Early Life
John Bolland was born around 1715 (inferred from his age at death). A note in
Masham suggests that the
Bolland family originally came from
Craven, which is in the Yorkshire Dales to the west of
Masham in Yorkshire North Riding
1,2.
Career
John was a shopkeeper in Masham in Yorkshire North Riding. His business included both grocery and drapery.
Family Life
John married
Margaret Procter on the 15
th of July 1740 at
Thornton Steward, a few miles to the northeast of Masham. They had at least six children:
- John, born 1742 and who moved to London, became a hops merchant and MP and married Elizabeth Gipps, daughter of Henry Gipps of Saltwood in Kent
- James, born c. 1746, who moved to London and was the father of Sir William Bolland
- Henry, born c. 1750, who married the widow Mrs Fielder but left no issue
- Joseph, born 1759, who married Miss Dyne in 1823, just four years before he died and who left no issue
- Roger, born 1761, who lived and worked in Masham as a grocer and left no issue
- A daughter, further details unknown, but who lived all her life in Masham and died unmarried (see footnote from Masham quoted in Death below
Death
John died in 1776 in Masham, aged 61. At the west end of the Masham churchyard is the vault belonging to the
Bollands, with the following inscription
1:
Near this spot rest the mortal remains of JOHN BOLLAND, of Masham, gent; also of MARGARET his wife, and of six of their children. He was for many years a respected inhabitant of the town of Masham, and having survived his wife eight years he died a.d. 1776, aged sixty-one.
A footnote to this entry reads as follows:
The Bolland family originally came from out of Craven, and were not by any means blessed with an over-abundance of wealth when they first planted themselves in this parish. By plodding industry, however, combined with a frugal course of living such as is seldom to be met with in these days, they not only soon acquired for themselves competent fortunes, but established themselves as persons of the first position in the place. John Bolland, here mentioned, followed the business of a shopkeeper — embracing, as was common at that time, both the grocery and the drapery businesses. He left several children, viz.—
I. John, who ultimately became an extensive and opulent merchant in London, and had a seat in the House of Commons. He married and had a son [note this is an error: William was John's nephew, not his son], William, who became a distinguished lawyer, and had an extensive and lucrative practice at the Old Bailey in London. He was raised to the Judicial Bench as one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer in 1829, when he was knighted; and also a daughter, Sophia, who became the wife of the Right Rev. John Lonsdale, D.D., Lord Bishop of Lichfield, as mentioned ante, p. 307.
II. Henry, who on the 10th Decr., 1803, was married at Masham church, to Mrs. Fielder (a daughter of the late Thomas Martindale, Esq., of Masham) who died without issue on the 28th June, 1805, aged 34 years. He survived her many years, and resided at Haregill Lodge. He took a very prominent part in all parish matters, and also held a commission as an officer in the old Mashamshire Volunteers.
He died without issue.
III. Roger, who lived many years in Masham after he retired from business as a grocer, &c, and died there unmarried.
IV. Joseph, of whom I speak presently.
V. Miss Bolland, who resided at Masham, and lived to a great age, but died there unmarried
For the note on
Joseph Bolland, see his profile.
Footnotes
[1] There is a baptismal record for a John Bolland born in
Kettlewell, which is about 15 miles west of Masham and in the Craven disctrict of West Yorkshire. This John was baptised on the 22nd of May 1715 to a William Bolland. The date is compatible with the information from his memorial, and the location is compatible with the information from Fisher.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/dfd1b04f-fe31-43e3-b101-e0995c50bfca may be related information
[2] John Fisher:
The History and Antiquities of Masham and Mashamshire; publ 1865; page 407
1715 - 1776 (61 years)
[1] 
