The Bolding Family
Note: These pages are exact copies of the first two generations and part of the third of the Bolding family chapter from my book, Southern Heritage II.
My Bolding ancestry is through James R. Bolding of Itawamba County,
Mississippi but I am going to begin this chapter on the Bolding family
by talking about Andy Bolding of Franklin County, Alabama and some widely
held beliefs that I feel are in error. Until recently (until I changed
a few people's minds, but very few) descendants of Andy Bolding, and indeed
it seems everyone who has researched the Bolding family, believed that
Andy P. Bolding of Franklin County, Alabama was a son of John Tarpley Bolding.
I am convinced his father was James Bolding who may or may not have been
a brother of John Tarpley Bolding. I believe the confusion comes from there
being two men named Andrew "Andy" P. Bolding of nearly the same age who
are probably first cousins. I will try to present both sides of the argument
and let you decide.
I have copies of two letters from J.R. Bolding of Saltillo, Mississippi
to John P. Bolding of Georgetown and Corn Hill, Texas written in 1872 and
1877. Both begin "Dear Brother". In the first of these letters he speaks
of his children "Katy, Emma, John, Cally, and Martha" and says "I have
not heard anything from Iuka in some time brother Andrews health is improveing.
Fletcher Patterson is going to rent out his possession in Iuka and going
to move up to the old stand on Bare Creek." Katy Bolding was my father's
mother and from letters written by her and from census records I recognize
the others as her siblings. This letter establishes that J. R. Bolding
of Saltillo, Mississippi had a brother named John P. Bolding and a brother
named Andrew. The mention of Fletcher Patterson and the town of Iuka suggest
a family connection there and as will be pointed out later James R. Bolding's
sister Elizabeth Bolding Patterson lived in Iuka and had a son named James
Fletcher Patterson and John P. Bolding, before moving to Texas, lived in
Iuka, Mississippi.
A letter from J.F. Bolding (James Floyd son of James R. Bolding) to
Ed Bolding of Cane Hill, Arkansas (someone inquiring about Bolding family
history) dated Jun. 2, 1922 says in part "My Great Grandfather came from
East Tenn. about 1835 or 40. He settled in north Ala., and married the
last time a widow Bentley. He had four sons if I remember right ... John,
Andy, my father. and Bob." (Note: if his father is one of these four sons
then he is obviously speaking of his grandfather not his great grandfather.)
He then says "Andy had 3 boys. Pickens, Tarpley and Patton. Bob I never
knew. He died at about the age of 21. I never met but one of uncle Johns
boys. Felix came back on a visit several years ago. Bro Jno and myself
went back to Ala. with him. My father had 7 children. Callie, Mattie, John,
Floyd, Mollie, Will and Kate. My father had 6 sisters. one married Harden
Patterson, one married Jasper Mink. The other 4 died young." He also says
in this letter "We never did know what became of Pickens. He killed a man
in Ala. before or about the time of the Civil War, and ran away." This
letter confirms the first letter that James R. Bolding had brothers named
Andy and John and proves there was another brother named Bob who died young,
A letter from E.T. Bolding of Vina, Alabama to this same Ed Bolding
of Cane Hill, Arkansas dated Feb. 8, 1936 says in part, "My father was
Tarpley Bolding and lived at Pleasant Site, Ala. My grandfather was Andy
(A.P. Bolding) ... I remember very well Cousin Felix Bolding visiting us
some 40 years ago. He brought with him Floyd and John Bolding from Saltillo."
This letter establishes the fact that James R. Bolding's brother Andy was
the Andy Bolding who lived in Pleasant Site, Alabama. This is also shown
by the 1860 census of Franklin County, Alabama that list "Andy Bolding"
with sons named "Pickens, Tarpley, and Patton". (Note: as will be shown
later there were other children listed who James Floyd Bolding apparently
didn't know.)
The "James R. Boland" family is listed on the 1860 census of Itawamba
County, Mississippi. From the names and ages of his wife and children(Susan
26, Caroline 6, Martha Ann 4, and John P. 2) and a comparison to later
census records. this is obviously James Bolding not James Boland. Living
in this household is a 79 year old "James Boland" who could be an uncle
but is more logically the father.
Judy Skaggs McCalpin is a grand daughter of Steven Isaac Bolding (son of Alexander Patton Bolding). She has sent me Xerox copies of the family pages from an old Bolding family Bible in her possession. (In later references to these Bible records I will simply call it The Bolding Bible.) Much of this is torn, smudged, or other wise illegible. By way of illustration some entries look like this:
On page one under the heading "Deaths" [Some entries are obviously births,
not deaths.]:
" Andrew Bolding (illegible) age 61 y (illegible)"
"__(torn)__ Bolding was Bornd Oct the 15th 1841 "
"__(torn)__ P. Bolding was Bornd Aprile the 5th 1846 "
Mrs. McCalpin had transcribed these records in 1960 or 1961 from the
original which probably was easier to read than the Xerox copy made 35
years later (and she transcribed this in the presence of her elderly "Aunt
Meda" whose birth is recorded in the Bible and who knew most of the people)..
Her transcription of this first entry reads "Andrew Bolding Departed this
life May 26th 1874 age 61 years and 10 months". A tombstone in the Strickland
Cemetery in Franklin County, Alabama has this inscription "Andrew P. Bolding
July 26, 1812 May 26, 1874". These dates match the age at death found in
the Bible record. A tombstone found in the Winchester Cemetery in Franklin
County, Alabama is inscribed "James Tarpley Bolding Oct 15 1841 - June
23 1907" and the estate records of Andrew P. Bolding list among the heirs
"James T. Bolding of Franklin, Co., Ala." Andrew P. Bolding's tombstone
in the Shady Grove Cemetery in McIntosh County, Oklahoma gives his date
of birth and death as Apr. 5, 1846 - Sep. 8, 1920 and the estate records
of Andrew P. Bolding list among the heirs "A.P. Bolding who resides somewhere
in Indian Territory". The 1860 census of Franklin County, Alabama list
"Tarpley age 19" and "Pickens age 14" as sons of "Andy Bolding". From all
these sources it is obvious that these three entries in the Bible record
are the death of Andrew P. Bolding and birth of his sons James Tarpley
Bolding and Andrew Pickens Bolding who obviously are the "Tarpley and Pickens"
mentioned in the 1922 letter from James Floyd Bolding. By comparing all
of the torn, smudged entries in this old Bible to other records in this
manner it appears that everyone listed is a child, or grandchild of Alexander
Patton Bolding with the exception of Andrew P. Bolding (who was Alexander's
father); Elizabeth Patterson who was Andrew P. Bolding's sister; and Margaret
Patterson whose relationship I am unsure of. Mrs. McCalpin is not sure
who this Bible originally belonged to but it seems obvious to me that it
belonged to Alexander Patton Bolding and perhaps was handed down to him
by his father. There is one other name listed who is not a descendant of
Andrew P. Bolding, and this entry is clearly legible:
"James Bolding Senr departed this life Mar 27, 1863 aged 81 y 4 m 3
d"
From the age at his death I calculate his date of birth to be Nov. 23,
1781. It is possible that this is an uncle of Andrew P. Bolding but the
more logical conclusion is that it is his father. (Would he record the
death of his uncle in this Bible and not record the death of his father?}
James Bolding, Sr. would have been 79 years old in 1860 and as pointed
out earlier a 79 year old man named James was living with James R. Bolding
(Andrew's brother) in 1860. It may not be documented proof but sometimes
in doing genealogy research this is as close as you get.
From the above information there can be no doubt that James R. Bolding
of Saltillo, Mississippi; John P. Bolding of Corn Hill, Texas; and Andy
P. Bolding of Pleasant Site, Alabama were brothers and it appears that
their father was the James Bolding, Sr. who died Mar. 27, 1863. Now for
the other side of the argument ... Judge Zelma Wells Price has published
extensive research on her Bolding ancestors. Much of her information was
supplied by Ara Janet Stegall based on letters, family Bible records, tombstone
inscriptions, etc. compiled by her father Wesley Washington Bolding in
the late 1800s. Her information is accepted by the Bolling Family Association
(from which the Bolding family comes) and I believe her information to
be true (I cannot find original records to support all of her information
but every thing I have found agrees and none of it conflicts).
Zelma Wells Price in her book listed the following children of John
Tarpley Bolding (son of John Bolling and Mary Tarpley of Sullivan County,
Tennessee) and his wife Mary Pleasants :
Mary Pleasants Bolding b. Apr. 6, 1799 d. Dec. 23, 1868
James Pleasaants Bolding b. Apr. 6, 1799 d. Jun 15, 1879
Marvin Pleasants Bolding b. Nov. 10, 1800
Joseph Pleasants Bolding b. Nov. 26, 1802
William Pleasants Bolding b. Dec. 15, 1804 d. Nov. 25, 1807
Robert Pleasants Bolding b. Oct. 1, 1807 d. Nov. 26, 1807
John Pleasants Bolding b. Jan. 1, 1810
Sarah Pleasants Bolding b. Feb. 3, 1812
Anne Pleasants Bolding b. Feb. 3, 1812
Andrew Pleasants Bolding b. Dec. 27, 1813
Martha Meotake Pleasants Bolding b. Sep. 5, 1815
Ara Amelia Pleasants Bolding b. Aug. 10, 1817
Elizabeth Pleasants Bolding b. Dec. 25, 1819
From the letters, etc. previously quoted we know that James, Bob, John,
and Andrew Bolding were brothers who had six sisters one of whom was named
Elizabeth. It's obvious that they are the children listed here as children
of John Tarpley Bolding ... or is it? That is the conclusion other's have
reached but I think they are wrong.
James R. Bolding of Saltillo, Mississippi according to his tombstone
inscription and obituary was born Aug. 11, 1823 not Apr. 6, 1799 and his
middle name was not Pleasants. Robert Bolding according to Judge Price's
records died as a two month old infant. According a letter from James Floyd
Bolding his father had a brother named Robert who died when he was about
21 years old. Andrew P. Bolding (brother of James R. Bolding) according
to his tombstone was born July 26, 1812 not Dec. 27, 1813. John Porter
Bolding (brother of James R. Bolding) according to his tombstone was born
July 6, 1815 not Jan. 1, 1810 and his middle name was Porter not Pleasants..
Elizabeth (sister of James R. Bolding) according to her tombstone was born
in Feb. 1811 not Dec. 25, 1819.
I am not disputing any of the information compiled by Judge Zelma Wells
Price. I am confident that her records are as accurate as genealogy records
can be and her book based on original records that are no longer available
to us is an invaluable resource. The problem arises from the similarity
of names. It appears to me that both John Tarpley Bolding and James Bolding
(who may be brothers) had sons named James, Bob, John, and Andrew and a
daughter named Elizabeth and most researchers have assumed the wrong father.
One final note: Judge Price's book says that John Tarpley Bolding had a
brother, James Marion Bolding, born Nov. 7, 1780. This date of birth does
not match the calculated birth date of "James Bolding, senr." but either
date could be wrong. All of the other evidence suggest that "James Bolding,
senr" is the brother of John Tarpley Bolding.
[Author's note: One of my fellow researchers said something to the effect
that I can disregard Judge Price's information because the date of birth
of Andrew P. Bolding in her records doesn't match the tombstone record
when there is so little difference but I can accept the discrepancy in
birth dates of James Bolding, Sr. and James Marion Bolding. . . She has
a valid point. All I can say to that is that I try my best to present the
facts as I know them. When there are conflicting records I look to what
is called preponderance of evidence. In the case of Andrew P. Bolding's
date of birth, census records (over a span of thirty years), his tombstone,
and the Bible record all agree suggesting that he was born in 1912 not
1813. In the case of James Marion Bolding, son of John Bolling and Mary
Tarpley, the only records I have are Zelma Price's book. Nowhere in this
book have I stated that Andrew P. Bolding,, John P. Bolding, and James
R. Bolding are sons of James Marion Bolding, son of John Bolling and Mary
Tarpley. What I have said and will continue to say is that these records
prove that Andrew P. Bolding, John P. Bolding, and James R. Bolding were
brothers who were probably sons of James Bolding who may or may not be
a son of John Bolling and Mary Tarpley. The continuation of the name "Tarpley"
among the sons and grandsons of Andrew P. Bolding suggest a close relationship
to John Bolling and Mary Tarpley.]
The Pocahontas connection
My father always said that we were descendants of Pocahontas. I never asked how. I now know that Pocahontas married John Rolfe in 1614 and they had only one child before her early death ... Thomas Rolfe. Thomas and his wife Jane Poythress had only one child, Jane Rolfe who married Robert Bolling so all descendants of Pocahontas are from the Bolling family. According to Judge Zelma Wells Price's book John Tarpley Bolding of Pleasant Site, Alabama is a son of John Bolling and his wife Mary Tarpley who died in Sullivan County, Tennessee. This John Bolling is a direct descendant of Pocahontas and John Rolfe. John Tarpley Bolding is definitely not in our direct line, but he had a brother named James Marion Bolling who could possibly be the James Bolding who I believe is our ancestor. The John Tarpley Bolding family moved to Franklin County, Alabama about 1835 to 1840 as did our James Bolding and the name Tarpley has continued down our family line.
Having said all that, I will now list the Bolding Family genealogy as
I see it and let the reader decide.
The Bolding
Bible says, "James Bolding Senr departed this life Mar 27, 1863 aged
81 y 4 m 3 d". From this I calculate his birth to have been Nov. 23, 1781.
"James Boland", a 79 year old wheel right born in Virginia, is listed on
the 1860 census of Itawamba County, Mississippi living in the home of "James
R. Boland " (from the names and ages of the wife and children this is clearly
James R. Bolding, not Boland). In a letter written June 2, 1922 by James
Floyd Bolding, son of James R. Bolding, he says, "My great grandfather
came from East Tenn. about 1835 or 40. He settled in north Ala., and married
the last time a widow Bentley. He had four sons if I remember right.. John,
Andy, my father and Bob." Since his father was one of the four sons he
obviously was writing about his grandfather, not his great grandfather.
James Bolding, Senr., a 69 year old Methodist preacher born in Virginia,
is listed on the 1850 census of Franklin County, Alabama with his 57 year
old wife Martha. These are the only records I have found of James Bolding,
Sr. and I can not be sure that the 69 year old preacher on the 1850 census
of Franklin County, Alabama and the 79 year old wheel right on the 1860
census of Itawamba County, Mississippi are the same men.
From the 1860 census we know that James Bolding, Sr. was born in Virginia
and from the dates and birthplaces of his children and grand children it
appears that he moved to South Carolina before 1811 and then to East Tennessee
by 1815. He then moved to Franklin County, Alabama between 1835 and 1840
and apparently lived out the last few years of his life in the home of
his son James R. Bolding in Itawamba County, Mississippi. (Note: Itawamba
and Tishomingo Counties in Mississippi bordered Franklin County, Alabama
and Bear Creek mentioned in one of the letters and some property records
where the Bolding families lived crossed thru the junction of these three
counties. The part of Itawamba County where the Bolding family lived became
Lee County in 1867, so although four counties and two states are involved
there were no great distances involved.) James Bolding, Sr. had four sons:
Andrew
P. Bolding , John
Porter Bolding ,
James R. Bolding , and Robert Bolding; one daughter Elizabeth Bolding;
another daughter (name unknown) who married Jasper Mink. In addition there
were four unknown daughters and possibly other children who died young.
Second Generation
[1.1] Elizabeth Bolding
Elizabeth is a daughter of James
Bolding, Sr. . In the 1922 letter previously mentioned James Floyd
Bolding says, "My father had 6 sisters. one married Harden Patterson, one
married Jasper Mink. The other 4 died young." Hardin Patterson and his
wife Elizabeth are found on both the 1850 and 1860 census reports of Itawamba
County, Mississippi living very close to James R. Bolding. They are both
buried in the Ridge Cemetery on Red Bay, Alabama Road in Itawamba County,
Mississippi. Her tombstone inscription reads"Elizabeth Patterson b. Feb.
1811 d. May 26, 1861 wife of Rev. H." His tombstone inscription reads "Hardin
Patterson, Rev. b. Nov. 17, 1809 d. Aug. 7, 1893". The death of Elizabeth
Patterson on May 26, 1861 is also recorded in the Bolding
Bible . Census records show that Hardin Patterson was born in North
Carolina and Elizabeth was born in South Carolina. Their children from
these census records are: James F. Patterson born 1832 - 1834 in Tennessee
(Note: I believe this is the "Fletcher Patterson" mentioned in the letter
from J. R. Bolding to his brother John P. Bolding.); Julia Patterson born
about 1837; Elizabeth M. Patterson born 1839 - 1841 in Alabama; Margaret
A. Patterson born 1842 - 1843 in Alabama; Robert A. Patterson born 1844
- 1845 in Alabama; and Eunice Patterson born about 1847 in Mississippi.
After Elizabeth's death Hardin married Syrena A. Mink on Feb. 27, 1862.
Syrena (born May 22, 1841 died Nov. 12, 1928) is buried in the same cemetery
as Hardin and Elizabeth as are their son Lee Patterson (born Sep. 10, 1870
died Nov. 21, 1871) and their daughter Mary Jane Patterson (born Feb. 15,
1868 died Oct. 24, 1872). Two other children are found on the 1870 census
of Tishomingo County, Mississippi: Lulla M. Patterson age 7 and Wm. W.
Patterson age 5.
Marriage records of Itawamba County, Mississippi
(1) show that their daughter Julia Patterson married Alexander
Francher Jun 17, 1856; their son, James F. Patterson married Alabama Lesly
Sep 20, 1860; and their daughter Margaret A. Patterson married A. J. Lesly
Dec 06, 1860.
The date and location of births of these children should give some clue
to the migration of the Bolding and Patterson families. Somewhere in East
Tennessee the 1830 census should list a James Bolding (Bolling/Bolin,etc.)
age 49 with a daughter age 19 and sons aged 18, 15, and 6 and possibly
other children.
"James Bolling" is listed on page 188 of the 1830 census of McMinn County,
Tennessee. His age is given as 40 - 50. There is one female age 15 - 20
listed; one male age 15 - 20 and one male age 10 - 15. There are no males
listed between 5 and 10 but two are listed under age 5. . The complete
listing of the James Bolling family on the 1830 census is:
2 males under 5 1 female under 5
- - - - - - - - - - - - 1 female 5 - 10
1 male 10 - 15 1 female 10 - 15
1 male 15 - 20 1 female 15 - 20
- - - - - - - - - - - - 1 female 20 - 30
- - - - - - - - - - - - 1 female 30 - 40
1 male 40 - 50 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Also listed on this 1830 census (all on pages 188 and 189) was a Joseph
Bolling (age 40 - 50) with his family; an Obidiah Bolling (age 60 - 70)
with what is probably his wife, a widowed daughter or daughter-in-law)
and two grandchildren; and a William Bolling (age 30 - 40) with his wife
and 4 children under five. On these same pages is a Robert Patterson. Neither
James Bolling/Bolding nor Robert Patterson are listed on the 1840 census
of McMinn County but James Bolding, Robert Patterson, and Hardin Patterson
are all found on the 1840 census of Franklin County, Alabama. The spelling
on the 1830 census was Bolling, but "James Bolding of McMinn Co." testified
in a case of the June term of the 1825 court of bordering Roane County.
[1.2] Robert Bolding
Robert is a son of James
Bolding, Sr. . The 1922 letter from James Floyd Bolding says that his
father had a brother named Bob and then says, "Bob I never knew. He died
at about the age of 21." The Bolding
Bible has this entry: "Robert A. Bolding Departed this life Sept the
17th 1850". This could be the Bob mentioned in the letter.
Andrew is a son of James
Bolding, Sr. . According to a number of other researchers Andrew married
first Mary A. Patterson and second Mary Ann Hill. Unfortunately I have
found no proof of this. He lived in Franklin County, Alabama which was
one of the "burned counties". The court house and all it's records were
destroyed by fires set by Sherman's troops during the Civil War and again
in 1890 by an accidental fire so none of the early marriage records are
available. The 1850 census of Franklin County, Alabama shows "Andy Bolin
age 38 with wife P. A. Bolin age 35". The 1860 census of Franklin County,
Alabama shows "Andy Bolding age 52 with wife Polly A. Bolding age 42",
and the 1870 census shows "Andy Bolding age 55 with wife Mary A. Bolding
age 54". (Could these be two different men? Census records are notoriously
inaccurate but sometimes it is all you have to go on. You will note that
if this is the same person he aged 14 years between 1850 and 1860 but only
aged 3 years between 1860 and 1870). His will gives his wife's name as
Mary Ann Bolding. This suggest that there were two wives but Polly is a
common nickname for Mary so I cannot be sure. The 1936 letter from E. T.
Bolding (previously mentioned) says, "My grandfather was Andy (A. P. Bolding)
and I think came from one of the Carolinas. My grandmother was a Patterson".
A recent e-mail from Beth Roberson, a direct descendant of Andy P. Bolding,
says in part "I just read a letter from Nannie Bolding Finch to James Tarpley
Bolding, Jr. which said "our father James Tarpley Bolding, Jr. was born
in SC in 1841. His father was Andrew and his mother was Margaret Elizabeth
Patterson. He had a sister and they moved to Alabama when our dad was small.
Soon after coming to Alabama his mother died. Dad married again."
This tells me that the first wife of Andy P. Bolding was Margaret Elizabeth
Patterson not Mary Ann Patterson as so many researchers believe, but can
we even be sure of this? The simple fact that Nannie had to tell her brother
what their grandmother's name was suggest that they weren't sure. Doris
Oaks, another Bolding family descendant and current researcher, says all
of her Patterson family records say that Andy Bolding married Mary Ann
Patterson. As pointed out in the introduction to this chapter, there obviously
were two men named Andrew P. Bolding, sons of James and John. Could it
be that Andrew, son of John married Mary Ann Patterson and Andrew, son
of James married Margaret Elizabeth Patterson or visa versa? Perhaps we
will never know. Hazael Taylor, a descendant of Robert A. Bolding (son
of Andy) says her grandfather told her that Robert moved to Arkansas following
his half brother Frank Hill which suggest that there was a second wife
named Mary Ann Hill. Hazael as also sent me a family chart compiled by
Alexander Patton Bolding (b.1883, grandson of Andy P.). This chart list
Andy's first wife as Patterson and second wife (his grandmother) as Mrs.
Polly Ann Hill which implies that she was a widow or divorcee who could
have had a son named Frank Hill.
The original will of Andrew P. Bolding who died in May 1874 was probated
sometime in 1875 and destroyed in a court house fire sometime in 1890.
A substitute will was submitted to the court in June 1899 by his son, Alexander
P. Bolding. This was sworn to be a true copy by W.P. Shaw, Peter Patterson,
and Wm Burgess, witnesses to the original will. Named as heirs were his
wife Mary A. Bolding "and the following children and heirs at law towit:
Alexander P. Bolding of Franklin County, Alabama.; James T. Bolding of
Franklin County, Alabama; A.P. Bolding who resides somewhere in Indian
Territory; Robert A. Bolding who resides somewhere in Arkansas.; Elizabeth
Hardin wife of B. G. Hardin; Martha D. Bohanan wife of J.W. Bohanan; and
W. A. Weatherbee who resides at Trenton [line blurred on my copy] Hunt
Co., Tex.". [Note: on the copy I have of this will "W. A. Weatherbee who
resides at Trenton" is on the bottom of page one and "Hunt Co., Tex." are
the first words on the top of page two. There appears to be at least one
line of text that was cut off on my copy so other heirs could have been
named.] As will be shown later, W. A. Weatherbee was a grandson, son of
his oldest daughter.
Andrew was born July 26, 1812 in South Carolina. He died May 26, 1874
in Franklin County, Alabama and is buried in the Strickland cemetery.
The six children named in this will are also found on census records
of 1860 and 1870. Their full names were James
Tarpley Bolding, Andrew
Pickens Bolding , Robert
Anderson Harvey Bolding , Elizabeth
H. Bolding , Martha
Deverlin Bolding , and
Alexander Patton Bolding The Bolding
Bible suggest that there were two older children:
"(torn) BOLDING was Bornd July the 17th 1834"
"(torn) ay M. BOLDING was Bornd May the 14th 1836"
The 1850 census of Franklin County, Alabama which was actually enumerated
in 1851 list the oldest child of "Andy and P. A. Bolin" as "Martha M. Bolin
age 17 born Tn.". This age agrees with the Bible record of what is assumed
to be Andy's first born child. Other records that will be shown give her
full name as Martha
Magganie Bolding . None of the census records (or other records) list
a child born ca. 1836 so if "___ay M. Bolding" was the second child of
Andy he/she must have died or married very young. The chart that Mrs. Taylor
sent to me list the second child of Andy P. Bolding as Annie Bolding who
married George Hill
John is a son of James
Bolding, Sr. . John Porter Bolding was born in Tennessee July 6, 1815
and probably moved to Franklin County, Alabama with the other members of
the Bolding family before 1840. I have copies of a brief history
of John that was given to me by another researcher, who got it from someone
else, etc. The author of this history is unknown but it was written by
a grandson or granddaughter of John Porter Bolding. (As I will frequently
refer to this letter, I will simply call it the John Porter Bolding history.)
This history says in part:
"John Porter Bolding was born in Tennessee in 1815 - moved to Alabama near Selma soon after the war, moved to Iuka Mississippi and in 1867 he (along with other families) sold their home in Miss. and moved down the Miss. River to Galveston. Here he bought wagons and teams to be able to locate a new home. They came overland to Williamson County and located on Brushy Creek between what is now known as Hutto and Copeland. He never did own a slave.
His wife was Lucretia Warnock and is buried at a small cemetery near Selma, Alabama. She died when Uncle Mitt Bolding was a very small child.
During the war Grandpa had a very fine horse that he kept hid from the Yankees, but the Yankees found where he had it hid in the woods and rode it away to the Yankee Camp. Grandpa decided to go to the yankee Camp to try to bargain for the return of the horse. A boat was being loaded near the camp to move down the Miss. River, so the Officer had Grandpa arrested and put on the boat and was taken down the river for more than a hundred miles before he was released. He had a long, trying time walking back home. The children did not know where he was during this time. Neither did they know when, if ever, he would return home. Some other Yankees came by the home where Aunt Mary was looking after the younger children. They were hunting food but Aunt Mary refused to tell them where she had their extra food buried. The soldiers tried to scare her into telling where it was hidden by saying they were going to take Uncle Mitt (who was a very small boy) with them. Aunt Mary put Uncle Mitt back in the house and reached by the door to get the axe. She told them if they came any closer she would split their heads with the axe. Needless to say, they left without the child or food.
After they had lived on Brushy Creek for a year or so they bought a farm in Williamson County on Willis Creek about eight miles west of the town of Bartlett. They wanted some land to put into cultivation, some grass land for extra cattle and plenty of stock water. A house of logs was built and is still standing although it was later covered with pine planks. Grandpa passed away in 1884 and is buried on the farm in a family cemetery.
Grandpa had three sons. Felix, who married Susan Weir. Clark, who married
Elizabeth Ake__ Mitt, who married Anna McGee. Grandpa also had three daughters.
Mary who married James Campbell -- Emma, who married Fred Carl -- Fannie,
who married Wm. A. Stiles."
I have found no records of his wife other than this history and a Tishomingo
County, Mississippi deed
(2) to G. P. Rowland from John P. Bolding and his wife Luerecia
dated Feb. 1, 1853 and the 1850 census of Tishomingo County where her age
is listed as 27. She is not listed on the 1860 or later census records
so she apparently died between 1853 and 1860.
From census records and tombstone inscriptions I know that John's daughter
Mary
A. Bolding was born Nov. 8, 1838 and died Oct 10, 1917. Felix
Bolding was born Sep. 1843 and died Jun. 22, 1919. His son "Clark"
was Marion
Clark Bolding born Oct .12, 1845 and died Sep. 14, 1912. His son "Mitt"
was Milton
L. Bolding born Aug. 19, 1848 and died Jan. 22, 1923. His daughter
"Fannie" was Francis
Bolding born Feb. 27, 1857 and died Dec. 11, 1900. His daughter Emily
"Emma" was born Jun. 20, 1842.
James R. Bolding is a son of James
Bolding, Sr. . James R. Bolding was born Aug. 11, 1823 in East Tennessee.
His family moved to Franklin County, Alabama about 1835 - 1840. James'
obituary in theTupelo Journal says that he lived in Pleasant Site, North
Alabama before moving to Mississippi. When he moved to Mississippi is unknown
but he is found on the census of Itawamba County in 1860. He and his wife
Susan C. Bolding (maiden name unknown) had these children: Lucy
Caroline "Callie" Bolding was born May 31, 1853; Martha
Ann "Mattie" Bolding was born about 1856; John
P. Bolding was born about 1858; James
Floyd Bolding was born about 1861; Mary
W. Bolding was born about 1865; William
M. Bolding was born Jun. 14, 1868; and Katherine
Emma "Kate" Bolding who was born Oct. 15, 1871.
James was a farmer and also operated a blacksmith shop, a saw mill,
and grist mill as can be seen from letters written to his brother John,
part of which I will quote here:
"We are very busy getting out timbers to rebuild our mill. I am also
haveing a Store house put up. I do not know whether I will be able to get
my mill in and ready by the time the water comes or not. I am fixing to
put in a Saw as well as a grist our crop is verry good corn & cotton
have 4 acres in cotton will make two bales and will make 2 or 3 hundred
bu corn made about 6 hundred dollars in the Shop. I have 3 milch cows a
yoke of oxen 2 fine mules and 50 head of Sheep and 15 head of hogs."
The Life and Times of Saltillo says that the first horse powered cotton
gin in Saltillo was owned by "Squire" Bolding and he owned the North Hotel
on Railroad Ave. from 1866 to 1870. (I believe in this case "Squire" is
not a name but an abbreviation of the title "Esquire" which was a title
of a respected gentleman. He still owned and operated a hotel at the time
of his death in 1899 but this could have been a different hotel.) He also
was part owner of Morris and Bolding Blacksmith Shop. He was master of
Masonic lodge #294 in Saltillo for a number of years. His wife Susan (born
Aug 15, 1834) died Jul. 31, 1886 and on Apr. 11, 1887 he married Martha
E. Bishop. Martha was born in July of 1848 according to the 1900 census.
Considering her age at the time of marriage, 39 years old, she may have
been a widow so I am not sure if Bishop was her maiden name. James died
Dec. 17, 1899 and is buried beside Susan in the Saltillo Cemetery. His
will says in part, "It is my desire and request that my daughter Kathy
E. Clayton and her husband E. P. Clayton remain in the homestead and as
my wife is an invalid not capable of providing for herself it is my desire
that Kate E. Clayton and E. P. Clayton keep her in her home and see to
it that she is well provided for and as a reward for that they continue
the Hotel business."
Third Generation
Callie, as she was called, was a daughter of James
R. Bolding . In letters written by her father to his brother she is
called "Callie". She is listed on the 1860 census as "Carolyn Boland" ,
and on the 1870 census as "Lucy Bolding". Lee County, Mississippi marriage
records
(4) shows that George W. Gordon married L.C. Bolding Jan.23,1878.
She is listed on the 1910 census as "Lucy C. Gordon". The name on her tombstone
in Saltillo, Mississippi is "Callie Bolding Gordon" (May 31,1853
- Aug.15,1911 wife of Rev. C. W. Gordon) ." From these records it is obvious
that Callie's proper name was Lucy Carolyn Bolding. My father's memoirs
in speaking of his Mother's brothers and sisters says "she had 2 brothers
and 2 sisters. One was married to a Methodist Minister and they lived in
West, Ms. I do not think they had any children"
Mattie, daughter of James
R. Bolding , was born about 1856 in Alabama according to census records.
She was listed on the 1860 census of Itawamba County, Mississippi as "Martha
Ann age 4" but in most other records her name is given as "Mattie".She
married B. P. McAllister Dec 16. 1874 in Lee County, Mississippi
(5). Mattie died before Jun 9, 1899 as her father's will written
on that date leaves part of his estate to "James A. McAllister, son of
my desceased daughter, Mattie." A letter written by her sister Kate, my
grandmother, says, "Sister Mattie married a McAllister. They had 3 children.
Only one lived to be grown".Their son James is listed on the 1880 census
as J. A. McAllister age 4.
John P. Bolding, son of James R. Bolding , was born about 1858 or 1859 in either Alabama or Mississippi. The 1860 census gives his age as 2, born Ala. and the 1880 census gives his age as 21, born Ms. Apparently his parents moved from Alabama to Mississippi about the time of his birth and I suspect the information from the 1860 census to be more accurate because his parents were relying on more recent memories. He married Mary Ellen Beene Oct 14, 1883 in Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi. in a double ceremony with his brother James Floyd Bolding and Lillian M. Turner (6). I have never found his tombstone, which is surprising because he apparently lived all his life in Saltillo, Mississippi and most of his family is buried there. Masonic Death Records by J. Strickland list "J.P. Bolding of Lodge #294 Saltillo, Ms. Apr. 23, 1893".
On Mar. 31, 1905 John Edward Bolding (14) and Joseph Allen Bolding (16)
minor children of Mary Ellen Bolding petitioned the court to sell their
interest in the home of their grandfather, J. R. Bolding
(7). The 1910 census of Lee County, Mississippi shows that John
Edward Bolding was born in Aug 1884 and Joseph Allen Bolding was born in
Mar 1889. By 1922 Mary Ellen and her two sons were living in Winfield,
Alabama where they operated a hotel, according to letters written by James
Floyd Bolding and my grandmother, Kate Bolding.
Some times even records chiseled in stone can't be believed. James Floyd
Bolding, son of James
R. Bolding was born in 1856, so the inscription on his tombstone says.
The 1880 census list him as 17 years old, which would make his date of
birth about 1863 and his brother John is listed here as being 21 years
old. On the 1860 census his brother John P. is listed as being 2 years
old and James Floyd is not listed. The 1870 census gives his age as 9.
The 1910 census gives his age as 49 which would mean he was born about
1861. Obviously the 1856 date of birth is wrong since he wasn't listed
on the 1860 census. He apparently was born sometime between 1861 and 1863
and based on the 1870 and 1910 census I would guess the 1861 date is correct.
On Oct 14, 1883 he married Lillian M. Turner in a double ceremony with
his brother John P. Bolding and Mary Ellen Beene
(8).
Floyd was an architect and contractor. The Life and Times of Saltillo,
published by the Saltillo, Mississippi History Committee has pictures of
numerous homes built by James Floyd Bolding in the late 1800's and early
1900s. He died in 1938 and is buried in the Saltillo, Mississippi cemetery.
His wife, Lillian, was born in 1866 and died in 1959 and is buried beside
him. Their children were Carolyn L. Bolding (1887 - 1972) who married a
Mr. Jones, Wylie Gordon Bolding (Apr 19, 1891 - Jan 1972), and John William
Bolding {Sep 03, 1893 - Jul 1971).
"Aunt Lillian" ( wife of James Floyd Bolding) is the only member of
the Bolding family that I remember. I remember visiting her when I was
a small child. She stood out in my memory because she was the only adult
I knew who was no taller than me. She was probably no taller than 4 ft.
10 in. My father in his memoirs says, "Aunt Lillian, Floyd's wife was the
only aunt on Mothers side that I ever knew. She was a little woman, never
weighted as much as 100# in her life but she had 1 big girl, Callie and
2 big boys John and Bud and Floyd was a big man. Aunt Lillian ruled that
household like a dictator." His memoirs then says "Callie married several
times but had only one child". I have no record of these other marriages,
and I have no record of any child. From the tombstone I assume that Mr.
Jones was the last of these three husbands. "Bud" mention in my father's
memoirs was apparently a nickname for Wylie.
Mollie, as she was called, was a daughter of James
R. Bolding . She was born about 1865 in Itawamba County, Mississippi
based on census records. On Sep 23, 1883 she married James K. Mothershead
(9)In a letter written in 1922 her sister Kate says, "I had 3
sisters and 3 brothers, Callie, Mattie & Mollie, were the girls names.
The boys were John, Floyd & Will. They are all dead except Floyd and
I". She then says, "Sister Mollie married a Mothershead. They have 4 children
living, all married. One son in Cheyenne Wyoming and one son in Jackson,
Miss, one daughter who is Mrs. Reeves now, living in Greensboro, Ala.,
and another daughter, a Mrs. Carlin, who lives in Mobile, Ala." My father
in his memoirs written shortly before his death in 1989 says that Mollie
"married a mister Motheshed. They had 2 boys and 2 girls. Robert was so
tall he could pick me up and bump my head on the ceiling. He was a mail
clerk on a train but developed TB and had to move out West for his health
and I only saw him one time after he moved. Hugh worked for the Fire Dept.
and I saw him lots, he was a hero to me as most firemen were. He was married
for a very short time and had no children. When their mother died the two
girls were in their teens. After the funeral, Mother and Dad brought them
home with us and they lived for several years as members of the family,
they were the closest to sister that I ever had.
I have found no records of the death of Mollie or her husband, James
Mothershead, or the births of their children. From the above mentioned
letter I know she died before 1922 and it seems that her husband died before
her since the two girls were then raised by my grandparents. The sons were
obviously older and living on their own when their mother died. My father's
memoirs says, "A farm boy from Caledonia, Ms. fell in love with the oldest
girl, Sue, and married her. They had one son who was killed in World War
Two. Mortimer Reeves was the name of Sue's husband. Kate married a lawyer
from Mobile, Ala. (Mr. Carlin}. They had one child, a girl named Mary Margaret.
After they divorced, Kate went out west and lived with Robert for a while.
When she came back to Ms. she met and married a school mate of mine, Pete
Gavin."
William M. Bolding, son of James
R. Bolding was born Jun 14, 1868 in Saltillo, Lee County, Mississippi.
His wife, Emma Lou was born Oct 5, 1876. I have found no record of their
marriage but they are buried together in the Saltillo cemetery and I have
found records of her signing a masonic lodge record as wife of W. M. Bolding.
I have found no record of her maiden name. William was at one time president
of the Saltillo masonic lodge and served one term as mayor of Saltillo
in 1905.
From census records it appears that William and Emma Lou had only two
children, Virginia Bolding born about 1896 and Roy Porter Bolding born
Jul 24, 1897. (Roy's date of birth and middle name proven by World War
II Draft Registration.} On Jun 15, 1999 I recieved the following e-mail
from Linda Halpin:
"William M. Bolding was my great grandfather. Emma Lou had a baby girl
in April, 1902 & died 6 months later. That baby girl was my grandmother,
Emma Jean, later re-named by an adoptive mother Mavis Claire. William supposedly
gave her to a woman from the church, named Miss Plum Davis, daughter of
Bill Davis, to raise after either an aunt or sister of his had tried to
care for her for some months. My grandmother is not listed in her father's
home in the 1910 census because she lived with someone else by that time.
She definitely did exsist though. She had an older sister named "Virgie"
and a brother named Roy. We have a portrait of Roy. Virgie married a man
named: S.E. Thompson, he was a conductor on a train. We believe that Roy
was also employed by the railroad, & that at one time he lived in St.
Louis. He died in the 1960's. Emma Jean, my grandmother married Hugh Clifton
Howerton in Lee Co. MS, under the name of Mavis Claire Bolding."
Ms. Halpin's information agrees in every respect with information I
have. My father's memoirs says, "I never knew Uncle Will's wife and older
daughter. When I was old enough to know them, the daughter, Virginia was
keeping house for her Dad and brother Roy. Roy worked for the G M &
O railraod and moved to St. Louis. Virginia married a railroad man and
moved to Jackson".
The message from Ms. Halpin cleared up one other mystery for me. Roy
P. Bolding is listed as a 12 year old son of William Bolding on the 1910
census of Lee County, Mississippi. On the 1917 draft registration "Roy
Porter Bolding of Tupelo, Ms." gives his date of birth as July 24, 1897
and place of birth as "Texas, USA." The name and age was right to be the
son of our William (grandson of James R. Bolding) but I had no indication
that William and Emma had ever lived in Texas. On the draft registration
Roy Porter Bolding list as his nearest living relative "Mrs. S.E. Thompson
of Jackson, Ms" The message from Ms. Halpin says that Roy's sister, Virgie,
married S. E. Thompson.
From this I would assume that William M. and Emma Bolding lived for
some time in Texas and probably very near his uncle, John
Porter Bolding whose middle name was given to his son Roy. That brings
up the question "where does the name Porter come from? My guess is that
it is the maiden name of one of James Bolding, Sr.'s wives ... the mother
of John Porter Bolding.
William M. Bolding died Jun 17, 1918, his wife Emma Lou died Nov 18,
1902. They rest together in the Saltillo, Mississippi cemetery.
[1.5.7] Katherine Emma Bolding
Katherine Emma Bolding, youngest daughter of James
R. Bolding , was born Oct. 15, 1871 in Saltillo, Mississippi and married
Edgar Pomeroy Clayton May 29, 1899 at her father's home in Saltillo
(10). Kate and Pom had these children: James Pomeroy Clayton
born in 1900, died Jan. 26, 1967; John Clayton born March 21, 1904, died
as a 15 day old infant; Leonard Auvergne Clayton born Nov. 19, 1906, died
Jun. 9, 1989; and Edgar Gerald Clayton born Jan 11, 1912, died Jan. 10,
1996. Katherine died Oct 23, 1927 and is buried in Starkville, Mississippi.
This is the grandmother that none of us ever knew as she died the year
Mom and Dad married. In his memoirs Dad speaks of her brothers and sisters
but really says nothing about his mother.
1. Hunting for Bear. Itawamba Co., Ms. Marriages
2. Tishomingo Co., Ms. Deeds Book P page 437.
3. Franklin Co., Al. marriages, Book 1.,page 301.
4. Lee Co., Ms. marriages Book 5 page 564
5. Lee Co., Ms. marriages Book 3 page 153
6. Lee Co., Ms. marriages Book 5 page 73; Tupelo Journal Oct. 19, 1883
7. Lee Co., Ms. Chancery Court Minutes, Book 7, page 207
8. Lee Co.,Ms. marriages Book 5 page73; Tupelo Journal Oct.19,1883
9. Lee Co.,Ms. marriages Book 5 page 63
10. Lee Co., Ms. Marriages Book 8 page 112; Tupelo Journal June 2, 1899.
This web page is a hyperlinked version of a few chapters of my new book Southern Heritage II. Where you see hyperlinked text the book will have page references. For additional information on the Bolding Family see Surname Index or better yet, buy the book.