John Bolt Sr.

The second child, and first son, John was born to Robert Bolt Sr. and Elizabeth on 6 June 1750. 

John first appears in Northern Neck, Fauquier Co., Virginia, records in a lease signed between his father,  Robert Sr. and Thomas Lord Fairfax.  The lease is dated September 1762 and states that Robert Bolt, his wife, Elizabeth and his son John, leased for three lifetimes, 200 acres of land, at forty shillings yearly rent.
Source: Fauquier Co., VA Deed Book 1, page 389

John's next appearance is in 1773 Fauquier County court records, with his brother, James. "John Bolt, James Bolt, William Pickett, Jacob Weaver, Samuel Pepper, John Healey, and Charles Smith acknowledged themselves severally indebted to our Lord the King in the forms following, that is to say the said John Bolt and James Bolt in the form of thirty pounds each..." 

It is believed that John may have served in Captain Jonathan Lowe's Montgomery Co. Virginia Militia in 1778, but proof of this has not yet been located by Bolt researchers. (Please contact us if you have this proof) John did, however, secure a substitute, William May, who served under Lt. Lawrence (or Torrance?) and John's brother, Robert Bolt Jr., a subaltern officer.  They were listed under the immediate command of the Hon. Patrick Henry, and William May was dismissed from service in 1779.

John is listed on a 1780 Henry County, Virginia, tax list.  Robert Sr. appears on a 1782 Henry County tax list, but it's shortly thereafter, that John's father, brothers, Robert Jr. and Abraham, and nephew, Benjamin, migrated to Ninety-Six District, (Laurens County) South Carolina.

About 1791-92, John's family moved to Wythe (Grayson and Carroll Counties), Virginia. On 25 March 1801, he bought 150 acres along the Dan River in Grayson County, Virginia, from Joseph Garrett, for five pounds.

In 1794, John was appointed by Grayson County Court to view a proposed road from Bell Spur to Flower Gap.  He also served for a time as a Captain in the Grayson Militia in 1797.

John's first wife had died, and he remarried to Celia Amos in Patrick County, Virginia on 29 July 1803. 

John died 18 March 1832 and is buried in a small cemetery on the Old Floyd Bolt Farm in Floyd County, Virginia.

John's first wife may have been named Elizabeth, their children were:

Charles Sr. - b. abt. 1772 Virginia d. aft. 1840
m. Mary "Molly" Barnard

Winifred "Minnie"  - b. abt. 1774 Patrick Co., VA d. Highland Co., OH
m. William Garrett

James - b. abt. 1775 Virginia d. abt. 1851
m. Hannah Bloss

John "Mean Johnny" Jr. - b. abt. 1778 Virginia d. abt. 1862 Carroll Co., VA
m. Rebecca Dillard

Charlotte - b. abt. 1780 Virginia d. 11 Nov 1851 Ohio

Elizabeth - b. abt. 1782 Grayson Co., VA d. 1811
m. Burnett Harris

Rebecca - b. 1788 Virginia

Isaac - b. 13 Oct 1789 Montgomery Co., VA d. 13 Jul 1860 Boltsfork, KY
m. Elizabeth Booten

John Bolt Sr.'s second wife: Celia Phebe Amos.  Their children were:

Elias James - b. 6 Jun 1805 Grayson Co., VA d. 1886 Carson Township, Fayette Co., Illinois
m. Elizabeth Roxina Alderman

Martha - b. 1809
m. Martin Slaughter

Elizabeth - b. 1811

Lewis - b. 1 Feb 1813* Grayson Co., VA
m. Frances June "Millie" Goad

Hiram - b. abt. 1820

Click here for more on John Bolt Sr's Descendants

*There is a discrepancy regarding Lewis' date of birth. He may
be a twin to Elias.