A brief history of the first five generations of the Bolen/Fraser families in the USA starting with:
- John Bolen born about 1780 in London, England
- Mitchel Fraser born about 1780 in Scotland
First Generation
John Bolen (born about 1780), an orphan, came to New York City about 1798 and opened a hardware store in New York City on Broadway near the corner of Wall Street. On March 7, 1807, he married Lydia Ann Worde who was born in New York City. They had a son, John George Bolen, born in 1809.
Mitchel Fraser (born about 1780) came to New York City from Cullswick, Scotland, about 1805. He sailed on the ship named Prize (likely English) and was thought to have drowned on February 2, 1805 after it was sunk by the French ship, Ruby-Man-of War as England and France were at war at that time. He was found alive in Smithtown, Long Island, stayed with the Smith family and ended up marrying their daughter, Rebecca Smith.on June 16, 1814. They had a daughter, Catherine A. Fraser, born in 1816. Mitchel Fraser learned copper plating and worked in a shop on Pearl Street near Wall Street where be became acquainted with John Bolen. John Bolen’s son, John George Bolen, married Mitchel Fraser’s daughter, Catherine, in 1833, the start of the second generation.
Second Generation:
John George Bolen, son of John and Lydia Bolen was born in 1809 in New York City and died in Gales Ferry Connecticut on November 29, 1888. He married Catherine A. Fraser (born in 1816) on March 19, 1833 and she died on March 13, 1882. John George Bolen owned a gun shop at 104 Broadway and had received a patent for some mechanism on a revolver which he sold. The Hazard Powder Company was on Wall Street right around the corner and was owned by a Mr. A.G. Hazard. The Bolen Store was across the street from Trinity Church. The directory stated that John G. Bolen lived on State Street in Brooklyn. N.Y. Their second son was M. Fraser Bolen.
Third Generation
M. Fraser Bolen was born on January 5, 1843, and died on May 29, 1904, in Bound Brook, N.J. He married Emma Robinson (born December 16, 1848, died in 1939) on April 25, 1872. Sometime after the financial crash around 1893, M. Fraser’s N.Y. insurance company apparently went bankrupt and he bought a farm in Somerville, N.J., and moved there with his family of one son and six daughters. Emma was not happy being a farmer’s wife and his son and some of the daughters were also not happy with farming.
Forth Generation
Children of M. Fraser and Emma Robinson Bolen:
- George Henry Bolen, born on February 3, 1873, died on November 11, 1947. He married Fannie Bolmer, born December 24, 1871, died April 4, 1939. George became a stationmaster in Hoboken, N.J. for the Delaware, Lackawana Railroad Ferry.
- Agnes Humphrey, born on January 18, 1874
- Alice Stuart (Rhodes), born February 28, 1876, died on May 12, 1929
- Grace Robinson, born June 29, 1878
- Jesse Fraser (Bolmer) born January 22, 1879, died 1965
- Elsie Helen, born August 29, 1886
- Florence Adelaide (Lockwood), born February 22, 1890
Fifth Generation
Children of George Henry Bolen and Fannie Bolmer Bolen:
- Roswell Eldridge Bolen, born 1898, died 1957
- Wilbur Fraser Bolen, born 1900, died 1979
- Grace Frances Bolen (Gingerich), born 1902, died 1965
- Helen Corrine Bolen (Wicks). Born 1904, died 2003