bolling and Ursula Bell of Orange Co., VA, thought that this fictional couple were their ancestors, as well [perhaps since John is indeed the brother of Samuel of Laurens]. The person who created William and Amelia made him up to fit their requirements, so that they and other family members could claim ancestral descent from Pocahontas through Samuel Bolling. An elaborate family record was supposedly written by Samuel himself, stating that he was born on “27 Septmbr 1758.” The so-called “Bible record” was then distributed and included in a book South Carolinians in the Revolution. The treachery and deceit finally were discovered by researchers, who realized that Samuel could not have been born in 1758, since his father-in-law Tully Choice deeded him land in 1771. The South Carolina Genealogy Society was appalled, as many lineages had been based on information from South Carolinians in the Revolution. Even the DAR had accepted it as a true source on a number of DAR members’ applications. After the discovery was made, the fictional account was exposed in the South Carolina Society's publications. Neither DAR nor Colonial Dames will accept this book anymore -- or of course the fraudulent Bible record-- as documentation. It was quite a scandal in SC and in genealogical circles. Sometime later, this information was given to the Bolling Family Association. It took awhile, but they have now accepted the "awful truth" and have removed William and Amelia from their records. It's pretty hard to believe that anyone would make up one Bible record, but this person did another one on the Sullivan family. The Sullivan fake family Bible was exposed in an article in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, a really wonderful research paper by Mrs. Carolyn Bland. If you would like to read it, it's in Vol. 2, #4, pp3-13. Mrs. Bland conferred with Bolling descendants, and it was realized that both Bibles had similar wording, very odd ways of speaking, one supposedly being written by James Sullivan, Sr. and the other by Samuel Bolling. It was obvious that both accounts had been authored by the same person. The descendants of Samuel Bolling and John Bolling should remove all references to William Bolling born 1731, died 1776, and Amelia Randolph from your Bolling material as soon as possible. Please help us to disseminate this information among this family’s descendants, so that no others will be misled. Samuel was a small child when he was named as a son of William of Orange Co., VA in a “longest-liver lease” dated 1749. Therefore, he was probably born around 1744. He probably met Abigail Choice when her father Tully Choice lived in Orange Co., and followed them to Pittsylvania Co., VA, where he and Abigail married before 1771. Information compiled by: Joyce Poole, descendant of John Bolling and Ursula Bell. Joyce Poole was informed of new information concerning the origins of the fake Samuel Bolling “bible record” from Glen Garrison on 5/28/2006. Glen has two separate copies of the “bible record” which were sent to him in 1981 by Edna Mae Watson (Mrs. M. H.). These are xerox copies of the two records which she had found in the Laurens, SC Library in 1972 in the DAR Bible Records, pages 23 and 24 in the volume and she had written “193” as though that might be a library reference number. These are the sources for false dates, or made-up dates. Two different birth dates of 1758 and 1752 are given on the two records for Samuel Bolling. The birth date of 1759 and death date of 12 Jul 1832 are given for his wife Abigail Choice. A fictitious child named Mehitable Bolling who married Mr. Tarrant is also in the records. Whoever prepared the records, finding that the birth date of Samuel Bolling in 1758 was too late, made a 2nd record, backing up Samuel's birth date to 1752. On one of the records, Samuel’s death date was given as 1 Sep 1808, but this too is probably made up or was an assumption based on his will date. The other record copy is so faint that Glen cannot tell what it says on all the dates. One of the records states that Elizabeth Bolling dau of Samuel/Abigail was born about 1782, married James Dunklin, and died on 1 Feb 1809. One of the records says that it was found in the papers of a daughter of Samuel Bolling who married James Sullivan." This record further stated that it was copied by Sara Sullivan Ervin and placed in the DAR records. Some years ago, Glen examined the voluminous genealogy files of Boyce Mitchell in the area of Laurens Co., SC after Mitchell’s death. Mr. Mitchell was a professional genealogist who helped people with their family history in the early 1900’s, when frequently genealogies were created to connect to famous people. Glen found a lot of material about Pocahontas and the Bolling family, including writings about the legitimate Col. William Bolling who married Mary Randolph and served in the War of 1812. This could have been the model for the fictitious William 1731-1776 who married the equally fictious Amelia Randolph. These so-called "bible records" are still causing trouble as of May 2006. The DAR has the bible records in their files and are using them as documentation for erroneous information on applications for membership and supplementals. Glen is in contact with the Corrections Genealogist for DAR, hoping to get this settled. --Joyce-- Folks, I'm attaching the only copy I have of one of the family records fabricated by S.S.E. for your files. When I looked at this, I realized that I need to change the death date on Elizabeth Bolling, wife of James Dunklin, on the report I sent to you all recently. This is surely the source of "1819 in SC" for her death. It is in this copy of the "Bolling Bible" which was published by Jane Allison Brennand on p. 92 of her book Bolling-Allison Family. Jane Brennand said she obtained a "certified copy from Sara Sullivan Ervin" and included it in her book. I scanned this record for you to see. The James Sullivan "so-called Bible record" is very similar in form and uses the same strange abbreviations and wording as this one. The Sullivan "record" is what caused Carolyn Bland to write her article "Entrenched Disinformation" in the Virginia Magazine of Genealogy, Vol. 25, #4, pp3-13. Then Carolyn and Sue Senter compared the Sullivan and Bolling "Bibles" and learned that they were done by the same person. There seem to be many of our Bolling folks who still do not know the story of the “notorious non-existent William Bolling born 1731 died 1776 with wife Amelia Randolph.” This actually should only affect the family of Samuel Bolling and Abigail Choice, since William and Amelia were “created” for the Samuel Bolling of Laurens Co., SC family. It was therefore surprising to find that some descendants of John Bolling and Ursula Bell of Orange Co., VA, thought that this fictional couple were their ancestors, as well [perhaps since John is indeed the brother of Samuel of Laurens]. The person who created William and Amelia made him up to fit their requirements, so that they and other family members could claim ancestral descent from Pocahontas through Samuel Bolling. An elaborate family record was supposedly written by Samuel himself, stating that he was born on “27 Septmbr 1758.” The so-called “Bible record” was then distributed and included in a book South Carolinians in the Revolution. The treachery and deceit finally were discovered by researchers, who realized that Samuel could not have been born in 1758, since his father-in-law Tully Choice deeded him land in 1771. The South Carolina Genealogy Society was appalled, as many lineages had been based on information from South Carolinians in the Revolution. Even the DAR had accepted it as a true source on a number of DAR members’ applications. After the discovery was made, the fictional account was exposed in the South Carolina Society's publications. Neither DAR nor Colonial Dames will accept this book anymore -- or of course the fraudulent Bible record-- as documentation. It was quite a scandal in SC and in genealogical circles. Sometime later, this information was given to the Bolling Family Association. It took awhile, but they have now accepted the "awful truth" and have removed William and Amelia from their records. It's pretty hard to believe that anyone would make up one Bible record, but this person did another one on the Sullivan family. The Sullivan fake family Bible was exposed in an article in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, a really wonderful research paper by Mrs. Carolyn Bland. If you would like to read it, it's in Vol. 2, #4, pp3-13. Mrs. Bland conferred with Bolling descendants, and it was realized that both Bibles had similar wording, very odd ways of speaking, one supposedly being written by James Sullivan, Sr. and the other by Samuel B olling. It was obvious that both accounts had been authored by the same person. The descendants of Samuel Bolling and John Bolling should remove all references to William Bolling born 1731, died 1776, and Amelia Randolph from your Bolling material as soon as possible. Please help us to disseminate this information among this family’s descendants, so that no others will be misled. Samuel was a small child when he was named as a son of William of Orange Co., VA in a “longest-liver lease” dated 1749. Therefore, he was probably born around 1744. He probably met Abigail Choice when her father Tully Choice lived in Orange Co., and followed them to Pittsylvania Co., VA, where he and Abigail married before 1771. Information compiled by: Joyce Poole, descendant of John Bolling and Ursula Bell.