General Notes

REFN: 20007
[lillief.ged]
Notes from the Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography Vol. III II-- Judges S
up reme Court of Appeals as database of Ancestry.com viewing records 13277
-13 286 of 22143.
His early youth was passed in Richmond, where he attended a school condu
ct ed by Mr. Turner. He afterwards was a stucent at New London Academ
y, in Be dford County, then under the charge of the Rev. Nicholas H. Cobb
s, afterwa rd  the distinguished Bishop of Alabama. At this celebrated shc
ool he comp leted his academic studies, and on his return home, for a ye
ar taught a he ighborhood school. He then removed to Halifax county, whe
re he toook up l aw studies under the office preceptorship of the Hon. Wil
liam Leigh, o ne of Virginia's greatest jurists, and who ever afterwaard c
herished a gen uine affection and admiration for his pupil. On coming to t
he bar, Mr. Bou ldin found his capabilities taxed to the utmost in settli
ng the affai rs of his father, and the extensive estate of Frederick Ros
s( for whom t he elder Bouldin was the representative), which had been le
ft greatly emba rassed. In dischrging these onerous duties, Mr. Bouldin es
tablished a hi gh reputation for ability and integity, He now settled in C
harlotte Cou rt House, where he practiced his profession with great succes
s. in 18 42 , seeking a lorger field, he removed to Richmond, where he ent
ered in to a law partnership with Robert C. Stanard, one of the most emine
nt lawye rs of his day. He at once took his position in the front ra
nk of the Richm ond bar, and Grattan's Reports record many opions which at
test his abili ty and learning. In 1853 he purchased the fine platati
on of Stauntion rive r, on which John Randolph, of Ranoke, had resided, a
nd here took up his re sidence, and practiced his profession in Charlott
e, Halifax and Mecklenbu rg counties. When civil war was inpending, Mr. Bo
ulding was make a delega te to the Virginia convention of 1861. Here he in
sisted that the state sho uld never leave the Union until she had made eve
ry endeavor to settle t he differences between the different sections of t
he country, and refus ed to vote for the secession ordinance until Preside
nt Lincoln called up on Virginia for troops, when he cast his lot with h
is state. During the wa r, he was one of the most trusted leaders in the l
egislature. After the su rrender of Gen. Lee, he did not indulge in vain r
egrets, but took a patrio t's part in seeking to recover the state and i
ts people from the destructi ve results of the war. In the Great"Capitol D
isaster" in Richmond, he w as among  those who ere in the court room, a
nd went down with the falli ng floors. He was extricated, as was believe
d, without serious injury, b ut his system had been severely shocked, a
nd he sought a brief rest. in 18 72 he was elected by the legislature to t
he Supreme Court of Appeals, to s ucceed the Hon. William T Joynes and aft
er much hesitation, he accept ed , at the cost of considerable pecuniary s
acifice. His judicial career w as shor, his death occurring , at his hom
e. Oct 10, 1876. "He exhibit ed a learning and grasp of intellect which pl
aced him in the front ra nk of the great jurists who had adorned the Virgi
nia Bench.