Benjamin Bolling ( June 30, 1734-Jan. 30, 1832 ) son of Major John Bolling ( 1700-1757) and Elizabeth Blair was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The Bollings were among tht first to brave the dangers of the New World. Evidently the love for adventure was inherited by Benjamin. He was the first settler on the Pound. He first came into what is now Wise County about 1789 and claimed all the land that he could see on the Guest River ( Esserville ). The pioneer built a cabin and lived there two to three years. One day a home seeker came by with a rifle and a couple of hound pups, which caught his eye. A trade was soon made and the pioneer, Ben, returned to his home and civilization thinking the lure for adventure was over. Little time had elapsed until the call of the wilderness overcame him. He shouldered his gun, whistled to his dogs, and hit the trail. A few weeks later Benjamin reached Fox Gap in the Black Mountains. He viewed the valley which was to be his home. This was to be later known as Flat Gap ( located in now what is Wise County, Va. ).
Family of Benjamin Bolling ( June 30, 1734-Jan. 20, 1832 ) and Patsy(Molly) Phelps who died March 8, 1767 and then married Charity Larrimore. Children (source: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=chesnut&id=I891 accessed online 02/2005): 1. Justice Bolling b 1751/1760 2. Benjamin Bolling Jr. b 25 Apr 1754 Albemarle County, VA 3. William "Blackwater Bill" Bolling b 1755 VA or NC 4. Robert Bolling b 1755/1756 5. John Bolling b 1755/1757 6. Barnett Bolling b 1755/1761 7. James Bolling b 9 Jan 1756 NC 8. Jesse Bolling b 01 Jun 1758 Hillsboro, Orange County NC 9. Hannah Bolling 28 Apr 1766 Rowan County, NC 10. Delaney "Laney" Bolling b 1764/1765 NC Justice Bolling 11. Elizabeth "Betsy" Bolling b 8 Mar 1767
(Additional children from marriage to Charity Larrimore: Jeremiah, Levi, Charity, Barnett, James B., Joel, Isham, David, Christopher, George)
Genealogy Source: Bollings by Hattie L. Bolling