Robert Bolt Sr.

His origins are unknown.  Family tradition has that he was born somewhere in Britain, possibly in England or Northern Ireland.  There was a  Robert Bolt who was transported to America in December 1736 on the Dorsetshire, however, there is no conclusive proof that he is our ancestor.  Other possibilities may be that he is descended from one of the following early colonial Bolt settlers: Amias Bolt - arrived August 1618 aboard the Neptune, Annis Boult - a Jamestown settler at Flourdieu Hundred in 1623, and Roger Bolt - filed an inventory in York County in 1705.  There are other Bolt men that appear in the early records of the southern colonies as well, but Robert's parentage will remain a mystery until data is revealed to connect him.

As mentioned on the introduction page, our Robert Bolt Sr. first surfaces in Virginia records in June 1752.  He next appears as a chain carrier (also known as a chain bearer) in a survey party in 1755.  His surveying knowledge must have made him a logical choice, he served as a juror in a Fauquier County 1760 survey dispute.

As listed in the bible transcription, Robert and his wife, Elizabeth (maiden name and parentage unknown), had eight children in a twenty year span from 1744 to 1764.  During this time, Robert Sr., daughter, Mary, and sons, John and James, appear in several Fauquier County court documents.  Robert and family were residing in Fauquier County in 1777, but by 1779, the family began to appear in Henry County, Virginia records.  Robert is listed as c. 1782 Henry County taxpayer.  Sons Robert Jr. and Abraham both served in Henry County Revolutionary War enlistments.

In October of 1784, Robert Bolt pays seven pounds for 300 acres of land along Lick Creek in Ninety-Six District (Laurens County), South Carolina. (It is unknown if the land was purchased by Robert Sr. or Robert Jr., for more info, see Robert Bolt Jr.) 

In the first U.S. Census in 1790, Robert Balt <sic> Sen., Robert Bolt Jr., Abraham Bolt, and Benjamin Bolt, are listed in Ninety-Six District, South Carolina.  Robert Sr.'s elder sons, John and James, continued to reside in Virginia. 

It is unknown whether Robert's wife, Elizabeth, also emigrated to South Carolina, but by the time of Robert's death in 1792, he had remarried to Rachel Hellams.

Robert Bolt Sr. is buried in the John Bolt Esq. Cemetery.

Robert and Elizabeth's Children:

Mary - b. 12 Apr 1744 d. 1806 Wilkes Co., Georgia
m. John Garrard, son of John Anthonie Garrard and Elizabeth Gould

John - b. 6 Jun 1750 d. 8 Mar 1832 Virginia
m. Elizabeth

Sarah - b. 3 May 1753

James - b. 3 Apr 1755

Franky - b. 31 Aug 1757

? - b. 9 Feb 1760

Robert Jr. - b. 27 Apr 1762 d. btw 1800-1811

Abraham -  b. 24 Aug 1764 Fauquier Co., Virginia d. Oct 1839 Laurens Co., SC
m. Mary Jane(?)