Larger Than Life.
When I started this journey into researching the life of my 2nd great-grandfather, I never thought I’d get to know him in such a personal way. Through the study of Ezekiel Bolling, I came to learn the true purpose of genealogy. Not to collect a bunch of facts, but to give everyone the gift of having their story told. It is the hope of every human being to be remembered. We know we’re mortals who are on this earth a short time. But we’d like to have our memory preserved. To be remembered; that is our hope and our dream. And that is what a genealogist does. We take those cold, hard facts, and we weave those into a tapestry, a story that tells the life of an ancestor, thereby preserving his memory forever. That is the duty and the passion of a true genealogist.
The Early Years
Ezekiel Bolling, born on July 11, 1815, emerges as a character rooted deeply in heritage and history. He was likely born in Russell County, Virginia, despite alternative claims of Robinson in Wise County. Ezekiel's father, Jeremiah Bolling, migrated from Frederick County to Russell County between 1810 and 1820, shaping the family's beginnings in the region. Jeremiah, born in 1782, was the son of Benjamin Bolling and Charity Larrimore, while Ezekiel's mother, Sarah Venable Ward, descended from Shadrack Abner Ward and Susanna Clark.
The Bolling family legacy was rich, tracing back to Colonel Robert Bolling, whose lineage included pivotal figures like Edward "Ned" Bolling and Mary Agnes Bolling Baker. These familial ties connected Ezekiel to a broader, intricate web of cousins, including Nancy Baker, his future wife and fourth cousin. Their union was steeped in shared ancestry, as both traced lineage back to Edward Bolling and Mary Agnes Bolling Baker.
Beyond marriage, Ezekiel's genealogical tapestry illustrates a community built on intertwined bloodlines, providing a unique view of the societal networks of his era. This narrative sets the stage for a life shaped by history and connections—Ezekiel Bolling’s legacy begins with his place among family, both past and present.
The Bakers of Tennessee
James "Jim" Walter Baker, born in 1782 in Tennessee, was a figure surrounded by both controversy and tragedy. He was accused of involvement in the "Baker’s Rock incident," an alleged attempt at starting a cult, though this holds little relevance to his movements. A more defining event in his life occurred when Jim sold a horse in Tennessee that soon after died, sparking rumors that he may have knowingly sold a sick animal. When confronted by disgruntled buyers, Jim was not home, and his wife, Elizabeth Shepherd, assured them he would return later that evening.
The men, fueled by anger and alcohol at a nearby tavern, waited for Jim’s return. That night, tragedy struck as Jim's house burned to the ground, killing his wife, Elizabeth. Some accounts speculated children may have perished as well, though no records confirm this. The cause of the fire remains unclear, but speculation suggests it may have been an act of drunken vengeance by those men, assuming Jim was deliberately avoiding them.
Following this devastating event, Jim fled Tennessee and settled in Virginia, where he connected with relatives, including the Bollings. This relocation raises the possibility that Ezekiel Bolling, who later married Jim’s daughter Nancy Baker, might have known her since childhood. Perhaps their lives intertwined long before their union, with shared roots and a legacy shaped by the ties of family.
Ezekiel And Nancy's Relationship
Ezekiel and Nancy Bolling shared a relationship rooted in deep familial and historical ties. By 1850, census records show Ezekiel living with a woman named Nancy, born in 1812, who identified herself as "Bolling." Evidence supporting their union comes from the death certificate of their daughter, Mary Ann "Polly" Gilly. It states that Polly, born on December 29, 1832, was the child of Ezekiel Bolling and Nancy Baker. This suggests Ezekiel and Nancy likely entered into a common-law marriage around 1830 or 1831.
Although some claim Sharon Carr as Ezekiel's first wife, the timeline leaves little room for this possibility. Ezekiel was just 17 when Polly was born, making Nancy the most likely candidate as his first wife. It seems improbable that the next of kin reporting Polly’s death in 1928 would misidentify her mother, further solidifying this connection.
Having likely grown up near Nancy, Ezekiel knew her from a young age. Around 15 or 16, they decided to marry but possibly forewent a government marriage license due to jurisdictional or logistical challenges. Instead, they had a church wedding, which was a common practice of the time. Ezekiel's good standing in his community suggests their relationship was accepted, and the likelihood of living together outside wedlock seems slim.
In 1849, as Nancy's health began to decline, concerns about their children's legal rights or other implications may have prompted the couple to formalize their marriage. On April 19, 1849, they were married in Pike County, Kentucky. Sadly, Nancy passed away between late 1850 and 1852, leaving behind a legacy through their eight children:
- Mary Ann “Polly” (Bolling) Gilly (1834–1928)
- Elisabeth “Betty” Bolling (1836–1912)
- Judith “Juda” Pricey (Bolling) Mullins (1836–1918)
- Sylvania Jane (Bolling) Gibson (1839–1914)
- Mahania (or Hannah) Bolling (1842–)
- John Baxter Bolling (1844–1903)
- Ellender Bolling (1845–1928)
- Sarah “Sally” (Bolling) Bartley (1848–1936)
Nancy's life and her relationship with Ezekiel are testament to resilience and the enduring bonds of family.
Who Is Sharon Carr?
The mystery of Sharon Carr remains unresolved. Despite claims that she was Ezekiel Bolling's first wife, there is no concrete evidence to support her existence. The sole mention of Sharon Carr appears as an addendum on Ezekiel Bolling's profile on find-a-grave.com, but no census records, birth certificates, death certificates, or other historical documents substantiate her identity.
In genealogy, the adage "you can’t prove a negative" rings true. While it’s impossible to definitively prove that Sharon Carr never existed, the complete absence of records casts significant doubt. For now, Sharon Carr remains a shadowy figure in Ezekiel's story, with no verifiable connection to his life or legacy.
Providence "Patty" Short
Providence “Patty” Short is another name often mistakenly associated with Ezekiel Bolling as a supposed wife. However, this mystery is straightforward to resolve. Providence did not marry Ezekiel but instead became the wife of his brother, Jeremiah Bolling Jr. The 1850 census confirms this, showing Providence living with Jeremiah “Bowlen”—a misspelling, but a reliable indication of their union. Additionally, this is corroborated by a record on findagrave.com that lists Providence as Jeremiah Bolling Jr.’s wife.
This clears up any confusion and firmly places Providence’s story within Jeremiah Bolling Jr.’s lineage, rather than Ezekiel’s.
Nancy Davis Bolling, b. abt. 1829 d. bef. 1900
Nancy Davis Bolling, born around 1829, presents a puzzle for genealogists. While her early life remains largely undocumented, her story intertwines with Ezekiel Bolling's through a marriage confirmed in 1998. Researcher Michael Dye uncovered lost marriage records in Russell County, Virginia, among which was Nancy and Ezekiel’s wedding on September 13, 1852, officiated by William G. Hale. Beyond this date, details of Nancy's life grow scarce, including uncertainty surrounding the birth of her first child, John M. Bolling, listed only as born around 1852.
Before marrying Ezekiel, Nancy Davis is found in the 1850 census living in Grayson, District 19, Virginia, in a household that includes her mother Sarah and stepfather Pleasant Perkey, following the death of her father, Peter A. Davis, in 1840. The household's composition is as follows:
- Pleasant Perkey, 37 years old
- Sarah Perkey, 42 years old
- Eli Davis, 23 years old
- Nancy Davis, 21 years old
- Ruth Davis, 19 years old
- Lucinda Davis, 17 years old
- John Davis, 15 years old
This record substantiates Nancy’s lineage through Peter A. Davis and places her with family during her early years. By 1860, Nancy appears in census records as Ezekiel’s wife, her birth year listed as 1830 and her age as 30.
Nancy and Ezekiel’s son Eli P. Bolling’s life ended tragically on January 31, 1913. Born on October 5, 1861, Eli died after ingesting two ounces of Carbolic Acid, a substance commonly used in coal mine lamps. Family accounts recount Eli's son Andy desperately trying to stop him, painting a harrowing picture of the challenges of mental health struggles in the era.
Nancy Davis Bolling’s life is marked by gaps and questions, but her legacy persists through her children and descendants.
Nancy's Ancestors
Nancy Davis Bolling’s ancestry carries a fascinating blend of history and speculation. She was the daughter of Peter A. Davis (1800–1841) and the granddaughter of Henry Davis, born in 1756 in Rowan County, North Carolina. Peter's grandfather, Jacob Austin Davis Sr., is believed to have been born in the Patawomeque Indian Village fort (Fairfield), located in Augusta County (later Rockbridge County), Virginia. The story surrounding Jacob involves connections to Native American heritage, with claims that he married Nancy Redfern, possibly the daughter of Abee Redfern.
The narrative deepens with the lore surrounding Chief Thunder Black Hawk, a Cherokee leader born around 1700 in Canada West, British North America. He was said to be the son of Corn Tassel and Abee Red Fern. Chief Thunder Black Hawk reportedly had nine children, including Elizabeth Red Fern Blackhawk and Nancy Redfern, whose lineage is intertwined with that of Jacob Davis. While Nancy Redfern was partially English, possibly appearing white, it is suggested that Jacob Austin Davis’s upbringing in an Indian village may have shaped his outlook and led to this union, breaking societal norms of the time. Whether this story is true remains a topic of genealogical debate, but it endures as a compelling thread in Nancy Davis’s ancestry, especially with evidence of Native American heritage in her descendants' DNA.
Nancy Davis lived with her family in Grayson, District 19, Virginia, as shown in the 1850 census after her father’s death. She later married Ezekiel Bolling in September 1852, a marriage officiated by William G. Hale. Nancy passed away sometime between 1890 and 1900, leaving behind seven children:
- John M. Bolling (1852–)
- Lucinda Jane Bolling (1853–1929)
- William Hosea Bowling (1855–1943) (marking a spelling shift in the family name)
- Delaney Bolling (1857–1870)
- Rena L. Bolling (1861–1929)
- Eli P. Bolling (1861–1913)
- Rutha V. (Bowling) Sesco (1864–1939)
Nancy Davis Bolling's story, though incomplete, reveals a life touched by cultural heritage, family bonds, and enduring mystery.
Ezekiel's Final Years
Ezekiel Bolling's final years were marked by resilience and familial connection. Following Nancy Davis’s passing sometime between 1890 and 1900, Ezekiel moved into the home of his daughter Sarah Bartley, who was living in Elkhorn, Pike County, Kentucky. The 1900 census curiously lists Ezekiel as Sarah’s brother, though her death certificate—erroneously dated September 31, 1936—confirms him as her father. By this time, Ezekiel was noted in census records as blind, a poignant detail reflecting the challenges of his later years.
Elkhorn, situated near the Virginia border and The Breaks State Park, likely served as Ezekiel's last residence. Though the records do not explicitly state it, it is believed that Ezekiel passed away there on July 11, 1907, his 92nd birthday. His body was then returned to Flat Gap Cemetery in Flat Gap, Virginia, where he was laid to rest, a testament to the strength of his connection to the land and family that shaped his remarkable life.
Conclusion
When studying a person so closely, it is easy for that person to become larger than life. My father, Elmer Bowling was born in 1920 just a few years after Ezekiel's death. This is a condensed version of my paper "Ezekiel Bolling, Larger Than Life" for a complete copy download a pdf from the link.
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