Eli Bowling (abt. 1785 - abt. 1833)

Born about 1785 in Blackwater Creek, Hawkins, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Herd) Bowling — married 23 Jul 1817 in Clay, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died about Jun 1833 at about age 48 in Clay, Kentucky, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Eli was born about 1785 (supposedly) along Blackwater Creek in Hawkins Co., TN (at the time of Eli's listed birth, Sullivan Co., NC). He is stated to be a son of James & Sarah (Blevins) Bolling.

He is believed to have married Sarah Anderson ~1806 in Hawkins Co., TN prior to moving into Clay Co., KY.

An interview recorded in the diaries of Reverand Dickey & given by his great-grandson, Hughes Bowling (1857-abt.1952), states that Eli & his siblings moved into Clay Co., KY in 1807 found here.

Eli is found on the 1810 census of Clay Co., KY^[1] - however, he does not appear to be taxed within Clay Co., KY until 1812^[2].

He is believed to have married the widow Nancy Wilson on 23 July 1817 in Clay Co., KY^[3].

In 1826, he gave consent for his daughter, Nancy, to marry Thomas Boone Roberts^[4].

The 1830 census of Clay Co., KY records his household^[5].

He passed in 1833 in Clay Co., KY. His estate was probated in June 1833 in Clay Co., KY by William Herd & Felix Gilbert^[6].

His son, Palace passed in 1903 in Leslie Co., KY^[7] - the death registry for the year recorded his father as Eli Bolin.

Research Notes

Name

Thus far, Eli Bowling has only been found on enumerations (census records, tax lists, children's marriage & death records, his probate, etc) listed as Eli Bowling. He has, thus far, not been found to use the name "Elijah." Even references to him in the diaries of Rev. Dickey record him as "Eli."

(It is possible that he was taxed in Clay Co., KY in the year 1812 as "Elias" Bowling - thus, Eli may be a shortened form of "Elias" rather than "Elijah.")

Residence prior to Clay Co., KY

An interview given in the Dickey Diaries states that Eli Bowling moved into Clay Co., KY with his siblings ~1807 from Licking River, TN.

It is possible that Eli's family were residents of Claiborne Co., TN prior to movement into Clay Co., KY. Eli's stated brothers, Levi Bowling^[8][9] & Joseph Bowling^[10] are believed to be found in Claiborne Co., TN prior to movement into Clay Co., KY - it is believed that Eli Bowling *may* be found here, as well.

Conflations with other Eli Bowlings

Care should be taken to not conflate Eli Bowling with Elijah Bowling (1798-1883) - as has often been an issue on trees like FamilySearch.

Story of an Eli Bowling's Murder, per the Dickey Diaries

It would appear, due to the many inaccurate mergers of this Eli Bowling with other men over the years, that the story of the murder of Eli Bowling as recounted in the Dickey Diaries has, possibly, become attributed to a different man.

One interview, given by Harvey Lucas (abt.1822-)^[11] states that Eli Bowling led Henry/Harvey Lucas's uncle, John Cundiff, to the home of old Bill Duncil, where old Milly Henson lived. An altercation occurred there, resulting in the stabbing of Eli Bowling by John Cundiff. Afterwards, Eli's son, James, went looking for John Cundiff, and happened upon his father (grandfather of Harvey/Henry Lucas - also named John C. Cundiff (abt.1768-1833)) who convinced James Bowling to give up on revenge.

It is important to note that John Cundiff, grandfather of Harvey/Henry Lucas is found on the 1830 census of Clay Co., KY^[12] and is stated to pass in 1833^[13]. If John Cundiff, father of John Cundiff, plays a part in the story, the murder had to have taken place prior to his decease (and he was deceased by June 1833 when his estate was probated).

However, the John Cundiff, son of John Cundiff & uncle of Henry/Harvey Lucas (son of Lucinda (Cundiff) Cottongim (abt.1807-1880)) does not appear to have been old enough to murder a man in 1833 - the FamilySearch Tree shows him as born in 1819 - putting him at roughly 14-years-old in 1833 when Eli Bowling passed. The 1830 census records him as 10-15 - putting him between 13 & 18 when Eli Bowling passed in 1833.

William Duncil is also found on the 1830 census of Clay Co., KY^[14] & 1840 census of Clay Co., KY^[15].

However, a different interview given makes it appear as if the Eli Bowling murdered by John Cundiff may have been the above listed Elijah Bowling, b 1798 in Lee Co., VA^[16] - One interview given (Roll 3 Pg 2112 / Roll 3 Pg 2344 dated 22 Dec 1897/ June 1898, Clay Co., Benge) shows that the Eli Bowling mentioned as being killed by John Cundiff was born in 1798 in Lee Co., VA to Jesse & Mary (Pennington) Bowling of Lee Co., VA.

1820 Census

Thus far, Eli Bowling's household has not been located on the 1820 census. There appears to be only 1 Elijah Bowling on the 1820 census of Clay Co., KY^[17] - which appears to belong to the above listed Elijah Bowling that should not be conflated with this one.

It is possible that Eli was in jail at the time - an 1823 entry in Court Order Book C shows that Eli Bowling was moved from the Clay Co., KY jail to the state penitentiary^[18], sentenced for 4 years on charges of horse thievery.

Earlier pages of the court order book show Eli Bowling to have been a prisoner of Clay Co., KY as early as July 1820^[19] with bail being set at $800 due to the charges of horse thievery.

Is it possible that Eli Bowling was in Clay Co., KY jail at the time of the 1820 census, and that this may explain not finding his household on the 1820 census?

Nickname

Clay Co., KY Court Order Books also show Eli Bowling in what appear to be different cases (than that outlined above in the section for the "1820 Census"):

• October 1816 - Commonwealth V Eli Bowling for profane swearing^[20]
• April 1819 - Commonwealth V George Sizemore, Eli Bowling, & Joseph Cox for Indictment of Felony^[21]
• July 1819 - Eli Bowing, prisoner, found Not Guilty^[22] - possibly relating to the above charge with George Sizemore & Joseph Cox

It would appear that these legal troubles are the beginning of the nickname often given him - "Bad Eli."

Wives

Because a marriage record exists showing an Ely Bowling marrying a Nance/Nancy Wilson in Clay Co., KY in 1817, it is commonly believed that this marriage record belongs to this Eli Bowling.

It is also commonly believed that the Nance/Nancy Wilson is Nancy Herd, who married William Wilson in 1812 in Clay Co., KY^[23].

However, Nance/Nancy Herd appears to have been given consent to marry William Wilson by Urial Gibson & Elizabeth Gibson^[24] - Herd may not have been Nancy's surname-at-birth. The consent was witnessed, however, by William Herd. (Perhaps Elizabeth Gibson, wife of Urial, was Nancy's mother?)

William Wilson is taxed within Clay Co., KY through 1816^[25] - he is not found on the 1817 list. Nor is his widow. The 1818 tax list does show a "Widow Wilson"^[26] - she may be Nancy, widow of William Wilson.

If the Widow Wilson on the 1818 tax list is, indeed, Nancy, widow of William Wilson, it may call into question her being the Nancy Wilson who married an Ely Bowling in 1817 in Clay Co., KY.

It, also, appears that Eli Bowling's widow at his decease was Sarah/Sally. As:

• a Sarah Bowling begins to be taxed in Clay Co., KY after his decease^[27] - specifically, next to Bowlings attached as children of Eli, in most years
• a Sarah Bowling of the right age makes the 1840 census of Clay Co., KY^[28]
• a Sally Bowling signs consent for 2 of the attached children of Eli - Mourning in 1837^[29] & Blevins in 1841^[30] to marry - with Blevins apparently being taxed in 1842 as "son of Eli"^[31]

It is possible that this Eli Bowling only married Sarah/Sally.

Children

Eli Bowling has a long list of children attached to him. Possibly due to mergers of Eli Bowling with different Eli Bowlings, Elijah Bowlings, and (due to Stokley Bowling (bef.1808-abt.1836) often being said to be son of this Eli, coupled with this early Bowling being given a middle initial/name that no record has shown him to use), John E (Bowling) Bolling (1777-abt.1844).

Those of his children that appear to be sourced to some degree include:

• Nancy (Bowling) Roberts (abt.1806-) - consent for her marriage is given by Eli
• James Bowling (abt.1807-abt.1882) - bondsman for his marriage was Eli^[32], & the account of the murder of Eli Bowling mentioning his son, James, found within the Dickey Diaries
• Mourning (Bowling) Sizemore (abt.1814-1890) - consent for her marriage was signed by her mother, Sally. Witness was an Eli Bowling^[33] (possibly her brother)
• Blevins Bowling (abt.1817-bef.1850) - consent for his marriage was given by his mother, Sally & he was taxed in 1842 as "son of Eli"
• Palace Bowling (abt.1828-1903) - his death record lists his father as Eli Bowling. Deeds also show him to have brothers Eli & Elijah^[34]
• Eli Bowling - possibly Eli Bowling (abt.1831-abt.1861) - provided that this Eli Bowling is brother of Palace Bowling & Palace is a son of Eli - mentioned as Palace Bowling's brother in an 1850 deed in Clay Co., KY, and (possibly) witnessed the marriage of Mourning Bowling to William Sizemore
• Elijah Bowling - dead by 1850. Mentioned as a brother of Palace Bowling in an 1850 deed in Clay Co., KY

It is also claimed by some researchers that Wilburn Sizemore (abt.1807-abt.1890) is a son of this Eli Bowling.

Much further research needs to be done to verify the children of Eli Bowling.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2S-R9J : Fri Mar 08 01:50:08 UTC 2024), Entry for Ely Boling, 1810.
2. ↑ Tax Lists; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-KSQZ-M; Citing: Clay Co., KY Tax Lists (1812), Slide 79.
3. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-PG86 : Sat Feb 24 02:05:18 UTC 2024), Entry for Ely Bowling and Nance Wilson, 23 Jul 1817.
4. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-5MBN : Sat Feb 24 02:04:36 UTC 2024), Entry for Thomas Roberts and Nancy Bowling, 01 Jul 1826.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPL-13X : Sun Mar 10 19:48:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Eli Bowling, 1830.
6. ↑ "Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P9R-8LZ?cc=1875188&wc=37RJ-ZNY%3A173383201%2C173893302 : 20 May 2014), Clay > Will records, 1830-1854, Vol. 1 > image 47 of 193; county courthouses, Kentucky.
7. ↑ Vickie Stephens, "1903_04deaths," Leslie County Kentucky Genealogy, Rootsweb, 2001, https://sites.rootsweb.com/~kyleslie/deathrecords/1903_04deaths.html.
8. ↑ Nancy Cassada Nelson, "Church Records for the Year 1802," Minutes of Big Spring Primitive Baptist Church, Rootsweb, November 1999, https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ccpp/genealogy/baptist/1802.htm
9. ↑ "1799 Petition Regarding Distance to Courthouse from Northwest of Clinch Mountain," Hawkins County Genealogy & History, TNGenWeb, 5 February 2014, https://tngenweb.org/hawkins/1799-petition-regarding-distance-to-courthouse-from-northwest-of-clinch-mountain/
10. ↑ Court Orders; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-2L3B-K9?i=369&cc=1619127&cat=403485; Citing: Court of Pleas & Quarter Session Minutes, Claiborne County, Tennessee (1801-1803), Slide 370.
11. ↑ "Diary Index," Clay County Kentucky Genealogy & History, Rootsweb, 28 April 2024, https://sites.rootsweb.com/~kyclay2/diary/dd/hlucas.html.
12. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPL-BLD : Sat Mar 09 11:19:59 UTC 2024), Entry for John Cnduff, 1830.
13. ↑ "Kentucky Probate Records, 1727-1990." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 24 December 2023. County courthouses, Kentucky. Clay County Will Book 1, pp. 25-27 (image 41-42 of 193). FamilySearch Image
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPL-BGF : Sat Mar 09 02:08:18 UTC 2024), Entry for William Duncil, 1830.
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYP-5LD : Sat Mar 09 08:54:32 UTC 2024), Entry for William Duncill, 1840.
16. ↑ "John Jay Dickey Diaries Listing Numerous Bowlings," Kentucky Kinfolk, Wordpress, 28 April 2024, https://bowlingbollingsandmoresurnamesfamily.wordpress.com/john-jay-dickey-diaries-listing-numerous-bowlings/.
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLH-H5Q : Thu Mar 07 19:50:50 UTC 2024), Entry for Elijah Bowling, 1820.
18. ↑ Court Orders; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-VSZ4?i=417&cat=2343; Citing: Clay Co., KY Court Order Book C, page 339, Slide 418.
19. ↑ Court Orders; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-VSXR?i=356&cat=2343; Citing: Clay Co., KY Court Order Book C, page 218, Slide 357.
20. ↑ Court Orders; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-VSKS?i=275&cat=2343; Citing: Clay Co., KY Court Order Book C, page 59, Slide 276.
21. ↑ Court Orders; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-VS2Q?i=329&cat=2343; Citing: Clay Co., KY Court Order Book C, page 164, Slide 330.
22. ↑ Court Orders; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-VS2H?i=337&cat=2343; Citing: Clay Co., KY Court Order Book C, page 180, Slide 338
23. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-PT5Z : Sat Feb 24 07:50:12 UTC 2024), Entry for William Wilson and Nancy Hurd, 09 Mar 1812.
24. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-PTHR : Sat Feb 24 07:11:31 UTC 2024), Entry for William Wilson and Nancy Hurde, 09 Mar 1812.
25. ↑ Tax Lists; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-KS3N-V?i=186&cat=155110; Citing: Clay Co., KY Tax Lists (1816), Slide 187.
26. ↑ Tax Lists; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-KS3D-F?i=237&cat=155110; Citing: Clay Co., KY Tax Lists (1818), Slide 238.
27. ↑ Tax Lists; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3J-KS74-T; Citing: Clay Co., KY Tax Lists (1836), Slide 713.
28. ↑ "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHYP-5YR : Sat Mar 09 15:36:11 UTC 2024), Entry for Sarah Bolin, 1840.
29. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-PLC3 : Sat Feb 24 02:04:31 UTC 2024), Entry for William Sisemore and Mournen Bowlin Or Bollen, 16 Sep 1837.
30. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-5352 : Sat Feb 24 07:05:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Blevins Boling and Sally Boling, 08 Jan 1841.
31. ↑ Tax List; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-P3MV-Y?i=44&cat=155110; Citing: Clay Co., KY Tax Lists (1842), Slide 45.
32. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28L-PVXF : Sat Feb 24 07:50:08 UTC 2024), Entry for James Bowling and Haley Wilson, 03 Jan 1829.
33. ↑ "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BG-QNQZ?cc=1804888 : 29 November 2018), > image 1 of 1; citing multiple county clerks, county courts, and historical societies, Kentucky.
34. ↑ Deed from Pallas Bowling & Eli Bowling to John Oxford, 3 June 1850; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKJ-M3T2?i=371; Citing: Clay County, Kentucky Deed Book D, page 126, Slide 372.

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #261451857 - No photograph of a tombstone is shown on the memorial
• Genealogy of Marchant Thomas - Scroll to Bowling (ancestors in alphabetical order); Original source documents not cited.