Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-01
POWHATAN'S OLDEST WOMAN.
AdeIine Boiling Coiored)-History of the
Mother and Her Son stirling.
lCorres pondence OF the Richmond Dispatch

ICorres pondence OF the Richmond Dispatcn.J
PowuATAN. July 81, 1890.
The result of the census-takers IN this
county has shown that the oldest person
IN Powhatan is a colored woman. Ade-
line Boiling, ninety-seven years OF age.
Aunt Adehne was born on the plantation
of Colonel William Pope, who was well
known In his day, the friend of Writ. and
having a personal acquaintance with every
President from Washington TO Pierce,
and who was the Commonwealth attOr-
ney of POwhatan and GOochland Circuit
Court for upwards of fifty years. Adeline
descended 10 his grandson, Judge William
Pope Dabnev. to whom she belonged until
ernancipated by law. She still renamed
with HIM after her freedom until her chill
dren became able to support her. She
nursed Judge Dabney in infancy and all
his children. and is still called nanny"
by them all.
JUDGE BOILING.
Among the best known citizens of the
Courthouse village il her son Stirling, uni
versally known as Judge" Boiling. from
the prominent part he acted as Judge OF
elections when be was the only colored
| Democrat in the county. He has always,
| rs he SAYS, voted with the white people.
| After being body-servant for his old mas
| ter. Colonel Pope. attending him at the
| Virginia springs, he was put to the trade
| of a blacksmith and wheelwright and was
| allotted IN the division OF his masters
estate in 1860 to Professor Robert Dabney
and was valued ~ 200 IN gold and
| Professor Dabnev sold him to General
Philip ST. George Cooke. who owned
| his wife, the housekeeper at Beimead.
He accompanied General Cooke 10 his
| first Headquarters at Alexandra at the
| opening of the war and was with him at
| the first Manassas. when from Lewis's
| house he drove back the enemy when they
attempted TO cross Bull Run at Stone
| bridge. which gave Jackson time TO come
up and face them after they had crossed
M Sudlev church. After General Cookies
death Stirling went again into the army
with his young master. Major Richard hem
non, and remained uutil II was ascertalned
| that johnson had surrendered. TO whose
army Major Kennon and himself bad
started after tho surrender at Appomattox.
HIS PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES.
| Az an ACCOMPLISHED servant, good me-
| chanic. and man of all work, he attended
| upon General Lee. General Stuart. Gen
eral Rosser. and others, and about them he
| relates some very interesting personal an
| ecdotes. His account of his own capture.
! his sojourn. and his desertion of the Fede-
raj army is very amusing. lie generally
| had control Of an ambulance and alter
every battle was very successful IN gather
| ING up the spOls winch he sold and con-
verified the proceeds into gold and green
| backs. and then after the war was over he
wa the only man III the county VIII had
| any money, winch he invested in herr's
old tavern and the storehouse property
opposite to it. in the village of Powhatan
| Courthouse. he still works at his trade
and on his little farm and keeps a public
| housc, and his dinners on court-days. to
which he rings up his friends like Xavier
with his bell. walking over the court
green. are attended by the best people IN
| the county.