Bolding Family Genealogy  
 

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.
 

[1] James Bolding, Sr.
 

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.
 

[1.3] Andrew P. Bolding
 

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
 
 
 

[1.4] John Porter Bolding
 

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.
 
 
 

[1.5] James R. Bolding
 

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


[1.5.1] Lucy Caroline Bolding
 

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"
 

[1.5.2] Martha Ann Bolding
 

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.
 

[1.5.3] John P. Bolding
 

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.
 

[1.5.4] James Floyd 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.
 

[1.5.5] Mary W. Bolding
 

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."
 

[1.5.6] William M. Bolding
 

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.
 
 











Notes


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.


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