Buckingham Notables: Powhatan Bolling
Powhatan Bolling’s mother lived at Chellowe, one of Buckingham County’s finest homes. According to Garnett Williams’ 1937 survey of “Rosney,” mother and son had their differences:
Chellowe, 1936
As both he and his mother were very peculiar and could not agree on anything she decided to build this place (Rosny) for him on the extreme end of her plantation, so there would be some distance between them, it is said they quarreled more about ministers spending the night in the home than any other one thing, so he asked, that she put the house as far away from a public road as possible.
It is told that a Colporteur once rode up to Powhatan Bolling’s place, not knowing where he was, Powhatan went out and spoke to him.
Having heard the hatred that Powhatan had for anyone connected with religious work, he asked, “Do you know where Mr. Powhatan Bolling lives?”
He said, “Yes, why do you ask?”
The man hesitated and said, “Well, I do not care to go to his home as I have been told he was the meanest man in this country.”
Bolling replied, “I am Powhatan Bolling, and there is the road.” It is said he did not have to speak the second time.
Some colporteurs were peddlers of books or newspapers; others were employed by religious societies to distribute Bibles or other religious tracts. This particular fellow was likely the later.
Does a Slate River Ramblings reader have a kinder story to tell about Powhatan Bolling? If so, please leave a comment.
Coming Next: Rosny: The Guthrie Family
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Colin, Thanks for your comment. I’m not sure about the orientation of this photo. It is the center of the house but is it the back or the front? Was a room a late addition to the facade? Perhaps someone more familiar with the elaborations on Chellowe can comment. Joanne
Alas, I have never heard a kinder story about my great-great-great-great-grandfather Linnaeus Bolling’s brother Powhatan! And I have never before seen this photo of Chellowe. Is it a view of the rear of the central portion of the house?
Thank you for posting this amusing story and this interesting photo!
Colin Randolph Skidmore