Bolen/Bolling/Bowling Research
Manual Reproduced from
the Bolling Family
Newsletter
One of the most popular
Bolen/Bolling/Bowling research manuals in the country today is a paperbound
book, compiled over the years by BFA members Todd Bolen and his sister, Lois
Bolen Strange. Containing the names of hundreds of Bolens/Bollings/Bowlings born
before 1800 and immediately thereafter, as well as narrative descriptions of
most of those listed, the books are frequently the first place a Bolling
researcher goes to find clues to a particular lineage.
Todd insists that
his documents are without authentication but are merely compilations of
information submitted by hundreds of contributors. Nevertheless, the two volumes
have become well known in the genealogy world, and Lois and Todd have been
pressured for years to produce a new edition.
The first edition has been
sold out for many years. However, he and Lois have continued to fill Todd's
database with material sent in by others. It came as a pleasant surprise to
discover at the reunion that a new and updated version of the books is now
available. When the attendees learned that Todd had a few for review in
Richmond, he was swamped with requests for copies.
Volume 1 has 262 pages
and is known as the "text section." It contains narrative descriptions of
Bollings (various spellings) who were born prior to 1800, and includes
statements about their places of birth and, in many cases, where they ultimately
settled. Each entry is listed in alphabetical order by "given" name and after
each entry is a code number referring to the source of the
information.
Volume 2 is the one most used by people looking for names of
relatives. With 248 pages, it contains 78 pages of family groups, showing names
of individuals, dates of birth and death (if known) and names of spouses and
spouses of their children. There are also 50 pages of spouses (listed
alphabetically) with marriage dates and site and where the family came from.
There are 86 pages of names listed by state and county showing Bollings who
lived there in the early days. There is a section which lists the 1250 sources
from thich the information contained in both volumes was obtained.
The
volumes are for sale: Volume 1 (text portion) for $20 and Volume 2 (name and
source portion) for $15. These prices include the cost of postage and
handling.
BFA members who want a copy of either or both of these 2
valuable compilations may obtain them by contacting:
Todd Bolen
1620 Whittier Lane
Wheaton, IL
60187-7448
or e-mail
ToddBolen@aol.com
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