First I want to thank the following researchers for their contributions to this report -- Caroline Burnett Cook, David Goodwin, Jess McLean, Leonard McCown and Doug Tucker. So far we haven’t found a direct connection between these other CLARK lines and that of Capt. Christopher Clark, but with the given name "Bolling" [various spellings] in both lines, the possibility of some relationship can’t be totally ignored. Linda Sparks Starr June 2003]

Bolling CLARK (c1720 d. 1809 Dinwiddie Co. VA) and Phebe

[Dinwiddie County, Virginia is one of those ‘almost completely burned’ counties making research on this first Bolling Clark even more difficult. However, one serendipitous event makes life a bit simpler – a copy of his will was entered into the Monroe County, Mississippi records. I begin with this will dated 16 February 1809 / probated June 19, 1809.]

In the name of God, Amen, I Bolling Clark of Dinwiddie and Parish of Bath, being sick of body, but of sound mind … I lend to my son in law, Peter Pride during his life the following negro slaves: Ann, Lyda, Sall, Joshua & Jenny with all increase. I then give aforsaid negroes lent unto my granddaughter Mary Burnett and their future increase to the heirs of her body and their heirs forever. To Grandau Elizabeth North negroes: Jumper, Daniel, Louis, Rachel & Nancy … to Great Grandson Bolling Clark North one negro slave, Elizabeth. To Great Grandson Bolling Clark Burnett, one negro slave, Lucy with all increase … to son in law Peter Pride, the land whereon I now live of 204 acres after paying my granddaughters Elizabeth North, Mary Burnett & Ann Allen $20 each. After the division of my negroes amongst the legatees, all the corn that is on my plantation be equally divided between my grandsons-in-law, Abram North, Toliver Burnett & Richard Allen. I desire all the meat remaining on my plantation at the division may be equally divided between all my negroes by my executors. I do for the faithful service of my man, Kitt, give to him all the money arising from the sale of my hourse called Buck, saddle and bridle, also my greatcoat to do and dispose of what I give him as he may think proper. The said Kitt should have the privilege of choosing his master … I give to Jesse Clark, son of my brother John Clark late of Mecklenburg Co., 6 lbs specie to him and his heirs … all the residue of my estate not hereunto given, I wish to be equally divided between my grandsons James & John Baugh & my granddaughter Susanna Beasley & Nancy Hogh … I appoint my friends, Abram North & Peter Pride as executors. (signed) Bolling Clark. Witnesses: Herert Reese, Amy R. Featherson, Bartley Wicks, Alexander (X) Atkins, Jordan Reese, Spencer Howell.

Caroline Cook identifies granddaughter Mary Burnett as "nee Mary Baugh" and provides the full name of family members outlined in the following Petition of Emily J. Atkinson and her husband, William Atkinson, to the 1861 January Term, Monroe Co. MS Probate Court.

Bolling Clark died testate in Dinwiddie Co. Virginia in 1809. He willed certain slaves to his granddaughter Mary Burnett. Said Mary Burnett died 29 March 1856. She left the following slaves, being the bequest and their increase: Jim, Anthony, Ursey, Mary, Henny, Puss, Matt, Indiana, Davy, Ben, Ike, George, Cora and Elizabeth. Administration was granted in this county on 3 March 1857 to Boling C. Burnett [Bolling Clark Burnett]. The slaves were sold on 9 May 1857 for $9, 815 and sale reported to June Term 1857. Petitioners claim slaves were sold for less than their value and they had no notice of the sale.

Mary [Baugh] Burnett had three children: (1) Bolling C. Burnett who is still living. (2) Richard Burnett, deceased, leaving 2 children: Mrs. Mathilda, wife of Edward Manahan, residents of Aberdeen, Monroe Co. MS and Eliza Jane, wife of Napoleon Norman, of Chickasaw Co. MS. (3) Joseph Burnett [Joseph Bolling Burnett] deceased, leaving 5 children: W. W. Burnett [William Wiltshire Burnett], and John J. Burnett, a minor, both of Williamson County, Tennessee; James T. [Taliaferro] Burnett of Dallas Co., Alabama; Elizabeth A., wife of Richard F. Dodson & Emily J., wife of William Atkinson, all of Monroe Co. MS.

William, son of Bolling Clark and his wife Phebe was born 26 January 1745-6 [page 301

The Vestry Book and Register of Bristol Parish Virginia 1720-1798, transcribed by Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne, published by Heritage Books, MD 1998.] In 1768 Bolling was paid by the vestry 14 shillings 6 pence per his account. [page 217] In the time frame of this book, Bristol Parish covered the Virginia counties of Henrico, Prince George and Dinwiddie.

Dinwiddie County was created from parts of Prince George County in 1752. However, Bolling’s name doesn’t appear in any of the transcriptions of extant PG records by Benjamin Weisiger or Beverley Fleet. There are only two surviving county record books for Dinwiddie County. According to TLC’s every name index for them, Bolling’s name appears only once, on page 257 of the Court Order Book; this covers the November 1790 term.

According to the 1787 tax list [The 1787 Census of Virginia: Dinwiddie County, Petersburg Town by Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Love, Genealogical Bks in Print, VA 1987 p. 763 and 781] Bolling Clark paid taxes on himself, 3 slaves over 16; 7 slaves under 16, 4 horses and 22 cattle. Others visited by the tax collector the same day include: Abraham and John North, Joseph and Capt. Williamson Colemen, Obadiah Cornwal, Ruth Grig, Stanfield Hardaway, Vincent Inge, Thomas Masterson and John Moore. Other CLARKs in the same Tax List B as Boling were Temperance and Lewis. Temperance paid tax on himself and one white male between 16 and 21 and Lewis only on himself. Bolling was visited by the taxman June 1 and they June 18 – same day as Herod Reese, probably the same as Herbert Reese, a witness to Bolling’s will.

Bolling Clarke ‘of Bath Parish, Dinwiddie County’ sold 180 acres in Lunenburg County, VA to Mathew Hawkins 12 April 1759. This tract fell on the east side of Butcher’s Creek adjacent William Tate’s upper corner on the creek. Witnesses to the deed: John Potter, Benja. Gray, Benjamin Pulliam, Gray Briggs. [Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed Book 5, 1757-1760 transcribed by June Banks Evans, Bryn Ffyliaid Publ. Co., New Orleans 1990] He patented this land, adjacent William Tate and William Tomerson, 10 March 1756. [page 180 Cavaliers & Pioneers, v. VI, VA Genealogical Society, 1998.] This Mathew Hawkins is undoubtedly the son of Thomas Hawkins, whose 1758 will gives ‘son Matthew’ lands purchased from William Thomason, James Parrish and John Clarke. Later in the will, Thomas gives "to John Clark 200 acres on Sandy Creek provided he make my heir a right to land I bought of him on north side Butcher’s Creek". Thus we have a direct link between one of the John Clarks in (later) Mecklenburg Co. and this Boling Clark. But alas, there’s a "Sandy Creek" in numerous Virginia counties.

Of the above family, descendants provide the following dates and places: Taliaferro Burnett b. circa 1763-7 Dinwiddie or Essex Co., VA d. Williamson Co. TN. He married Mary Baugh, born between 1760-1765. She died 29 March 1856 in Williamson Co. She was the daughter of Daniel Baugh and granddaughter of Bolling Clark. Taliaferro and Mary had: Boling Clark Burnett b. 1797 in Virginia, died 1862 Monroe Co. MS; Richard Burnett d. 1827 Lawrence Co. AL and Col. Joseph Boling Burnett b. 17 March 1800 Dinwiddie Co. VA d. 28 July 1849 Williamson Co. TN. He married 25 March 1819 Anna Beasley (or Beezley) b. 1802 Warren Co. NC, daughter of Barnard Beasley, a neighbor in Williamson Co. TN.

Bolling Clark of Halifax County, Virginia

[Halifax County was created from Lunenburg Co. in 1752; however "Boling Clark" doesn’t appear in the county tax records until after 1790. This Bolling is either (1) nephew of Bolling and Phebe; (2) son of Bolling and Winefred (thus grandson of Capt. Christopher and Penelope) who didn’t follow his parents to North Carolina; OR (3) he represents a third ‘Bolling’ Clark line in colonial Virginia. I begin with Halifax Co. Marriage records.]

Lawson Allen to Nancy Clark July 5, 1806. Bondsman Edins Phillips; witness John Baily Jr. Consent signed by Boling Clark, father.

Bolling Clark to Polly Atkinson Sept 20, 1808. Daughter of John Atkinson Sr. (no witnesses)

Eddins (x) Phillips to Patsy Clark Feb. 3, 1809. Bondsman Bolling (X) Clark. Witnesses Boling Clark, Joseph Dodson. Signed by Patsy Clark and Boling Clark Sen. (father)

David Goodwin, descendant of the above Martha "Patsy" Clark, located the following information on the above from A Nash-Allen Genealogy by James H. and Mary H. Nash, San Diego, CA 1983. [p. 82] "Nancy Clark was born 5 April 1781. There is no record of her birthplace, although federal census records of at least four of her children indicate she was born in Virginia." The authors continue, "The Boling Clark who signed the consent paper for her marriage; the Boling Clark in the 1810 Halifax, VA tax list; and the Boling Clark with wife Martha, who sold 101 acres in Halifax Co., VA in 1784, could all be the same person. There are no records of a Boling Clark after 1811 in Halifax Co. Va … Our files hold 25 separate entries on the name of Boling Clark in the state of Virginia from 1710 to 1811. The enigma – which Boling Clark is Nancy’s father – remains unsolved." [Linda’s note here – WHAT 1710 record for Bolling Clark?]

According to Dave, the 1810 Halifax Co. tax list shows two Bolling Clarks, with "Jr." listed as visited by the tax man the same day as Lawson and Henry Allen and two John Atkinsons, one of whom was exempt. The Nashes add: "There is undoubtedly some family relationship with Lawson Allen’s wife, Nancy Clark, and the Boling Clark Jr., who appeared in the … tax list on the same page with Lawson Allen. He is also the Boling Clark who m. Polly Atkinson … Polly was the daughter of John Atkinson who was a Revolutionary War soldier and a Primitive Baptist preacher. John Atkinson migrated to Williamson Co., TN.

In Williamson County, the name of Boling Clark appeared in the 1815 Tax List, the 1820 federal census (age 26-44 with a family); an 1828 sale of 80 acres to Lawson Allen; and an 1836 sale of his interest in slaves given him by John Atkinson Jr." Dave’s notes from the book indicate they located the grave of Nancy (Clark) Allen in a cedar grove about 100 yards from an old home near juncture of Old Charlotte Road and Highway 96. The stone gives her birth and death and identifies her as ‘wife of L. Allin.’

The authors continue with information about Lawson Allen. He purchased 80 acres from Boling Clark and 80 acres from William Hogan and John Atkinson on the West Harpeth River. Lawson and Nancy’s children are: Richard Henry b. 1 Jan 1807 Halifax Co., VA; William H. b. ca 1808; Joseph b. ca 1810; Lawson R. b. ca. 1812; Samuel B., b. 15 March 1814; David James b. 14 Feb 1816; Martha B. b. 1819; and John H. b. 10 Jan 1810.

Turning now to Dave’s notes from The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co., VA edited by Mrs. Sherman Williams, Southern Historical Press, 1988 which contains the following Williamson County, Tennessee records.

Bird F. Dodson married Ann E. Burnett 15 Jan 1849; John R. Dodson m. Rebecca H. Baugh 12 Jan 1854. [p 1390] Will of Rawley (Raleigh) Dodson, dated 26 Nov 1828; probated Oct term 1836. Wife Margaret, sons Presley and Bird. Daughters Nelly Fitzgerald and Unity Dodson, who was deceased and left five heirs. Exors wife Margaret and son Presley. Witnesses: John Atkinson Sr., Samuel Atkinson. [Will Book 6 p. 247] Then we have the will of Presley Dodson dated 17 Jan 1840; probated Feb term 1840. He names wife Polly, son John R. and daughters Margaret E and Mary E, all minors. Daniel and Philip W. Baugh to be guardians of children. Witnesses Henry B. North and James Baugh. [Will Book 7, p. 222] Presley b. 1788 d. 19 Jan 1840 is buried in the Fitzgerald Cemetery, located 20th district, W. Harpeth Road. Rebecca H. Dodson, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Baugh, b. 5 Sept 1836 d. 22 March 1880 is buried in the Baugh family cemetery. [Highlighted surnames are ‘same surnames’ of descendants of Bolling of Dinwiddie Co.]

Moving back to Virginia with this book, Dave says he believes his Bolling Clark (father of Patsy who married Eddins Phillips) is the one who owned land on Birch Creek in Halifax County.

According to the Dodson book, Joseph and Judith Terry sold land on Birch Creek 18 Dec 1766 to Thomas Dodson with witnesses Raughley Dodson. Then 16 Aug 1785 Thomas Wyatt sold land on the north side Birch Creek adjacent to land owned by Thomas Dodson, to Thomas Dodson Jr.. Witnesses included John Atkinson. Feb 22, 1791 one of the Thomas Dodson’s sold 240 acres on Birch Creek to John Atkinson.

Although there is no clear evidence to support the relationship, the similarity of surnames of neighbors and spouses in Halifax Co. VA to one Bolling Clark (with Bolling Jr. going to Williamson Co. TN) and the descendants (in Williamson Co. TN) of the Bolling Clark of Dinwiddie County, suggests some kind of relationship exists between them.

Doug Tucker’s Conclusions

[Back in 1998 a small group of us were sorting the Southside Virginia Clarks. This is Doug’s theory on the relationship of the Mecklenburg / Halifax County Clarks.]

Bolling and Phebe [Puckett] Clark of Dinwiddie Co. had a son William b. 1746, who died in 1790/1 leaving Nancy and one minor daughter, Sarah, who lived with Bolling until she married in 1793. Bolling also had two daughters, Mary married Peter Pride [Jr] of Dinwiddie and died while giving birth to Peter III. She left an older son, Thomas, as well. The other daughter, Elizabeth Clark, married Daniel Baugh and settled in Mecklenburg Co. and were close neighbors to Elizabeth’s uncle, John Clark. The Baughs had: Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, John, James, Susannah and Nancy before Elizabeth’s death in 1776. Bolling out lived his wife and children.

Bolling Clark of Halifax Co. VA (1755-1819) was the son of John Clark of Mecklenburg and his first wife whose name is uncertain but may have been Sarah.

John Clark’s second wife was Elizabeth Ellis of Goochland Co. who he married in 1762. He and Elizabeth had six surviving children – William b. 1763, Joseph b. 1766, John Jr. b. 1768 and Polly b. 1770, Jesse and Sarah. We already know that Bolling married Martha whose last name ‘may’ have been Dodson. Brother William married Jinny Insco in 1785. Brother Joseph married Sarah Toone in 1795. Sister Polly married Arva Allen in 1786. Bolling served as bondsman for the marriages of both Polly and Joseph. The Mecklenburg records list John Clark as ‘father’ for only William’s marriage in 1785. Bolling (1755-1819) is father of Bolling Jr. (1783- ), Nancy and Patsy of the above marriage records.

Lunenburg and Mecklenburg County land records show that John and Elizabeth Clark resided along the upper reaches of Butcher'’ Creek near what became Chase City. John sold the '‘property on which he now lives’ to Bolling in 1777 in a transaction that did not include a dower release from wife Elizabeth. This suggests that Elizabeth (Ellis) Clark may have been dead by 1777.

One puzzle, which I have not been able to resolve, is whether John Clark was a practicing Quaker. The DAR has cited Bolling Clark of Halifax for ‘Patriotic Service’, a category which often signifies Quakers who overtly supported the rebellion. Also, Elizabeth Ellis came from a family which had several Quaker branches. However, Bolling Clark appears to have participated in the weddings of his siblings, two of

whom were wed in Baptist ceremonies led by Rev. John Marshall.

Sorting John Clarks of Mecklenburg County

[I’m not sure just how many "John" Clarks there were in what became Mecklenburg County – three for sure, four likely. There’s the ‘brother of Boling, John’ who sold his Butcher Creek property and received land on Sandy Creek. Also, ‘John son of Thomas’ and ‘John, brother of Archibald’ not to mention a ‘John on Grassy Creek’ in 1764. And then we have ‘John good friend of Henry Robertson’ who doesn’t seem to fit (based solely on witnesses) anywhere. Here’s what I’ve discovered so far in Lunenburg and Mecklenburg records. I admit to only searching for "Boling" and "John" in the short time I had with some of these books. ]

Four Clarks patented land that eventually fell into Mecklenburg County per Cavaliers and Pioneers, edited by Dennis Ray Hudgins, VA Genealogical Society, Richmond, vol. V, 1994; vol. VI 1998] Although differing watercourses and neighbors are mentioned, all these creeks are in the same general area of the county. Butcher’s Creek is just south of present day Chase City, while Bluestone Creek is to the west and Allen and Layton’s Creeks to the east.

Edmund [? Edward], 154 acres on Brs of Butchers Cr, adj. John Bolling 15 Dec 1749, BK 27 p.527

Bolling 180 acres on E side Butchers Cr, adj. Wm Tate & Wm Tomerson 10 Mar 1756 BK 32, p.693

John 400 acres Ridge betw Roanoak Riv & Bluestone Cr adj Harris & Byrd 16 Aug 1756 Bk 33, p.33

James 400 acres betw Allens Cr and Latons Cr adj Nicholas, Elledge & Lanier 26 Sep 1760 Bk33 p927

In 1748 Edward and John Clark tithes were taken by Lewis Delony in Lunenburg County. The 1764 ‘Clark’ tithes for St. James Parish, (which became Mecklenburg Co. the next year) were: Archibald, Francis, James, Jesse, John and John ‘on Grassy Creek’. [per Early Settlers of Mecklenburg County, VA vol. 1, by Katherine Elliott, So. Hist. Press, SC.]

This Elliott book groups the following into one Clark family – Thomas Clarke’s Southampton County will, dated 1 Dec 1750, recorded 13 Feb 1752, names wife Sarah, and sons John, James, Jesse, Jordan and Carter. This Thomas (d. 1752) was the son of Thomas and Susannah; he married Sarah Norwood of Isle of Wight County. Their son John married Judith Mallett; their son Carter married Martha Farrar of Mecklenburg. Carter served as a militia officer from Mecklenburg Co. during the RW. One of the Johns on the 1764 tithing list likely belongs with this family group.

Turning now to the Lunenburg County will of Thomas Hawkins, dated 14 November 1758, mentioned under Bolling of Dinwiddie Co. He gives to son Matthew the lands he purchased from William Thomason, James Parrish and John Clarke. Later in the will he gives ‘to John Clark 200 acres on Sandy Creek provided he make my heir a right to land I bought of him on north side Butcher’s Creek." [Early Wills 1746-1766 Lunenburg Co. VA by Katherine B. Elliott, Southern Historical Press, SC 1967.] Butcher’s Creek fell into the area of Mecklenburg when it was created from Lunenburg County. I haven’t found how John Clark acquired this land on Butcher’s Creek, but have linked Boling of Dinwiddie directly to Mathew Hawkins and the neighbor, William Thomason, is a direct link to Boling’s land patent in 1756. Thus, "John brother of Boling of Dinwiddie" sold his Butcher Creek holdings well before 1764 tithe list and acquired land on Sandy Creek. The questions becomes, ‘in which county was this Sandy Creek located?"

John Clark of Mecklenburg Co. to Mathew Marable, merchant, to secure debt with other items which Henry (H) Robertson owes, if not paid before Dec 1, 1773, then Marable may sell. This land which Clark is putting up was located in Lunenburg Co. when he purchased it from Lewis Akin. Date of deed – April 12, 1773 [Mecklenburg Deed Book 4, page 57 per Mecklenburg County, VA Deeds 1771-1776 by TLC, Miami 1991.] Witnesses to this deed (signed by Robertson) were: Edward Finch, John Armstead, John Clarke, Henry Robertson.

John Clark of Mecklenburg to Bolling Clarke of Mecklenburg for 30 £, 100 acres whereon John now lives, which said John purchased of John Algood by Mecklenburg deed.. (signed) John Clarke, wit: John Bruce, James Parke, John Clarke. [It appears we have two John Clarks here, one selling land and the other witnessing the deed. The deed, per TLC transcription, doesn’t provide relationship, if any, between John and Bolling.]

The back of the TLC book gives the list of those who voted in various elections in 1776 and 1777. Clarks include Bolling, James, and Carter.

Elliott’s transcription of the Early Wills 1765-1800 Mecklenburg County, Virginia, 1963 provides the following family groups. James Clark, (Will Book 2, page 134) names wife Hannah and children: Sally, Elizabeth and Jurden. Executors were wife and Allen Young. Wit: John Bevill, Robert Burton, John Farrar. Will dated 2 May 1785, recorded 14 Nov. 1785. [Thus, this James is son of Thomas of Southampton Co., as is the following Jesse.] Jesse Clark (Will Book 1 p. 59) dated 24 Dec 1769, recorded 12 Ma_, 1770, names brothers John, James and Carter. Wit: Thomas Farrar, John Easter, William Farrar.

The will of John McNeil (Will Bk 2 p. 189) mentions nephews John Clark, Archibald Clark and John Culbreath. In 1791 the estate of Franklin Owen was appraised by Thomas Greenwood, David Aperson and John Clark. 26 Dec 1793 an accounting of John Clark’s slaves by his administrator, Archibald Clark, was presented to court. And then 14 Sept 1795 the appraisal of personal estate of John Clark by Thomas Greenwood, David Aperson and James Hunt was recorded. Thus we have a third family grouping with Archibald and John identified as brothers. Another question then becomes: "Is this Archibald and John the ones by that name on the 1764 tithing list?"

English Connections between Bolling and Clark families

[Everyone tries to explain the name "Bolling" to Christopher & Penelope’s son as he was named for a neighbor or father’s good friend. I’m personally skeptical of that argument, especially when Christopher and Penelope only had three sons that we know about. Several years ago I came across these two secondary (at best) references which show marriages between CLARKs and BOLLINGs back in England. I admit to never following up on this myself, but encourage others to do so. We may be missing a bet here!]

Virginia Genealogies, by Rev. Horace E. Hayden, page xvi: "The Bollings doubtless are descended from Tristram Bolling, of Bradford County, York, who had Robert Bollyng, of London 'Sadler and silk throwster', 1633 ... who married Ann, daughter of Thomas CLARKE of London, and had John, eldest son, probably the John of Allhallows, London, whose son Robert, came to Virginia and established the distinguished Bolling family there."

Ancestral News, Winter 1992, vol. XXII, No. 4, p. 178 9 [taken from History of Bristol Parish, VA, (no author given, but 1879 is): "Robert, son of John and Mary (Clarke) BOLLING, the first of the name who settled in Virginia was born December 26, 1646." This is the Pocohontas / Robert Bolling line, thus should be easy to locate information on his ancestors.