The records of early Maryland give evidence of a Bowling family starting with Capt. James Bowling (1636-1693) who arrived in the province sometime before 1658.  He became associated with other Catholics who eventually settled on Boarman’s Manor in what is now Charles County, Maryland. He had no children from his two marriages, but his will makes clear that there were descendants from his siblings Thomas (d. 1700) and Elizabeth (marr. Thomas Speake).  Possibly also related is John Bowling of Calvert County (d. 1684).

These siblings and their children can be outlined as follows:

• 1) James Bowling (1636-1693), imm. before 1658, called “Mr.” by 1677, “Capt.” by 1683.
  • marr. (1) Ann —, before 1659 when he transported her into the province
  • marr. (2) Mary Brooke, who marr. by 1700 Benjamin Hall (1667-1721) and Henry Witham
    • no issue

• 2) Thomas Bowling, in Md. by 1694, returned to England 1697 and died there 1700.
  • marr.  —, probably in England.
    • a) John Bowling (bef. 1680-1711), a shoemaker like his father.
    • b) Roger Bowling

• 3) Elizabeth Bowling, prob. died or remarried before 1692.
  • marr.  Thomas Speake (d. 1681), a taylor.
    • a) John Speake (c. 1665-1731)
    • b) Bowling Speake (c. 1675-1755)

     

• ALSO probably related is:
• John Bowling (?-1684), imm. before 1663, settled in Calvert Co.
  • marr. Mary —, who 1684 marr. Benjamin Evans.
    • a) John (d. 1710/11)
    • b) Richard (b. after 1668, prob. died young)
    • c?) Mary, Jr. (mentioned in 1676)

In the 17th century, the three siblings were closely connected to a number of friends (and possibly relatives) who came from Lancashire. The most important clue to their origin comes from a 1734 deposition, where it is stated that John Bowling (son of Thomas above) “came from Lancashire and left a brother there by the name of Roger Bowling” (Charles Co. Court Rec. R2:528).  See more on the English Ancestry of the Bowlings.

All later bearers of the surname Bowling in this family are descendants of John Bowling, son of Thomas Bowling.

Other Bowling Families

In the Chesapeake in the colonial period, there were a number of other families with the name Bowling/Bolling, who are not known to be related to the Catholic Bowlings of Boarman’s Manor. These include:

• The Bollings of Virginia
• Bowlings of the Northern Neck of Virginia
• Edmund Bowling of St. Mary’s County