Genealogy Lesson: Weaknesses in Find A Grave

The following examples below regarding names of the Bolling family are intended for educational purposes in the field of Genealogy; Robert Bolling II and Anne Cocke my 6th great-grandparents. 

Thus, John Bolling I is my 6th great-half Uncle (hopefully that term exists "great-half Uncle) and his son John Bolling II is my 1st-half-cousin.

Find A Grave is useful tool for discovering family lineages, however, it has weaknesses. I have used it religiously in my journey and it is very fun. Bear in mind, that Find A Grave is not as acceptable as one may think in joining a lineage society. 

Grave dates are not as accurate as one might believe; again, this does not mean that you should omit Find A Grave from your own journey.




Below I have demonstrated examples of the flaws in Find A Grave.



The screenshot above shows Robert Bolling II, son of Robert Boling and Anne Stith (John Bolling I half-brother). If you look at his spouse her name is identified as "Anne Mary Cocke Bolling"; this is inaccurate because in his Will [Source: dated 1747, Library of Virginia] he writes "I further give to my loving wife Ann Bolling" [shown below].



Below is another example. It is a screenshot of "MAJ John Kennon Bolling II" Find A Grave page.



Looking at the above screenshot of "MAJ John Kennon Bolling II", you also see his father shown as "John Fairfax Bolling".

These are both inaccurate regarding their names [evidence shown below].

Above is a screenshot I took of John Bolling I's Will [Source: Henrico County, Deeds and Wills, 1725-1737, No. 1 Pt. 2, Reel 7a. p. 242-243, Will of John Bolling, proved 4 August 1729 (Library of Virginia)]; as you can see, he does not have a middle name of "Fairfax".

Above is another screenshot I took of the same Will by John Bolling I. His son -- John Bolling II -- is shown; again, there is no middle name "Kennon".


In John Bolling II's Will [Source: Chesterfield County, VA, Will Book No. 1 with Inventories and Accounts 1749-1765, Part 1 pp. 1-273,pp. 262-268], his name still has no "Kennon" in it.



















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