Robert Bolt Jr.

Divisions: Capt. Dillard's Virginia Militia

Burial: John Bolt Esq. Family Cemetery

Notes: DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) line established 8 Apr 2006:
NSDAR# 841505

Robert Bolt Jr. Revolutionary War Service Dedication 
July 16, 2006
John Bolt Esq Cemetery, Laurens, SC
(Written and presented by Katherine Hope Bolt-Borges)

"As a 5th great-granddaughter of Robert Bolt Jr., I'd like to welcome and thank you for coming on behalf of his many descendants in Laurens County and elsewhere, as we gather to honor his memory and patriotic service to our country.

Robert Bolt Jr. was born on the 27th day of April in the year of our Lord, 1762, most likely in Fauquier Co. Virginia.  He was the seventh child, and second youngest son of Robert Bolt Sr. and his first wife, Elizabeth.

During the Revolutionary War, Robert Bolt Jr. served as a subaltern officer in Capt. Dillard's Virginia Militia, under the command of the Hon. Patrick Henry in Henry County, Virginia.   

As evidenced by the 1790 U.S. census, Robert Sr., Robert Jr., Abraham, and nephew, Benjamin, moved to Ninety-Six District, South Carolina.  Robert Bolt received his land grant of 300 acres in 1786, with Abraham receiving his land grant in 1800.  Robert settled along Lick Creek and raised his family in a home that stood just on the other side of the present Eichelberger road.  This occurred approximately five years before George Washington became the first U.S. President illustrating how long our Bolts have resided along Lick Creek.

Robert Bolt Jr. died prior to 1801.  His estate sale appears in Laurens County Estate Book A-1. ¹ His younger brother, Abraham Bolt, is listed as a buyer at the sale.

Revolutionary War pensions were established in 1789.  However, many of the first pension applications were destroyed by fire in 1800 and again in 1814. ²  If Robert or his widow had ever applied for a Revolutionary War pension, the record does not exist, or is not in the public domain. 

As recently as the twentieth century, documents pertaining to Robert Bolt Jr.’s Revolutionary War service were in the possession of family members; but unfortunately, a very efficient maid thought the old papers in the closet were trash and burned them! 

Fortunately for Robert Bolt Jr’s descendants, several events occurred in the past that would help to establish proof of his service in the future: 

The first occurred in 1786, when Susannah McHarg applied to the State of South Carolina for retribution of her husband’s Revolutionary War service.  She additionally requests remuneration to be paid to Robert Bolt for his grant of 300 acres of land stated as follows:

       …after detaining in your office Thirty Dollars to Pay the Consideration
       money for Robert Bolts Grant of 300 Acres of Land…Susannah Meharg…³

Next, in 1832, Abraham Bolt applied and was granted a Revolutionary War pension. 

"…This declarant born in Faulkire County, Virginia the 24 August 1764.  Has
      record of his age in Fathers Bible at his house.  …This declarant went to Henry
     County in Va. and then remained til the prisoners taken at the battle of Eutaw
     Springs in So. Car were brought to Virginia - then he volunteered his service under 
     Capt. James Torrence (Lawrence?) for one month to guard the prisoners to the north
    side of Virginia.  …This declarant then removed to So. Carolina and remained till
    after the War…Has lived where he now does in Laurens District since the year 1784." ⁴

While this may seem innocuous enough, Abraham’s pension places the family in Fauquier County for his birth and Henry County, Virginia while in service.  This is the proof needed to tie the Robert Bolt who appears in William May’s Revolutionary War pension request to our Bolt family in Henry Co.  William May served as a substitute for the oldest brother, John, stating the following in his request:

      "…that he entered the service as a private soldier in the Fall of 1779 or 1780 as
       a substitute for John Bolt in Capt. John Dillards Company in the State of
      Virginia Henry County…entitled to a Credit of three months that he was in
      actual service Lieutenant Torrence (Laurence?) and Robert Bolt was a subaltern
     officer in said company." ⁵

On April 8, 2006, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution approved application #841505 on ancestor, Robert Bolt Jr.  This culminates years of research to gather the needed proof with thanks going to the following who helped make this a reality: Margaret “Peggy” Eltinge Bolt, Col. James Leland Bolt, Carlisle Bolt, Joseph Earle Bolt, Elizabeth Rachel Bolt, Amelia Wallace Patat, Martin Gary Wallace Jr., Julius Bolt, Michael Bolt, Thomas Lucius Bolt, Judy Ballard, Margie Wright Fell, and every other Bolt family researcher.  

Ninety-five descendants of Robert Bolt Sr. are listed on boltancestry.com as having served our country in every war or conflict since the War for Independence.  Over half of that number are descendants of Robert Bolt Jr.  Twenty-five of those descendants have the Bolt surname.  The following two have gone down in history for their illustrious military service:

Major Rudolf Anderson - a 4th great-grandson.  As a U2 spyplane pilot, he was shot down over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  The photos that he gave his life for, was the evidence that President Kennedy needed to show that Russia was moving missiles there.

Lt. Col. John F. "Jack" Bolt - a 4th great-grandson.  In World War II, he shot down six Japanese aircraft and six Russian MiG 15 in the Korean War giving him the distinction of becoming a double "ACE"; a pilot who has shot down at least five enemy planes in two wars.

No greater honor can be bestowed upon our ancestor than the bravery exhibited by his descendants in the line of duty.  And now his civilian descendants may proudly wear an "ancestor bar" engraved with his name as we do good works of patriotic service in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution and Children of the American Revolution." 

References: 

Continued from Vol. XI, p. 151, Pp. 314-315 ¹ 

http://www.moreabouthobbies.com/article/revolutionary-war-1778-1783%253A-pensions/ ²

South Carolina Audited Account #5180 Meharg (Maherg), John ³

Abraham Bolt Rev War Pension #S9282 ⁴

William May Rev War Pension #W5335 ⁵