Bolin is a Swedish ornamental name composed of the elements bo ‘farm’ + -lin, suffix of Swedish family names. Other spellings include Bolen, Boling.
Guardianship is when a court gives an adult custody of a child and/or the responsibility of managing the child's property. Before women could own property, guardians were appointed for their minor children if their husband died.
Mary Bolen Taylor was born about 1805 in Ohio. Her step-son, John Taylor, listed her name as Mary Bolden in the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church records. She was between 20 and 30 in 1830. She may have been Ann Bolen Taylor's sister.
She left Pennsylvania with her family and became a pioneer in Ohio.
She married her sister's widower, David Taylor, about 1826. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on David and Anna Taylor.
She became a widow when he died in 1834. She was not appointed the guardian of her own children and all of her husband's property was sold to pay his debts. She was only provided with $150.00 worth of goods (see below).
Women played an essential role in American society as mothers and homemakers.
