Lawrence T. “Larl” Boling – 1838-1910: The Wounded Soldier

The records I am reviewing today are those of my second great-grandfather, Lawrence T. “Larl” Boling/Bowling, born on May 26, 1838, in Chancellorsville, Virginia (about ten miles west of Fredericksburg). In my two previous posts, “Wild Times in "The Wilderness" of Spotsylvania - December 18, 2020, and "The Battle of Wilderness Farm - May 5-7, …

Early Cocky (AKA Cocke) Emigrates To Virginia

In seventeenth Century Henrico County, Virginia’s most powerful families were the Randolphs, Cockes, Eppses, and Byrds. Research shows them all among my ancestors.   In fact, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Cocke (13 Dec.1597- 4 Oct 1665), was my paternal 10th great-grandfather. He was a graduate of Caius (sounds like “keys”) College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England. …

My Cousins Declare America’s Independence

Many Americans take for granted our annual July 4th Independence Day.  While working in my genealogical databases, I came across the name of John A. Hancock, a familiar name from America's history.  I decided to compare our family's John Hancock (my second cousin, seven times removed), to the list of 56 signers of the Declaration of …

Forgotten Mulberry Island

On the north shore of the James River, 20 miles west of the Chesapeake Bay, the marshy plains of Mulberry Island rise above the gentle tide. Actually a peninsula bound by the James and Warwick Rivers. Mulberry Island is a picturesque fixture of Virginia’s Tidewater region whose natural beauty is enriched by thousands of years …

From My Family Tree–

Founding Father Fables & Folklore I received three gifts from the Ages of Enlightenment (1700-1800) and Reform(1830-1850).  My family tree revealed that I am descended from three distinguished founding fathers -- our first, third, and 12th presidents: George Washington (1732-1799) My 6th paternal great-granduncle was Virginia's Robert Bolling IV. His wife, Sally Washington, was the …

Commemorating the 111th Women’s History Month– March 2022

Remembering My Ancestors: Pocahontas and Edith White Bolling Wilson... Strong Women and Role Models for Young Girls How many young girls can claim they descend from Pocahontas? I knew little about my ancestors or my relationships with them when I was a girl. But I'm very glad that I made time throughout my adult years …

Obituary: Frank Roy Boling 03/16/1958 – 01/20/2022

Frank Roy Boling, age 63; of Chesapeake Beach, MD; childhood resident of the Berkshire Community within District Heights-Forestville, MD, passed away on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at the Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis MD.  (Frank just learned on December 7, 2021, that he had late stage lung cancer. Three hospitals and 20 doctors later he …

Family Ties

After 33 years of searching for my estranged paternal great-grandfather who disappeared without a trace to his wife and family, I was given my answer through a delightful and unexpected Christmas gift in 2013 from a stranger, who we later learned was family. Maynard Nelle Chambers was this gift giver who on a whim and …

Wild Times in “The Wilderness” of Spotsylvania

My paternal great grandfather was Edward "Bud" Vincent Bowling/Boling (1872-1946). He was born in Parker, Spotsylvania County, Virginia. According to the 1880 Census, "Vincent," as he was called at eight years old, lived on a tenant farm with his father Lawrence T. Boling (42), and his mother Sara Elizabeth Bettie Tapp (45), and his sisters …

A Harbinger of Better Days to Come!

I based many of my 18 posts written in 2020 (to date) on these globally unique times of extreme stressors, severe disappointments, and immense sadnesses. I, for one, will gladly embrace 2021 with anxious yet apprehensive hope for our world's future, and trust the rest to God. A positive sign that life goes on and …

Obituary: Frank Burton Boling: 12/07/1928-08/22/2020

Frank Burton Boling, age 91; five generation family patriarch; a 60-year-resident of the Berkshire Community within District Heights-Forestville, MD, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at Calvert Health Medical Center, Calvert County, MD.  Frank’s wife of 72 years, Norma Florence Ford Boling, age 90, preceded him in death on March 16, 2018.  Frank was …

The Battle of Wilderness Farm – May 5-7, 1864

Many of my paternal ancestors lived in Spotsylvania County and, in fact, on the Wilderness Farm (my 2nd great-grandmother "Bettie Tapp [1834-1900] who married Lawrence T. Boling [1838-1910]). The following video is tailer from the new 3-part mini series on the History Channel about the Civil War Battle of Wilderness Farm [May 5-7, 1864], then …

“United we stand; Divided we fall!”

As so many others are doing during this now fifth month of the global Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing, I am turning to social media to maintain connections with family and friends.  In recent days, our millennial grandchildren have stepped forward with their voices about these unique times in our world's history.   I find their …

Pocahontas Heacham mulberry tree DNA test ‘inconclusive’

As many of you know, I am the 11th great-granddaughter of John Rolfe and Pocahontas through my paternal lineage from my Boling family and that I have been researching and writing about Pocahontas and the Rolfes in my blogs for about ten years. In fact, the Heacham researcher (mentioned in the following article published by …

My Genetic Genealogy – 1700-1725

Much of what I am about to share with you, I gleaned from my DNA Story as provided to me by Ancestry.com.    Part 1 covers my DNA timeline from 1700-1725.  More posts will cover the remaining timeline that spans to 1925. Eighty-six percent of my DNA-matched ancestry originated in England, Wales, Northwestern Europe, Ireland, …

Life and Times of Edward Boling and Mary Wharton

Background Recently, I updated a surname report to cover all 12, 495 persons in my ancestral tree, which has grown from 10,772 since I produced my first post on surnames in 2014. Based upon my analysis of surnames, it turns out that my father's family was much larger than my mother's.  And, the gender ratio among …

Back From the Future – Part 2

 A Quote from the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, June 2014: Christopher Columbus never reached the shores of the North American Continent, but European explorers learned three things from him: there was someplace to go, there was a way to get there, and most importantly, there was a way to get back. Thus began the European exploration of …

There’s Nothing Civil About War

General Robert E. Lee, the Man... Descended from several of Virginia's First Families, General Robert E. Lee was a well-regarded officer of the United States Army before the American Civil War. Born in 1807 to Revolutionary War hero Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee in Stratford Hall, Virginia, Robert Edward Lee seemed destined for military greatness. His decision …

157 Years Later: CSA Sgt. Gideon W. Morris–Our “Battle of Antietam” Survivor

Freshly Fallen Bricks of My Morris Family Wall After searching to uncover more information about my maternal great grandmother's (Mary Susan MORRIS Ford) family, I once again stumbled and fell upon freshly fallen bricks of a wall I had pushed against for many years.  Until now, I primarily had focused on the origins of my Native American heritage through the Morris branch.  And then, …

Fredericksburg Fireworks: Your Guide to July Fourth

In Remembrance of My Paternal Family's Early Virginia Beginnings: July 3rd, 2014, 8:52 am BY REGINA WEISS / THE FREE LANCE-STAR The Fourth of July is right around the corner, with plenty of food and fireworks to go around. Here are some events to consider: HERITAGE FESTIVAL IN FREDERICKSBURG In its 42nd year, the Heritage Festival will …