Mary (Jefferson) Bolling (1741 - bef. 1804)

Born 1 Oct 1741 in Fine Creek, Powhatan County, Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of John Bolling — married 24 Jun 1760 in Shadwell, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died before 21 Jan 1804 before age 62 in Chesterfield, Virginia, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Mary Jefferson Bolling was born on October 1, 1741, she was the second of the ten children born to Peter Jefferson and Jane (Randolph) Jefferson.

Marriage

Mary Jefferson Bolling (1741–1804) - married John Bolling III, who served in the Virginia House of Burgesses and who was a descendant of Pocahontas.^[1]

According to the Monticello website, they were married on Jan 24, 1760.^[2]

Children

Mary Jefferson had ten children with John Bolling (1737-1800) ^[3]

1. John, Jr. (Jack) (March 24, 1762-?), married ca. 1786 Mary Kennon
2. Thomas (February 11, 1764-December 1784)
3. Jane (September 17, 1765-before May 1796)
4. Ann (July 18, 1767-1785) married Captain Howell Lewis
5. Martha (b. 1769) married Peter Field Archer
6. Edward (September 17, 1772-1835) m. Dorothy Paine (Payne)
7. Robert married Jane Payne
8. Archibald married Catherine Payne
9. Mary (Polly, d. 1798) married Edward Archer
10. Son (name unknown, d. 1787)

Letter From Thomas To Mary

Mary Jefferson Bolling (1741-1804) was Thomas Jefferson's older sister. According to The Jefferson Monticello^[4]

1787 July 23. (Jefferson to Mary Jefferson Bolling).

Paris July 23. 1787.

Dear Sister, I received with great pleasure your letter of May 3. informing me of your health and of that of your family. Be assured that it is and ever has been among the most interesting things to me. Letters of business claiming their rights before those of affection, we often write seldomest to those whom we love most. ... I suppose you are now fixed for life at Chesnut Grove: I take a part of the misfortune to myself, as it will prevent my seeing you as often as would be practicable at Lickinghole. It is still a greater loss to my sister Carr. We must look to Jack for indemnification, as I think it was the plan that he should live at Lickinghole. I suppose he is now become the father of a family, and that we may hail you as grandmother. As we approach that term it becomes less fearful. You mention Mr. Bolling's being unwell, so as not to write to me. He has just been sick enough all his life to prevent his writing to any body. My prayer is therefore only that he may never be worse. Were he to be so, no body would feel it more sensibly than myself, as nobody has a more sincere esteem for him than myself. I find as I grow older, that I love those most whom I loved first. Present me to him in the most friendly terms, to Jack also, and my other nephews and neices of your fire side and be assured of the sincere love with which I am, dear sister, your affectionate brother .... Th: Jefferson^[5]

Death

Thomas Jefferson's granddaughter wrote to him on January 21, 1804, "I suppose you have heard of Aunt Bolling's death." Her death most likely occurred in early 1804, or possibly late 1803. Given the close distances involved, the former seems more likely.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Peter_Jefferson
2. ↑ https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/mary-jefferson-bolling
3. ↑ http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/mary-jefferson-bolling
4. ↑ https://www.monticello.org/
5. ↑ https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-11-02-0537
6. ↑ Edwin Morris Betts and James A. Bear, Jr., eds., The Family Letters of Thomas Jefferson (Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 1966), 254.

• Mary Jefferson Bolling (1741-1804) on Find A Grave: Memorial #194297196 retrieved 22 October 2019
• Some Prominent Virginia Families, Volume 4.By Louise Pecquet du Bellet, Edward Jaquelin, Martha Cary Jaquelin