Robert Bolling, Jr. commonplace book(1764)

• MS 1986.4
• 1 item

Music book with clippings from the Virginia Gazette pasted in. Includes letters between men referring to themselves as Aristides and Phocion, poetry, ballads, and letters written by “D.C” of Chellow, the house Bolling built in 1760. A note, written in French on the fly-leaf, states, “I found this book with several other books of music (Italian, for the most part, which seem to be the remains of a singer of that nation) in Walker’s shop at Williamsburg, where I was appointed to wrap up the odds and ends which were sold there.” It was signed, “Bolling, junr.” and dated 20 January 1764.

Robert Bolling (1738–1775) was born in Henrico County, VA. He was schooled in England, and was a gifted linguist. Additionally, Bolling studied law in both England and Williamsburg. While living in Buckingham County Bolling was elected to the House of Burgesses, where he served for four years. He was best known, though, as a writer, with much of his work appearing in the Virginia Gazette.