One of the archive messages that particularly struck me was a reposting of a message from Nancy Clark Brown on the Larrimore Forum about three years ago. The message contained a transcript of a statement written in 1853 by Jeremiah Bolling regarding the ancestry of Benjamin his father (and Charity Larrimore, his mother). In its entirety, Mrs. Brown's message read:
"The wife of Benjamin Bolling was Elizabeth Christy/Crissie Larrimore born January 17, 1768 on the Edisto River in Southern Carolina (South Carolina) Ben married her there and their son Jeremiah was born there December 18, 1786. The father of Crissie Bolling was Squire Lariman. Jeremiah also write his father's name was John Benjamin Bowling borned in old Virginny on June 30, 1732. His father was Issam (sic) Randolph whon he never seed sic) his mother was Polly Bolling who died at his birth.He was reared by his grandmother Betsey Bland. She first married his grandfather John Bolling who had died. Ben Bolling said that his grandmother gave him enough money to buy a farm in North Carolina on the Yadkin River.He lost it to the rebels during tthe War.He returned to Virginy to see his grandmother but she was dead. He found work at his sister Jane Jeffersons helping to build a new house. he earned enough money to recover his farm.
Source of Information: Document written by Jeremiah Bolling Sr.in 1853.
Wise Co., VA Death Records, Book 1, Page 12 Line 14 : Jeremiah Bowling died February 26, 1870, Widow, born South Carolina, age: 88 years 2 months and 8 days, Parents: Benjamin and Crissie Bowling, information given by Jesse Bowling, son.
It my conclusion that Benjamin Bolling was born out of wedlock, why else would he take his mother's surname? Discussion welcome."
Of course, the statement is not true. Mary (Polly) Bolling, the daughter of Elizabeth Bland, was not born until 1744. Benjamin's birthdate may be in error, but probably not by the 25 to 30 years necessary. The 1830 Russell Co., VA census lists Benjamin as between 80 and 90 years old, suggesting that he was born in the decade of the 1740s. Admittedly census ages aren't very reliable either.